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Enhancing care service utilization and reducing burden: the role of needs assessments for dementia caregivers in long-term care
Yung‐Yu Su, Wen-Fu Wang, Kai-Ming Jhang, Lih‐Wen Mau, Chun‐Min Chen. BMC Nursing, 2025-08-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The implementation of needs assessments was associated with increased long-term care (LTC) service utilization. The proportion of caregivers using services rose from 37.3% at baseline to 45.5% after six months. The caregiver burden distribution shifted, with a reduction in moderate to severe burden (from 20.4 to 17.8%) and a slight increase in mild to moderate burden (from 43.7 to 47.2%). Linear regression analysis revealed several key factors influencing caregiver burden. Supportive resources were significantly associated with lower Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) scores, an effect that often strengthened over time. Specifically, enhanced self-care abilities and the involvement of a foreign caregiver significantly reduced burden at both Time 1 (B = -4.79 and B = -5.44, respectively) and Time 2(B = -6.63 and B = -6.78, respectively). The positive impact of shared caregiving responsibilities became statistically significant at Time 2 mark (B = -5.86). Conversely, initial stressors were linked to higher burden. Caregiving for individuals with severe disabilities (B = 3.31) and the need to manage barrier-free environments (B = 5.06) were associated with greater burden at Time 1, though their influence diminished over time. Emotional strain was a strong predictor of increased burden at both time points (B = 3.51 at Time 1; B = 2.93 at Time 2), although its impact also lessened. Finally, older caregiver age was correlated with a lower burden at both time points. The findings highlight the effectiveness of needs assessments in reducing caregiver burden and enhancing service utilization. Needs assessments play a critical role in identifying caregiver stressors and facilitating targeted interventions, essential for sustainable long-term care and caregiver well-being.
Key findings
- The implementation of needs assessments was associated with increased long-term care (LTC) service utilization.
- The proportion of caregivers using services rose from 37.3% at baseline to 45.5% after six months.
- The caregiver burden distribution shifted, with a reduction in moderate to severe burden (from 20.4 to 17.8%) and a slight increase in mild to moderate burden (from 43.7 to 47.2%).
- Linear regression analysis revealed several key factors influencing caregiver burden.
- Supportive resources were significantly associated with lower Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) scores, an effect that often strengthened over time.
Why it matters
This cohort study found that implementing needs assessments was associated with increased long-term care service use and a shift in caregiver burden, with supportive resources such as self-care abilities and shared caregiving linked to lower burden. It suggests needs assessments may help connect caregivers to services, but it is an observational study and cannot prove cause and effect.
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Study details
- Study designcohort study
- Effect size37.3%; 45.5%; 17.8%
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 48/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for sample size, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (BMC Nursing) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | BMC Nursing: journal h-index 100 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A cohort study following people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 6 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 6 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Chun‐Min Chen: h-index 18 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Tamkang University: institution h-index 245 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40751254) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 48 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Su, Y., Wang, W.-F., Jhang, K.-M., Mau, L., & Chen, C. (2025). Enhancing care service utilization and reducing burden: the role of needs assessments for dementia caregivers in long-term care. BMC Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03686-6
Vancouver
Su Y, Wang W.-F, Jhang K.-M, Mau L, Chen C. Enhancing care service utilization and reducing burden: the role of needs assessments for dementia caregivers in long-term care. BMC Nursing. 2025. doi:10.1186/s12912-025-03686-6. PMID: 40751254.
BibTeX
@article{su2025-40751254,
author = {Su, Yung‐Yu and Wang, Wen-Fu and Jhang, Kai-Ming and Mau, Lih‐Wen and Chen, Chun‐Min},
title = {{Enhancing care service utilization and reducing burden: the role of needs assessments for dementia caregivers in long-term care}},
journal = {BMC Nursing},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1186/s12912-025-03686-6},
pmid = {40751254},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03686-6}
}
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