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Factors determining the decision to institutionalize dementing individuals: a prospective study
Cohen CA, Gold DP, Shulman KI, Wortley JT, McDonald G, Wargon M.. The Gerontologist, 1993-12-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
This longitudinal study of 196 caregiver/care receiver dyads was undertaken to determine the variables predictive of caregiver decision to institutionalize a dependent with dementia. Seven variables (use of services, enjoyment of caregiving, caregiver burden and health, caregiver rating and reaction to care receiver behavior and memory problems, and presence of troublesome behaviors) predicted the decision to institutionalize. Six variables (caregiver health and burden, use of services, care receiver cognitive function and troublesome behaviors, and caregiver reaction to behaviors) predicted actual institutionalization at 18 months.
Key findings
- This longitudinal study of 196 caregiver/care receiver dyads was undertaken to determine the variables predictive of caregiver decision to institutionalize a dependent with dementia.
- Seven variables (use of services, enjoyment of caregiving, caregiver burden and health, caregiver rating and reaction to care receiver behavior and memory problems, and presence of troublesome behaviors) predicted the decision to institutionalize.
- Six variables (caregiver health and burden, use of services, care receiver cognitive function and troublesome behaviors, and caregiver reaction to behaviors) predicted actual institutionalization at 18 months.
Why it matters
In this longitudinal study of 196 caregiver and care receiver dyads, seven variables including use of services, enjoyment of caregiving, caregiver burden and health, and troublesome behaviors predicted the decision to institutionalize. Six variables including caregiver health and burden, use of services, care receiver cognitive function and troublesome behaviors, and caregiver reaction to behaviors predicted actual institutionalization at 18 months.
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Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 52/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 50 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 52 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The Gerontologist) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | The Gerontologist: journal h-index 238 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same 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 | 1 / 5 | 1993 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| 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 | 5 / 7 | Cited 295 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 8.4 citations a year over 35 year(s) since 1993 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 13 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 5 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | OpenAlex's profile for last-listed author M. Wargon holds only 3 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Toronto: institution h-index 1,923 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 8314097) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 50 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 50 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 52 out of 100. |
| Total | 52 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
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
Cohen, C. A., Gold, D. P., Shulman, K. I., Wortley, J. T., McDonald, G., & Wargon, M. (1993). Factors determining the decision to institutionalize dementing individuals: a prospective study. The Gerontologist. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/33.6.714
Vancouver
Cohen CA, Gold DP, Shulman KI, Wortley JT, McDonald G, Wargon M. Factors determining the decision to institutionalize dementing individuals: a prospective study. The Gerontologist. 1993. doi:10.1093/geront/33.6.714. PMID: 8314097.
BibTeX
@article{cohen1993-8314097,
author = {Cohen, C. A. and Gold, D. P. and Shulman, K. I. and Wortley, J. T. and McDonald, G. and Wargon, M.},
title = {{Factors determining the decision to institutionalize dementing individuals: a prospective study}},
journal = {The Gerontologist},
year = {1993},
doi = {10.1093/geront/33.6.714},
pmid = {8314097},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/33.6.714}
}
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