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Impact of Kolb’s experiential learning theory-based nursing on caregiver burden and psychological state of caregivers of dementia patients
Yue Xu, Jian Xiong Lu, Xinting Yu, Heguo Ding. Open Medicine, 2025-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Abstract Background Family caregiving for dementia patients is a challenging task, with profound effects on caregivers’ physical and mental well-being. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of Kolb’s experiential learning theory on the caregiving burden and psychological status of caregivers for dementia patients. Methods This study enrolled 110 caregivers of nursing dementia patients. These caregivers were divided into two groups: a control group ( n = 55) and an intervention group ( n = 55). The control group received routine care, while the intervention group received nursing based on Kolb’s experiential learning theory in addition to routine care. Changes in caregiving burden and psychological status were compared between the two groups before and after the intervention. Result The results showed that after the intervention, the intervention group’s caregivers had significantly lower scores on the caregiver burden inventory dimensions and total score compared to the control group ( P < 0.05). Additionally, the intervention group’s self-assessment scores on the self-rating anxiety scale and self-rating depression scale were also lower than those of the control group ( P < 0.05). Conclusion Kolb’s experiential learning theory has a positive impact on alleviating the caregiving burden and reducing anxiety and depression among family caregivers of dementia patients.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Xu, Y., Lu, J. X., Yu, X., & Ding, H. (2025). Impact of Kolb’s experiential learning theory-based nursing on caregiver burden and psychological state of caregivers of dementia patients. Open Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1515/med-2025-1157
Vancouver
Xu Y, Lu JX, Yu X, Ding H. Impact of Kolb’s experiential learning theory-based nursing on caregiver burden and psychological state of caregivers of dementia patients. Open Medicine. 2025. doi:10.1515/med-2025-1157. PMID: 40061831.
BibTeX
@article{xu2025-40061831,
author = {Xu, Yue and Lu, Jian Xiong and Yu, Xinting and Ding, Heguo},
title = {{Impact of Kolb’s experiential learning theory-based nursing on caregiver burden and psychological state of caregivers of dementia patients}},
journal = {Open Medicine},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1515/med-2025-1157},
pmid = {40061831},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1515/med-2025-1157}
}
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Key findings
- Result The results showed that after the intervention, the intervention group’s caregivers had significantly lower scores on the caregiver burden inventory dimensions and total score compared to the control group ( P < 0.05).
Why it matters
This study of 110 caregivers found that nursing based on Kolb's experiential learning theory significantly lowered caregiver burden scores and reduced anxiety and depression compared with routine care. The findings concern caregiver support and do not address treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Participants55
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 40/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported 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 38 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 40 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Open Medicine) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Open Medicine: journal h-index 48 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” 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 | 1 / 4 | 55 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 5 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| 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 Heguo Ding holds only 2 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Huzhou Normal University: institution h-index 165 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40061831) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 38 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 38 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 40 out of 100. |
| Total | 40 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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