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Internet-Based Interventions Aimed at Supporting Family Caregivers of People With Dementia: Systematic Review
Hopwood J, Walker N, McDonagh L, Rait G, Walters K, Iliffe S, Ross J, Davies N.. Journal of medical Internet research, 2018-06-12
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Results We identified 2325 studies, of which we included 40. The overall quality of the studies was low, making interpretation and generalizability of the effectiveness findings difficult. However, most studies suggested that interventions may be beneficial to family caregiver well-being, including positive impacts on depression, anxiety, and burden. Conclusions Although mixed, the results indicate a positive response for the use of internet-based interventions by caregivers.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Hopwood, J., Walker, N., McDonagh, L., Rait, G., Walters, K., Iliffe, S., et al. (2018). Internet-Based Interventions Aimed at Supporting Family Caregivers of People With Dementia: Systematic Review. Journal of medical Internet research. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.9548
Vancouver
Hopwood J, Walker N, McDonagh L, Rait G, Walters K, Iliffe S, et al. Internet-Based Interventions Aimed at Supporting Family Caregivers of People With Dementia: Systematic Review. Journal of medical Internet research. 2018. doi:10.2196/jmir.9548. PMID: 29895512.
BibTeX
@article{hopwood2018-29895512,
author = {Hopwood, J. and Walker, N. and McDonagh, L. and Rait, G. and Walters, K. and Iliffe, S. and Ross, J. and Davies, N.},
title = {{Internet-Based Interventions Aimed at Supporting Family Caregivers of People With Dementia: Systematic Review}},
journal = {Journal of medical Internet research},
year = {2018},
doi = {10.2196/jmir.9548},
pmid = {29895512},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.9548}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Results We identified 2325 studies, of which we included 40.
- The overall quality of the studies was low, making interpretation and generalizability of the effectiveness findings difficult.
- However, most studies suggested that interventions may be beneficial to family caregiver well-being, including positive impacts on depression, anxiety, and burden.
- Conclusions Although mixed, the results indicate a positive response for the use of internet-based interventions by caregivers.
Why it matters
This review of 40 studies found that internet-based interventions may benefit family caregiver well-being, including depression, anxiety, and burden, but the overall study quality was low and results were mixed. It concerns caregiver support and does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease itself.
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Study details
- Participants40
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 70/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a systematic review of all the studies on the question. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of medical Internet research) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Journal of Medical Internet Research: journal h-index 286 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A systematic review of all the studies on the question (from PubMed type “Systematic Review”) |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2018 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 40 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 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 244 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 24.4 citations a year over 10 year(s) since 2018 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 18 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 81 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Nathan Davies: h-index 33 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University College London: institution h-index 2,029 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 29895512) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 70 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.2196/jmir.9548
- PubMed: 29895512
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Medical Internet Research →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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