Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare > Volume 14, Number 3 > Pp. 154-156

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Powell, J. Articles by Eysenbach, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

PAPERS

A systematic review of networked technologies supporting carers of people with dementia

John Powell ^* , Teresa Chiu   and Gunther Eysenbach  

^* Health Sciences Research Institute, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK; Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, University of Toronto and University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Correspondence: Dr John Powell, Health Sciences Research Institute, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK (Fax: + 44 24 7652 8375; Email: john.powell{at}warwick.ac.uk)

We conducted a systematic review of the effectiveness of networked ICT interventions in supporting carers of people with dementia. Five bibliographic databases were searched and a total of 1456 abstracts were identified as potentially relevant. From these we identified 15 papers describing five interventions: ComputerLink, AlzOnline, Caring for Others and two studies from the REACH project (TLC and CTIS). The interventions reviewed were multifaceted with elements of networked peer support. Outcomes were inconsistent but suggested that the interventions had moderate effects on improving carer stress and depression. Treatment effects were found to vary with caregiver characteristics such as ethnic groups, formal support and baseline burden. Further evaluation is needed in robust trials with good follow-up.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?