Alexander Kim, DNP, AGNP-C

Abstract:

Background: Hispanic caregivers of individuals with dementia often face compounded stress due to cultural, linguistic, and systemic barriers. These challenges can impede their ability to effectively manage caregiving responsibilities, increasing the risk of caregiver burden. Objectives: This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to enhance caregiver self-efficacy and reduce perceived burden through a culturally adapted, Spanish-language dementia education program, guided by the Stress Process Model. Methods: Using a quasi-experimental pre-post design, the intervention was implemented at a primary care clinic in Los Angeles. Twelve Hispanic caregivers were recruited, with eight completing both pre- and post-assessments. The intervention consisted of viewing Spanish-language caregiver training videos developed by a local health system, followed by personalized follow-up by a nurse practitioner. Caregiver self-efficacy and burden were measured using the Revised Scale for Caregiving Self-Efficacy (RSCSE) and the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), respectively. Descriptive statistics and paired t-tests were used for analysis. Results: Caregiver self-efficacy significantly improved from a pre-intervention mean of 908.75 (SD = 81.67) to a post-intervention mean of 1111.25 (SD = 179.88), p = 0.013, with a large effect size (Cohen’s d = 1.16). However, caregiver burden showed no statistically significant change, increasing from a pre-intervention mean of 13.25 (SD = 8.24) to a post-intervention mean of 15.00 (SD = 10.41), p = 0.598, Cohen’s d = 0.20. Conclusion: The intervention improved caregiver confidence in managing dementia-related care, supporting the feasibility of culturally tailored education in enhancing caregiver self-efficacy. However, the unchanged burden scores highlight the complexity of caregiver stress and the need for multifaceted, sustained support. Further studies with larger, more diverse samples and longer follow-up periods are recommended to evaluate long-term impact and scalability.

Click here to see the full manuscript.