Evaluation of the implementation of an awareness and education group on the moral experience of caregivers

PRINCIPAL RESEARCHER:

Sophie Éthier, P.h. D., Laval University

RESEARCH TEAM:

Marie Beaulieu, P.h. D., Sherbrooke University

Hélène Carbonneau, Québec University at Trois-Rivières

Lyson Marcoux, P.h. D, Québec University at Trois-Rivières

CHAIR PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT:

N.a.

GRANTING AGENCY AND GRANT AMOUNT:

Quebec Network for Research on Aging (RQRV): 9 000$

PROJECT COMPLETION DATES:

Autumn of 2016 – Spring of 2017

This grant aims more specifically to support the creation of the second step of the project containing three great phases:

• Create a program of educational support for caregivers (2015-2016)
• Evaluate the implementation of the program (2016-2017)
• Evaluate the effects of the program (2017-2018)

ROLE OF THE CHAIR IN THE PROJECT:

Co-researcher

RESEARCH PROBLEM:

It is well documented in the literature that having the responsibility of an older adult can lead to a feeling of burden for the caregiver. Many types of intervention aiming to reduce this burden were created and evaluated. Among these are the support groups and the educational or psychoeducational programs. Nevertheless, the studies which evaluated these interventions show that their effects are modest as much on reducing the burden, stress and depression than improving the well-being of caregivers. This could be explained by the fact that these interventions did not take into account the preoccupations and the reality of caregivers. Following this, more and more studies are interested by the need of the caregivers to share their morale experiences with others. However, none of the identified studies were about the elaboration, establishment or the evaluation of a group program with the goal to raise awareness of the caregivers to the moral issues they encounter in their role with their older relatives living with the Alzheimer disease.

GOAL OF THE PROJECT OR RESEARCH QUESTION:

Raise the awareness of caregivers to the moral issues that they encounter with their affected relatives by means of an awareness and education to moral experience group program (SEMA)

OBJECTIVES:

• Create a program of educational support for caregivers
• Evaluate the implementation of the program
• Evaluate the effects of the program

METHODOLOGY:

The program’s evaluation will be made using two approaches:

• The goal-free evaluation approach of Scriven (1972)
• Utilization-focused evaluation approach (Patton, 2008; 2009)
• The observation of group meetings (with observational grid)
• Discussion groups
• Evaluative forms of the meetings

Three evaluation tools will be used:

• The logbook of the facilitator
• The logbook of the participants
• The individual semi-structure interviews

In addition to these tools a socio-demographic questionnaire will be filled out.

PROJECT ADVANCEMENT:

The program was created with the participation of a group of caregivers. It was tested with the latter who were able to give their feedback to adjust the content so their needs are taken into account. The facilitators and participants’ guide were made in the autumn of 2016.

The program was implemented in January of 2017. The evaluation of its implementation and its effects took place in the winter of 2017.

The research team is now busy with the diffusion and transfer of knowledge.

COMMUNICATIONS:

N.a.

PUBLICATIONS:

N.a.