The effect of communication skills training on caregiver burden of elderly with Alzheimer s disease caregivers

Providing good care for Alzheimer s patients is requires suitable communication with them. Incorrect communication between the caregivers and patients is one of the causes that lead to considerable caregiver burden (CB) in caregivers. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a communication skills training on CB among elderly with Alzheimer s disease (AD) caregivers. This study was a quasi-intervention type. In this study, 91 caregivers of Alzheimer s patients referred to the Iranian Alzheimer Association, Tehran, Iran were allocated in the two groups (intervention and control). Then, two groups were completed two questionnaires of demographic variables and caregiver burden before intervention. Educational program was developed according of pre-test results and performed to the intervention group. Two groups were followed-up one-month after the intervention. Statistical analysis of data was performed with SPSS and independent sample T-test, Student’s paired samples t test, Analysis of Covariance test. Significant reduction in CB was observed in intervention group (from a mean of 35.32 (± 8.7) to 32.9 (± 8.3) after the intervention compared to the control group. Finally, it is concluded that communication skills training is one of the appropriate strategies for reducing CB of caregivers of elderly patients with AD.