Online support for family caregivers of people with dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs and quasi-experimental studies

Online interventions focused on mitigating the negative impact of care on family caregivers of people with dementia have become increasingly popular recently. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to analyze the effectiveness of these online support programs and to assess whether they do indeed enhance participants' wellbeing. A systematic literature search of 5 scientific databases was performed: PubMed, PsycInfo, CINAHL, Web of Science and Cochrane Library. Online interventions published between January 2014 and July 2018 targeted at informal family caregivers of people with dementia living at home were systemically reviewed. A total of 10 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or studies with quasi-experimental designs were found. The characteristics of the interventions varied widely, as did their duration and results. In general, the effect size found was medium-small, despite the high methodological quality of the studies. The results reveal that online support interventions are a valid resource for improving caregivers' psychological wellbeing, including depression, anxiety, burden and caregiving competence. The best results were found for multi-component interventions: psychoeducation, training in psychological strategies and skills, professional support and online forums or support groups with other caregivers. The meta-analysis indicated that family caregivers' depression levels were reduced in the intervention group (Hedges' g = -0.21, 95% confidence interval of -0.410 to -0.025; z = -2.216: p = 0.027), although no significant differences were observed between the mean changes found in the intervention and control groups in relation to anxiety, burden or competence. Online interventions targeted at family caregivers can help improve their psychological wellbeing. Nevertheless, more randomized controlled trials are required, with rigorous methodological criteria, in order to provide further evidence of the utility of these interventions which seem to be effective.