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Effects of a Telephone-Based Exercise Intervention for Dementia Caregiving Wives: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Cathleen M Connell*
and
Mary R. Janevic
University of Michigan School of Public Health
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: cathleen{at}umich.edu.
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Abstract |
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Despite the importance of self-care for dementia caregivers, few interventions have included a focus on health behaviors. This study reports outcomes of a telephone-based exercise intervention designed for women caring for a spouse with dementia. Caregivers (N = 137) were randomized to intervention or control conditions. Participants with at or below-median exercise scores at baseline had a significantly greater increase in exercise at 6-month follow-up compared to their control counterparts. At 6 months, participants had greater reductions in perceived stress relative to controls. Participants also reported significantly greater increases in exercise self-efficacy than caregivers in the control group at both follow-up points. Results indicate that spouse caregivers are able to increase their physical activity and that a focus on exercise in multicomponent interventions may be beneficial. Debate and discussion are needed to inform expectations for program impacts and their maintenance and to explore the interface between enhanced self-care and caregiving perceptions.
First published on December 29, 2008, doi:10.1177/0733464808327455
A more recent version of this article appeared on June 18, 2009
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