認知症高齢者の女性介護者に対する家族介護者間交流プログラムの効果

The Effectiveness of A Peer Support Group Program for Female Caregivers of the Elderly with Dementia

抄録

　目的：地域包括支援センターにおいて，認知症高齢者の女性介護者が相互に交流する家族介護者間交流プログラム（介入プログラム）の効果を検証した．

　方法：対象者は，自治体ごとの高齢化率と介護者交流会の有無を参考に，介入群（4自治体，22名）と対照群（4自治体，32名）に割りつけた．文献をもとに構成した先輩介護者からの情報提供，参加者間の意見交換，専門職からの教育という介入プログラムを，1回90分，月1・2回開催し，1か月後と3か月後における介護負担感，精神的健康度，QOL（生活の質）の変化を比較した．

　結果：介入群と対照群の続柄が均質ではないものの，介入群における介入1か月後の介護負担感の軽減と精神的健康度の改善がみられたが，3か月後には変化がなかった．

　考察：地域包括支援センターで実施する介入プログラムにおける共感的な関係の形成と感情の分かち合いは，介護負担感と精神的健康度の短期間の改善効果をもたらし，専門職とほかの介護者からの実際的な支援が得られる可能性が示唆された．

　Purpose: The goal of the study was to examine the effectiveness of a peer support group program at a community general support center for female family caregivers of the elderly with dementia.

　Methods: Subjects were randomly assigned to an intervention group (4 centers, n=22) or a control group (4 centers, n=32) based on population aging rate in a community. Subjects in the intervention group participated in a 90-minute-program consisting of listening to the senior caregiver's experience, exchanging feelings and opinions among caregivers, and receiving professional instruction for 2 consecutive months.

　Results: In spite of the unevenness in characteristics of the subjects in the two groups, the intervention group exhibited positive significant effects on the caregiver's burden and mental health status after 1 month, but no significant effect was observed after 3 months.

　Conclusion: This study suggests that a peer support group program, consisting of exchanging feelings and opinions, in a community general support center may be effective for the improvement of the caregiver's burden and mental health status in the short-term, and may provide support both for caregivers and professionals.