ComputerLink was a computer support network for family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease. In a 12-month experiment, 102 caregivers were randomly assigned to an experimental group that had access to ComputerLink or to a control group that did not. This investigation examined whether caregivers in the experimental group had greater reductions in four types of care-related strain by the end of the 1-year study. ComputerLink reduced certain types of strain if caregivers also had larger informal support networks, were spouses, or did not live alone with their care receivers. More frequent use of the communication function was related to significantly reduced strain for caregivers who were initially more stressed and for non-spouse caregivers. Greater use of the information function was related to significantly lower strain among caregivers who lived alone with care receivers. Overall, ComputerLink appeared to be an effective tool for reducing strain for some caregivers.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Alemi, F. , Mosavel, M., Stephens, R. C., Ghadiri, A., Krishnaswamy, J., & Thakkar, H. (1996). Electronic self-help and support groups. Medical Care, 34, OS32-OS44.
2.
Alemi, F. , & Stephens, R. C. (1996). Computer services for patients: Description of systems and summary of findings. Medical Care, 34, OS1-OS9.
3.
Allison, P. D. (1978). Testing for interaction in multiple regression. American Journal of Sociology, 83, 144-153.
4.
Anetzberger, G. J. (in press). The ethics of personal safety. In T. Johnson (Ed.), Handbook on ethical issues in aging. Westport, CT: Greenwood.
5.
Bass, D. M. , McClendon, M. J., Deimling, G. T., & Mukherjee, S. (1994). The influence of a diagnosed mental impairment on family caregiver strain. Journal of Gerontology, 49, S146-S155.
6.
Bass, D. M. , Noelker, L. S., & Rechlin, L. R. (1996). The moderating influence of service use on negative caregiving consequences. Journal of Gerontology, 51B, S121-S131.
7.
Bourgeois, M. S. , Schulz, R., & Burgio, L. (1995). Improving outcomes by monitoring the intervention process [Special issue 1]. The Gerontologist, 35, 189.
8.
Brennan, P. F. (1995). Characterizing the use of health care services delivered via computer networks. Journal of the American Medical Informatic Association, 2, 160-168.
9.
Brennan, P. F. , Moore, S. M., & Smyth, K. S. (1995). The effects of a special computer network on caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease. Nursing Research, 44, 166-172.
10.
Brown-Ewing, L. J. , Finkelstein, S. M., Budd, J. R., Kujawa, S. J., Wielinski, C. L., Warwick, W. J., & Nguyen, S. (1988). Implementation of a home-based program for early detection of clinical deterioration in cystic fibrosis. Medical Instrumentation, 22, 240-246.
11.
Cantor, M. H. (1983). Strain among caregivers: A study of experience in the United States. The Gerontologist, 23, 597-604.
12.
Christ, G. , & Siegel, K. (1990). Monitoring quality-of-life needs in cancer patients. Cancer, 65, 760-765.
13.
Cicirelli, V. G. (1983). A comparison of helping behavior to elderly parents of adult children with intact and disrupted marriages. The Gerontologist, 23, 619-625.
14.
Clipp, E. C. , & George, L. K. (1990). Caregiver needs and patterns of social support. Journal of Gerontology, 45, S102-S111.
15.
Deimling, G. T. (1994). Caregiver functioning. In M. P. Lawton & J. Teresi (Eds.), The annual review of gerontology and geriatrics: Vol. 14. Focus on assessment techniques (pp. 257-280). New York: Springer.
16.
Deimling, G. T. , & Bass, D. M. (1986). Symptoms of mental impairment among elderly adults and their effects on family caregivers. Journal of Gerontology, 41, 778-784.
17.
Fernsler, J. I. , & Manchester, L. J. (1997). Evaluation of a computer-based cancer support network. Cancer Practice, 14, 172-175, 182.
18.
Finkel, S. (1995). Causal analysis with panel data. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
19.
Finney, J. W. , Mitchell, R. E., Cronkite, R. C., & Moos, R. W. (1984). Methodological issues in estimating main and interactive effects: Examples from coping/social support and stress field. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 25, 85-98.
20.
George, L. K. , & Gwyther, L. (1986). Caregiver well-being: A multidimensional examination of family caregivers of demented adults. The Gerontologist, 26, 253-259.
21.
Greenberger, M. , & Puffer, J. C. (1989). Telemedicine: Toward better health care for the elderly. Journal of Communication, 39, 137-144.
22.
Gustafson, D. H. , Hawkins, R. P., Boberg, E. W., Bricker, E., Pingree, S., & Chan, C. L. (1994). The use and impact of a computer-based support system for people living with AIDS and HIV infection. Medical Care, 32, 604-608.
23.
Gustafson, D. H. , Taylor, J. O., Thompson, S., & Chesney, P. (1993). Assessing the needs of breast cancer patients and their families. Quality Management in Health Care, 2, 6-17.
24.
Kessler, R. C. , & Greenberg, D. F. (1981). Linear panel analysis: Models of quantitative change. New York: Academic Press.
25.
Kmenta, J. (1986). Elements of econometrics (2nd ed.). New York: Collier-Macmillan.
26.
Knight, B. G. , Lutzky, S. M., & Macofsky-Urban, F. (1993). A meta-analytic review of interventions for caregiver distress: Recommendations for future research. The Gerontologist, 33, 240-248.
27.
Kosloski, K. , & Montgomery, R.J.V. (1995). The impact of respite use on nursing home placement. The Gerontologist, 35, 67-74.
28.
Lawton, M. P. , Brody, E. M., & Saperstein, A. R. (1991). Respite for caregivers of Alzheimer patients: Research and practice. New York: Springer.
29.
Lawton, M. P,Kleban, M. H. , Moss, M., Rovine, M., & Glicksman, A. (1989). Measuring caregiver appraisal. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 44, P61-P71.
30.
Lin, N. (1986). Modeling the effects of social support. In N. Lin, A. Dean, & W. Ensel (Eds.), Social support, life events, and depression (pp. 173-209). Orlando, FL: Academic Press.
31.
McClendon, M. (1994). Multiple regression and causal analysis. Itasca, IL: F. E. Peacock.
32.
Miller, B. , McFall, S., & Montgomery, A. (1991). The impact of elder health, caregiver involvement, and global stress on two dimensions of caregiver burden. Journal of Gerontology, 46, S9-S19.
33.
Montgomery, R.J.V. (1996). Advancing caregiver research: Weighing efficacy and feasibility of interventions. Journal of Gerontology, 51B, S109-S110.
34.
Montgomery, R.J.V. , & Borgatta, E. F. (1989). The effects of alternative support strategies on family caregiving. The Gerontologist, 29, 457-464.
35.
Paperny, D. M. , & Starn, J. R. (1989). Adolescent pregnancy prevention by health education computer games: Computer-assisted instruction of knowledge and attitudes. Pediatrics, 83, 742-752.
36.
Poulshock, S. W. , & Deimiing, G. T. (1984). Families caring for elders in residence: Issues in the measurement of burden. Journal of Gerontology, 39, 230-239.
37.
Pruchno, R. A. , & Potashnik, S. L. (1989). Caregiving spouses: Physical and mental health in perspective. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 37, 697-705.
38.
Robinson, T. N. (1989). Community health behavior change through computer network health promotion: Preliminary findings from Stanford Health-Net. Computer Methods Programs Biomed, 30, 137-144.
39.
Schmall, V. L. (1984). It doesn't just happen: What makes a support group good?Generations, 9, 64-67.
40.
Slatalla, M. (1996, May). Who can I turn to?Wired, pp. 116-186.
41.
Smyth, K. A. , & Harris, P. B. (1993). Using telecomputing to provide information and support to caregivers of persons with dementia. The Gerontologist, 33, 123-127.
42.
Southwood, K. E. (1978). Substantive theory and statistical interaction: Five models. American Journal of Sociology, 83, 1154-1203.
43.
Stone, R. , Cafferata, G. L., & Sangl, J. (1987). Caregivers of the frail elderly: A national profile. The Gerontologist, 27, 616-626.
44.
Toseland, R. W. , & Rossiter, C. M. (1989). Group interventions to support family caregivers: A review and analysis. The Gerontologist, 29, 438-448.
45.
Wheaton, B. (1985). Models for the stress-buffering functions of coping resources. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 26, 352-364.
46.
Whitlatch, C. J. , Zarit, S. H., & von Eye, A. (1991). Efficacy of interventions with caregivers: A reanalysis. The Gerontologist, 31, 9-13.
47.
Wright, L. K. , Clipp, E. C., & George, L. K. (1993). Health consequences of caregiver stress. Medicine, Exercise, Nutrition and Health, 2, 181-195.
48.
Wright, S. D. , Lund, D. A., Pett, M. A., & Caserta, M. S. (1987). The assessment of support group experience by caregivers of dementia patients. Clinical Gerontologist, 6, 35-59.
49.
Zarit, S. H. (1980). Aging and mental disorders. New York: Free Press.
50.
Zarit, S. H. , & Teri, L. (1991). Interventions and services for family caregivers. Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 11, 287-310.
