Interventions for residents with dementia and their family and staff caregiversCitation Specht, J.K.P., Park M., Maas, M.L., Reed, D., Swanson, E., & Buckwalter, K.C. (2005). Interventions for residents with dementia and their family and staff caregivers. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 31 (6), 6-14. Design meta-analysis Purpose The purpose of this review was: to evaluate the effectiveness of tools used in nursing interventions, to develop reliable and valid measures of outcomes when suitable standardized tools were not available, and to underscore the importance of measuring family (and staff) caregivers' outcomes in long term care settings.
Outcome / Dependent Variables Family caregiver instruments: Family Perceptions of Care Tool (FPCT), Family Perceptions of Caregiving Role (FPCR), Staff Caregiver instruments, and Patient instruments.
Procedure Factor analysis on data from 4 different studies using/examining the instruments mentioned under dependent variables Outcomes Testing indicated that the psychometric properties and ease of use of all the instruments are reliable. Validity was also intact. Instruments fill a void not previously addressed: measuring family (and staff) caregivers in ltc settings. Assessing dimensions of family cgs enhances the understanding of care and the care environment, needed to achieve quality outcomes. Instruments add cultural sensitivity to care. Study urges nurses to use standard assessment tools for patient, family and staff caregivers, to advance knowledge for the discipline. Study notes particular need for nursing research with above populations. Standardized testing contributes to effective nursing. Author Specht, J.K.P., Park M., Maas, M.L., Reed, D., Swanson, E., & Buckwalter, K.C. | 
