A randomized, controlled trial of a home environmental intervention: Effect on efficacy and upset in caregivers and on daily function of persons with dementiaCitation Gitlin, L., Corcoran, M., Winter, L., Boyce, A. & Hauck, W. (2001). A randomized, controlled trial of a home environmental intervention: Effect on efficacy and upset in caregivers and on daily function of persons with dementia. The Gerontologist, 41(1), 4-14. Design Randomized controlled study Participants The participants of this study were N=171 family caregivers of dementia patients Outcome / Dependent Variables Outcomes related to care receivers:
frequency of occurrence of behavioral problems (measured on Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist), level of dependency in ADLs (measured on Functional Independence Measure), and
level of dependency of IADLs (measured on modified Functional Independence Measure).
Outcomes related to caregivers:
self-efficacy (Haley, et al), upset in managing dementia behaviors, and IADL & ADL dependence.
Procedure Intervention involved five (5) 90-min home visits by occupational therapists who provided education, social interactions, and environmental modifications. Outcomes Analyses showed a trend toward improvement in all areas for the experimental group, but these minimal effects were not statistically significant, compared to controls, participants in the intervention group reported fewer declines in patients' IADLs, less decline in self-care and fewer behavior problems in patients at 3-mo post-test.
In the intervention group:
Spouses reported reduced upset, women reported enhanced self-efficacy in managing behaviors and
women / minorities reported enhanced self-efficacy in managing functional dependency.
Author Gitlin, L., Corcoran, M., Winter, L., Boyce, A. & Hauck, W. | 
