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Provider Assessment of Interactions with Dementia Caregivers: Evaluation and Application of the Therapeutic Engagement Index
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Provider Assessment of Interactions with Dementia Caregivers: Evaluation and Application of the Therapeutic Engagement Index

Yeon Kyung Chee, Marie P. Dennis and Laura N. Gitlin
Clinical gerontologist, v 28(4), pp 43-59
22 Sep 2005

Abstract

caregiver intervention dementia Patient-centered care
This study presents the psychometric properties of the Therapeutic Engagement Index (TEI), a provider-rated measure of family caregiver engagement for home-based interventions. The 14-item TEI was developed with 10 occupational therapists and 99 caregivers in a randomized controlled trial. Using a separate sample of 118 caregivers rated by six occupational therapists, test-retest reliability, intraclass correlations, and construct validity were evaluated over five treatment sessions. Factor analyses revealed three dimensions of therapeutic engagement (Openness, Connectedness, and Involvement); also temporal stability was demonstrated. Dimensions of TEI were associated with caregiver readiness to use intervention strategies, anxiety, depression, and patient problem behaviors, but not with patient functional status. TEI scores were not associated with caregiver demographic characteristics. Also, TEI scores for non-completers of the intervention significantly decreased by the third treatment session, while scores for completers improved with time. Findings establish the psychometric soundness of TEI and suggest its utility as an indicator of engagement of families in a caregiver intervention.

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