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Testing the efficacy of a culturally adapted family dementia caregiver intervention (REACH VN): Results from a cluster randomized controlled trial in Northern Vietnam
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Testing the efficacy of a culturally adapted family dementia caregiver intervention (REACH VN): Results from a cluster randomized controlled trial in Northern Vietnam

Huong Nguyen, Hung Trong Nguyen, Ngoc Bich Nguyen, Duyen Tran, Danielle J. Harvey, Binh Thanh Nguyen, Binh Thi Thanh Nguyen, Anh Ngoc Nguyen, Chinh Thi Hong Nguyen, Thu Thi Hoai Nguyen, …
The American journal of geriatric psychiatry, v 33(5), pp P535-P545
May 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2024.10.011
PMID: 39547823
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2024.10.011View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease family caregiving low- and middle-income countries non-pharmacological interventions Dementia Global Health Vietnam
•What is the primary question addressed by this study? This is a two-armed cluster randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of a culturally adapted family caregiver intervention (REACH VN) in reducing caregiver psychological distress and caregiver burden in Vietnam.•What is the main finding of this study? Caregivers in the REACH VN intervention group had significantly lower psychological distress at 3 months and caregiving burden at 6 months compared to those in the control group. Secondary outcomes (perceived stress, somatic symptoms) were also significantly improved at 3 months but not at 6 months.•What is the meaning of the finding? REACH VN, a multicomponent intervention, is efficacious in supporting and improving the health of family dementia caregivers in Vietnam although further modifications may be needed to sustain effects after 3 months. Vietnam faces an unprecedented increase in people living with dementia but lacks evidence-based family dementia caregiver interventions. We tested the efficacy of a culturally adapted family caregiver intervention (REACH VN) in Northern Vietnam. In this randomized controlled trial, clusters (communes) were assigned to (1) REACH VN (a multicomponent intervention consisting of 4-6 one-hour sessions delivered over 1-3 months) or (2) enhanced control (one session of dementia education). Primary outcomes were caregiver perceived psychological distress (PHQ-4) and burden (ZBI-12). Secondary outcomes were caregiver perceived stress (PSS-10) and somatic symptoms (PHQ-15). Mixed effects analysis was performed with 3-month and 6-month assessments as the outcomes and baseline assessment as a covariate. Overall, 350 caregivers from 40 clusters (21 intervention, 19 enhanced control) enrolled and 330 (94.3%) completed 3-month assessments. At 3 months, the REACH VN intervention group had lower PHQ-4 (p<0.001) but not ZBI-12 (p=0.05) scores compared to control. At 6 months, the intervention group had lower ZBI-12 (p=0.002) but not PHQ-4 (p=0.5) scores. PSS-10 and PHQ-15 scores were also improved at 3 months (p=0.007, p<0.001 respectively) for the REACH VN intervention group compared with control but not at 6 months. REACH VN improved outcomes in family caregivers in Vietnam at 3 months although improvement was not sustained for most outcomes at 6 months.

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2 citations in Scopus

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#3 Good Health and Well-Being

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Gerontology
Psychiatry
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