Geringe Pflegebelastung und hohe Selbstwirksamkeit sind wesentlich um pflegende Angehörige gut auf die Pflege von Menschen mit Demenz vorzubereiten – Ergebnisse des TeleCareHub Projektes

BACKGROUND: The care and support of people with dementia (PwD) is predominantly provided by informal carers and support workers (iPuB). A high degree of preparedness for caregiving improves the care of PwD and reduces the burden of care. The development of support and information services to increase preparedness is one of the goals of the FFG-funded TeleCareHub project. METHODS: In this multicentre cross-sectional study, iPuB were examined using the following questionnaires: General Self-Efficacy Short Scale (ASKU-3), Affinity for Technology Interaction Scale (ATI-8), Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI-7), Loneliness Scale (UCLA-3), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Scale for the Quality of the Current Relationship in Caregiving (SQCRC-14) and the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale (PCS-8). Data analysis was performed using correlation, variance and linear regression analyses (including mediation and moderation models). RESULTS: This study analysed data from 308 iPuBs (76% female, PCS-8: 20.8 ± 6.4). Self-efficacy (ASKU-3) and relationship quality (SQCRC-14) correlated significantly positively with preparedness (PCS-8), whereas caregiver burden (ZBI-7), loneliness (UCLA-3) and depression (PHQ-9) correlated negatively with PCS‑8. In non-burdened iPuB (ZBI-7 < 11), but not in burdened iPuB, a low ZBI‑7 score and a short duration of care were predictive of high preparedness (β = -0.318; SE = 0.077; p < 0.001). Results from SQCRC-14, ASKU‑3 and PHQ‑9 showed significant modulating effects on the PCS‑8. CONCLUSION: The results highlight the influence of multiple personal factors of iPuB on the feeling of preparedness for caregiving. Interventions to strengthen self-efficacy and reduce depression in iPuB, who are not yet under significant stress, could improve preparedness.