"Learning to become a family caregiver" efficacy of an intervention program for caregivers following diagnosis of dementia in a relative.

Purpose: The purpose of this experimental study was to test the efficacy of a psychoeducational individual program conceived to facilitate transition to the caregiver role following diagnosis of Alzheimer disease in a relative.

Design And Methods: Caregivers were recruited in memory clinics and randomized to an experimental group (n = 62) or a control group (n = 49) receiving usual care. Eligible participants-primary caregivers of a relative diagnosed with Alzheimer in the past 9 months-were assessed blindly before randomization, at the end of the program (post-test), and 3 months later (follow-up) on different outcomes associated with healthy role transition.