Pilot testing the caregiver self-management intervention for caregivers of relatives with dementia.

• The health-related quality of life among caregivers of relatives with dementia was improved via a self-management support program. • Support group integrated the four sources suggested by Bandura's theory is a means to enhance major aspects of caregiver self-efficacy. • The self-management support program also provided beneficial effect on care recipients' behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. This study was designed to examine the feasibility of a caregiving self-management support program developed for caregivers of relatives with dementia in Shanghai. A total of 41 caregivers were recruited for a quasi-experimental study. The experimental group of 26 participants attended six bi-weekly social support group sessions. The control group of 15 participants received three monthly telephone instructions. All of participants received an illustrated caregiver educational booklet and three educational presentations during a six-month follow-up period. The results demonstrated a stronger sense of self-efficacy regarding the gathering of information about dementia care in both study groups compared to the baseline data. Caregivers participating in the group sessions reported better health-related quality of life, improved responses to behavioral disturbances, and efficacy in the management of stress than those who received telephone instructions. This study provided some preliminary information regarding ways to improve self-management for the target population in mainland China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]