The impact of assistive technology on burden and psychological wellbeing in informal caregivers of people with dementia (ATTILA Study)

Research in Context: Systematic review: Electronic databases were searched for systematic reviews of interventions for informal caregivers of people with dementia. Several reviews assessed interventions to improve carer psychological outcomes but did not investigate second and third generation Assistive Technology and Telecare (ATT). Our published systematic review identified three studies implementing telecare for a person with dementia and assessing informal caregivers’ outcomes, of which none were peer reviewed or randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Interpretation: To our knowledge, ATTILA is the first RCT to assess the effectiveness of ATT for a person with dementia on informal carers’ psychological wellbeing. We have assessed its impact in a large sample and provide insight into the short-term impact of its installation on psychological wellbeing among caregivers. Future directions: To confirm our findings, future studies should identify the minimum sample size needed to detect an effect of ATT on informal carer outcomes and should carry out longer follow-up assessments to determine whether carer benefits are manifest later. Highlights: • Informal caregivers of people with dementia have been found to have poor psychological wellbeing • We investigated the impact of a full package Assistive Technology and Telecare (ATT) implemented for the cared-for person on informal caregivers’ psychological wellbeing • The psychological wellbeing of informal caregivers of people with dementia receiving a full package ATT did not differ from that of caregivers of people with dementia not in receipt of a full package of ATT