Teaching and learning approaches.

Continuing education for dementia has been shown to be beneficial by improving informal caregiver knowledge, dementia care, management, and caregiver physical and mental health. Technology-based dementia education has been noted to have equivalent effects as in-person education, but with the added benefit of asynchronous and/or remote delivery, which increases accessibility. Using Cochrane review methodology, this study systematically reviewed the literature on technology-based dementia education and its impacts on caregivers. Technology-based delivery included dementia education delivered via the Internet, telephone, telehealth, videophone, computer, or digital video device (DVD). In the review, twenty-eight studies were identified with fourteen included in a meta-analysis, and these data revealed a significant small effect of technologically based dementia education on reducing caregiver depression, and a medium effect on reducing caregiver distress in response to caregivers’ observations of behavioral problems displayed by persons with dementia. No evidence was found for a significant effect of the educational intervention on caregiver burden or self-efficacy, which are known to be gendered aspects of caregiving. None of the studies included in the meta-analysis reported separate outcomes for male and female care providers, which has implications for gendered caregiving norms and aspects of care.Registration number: PROSPERO 2018 CRD42018092599.</div

Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (2018) (Moher et al.).

Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (2018) (Moher et al.).</p

Depression assessed with: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II).

Depression assessed with: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II).</p

Positive caregiving experience assessed with: Positive Aspects of Caregiving (PAC).

Positive caregiving experience assessed with: Positive Aspects of Caregiving (PAC).</p

Adapted quality rating criteria for non-randomized controlled trial studies (studies not included in meta-analysis).

Adapted quality rating criteria for non-randomized controlled trial studies (studies not included in meta-analysis).</p

Risk of bias assessment for RCT studies not included in meta-analysis.

Risk of bias assessment for RCT studies not included in meta-analysis.</p

Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis update.

Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis update.</p

Behavioral problems assessed with: Revised Memory and Behavior Problem Checklist (RMBPC).

Behavioral problems assessed with: Revised Memory and Behavior Problem Checklist (RMBPC).</p

Review studies included in meta-analysis.

Continuing education for dementia has been shown to be beneficial by improving informal caregiver knowledge, dementia care, management, and caregiver physical and mental health. Technology-based dementia education has been noted to have equivalent effects as in-person education, but with the added benefit of asynchronous and/or remote delivery, which increases accessibility. Using Cochrane review methodology, this study systematically reviewed the literature on technology-based dementia education and its impacts on caregivers. Technology-based delivery included dementia education delivered via the Internet, telephone, telehealth, videophone, computer, or digital video device (DVD). In the review, twenty-eight studies were identified with fourteen included in a meta-analysis, and these data revealed a significant small effect of technologically based dementia education on reducing caregiver depression, and a medium effect on reducing caregiver distress in response to caregivers’ observations of behavioral problems displayed by persons with dementia. No evidence was found for a significant effect of the educational intervention on caregiver burden or self-efficacy, which are known to be gendered aspects of caregiving. None of the studies included in the meta-analysis reported separate outcomes for male and female care providers, which has implications for gendered caregiving norms and aspects of care.Registration number: PROSPERO 2018 CRD42018092599.</div

Caregiver burden assessed with: Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI).

Caregiver burden assessed with: Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI).</p