Structured Pre-Consultation Interview at the First Call of Caregiver Regarding Memory Consultation: Effects on Caregiver Burden, Expectations, and Quality of Life

INTRODUCTION: Case managers can guide caregivers during their search for care for relatives with neurocognitive disorders. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of this procedure on caregiver burden and quality of life. METHODS: Family caregivers searching for care at a memory clinic before the first consultation were provided written information and they provided verbal consent to participate in this pre-post intervention study. Intervention was a structured pre-consultation phone call interview given by the case manager to inform and organize individualize pathway of care. The mini-Zarit Burden Interview and the EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire quality of life scores were recorded by an independent assessor before the intervention and 1 month thereafter. An expectation questionnaire was also completed during the assessments. The pre and post scores were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS: In total, 45 participants were enrolled and 35 were assessed twice. There was no significant change in the total mini-Zarit Burden Interview score; however, the levels of stress due to caring and meeting familial responsibilities (p = 0.025), and the fear of what the future holds for the participants' relative (p = 0.01) was lower at 1 month. The need for information about the pathways of care decreased, but no change in support satisfaction was observed. Quality of life was good and did not change. CONCLUSIONS: During the pre-consultation intervention, the case manager may fulfill several needs of caregivers, particularly to obtain personalized information, which should be implemented in memory clinics.