The present one-group pretest-posttest pre-experimental study verified the effects of a dementia family
support program on the families’ attitude towards dementia, desire for institutionalization, caregiving
behavior and caregiving burden. 11 subjects, who were registered as family members of dementia patients
in two dementia institutions in Gyeonggido and wanted to participate in the support program, were included
in the program and surveyed from July 1 to September 30, 2016. The program was offered to the families
of dementia patients for two hours weekly for six weeks and dealt with understanding dementia,
self-healing, communication, living happily, living together and planning the future. The Dementia Attitudes
Scale (DAS), the Desire to Institutionalization Questionnaire(DIQ), the Modified Conflict Tactics Scale for
caregiving behavior, and the Short Zarit Burden Inventory(S-ZBI) for caregiving burden were used as
instruments. The participants’ attitude towards dementia, caregiving behavior and caregiving burden were
statistically insignificant, whereas their attitude towards and knowledge on dementia(44.73±14.56,
50.73±12.74)(t=0.65, p=.534) and total score (88.18±21.81, 92.55±16.98) negligibly increased. The physical
aggression in the caregiving behavior (92.55±16.98, 1.00±1.27)(t=1.23, p=.245) and total score (4.45±2.98,
4.18±2.40)(t=0.39, p=.706) decreased. As for the caregiving burden, personal burden(16.73±6.60, 13.73±3.41),
role burden(6.64±2.77, 6.09±2.84) and total score (23.36±8.61, 19.82±4.71) decreased(t=1.40, p=.193)(t=.43,
p=.679)(t=1.19, p=.274). There was a statistically significant decrease in the desire for institutionalization
(t=4.18, p=.002). These findings indicated the support program relieved the dementia families of the
caregiving burden and exerted positive effects on the caregiving behavior and the attitude towards dementia
of families caring for dementia patients. Also, the program decreased the desire for institutionalization of
dementia patients, which in turn increased the possibility for them to live with their families at home.
Hence, it is necessary to conduct further studies with larger samples so as to formulate support programs for families with dementia patients and develop and reinforce the methods of implementing such programs.