Non-pharmacologic Interventions for Family Caregivers of People Living with Dementia in Latin-America: A Scoping Review.

Abstract Objective : Dementia prevalence in Latin America (LATAM) is rapidly increasing, contributing to significant family burden. As families are responsible for care, supportive interventions are critical. To understand the state-of-the-science, a scoping review was conducted of non-pharmacologic interventions for caregivers of people living with dementia (PLWD) in LATAM. Design : Eight databases were searched (PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, Scielo, Lilacs, Redalyc, Google Scholar) for non-pharmacological intervention studies published up to July, 2021 in LATAM reporting ≥1 caregiver outcomes. A qualitative synthesis examined study designs, participants, and outcomes characteristics. Results : 45 studies were identified from 25.8% (n=8/31) of LATAM countries (28=Brazil, 4=Chile, 4=Cuba, 4=Mexico, 2=Colombia, 1=Peru, 1=Ecuador, 1=Argentina): 29% (n=17) were randomized clinical trials (RCT), 7% (n=3) non-randomized comparison trials, 42% (n=19) pre-post trials, 9% (n=4) post-intervention analyses, and 4% (n=2) single case studies, comprising a total of 1,171 caregivers and 817 PLWD. For 20 RCT and non-randomized comparison trials, 31 interventions were tested of which 48.4% (n=15) targeted caregivers and 32.3% (n=10) dyads. Most studies involved daughters with Conclusion : Studies were conducted in a limited number of LATAM countries and few were RCTs. Results of RCTS showed benefits for socially-vulnerable caregivers on psychosocial outcomes. There is an urgent need to rigorously evaluate more country/culturally specific interventions addressing unmet familial needs beyond psychosocial support.