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Impact of Dementia Caregiver Education on Dementia Care Practices among Family Caregivers in Nigeria

Abstract

Dementia is an important public health and social care concern among older adults and may result in progressive difficulties with memory, communication, orientation, behaviour, mobility, and the performance of daily activities. Family members frequently provide substantial care for people living with dementia in Nigeria, particularly where access to formal long-term care and specialized dementia services is limited. However, family caregivers may experience inadequate knowledge of dementia, uncertainty about appropriate care practices, communication difficulties, caregiver stress, safety concerns, and limited awareness of available support services. Dementia caregiver education provides an opportunity to equip family caregivers with knowledge and practical skills for providing safe, respectful, and appropriate care while supporting the dignity and quality of life of people living with dementia. Against this background, this study investigates the impact of dementia caregiver education on dementia care practices among family caregivers in Nigeria. The study will be anchored on the Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Theory, and Family Systems Theory. The Health Belief Model explains how caregivers' perceptions of dementia-related challenges, perceived severity, perceived benefits of appropriate care practices, perceived barriers, and cues to action may influence their caregiving behaviours. Social Cognitive Theory emphasizes observational learning, self-efficacy, behavioural reinforcement, and environmental influences in the acquisition and maintenance of appropriate dementia care practices. Family Systems Theory views the family as an interconnected unit in which changes affecting one member influence other members and emphasizes family roles, communication, adaptation, and support in caregiving. Collectively, these theoretical perspectives provide a suitable framework for explaining how dementia caregiver education may influence dementia care practices among family caregivers in Nigeria. The study will adopt a quantitative quasi-experimental or analytical cross-sectional research design. The study population will comprise adult family members providing regular unpaid care to people living with dementia in selected communities and healthcare settings across Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique will be used to select geopolitical zones, states, local government areas, communities, healthcare facilities, and eligible family caregivers. Dementia caregiver education will be assessed using indicators such as exposure to structured caregiver education, frequency and duration of educational sessions, dementia knowledge, communication strategies, behavioural symptom management, medication management, nutrition and hydration, personal hygiene, mobility and fall prevention, prevention of wandering and household hazards, sleep support, caregiver self-care, and awareness of available healthcare and social support services. Dementia care practices will be assessed using indicators such as appropriate communication with the person living with dementia, assistance with activities of daily living, medication adherence and safe medication administration, nutritional support, hygiene care, mobility assistance, fall prevention, environmental safety, management of behavioural changes, appointment and healthcare coordination, respect for dignity and autonomy, and appropriate referral when health problems arise. Data will be collected using structured questionnaires, validated dementia knowledge and caregiving practice instruments, caregiver education attendance records, healthcare records where ethically and appropriately accessible, and relevant community or support-programme documents. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize caregivers' characteristics, exposure to dementia education, and care practices. Inferential statistical techniques, including chi-square tests, t-tests, correlation analysis, and logistic or multiple regression analysis where appropriate, will be used to determine the impact of dementia caregiver education on dementia care practices. Where a quasi-experimental design is adopted, care-practice scores before and after the educational intervention may be compared to determine changes associated with the programme. Diagnostic tests will also be conducted to assess the reliability, validity, and robustness of the findings. The study is expected to find that dementia caregiver education has a significant positive impact on dementia care practices among family caregivers in Nigeria. Caregivers who receive structured and practical education are expected to demonstrate improved communication, safer medication practices, better nutritional and hygiene support, improved mobility and fall-prevention practices, greater awareness of environmental safety, and more appropriate responses to behavioural changes associated with dementia. Practical demonstrations, caregiver support sessions, case-based learning, and repeated reinforcement may improve caregivers' confidence and ability to manage everyday caregiving challenges. Education may also improve caregivers' understanding of dementia as a health condition and reduce misconceptions that may contribute to inappropriate or stigmatizing care. However, caregiver burden, financial constraints, limited access to dementia specialists, inadequate respite services, low health literacy, cultural beliefs, and limited availability of community-based dementia support may affect the adoption of recommended practices. The study therefore expects accessible, culturally appropriate, practical, and regularly reinforced dementia caregiver education to contribute significantly to improved dementia care practices among family caregivers in Nigeria. The study is expected to contribute to the literature on dementia caregiver education, dementia care practices, family caregiving, older adult health, dementia management, geriatric care, caregiver support, community health, and public health in Nigeria. The findings will provide useful information to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, state ministries of health, hospitals, primary healthcare facilities, geriatric and psychiatric services, community health workers, dementia support organizations, family caregiver groups, development partners, and policymakers regarding strategies for improving dementia care within families. The study will also provide evidence-based recommendations for integrating caregiver education into dementia and primary healthcare services, strengthening community-based dementia support, improving caregiver access to professional guidance, establishing caregiver support and respite programmes, increasing public awareness of dementia, and developing sustainable family-centred dementia care programmes across Nigeria.

Keywords: Dementia caregiver education, dementia care practices, family caregivers, dementia, older adults, caregiving, geriatric health, caregiver support, community health, Nigeria, public health.