Comparing multi- and trans-disciplinary dementia care consultation models: Effects on family caregivers’ competence and psychological distress

This study aimed to examine the distinct effectiveness of two (Multidisciplinary vs. Transdisciplinary) dementia care consultation models in improving care competence and reducing psychological distress among family caregivers of people with dementia. In addition, this study explored pairwise differences in care competence and psychological distress across selected caregiver and care-recipient characteristics. This quasi-experimental study employed a non-randomized, two-group longitudinal design conducted at a dementia care consultation clinic in a medical center in Taiwan. Baseline measurements were taken before the intervention, and follow-up measurements were conducted at the 3rd, 6th, and 12th months, totaling a one-year period. Primary measurement instruments included the care competence scale and the psychological distress subscale of the caregiving needs scale. Within-group and between-group differences, as well as exploratory comparisons across selected caregiver and care-recipient characteristics, were analyzed using intention-to-treat analysis and linear regression through generalized estimating equations (GEE) method. For care competence, significant time effects were observed within each group (Wald χ2 = 22.20, p < .001). However, no statistically significant differences were observed between the MDCC and TDCC groups. For psychological distress, neither within-group changes over time nor between-group differences were statistically significant (Wald χ2 = 0.518, p > .05). MDCC and TDCC were both effective in improving family caregivers’ care competence over 12 months, but TDCC was not superior to MDCC. Psychological distress did not significantly decrease in either group, indicating that additional caregiver-centered emotional support may be needed alongside dementia care consultation.