A model program for a devastating disease: important content and methods issues in translating research into practice: comment on 'Translation of a dementia caregiver support program in a health care system--REACH VA'.

摘要

In this issue of the Archives, Nichols and colleagues report on the clinical translation of the REACH VA (Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health/Department of Veterans Affairs) program of training and support for caregivers with family members who have Alzheimer disease and related dementia. Their article is important for both content and methodological reasons. The authors describe the results of a national dissemination effort to make this evidence-based program available to caregivers of VA patients across the country. Their encouraging results promise some relief to the increasing number of family members and patients who are coping with Alzheimer disease and dementia, chronic conditions that result in large health care costs, have an enormous impact on the quality of life of families, and are almost certain to increase in prevalence given the aging of our population.