The objectives of this study are to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of a multi-component individualized telephone-based support intervention (HEART) for adult-child caregivers caring for parents with dementia in China.~The primary hypothesis to test is whether the HEART is more efficacious in reducing caregiver burden than the follow-up as usual (FU) in dementia adult-child caregivers.~Secondary hypotheses include the following:~The HEART is more efficacious in improving health related quality of life than the FU in dementia adult-child caregivers.~The HEART is more efficacious in protecting reciprocal Filial Piety than the FU in dementia adult-child caregivers.~The HEART is more efficacious in relieving CR's behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) than the FU in dementia adult-child caregivers.~The HEART group has a higher satisfaction with the intervention than the FU group.~In addition, two research questions will be answered by qualitative data from process evaluation for the feasibility of the HEART intervention. The research questions are as follows:~To what extent can the HEART intervention be delivered as planned?~What are the barriers to and facilitators of the HEART intervention?
This is the first randomized controlled trial exploring the implementation of a multi-component individualized telephone-based support intervention for adult-child caregivers caring for parents with dementia in China. Results hold the potential to inform the further development of family caregiver supportive services.