Challenges, knowledge, and skills required for family caregivers of older adults with dementia: a qualitative study in Vietnam

Introduction Most people with dementia (PwD) receive home care from their family members. Caring for PwD can be challenging; however, many family caregivers do not receive adequate training. The lack of support, knowledge, and skills in dementia care places significant physical and psychological str...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Tran To Tran Nguyen, The Ha Ngoc Than, Tuan Chau Nguyen, Lan Tuyet Duong Vu, Khoa Tri Truong, Truc Thanh Thai, Penelope Schofield, Tuan Anh Nguyen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Global Health Action
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2025.2526929
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849428404055572480
author Tran To Tran Nguyen
The Ha Ngoc Than
Tuan Chau Nguyen
Lan Tuyet Duong Vu
Khoa Tri Truong
Truc Thanh Thai
Penelope Schofield
Tuan Anh Nguyen
author_facet Tran To Tran Nguyen
The Ha Ngoc Than
Tuan Chau Nguyen
Lan Tuyet Duong Vu
Khoa Tri Truong
Truc Thanh Thai
Penelope Schofield
Tuan Anh Nguyen
author_sort Tran To Tran Nguyen
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Most people with dementia (PwD) receive home care from their family members. Caring for PwD can be challenging; however, many family caregivers do not receive adequate training. The lack of support, knowledge, and skills in dementia care places significant physical and psychological stress on family caregivers. Objectives This qualitative study explored the challenges faced by family caregivers in providing care for PwD and identified the knowledge and skills they need for effective caregiving roles. Methods In-depth interviews with 20 family caregivers of PwD were conducted face-to-face using a semi-structured questionnaire at the Department of Geriatrics at Nhan dan Gia Dinh Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. Data analysis was conducted using inductive content analysis. The interview transcripts were coded by two independent researchers and analyzed thematically. Results Six key themes emerged: (1) challenges in daily care; (2) strain from behavioral and sleep disruptions; (3) difficulties in seeking help; (4) personal sacrifices of caregivers; (5) emotional burdens associated with caregiving, including comorbidity concerns of PwD; (6) limited dementia knowledge and essential caregiving skills; Conclusions The study highlights the need for targeted interventions in dementia care and underscores the necessity of providing educational and support programs for family carers of people with dementia in Vietnam and other low- and middle-income countries. Effective educational programs should cover dementia knowledge, comorbidity management, help-seeking strategies, caregiver self-care, and caregiving skills while also promoting support resources such as respite care and accessible information platforms.
format Article
id doaj-art-a01103a2b68d4d94b443e1c7603b6fcc
institution Kabale University
issn 1654-9880
language English
publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Global Health Action
spelling doaj-art-a01103a2b68d4d94b443e1c7603b6fcc2025-08-20T03:28:43ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Health Action1654-98802025-12-0118110.1080/16549716.2025.25269292526929Challenges, knowledge, and skills required for family caregivers of older adults with dementia: a qualitative study in VietnamTran To Tran Nguyen0The Ha Ngoc Than1Tuan Chau Nguyen2Lan Tuyet Duong Vu3Khoa Tri Truong4Truc Thanh Thai5Penelope Schofield6Tuan Anh Nguyen7University of Medicine and PharmacyUniversity of Medicine and PharmacyHo Chi Minh City University Medical CenterNhan dan Gia Dinh HospitalUniversity of Medicine and PharmacyUniversity of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh CityLa Trobe Universityand Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute Swinburne UniversityIntroduction Most people with dementia (PwD) receive home care from their family members. Caring for PwD can be challenging; however, many family caregivers do not receive adequate training. The lack of support, knowledge, and skills in dementia care places significant physical and psychological stress on family caregivers. Objectives This qualitative study explored the challenges faced by family caregivers in providing care for PwD and identified the knowledge and skills they need for effective caregiving roles. Methods In-depth interviews with 20 family caregivers of PwD were conducted face-to-face using a semi-structured questionnaire at the Department of Geriatrics at Nhan dan Gia Dinh Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. Data analysis was conducted using inductive content analysis. The interview transcripts were coded by two independent researchers and analyzed thematically. Results Six key themes emerged: (1) challenges in daily care; (2) strain from behavioral and sleep disruptions; (3) difficulties in seeking help; (4) personal sacrifices of caregivers; (5) emotional burdens associated with caregiving, including comorbidity concerns of PwD; (6) limited dementia knowledge and essential caregiving skills; Conclusions The study highlights the need for targeted interventions in dementia care and underscores the necessity of providing educational and support programs for family carers of people with dementia in Vietnam and other low- and middle-income countries. Effective educational programs should cover dementia knowledge, comorbidity management, help-seeking strategies, caregiver self-care, and caregiving skills while also promoting support resources such as respite care and accessible information platforms.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2025.2526929anxietycare burdengapsstresssupport services
spellingShingle Tran To Tran Nguyen
The Ha Ngoc Than
Tuan Chau Nguyen
Lan Tuyet Duong Vu
Khoa Tri Truong
Truc Thanh Thai
Penelope Schofield
Tuan Anh Nguyen
Challenges, knowledge, and skills required for family caregivers of older adults with dementia: a qualitative study in Vietnam
Global Health Action
anxiety
care burden
gaps
stress
support services
title Challenges, knowledge, and skills required for family caregivers of older adults with dementia: a qualitative study in Vietnam
title_full Challenges, knowledge, and skills required for family caregivers of older adults with dementia: a qualitative study in Vietnam
title_fullStr Challenges, knowledge, and skills required for family caregivers of older adults with dementia: a qualitative study in Vietnam
title_full_unstemmed Challenges, knowledge, and skills required for family caregivers of older adults with dementia: a qualitative study in Vietnam
title_short Challenges, knowledge, and skills required for family caregivers of older adults with dementia: a qualitative study in Vietnam
title_sort challenges knowledge and skills required for family caregivers of older adults with dementia a qualitative study in vietnam
topic anxiety
care burden
gaps
stress
support services
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2025.2526929
work_keys_str_mv AT trantotrannguyen challengesknowledgeandskillsrequiredforfamilycaregiversofolderadultswithdementiaaqualitativestudyinvietnam
AT thehangocthan challengesknowledgeandskillsrequiredforfamilycaregiversofolderadultswithdementiaaqualitativestudyinvietnam
AT tuanchaunguyen challengesknowledgeandskillsrequiredforfamilycaregiversofolderadultswithdementiaaqualitativestudyinvietnam
AT lantuyetduongvu challengesknowledgeandskillsrequiredforfamilycaregiversofolderadultswithdementiaaqualitativestudyinvietnam
AT khoatritruong challengesknowledgeandskillsrequiredforfamilycaregiversofolderadultswithdementiaaqualitativestudyinvietnam
AT tructhanhthai challengesknowledgeandskillsrequiredforfamilycaregiversofolderadultswithdementiaaqualitativestudyinvietnam
AT penelopeschofield challengesknowledgeandskillsrequiredforfamilycaregiversofolderadultswithdementiaaqualitativestudyinvietnam
AT tuananhnguyen challengesknowledgeandskillsrequiredforfamilycaregiversofolderadultswithdementiaaqualitativestudyinvietnam