Pilot study of the Online Personalised Training in Memory Strategies for Everyday (OPTIMiSE) intervention program for older adults

This pilot is a single-arm pre-post study of 8 weeks duration plus a single maintenance session (booster) delivered 3 months post-intervention, to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of OPTIMiSE. OPTIMiSE is a free online course focused on psychoeducation regarding memory models and reasons for forgetting, and teaching of strategies that are effective for everyday memory difficulties. OPTIMiSE comprises 6 core modules plus one booster module. Each module comprises approximately 2 hours content. Modules will be released on a weekly basis, e.g. Module 1 will be released in Week 1, Module 2 in Week 2, etc. Module 6 will be split into two and delivered across two weeks (weeks 6 and 7). Week 8 is a "catch-up" period where no content is released. Once a module has been released, it can be completed at any time within the set 8 week study period, however participants will be encouraged to complete each module the same week that it is released. A single booster module will be delivered 3 months after completion of the 8-week intervention, to review and reflect upon the implementation and effectiveness of memory strategies in everyday life over the preceding 3 months. The booster module comprises approximately 2 hours content which can be accessed anytime within a set 2­ week period. The proposed timeline of the pilot study intervention is as follows: Week 1: Module 1 Week 2: Module 2 Week 3: Module 3 Week 4: Module 4 Week 5: Module 5 Week 6: Module 6.1 Week 7: Module 6.2 Week 8: Catch-up period (no content released) Week 20: Booster module Participants will begin OPTIMiSE by answering questions regarding the type of memory difficulties that they have been experiencing, how much each of these areas bothers them, and which memory difficulties they would most like to improve. This information will guide the content that each participant is directed to, providing a personalised experience. The booster module will not be personalised (content will be the same for all participants), although it will provide an avenue for personal reflection and interaction with other course participants, through the online discussion board. All participants will be directed to complete core modules covering the following topics: Understanding memory and how it works; Learning new information; Understanding memory changes associated with normal ageing compared with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia; Memory strategies for everyday life; Connections between physical and mental well-being and memory; Sleep and memory; Prospective memory; and Forgetting items, words, and conversations. Some modules will cover a single topic, whereas others will cover multiple topics. Each of the 6 core modules will include personalised content relevant to each participant's individual goals, covering memory concerns such as: Remembering names; Losing items; Learning and recalling new information; Remembering to do something in the near future; Remembering passwords; Remembering the word you want, when you need it; Recalling what has been said to you; Remembering how to get somewhere. OPTIMiSE will include information in a variety of formats, including written information, diagrams and photographs, videos of experts speaking about topics, and moderated text-based online discussion boards. Participants will be encouraged to work at their own pace, though it will be recommended that participants take breaks and not attempt to undertake an entire module in a single sitting. It will be recommended to complete each module within the same week that it becomes available. OPTIMiSE will be interactive, including online practice of memory strategies, as well as exercises to practice in everyday life. For example, in the module on remembering names, participants would be introduced to various evidence ­based strategies, including association and spaced retrieval. This may first occur via written information for a single strategy (e.g. spaced retrieval), followed by viewing of a video demonstrating the use of spaced retrieval for remembering names in an everyday situation. Participants would then be directed to an online exercise mimicking an everyday situation and giving them an opportunity to use spaced retrieval. After completion of exercises such as this, participants will be prompted to provide any feedback or reflections that they might have, via a pop-up window whereby they are able to type notes. This feedback will saved for participants' future reference. Following this, they would be directed to a diagram of how spaced retrieval works, and then asked to choose a few people in their everyday life whose names they will try to learn using spaced retrieval over the next week. When they log into OPTIMiSE, at least one week later, they will be asked about how their practice in daily life went and asked to provide written feedback. Participants will also be encouraged to log into the moderated discussion boards to interact with other participants, in order to help create a sense of community. Adherence to the intervention will be assessed through analysing usage statistics such as completion rate of all modules; proportion of each module completed; time spent on each page; number of elements (such as notes, web-links, pop-ups, etc.) interacted with; number of discussion board posts made; number of replies made to other discussion board posts; time spent on the discussion boards; etc.