None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This proposal will address these gaps in two ways, by: (1) developing and evaluating an iSupport Virtual Assistant (VA) to support dementia carers through a partnership of four APR countries: Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Vietnam; and (2) building capacity of researchers and Non-Government Organisation (NGO) partners to support this development and evaluation. Seven versions of iSupport VA will be evaluated in Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand and Vietnam using a pilot RCT. Feasibility, acceptability, intention to use, and preliminary impact on carer perceived stress of the iSupport VA intervention will be assessed.
Interventions
Six versions of the iSupport VA will be built from the content of the adapted iSupport. The VA will be designed to make the iSupport program easier and simpler to use on all device types including smart phones, tablets, laptop and desktop computers.
The VA will first ask individual carers in country appropriate language to undergo an assessment of their key education and support needs. Using the finding of this initial need assessment, the algorithm of the VA will provide tailored intervention
Six versions of the iSupport VA will be built from the content of the adapted iSupport. The VA will be designed to make the iSupport program easier and simpler to use on all device types including smart phones, tablets, laptop and desktop computers. The VA will first ask individual carers in country appropriate language to undergo an assessment of their key education and support needs. Using the finding of this initial need assessment, the algorithm of the VA will provide tailored interventions (i.e. recommending specific lessons and videos in the iSupport program) to match each individual’s need profiles. The VA will provide text or voice command search options. The search outcomes will be in text, picture or video formats with detailed instructions. Users can choose specific lessons or any part of the program simply by selecting a specific topic. Online links for existing health and well-being, aged and social care services for dementia and other important information (e.g. email, emergency contact numbers etc.) in each country will be incorporated in VA versions. With carers’ consent, the VA will support online peer support groups. These online support groups will enable sharing of experiences, practical tips and peer support, in either real time video or text chat among logged in members, or by an asynchronous messaging system. The app will have capability for a "Personal Diary" for users to write their action plans or scheduled medical appointments and will remind users to follow the scheduled plans and appointments. Participants will be asked to use the iSupport VA at least 1 hour each week for 6 months. Monthly phone contact with carers will be also conducted to assess their use of the intervention. Notes from these contacts will be recorded. A local research team member fluent in country appropriate language will be available and contactable by telephone and/or email if carers need technical assistance.
Sponsors
National Ageing Research Institute
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Educational / counselling / training
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Participants eligible for the pilot RCT study will: (1) be adults (greater than or equal to 18 years) residing in one of the four countries; (2) be a primary unpaid carer of a community-dwelling person with dementia (having a formal diagnosis of dementia as reported by the carer or an Ascertain Dementia 8-item Informant Questionnaires (AD-8) score greater than or equal to 2; or Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS score =22)); (3) have been providing care for greater than or equal to 6 months; and (4) experience stress (a Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) score greater than 13)
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria are (1) inability to comprehend any of the designated languages; (2) having cognitive impairment (Mini-Cog™ score smaller than 4); (3) having significant vision impairment (cannot read what is on the screen to respond appropriately); (4) having hearing impairment (cannot hear the question what is your name on the telephone to respond appropriately); (5) participation in the adaptation and development process of iSupport VA; (6) no experience in using internet or apps on devices; and (7) no access to a device with an internet connection.
Outcome results
None listed