Alzheimer Disease
Conditions
Keywords
Caregivers, Alzheimer Disease, Psychological stress, Psychological adaptation, Self-efficacy, Randomized controlled trial
Brief summary
The aim of the project is to evaluate the efficacy of a web-based psycho-educational programme designed to support informal caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).This program focuses on information about the illness, her progression, how to prevent psychological strain using anticipation and relaxation techniques and providing a virtual space (forum) to discuss with other caregivers.
Detailed description
Context: Since some of the ICs do not have the possibility to participate in face-to-face interventions, information and communication technologies are being increasingly used for a distance intervention. Research showing the benefit of a combined approach including psycho-social interventions for caregivers and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the caring of Alzheimer's disease patients is actually growing. Main objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a a web-based psycho-educational program designed to support carers of AD patientsMethodology: This is a randomized clinical trial . 80 participants will be randomized in 2 parallel groups: The volunteers in the experimental condition (EC) should visit at least one time per week the website of program, during 12 weeks. Each week a new thematic is added to the website. b) The participants in the control group (CG) will receive a minimal intervention, and will have access to the Diapason program after their participation (six months). Caregivers are recruited (according to exclusion and inclusion criteria) and followed up in memory center participating in the trial. Evaluation criteria: Primary criteria: \- Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14). Secondary evaluation criteria: * Nottingham Health Profile (NPH), * Zarit Burden Interview (BI), * Revised Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist (RMBPC), * Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-2) Mediator variables * Revised Scale for Caregiving Self-Efficacy (RCSE). * Statistics of website utilization Controlled variables * Sociodemographic variables (Self report) * Knowledge about illness (Visual analogical scale - VAS) * The quality of the relationship with the patient (VAS) * Time spent on caregiving * Other sources of stress (i.e. work, health status, financial status) * Respite or social help (i.e. psychotherapy, associations, technical help, etc) * Cognitive and autonomy status of patient (MMSE and IADL) Statistical analysis by the department of biostatistics and medical computing of the Hospital Cochin will be performed.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALpsycho-social intervention based on a web-based psycho-educational program, called Diapason.
This group will be trained for a 3 month period by a web-based psycho-educational program, Lifestyle Counseling, etc.
BEHAVIORALConsultation in memory clinic
This group will receive treatment as usual (consultation in memory clinic every 6 months)
Sponsors
Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
Direction de l'Hospitalisation et de l'Organisation des Soins (PREQHOS)
Fondation Mederic Alzheimer
URC-CIC Paris Descartes Necker Cochin
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
: * Family caregivers of AD patients DSM IV-TR (American Psychiatric Association 2004) or NINCDS/ADRDA (McKhann et al. 1984). * Age: over 18 years old * score 12 or over on the Perceived Stress Scale 14 items (PSS-14, Cohen) Need for information or help * Sign informed consent
Exclusion criteria
: * Professional or paid caregiver * Physical or mental disease incompatible with patient's management * Impossibility to participate in the educational program * Absence of perceived stress * Ongoing psychotherapy or a similar program in parallel
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Perceived stress | every 3 months (between 0 and 6 months) | Stress perceived by the caregiver is measured by the French version of the Perceived Stress Scale, the version of 14 items from Cohen and colleagues (1983), traduced to by Bruchon-Schweitzer in 2002. The PSS-14 is a widely used self-reported scale, evaluating the general appraisal of stress in the last month. It consists in 14 items, which scores range from 0 (never) to 4 (very often). This scale has demonstrated a high reliability and validity in several studies. The total score range is 0-56. In this study CG and EC will perform the scale at baseline (month 0), at the end of intervention for EC (month 3) and follow-up (month 6). Participants from control group will receive an acces to the program at the end of the last visit (M6). |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| ZARIT Burden Interview (BI) | every 3 months (between 0 and 6 months) |
| Revised Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist (RMBPC) | every 3 months (between 0 and 6 months) |
| Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-2) | every 3 months (between 0 and 6 months) |
| Revised Scale for Caregiving Self-Efficacy (RCSE) | every 3 months (between 0 and 6 months) |
| Nottingham Health Profile (NPH) | every 3 months (between 0 and 6 months) |
Countries
France
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORAnne-Sophie Rigaud, MD, PhD
Hôpital Broca - la Collégiale, Memory Clinic
Outcome results
None listed