Dementia
Conditions
Brief summary
The study aims to develop a mobile-app (Care Buddy) which will be a one-stop integrated source of information and technology-based solutions for caregivers of people with dementia (PWDs). Study aims to bring caregivers into closer partnerships with the wider ecosystem (e.g., healthcare practitioners, community services, peer support, and care service providers) which will ultimately improve outcomes for both PWDs and their caregivers.
Detailed description
This is a 5-year study with various stages: 1) proof-of-concept stage to design and develop the Care buddy intervention, 2) proof-of-value stage to assess the feasibility, acceptability and satisfaction with the Care buddy intervention among informal caregivers of PWDs, 3) test-bedding stage to assess the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the Care buddy intervention versus usual care among informal caregivers of PWDs with help of a multi-centre 2-arm RCT and 4) deployment stage to scale up the intervention at multiple centres across Singapore, monitor its adoption and outcomes and assess any organizational and individual barriers to adoption. By the end of the proposed five-year project, investigators aim to develop and evaluate the technology as well as achieve widespread adoption among caregivers of PWDs. Investigators want to enable easy access to information, provide decisional and social support, improve the reach and uptake of existing community service providers, and assist with coordination among multiple informal and professional caregivers through the journey of dementia caregiving and into the bereavement phase.
Interventions
DEVICECare Buddy
Care Buddy mobile intervention will be a one-stop solution for caregivers of dementia patients and help them in their care-giving journey by providing them solutions to manage behavioural problems, physical conditions of their loved one. The app will be multi-component and will provide tools for the caregiver to manage their stress and burden. It will provide information on dementia, list of service providers, information on grief, financial support. This app will provide a platform for all enrolled caregivers to chat with each other and provide social support.
Sponsors
Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School
Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Khoo Teck Puat Hospital
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* The inclusion criteria for patients are 1. Singaporean/Permanent residents 2. Age 21 years of age or older 3. Main person or one of the main persons involved in making decisions regarding treatment patient receives or responsible for ensuring the well-being of the patient 4. An active primary caregiver for at least 6 months, and planning to remain the primary caregiver for the next 2 years 5. Is a family member of the patient with dementia 6. Can read and write in English 7. Accessible by telephone to schedule interviews 8. Has familiarity with use of technology (e.g., computers, tablets, or internet) and is able to complete surveys, forms using digital technology 9. Intact cognition determined through the Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT) for those who are ≥ 65 years old. 10. Caregivers who score \>=9 on the 6-item Zarit Burden scale
Exclusion criteria
* Caregivers of patients staying in nursing home or other long-term care facility with no intention of being discharged will not be eligible however, if the patient is admitted to respite care for short/long term duration after being recruited, caregivers can continue to participate.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Caregiver Psychological well-being | 1 year from data collection | Flourish - range - 8 - 56, high score represents a person with many psychological resources and strengths |
| Caregiver social scale | 1 year from data collection | Friendship scale - The score range is 0-24. A high score represents social connectedness and a score of "0" complete social isolation |
| Caregiver Dementia Knowledge | 1 year from data collection | The Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool - range - 0-21. High score equals to higher knowledge of dementia. |
| Caregiver Impact | 1 year from data collection | Revised Memory \& Behavior Problem checklist - range - 0-96 Higher score indicates increased impact. |
| Caregiver Burden | 1 year from data collection | Zarit Burden scale - range 0-88. 0 - 21 little or no burden, 21 - 40 mild to moderate burden, 41 - 60 moderate to severe burden, 61 - 88 severe burden \>34 - clinically significant burden. |
| Caregiver Stress | 1 year from data collection | Perceived Stress Scale: Scoring: PSS scores are obtained by reversing responses (e.g., 0 = 4, 1 = 3, 2 = 2, 3 = 1 \& 4 = 0) to the four positively stated items (items 4, 5, 7, \& 8) and then summing across all scale items. |
Countries
Singapore
Contacts
CONTACTChetna Malhotra, MD, MPH
Outcome results
None listed