Online Skills Training for Dementia Caregivers
Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
Overseen byCarolyn Clevenger, RN, DNP
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Travel: May Be Covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Academic
Recruiting
Sponsor: Emory University
Disqualifiers: Care recipient in hospice, others
No Placebo Group
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?This study is designed to learn more about ways to promote caregiver mastery online. 270 dementia family caregivers will be enrolled and randomized to take the CAN-DO online course immediately or after a waiting period. They will participate in interviews before and after the course; total time of study participation is 6 months.
Do I need to stop taking my current medications to join the trial?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems unlikely that you would need to stop, as the study focuses on online skills training for caregivers.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Caregiver as Navigator: Develop Skills Online (CAN-DO) for dementia caregivers?
Research shows that online training programs for dementia caregivers, like the 'iSupport' and 'Learning Skills Together' programs, improve caregivers' skills and confidence. These programs help caregivers manage complex care tasks and increase their knowledge and self-efficacy, suggesting that similar online treatments can be effective.
12345Is the online skills training for dementia caregivers safe for humans?
The available research on online skills training for dementia caregivers, including programs like the Internet-Based Savvy Caregiver (IBSC), suggests that these programs are generally safe for participants. They are designed to be educational and supportive, helping caregivers improve their skills and confidence without any reported safety concerns.
15678How is the CAN-DO treatment different from other treatments for dementia caregivers?
The CAN-DO treatment is unique because it offers online skills training specifically designed for dementia caregivers, providing a flexible and accessible way to improve their knowledge and self-efficacy. Unlike traditional in-person programs, this online approach can overcome logistical barriers and is tailored to meet the specific needs of caregivers, making it a novel option in the field.
457910Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for family caregivers of individuals with dementia. Participants will be randomly chosen to either start the CAN-DO online course immediately or after a waiting period, and they'll share their experiences in interviews.Inclusion Criteria
Has internet access
I provide 4+ hours of care weekly for someone with Alzheimer's or dementia at home.
Does not have to co-reside with the individual
+2 more
Exclusion Criteria
Family caregiver plans to move care recipient to an institutional setting within the next six months
Care recipient currently enrolled in hospice
Trial Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
2-4 weeks
Intervention
Participants are randomized to either the CAN-DO program or an Attention Control program. The CAN-DO program focuses on enhancing caregivers' skills and confidence to navigate various systems.
4 months
Interviews at baseline, 2, 4, 6, and 8 months
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for changes in caregiver burden, emotional wellbeing, and other outcomes after the intervention.
2 months
Interviews at 6 and 8 months
Open-label extension
Participants in the Attention Control and Usual Care groups are invited to participate in the CAN-DO program after their 4-month interview.
4 months
Participant Groups
The study compares the effectiveness of an online program called CAN-DO aimed at improving caregiver skills, versus a delayed entry into the program. The goal is to see if immediate access helps caregivers feel more competent.
3Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: CAN-DO Immediate program groupExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Each participant will be engaged in a baseline interview. Subsequently, each will be asked to take part in follow-up interviews at points 2, 4, 6, and 8 months following the launch of their cohort.
Group II: Attention Control program groupActive Control2 Interventions
Participants will receive an online course about "Healthy Living" for the first 4 months after randomization.
After the Attention Control participants complete their 4-month interview, they will be invited to participate in the CAN-DO program.
Group III: Usual care groupActive Control1 Intervention
Participants randomized to the Usual care group will not receive intervention from the study but after they complete their 4-month interview, they will be invited to participate in the CAN-DO program.
Find a Clinic Near You
Research Locations NearbySelect from list below to view details:
Emory Roybal Center for Dementia Caregiving MasteryAtlanta, GA
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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Emory UniversityLead Sponsor
National Institute on Aging (NIA)Collaborator
References
Effects of an e-health intervention 'iSupport' for reducing distress of dementia carers: protocol for a randomised controlled trial and feasibility study. [2022]In the UK, National Health Service (NHS) guidelines recommend that informal carers of people living with dementia should be offered training to help them develop care skills and manage their own physical and mental health. The WHO recommends access to affordable, proven, well-designed, online technologies for education, skills training and support for dementia carers. In response to these recommendations, this multisite randomised controlled trial (RCT) is the first study in the UK to evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of an online support programme developed by the WHO called 'iSupport for dementia carers'.
Alzheimer's disease caregiving information and skills. Part I: care recipient issues and concerns. [2007]Increasing attention has been given to testing clinical trials with family caregivers of the elderly. More recent intervention studies indicated that caregiver skill-building interventions may be more effective than information/support interventions. Researchers have given considerable attention to the content and support needed by family caregivers, but we know less about how this content and support translates into caregiver skills. This is the first in a series of three articles on a study in which qualitative methods were used to analyze summaries from the group component of a larger caregiver clinical trial. In this article we identify content and skills that dementia family caregivers need in addressing three major care recipient issues and concerns: (a) difficult behaviors and emotional responses, (b) personal and instrumental activities of daily living, and (c) cognitive decline.
Caregiver self-efficacy improves following complex care training: Results from the Learning Skills Together pilot study. [2023]Family caregivers to persons living with dementia increasingly provide complex care tasks, though most (53%) do so without any training. "Complex care" includes medical/nursing tasks, as well as personal care tasks that require disease knowledge. Of the 67% of dementia caregivers who provide complex care, nearly half worry about making a mistake. To help caregivers feel more confident when providing complex care tasks, we developed and conducted a pilot study of the 4-week Learning Skills Together psychoeducation program (LST; N=35). Participants in LST reported high satisfaction with the program and found the information shared about complex care was easy to understand. Pre- and post-test data demonstrated improvements in mean caregiver self-efficacy at both 4-weeks and 8-weeks post-intervention (mean difference (MD)=1.0, SD= 1.6, p-value=0.004 and MD= 1.0, SD=2.2, p-value=0.038, respectively). Results demonstrate the potential for a brief psychoeducational program to prepare caregivers to provide complex care to persons living with dementia.
Effectiveness of online dementia caregivers training programs: A systematic review. [2021]Over the next thirty years, Alzheimer's disease rates will increase alongside global aging. With the anticipated increase in demand, knowledgeable and skilled dementia caregivers will be in need across the long-term care spectrum. This study is a systematic review of online dementia-based training programs for formal and informal caregivers conducted to analyze evidence for using online training programs. We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) method. Methodological quality was assessed by the Cochrane Collaboration Back Review Group criteria. No previously published systematic review has analyzed online dementia training programs among both formal and informal caregivers. A systematic search of Web of Science, PsychInfo, and PubMed resulted in a final sample of (N = 19) studies. Results suggest that online interventions improve the condition and preparedness of caregivers, but future evaluations should consider study designs with multiple time points, control groups, and content that is personalized and interactive.
Enhancing Dementia Knowledge and Self-Efficacy of In-Home Supportive Services Caregivers Through Online Training. [2023]California's In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program provides vital home care to low-income consumers, some of whom live with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias (ADRD). Yet, most IHSS caregivers receive little or no training in dementia care. We present preliminary descriptive results of the IHSS + ADRD Training Project, a 10-week, competency-based, dementia training program, delivered online, for IHSS caregivers, in Alameda County. Increase in dementia knowledge and self-efficacy at training completion supports the importance of continuing and expanding this work.
Clinical trial of a home safety toolkit for Alzheimer's disease. [2021]This randomized clinical trial tested a new self-directed educational intervention to improve caregiver competence to create a safer home environment for persons with dementia living in the community. The sample included 108 patient/caregiver dyads: the intervention group (n = 60) received the Home Safety Toolkit (HST), including a new booklet based on health literacy principles, and sample safety items to enhance self-efficacy to make home safety modifications. The control group (n = 48) received customary care. Participants completed measures at baseline and at twelve-week follow-up. Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) was used to test for significant group differences. All caregiver outcome variables improved in the intervention group more than in the control. Home safety was significant at P ≤ 0.001, caregiver strain at P ≤ 0.001, and caregiver self-efficacy at P = 0.002. Similarly, the care receiver outcome of risky behaviors and accidents was lower in the intervention group (P ≤ 0.001). The self-directed use of this Home Safety Toolkit activated the primary family caregiver to make the home safer for the person with dementia of Alzheimer's type (DAT) or related disorder. Improving the competence of informal caregivers is especially important for patients with DAT in light of all stakeholders reliance on their unpaid care.
Dementia caregivers training needs and preferences for online interventions: A mixed-methods study. [2022]To explore how informal caregivers of persons with dementia perceive training needs and preferences in the context of online training and support interventions.
Internet-based program for dementia caregivers. [2022]The overall goal of the Internet-Based Savvy Caregiver (IBSC) program was to develop and bring to market an Internet-based psycho-educational program designed to provide dementia caregivers the knowledge, skills, and outlook they need to undertake and succeed in the caregiving role they have assumed. The IBSC program's concept is based on a face-to-face caregiver-training program and curriculum, the previously validated Savvy Caregiver Program (SCP). The project used an iterative design with expert and consumer input to develop the initial prototype. Forty-seven participants completed the IBSC program and follow-up questionnaire. Results of the formative evaluation showed that participants found the program educational, convenient, useful, and interesting. Participants endorsed feeling more confident in caregiving skills and communication with their family members. The evidence points to the feasibility of an Internet-based program to strengthen family caregivers' confidence in caring for persons with dementia.
A Web-Based Dementia Education Program and its Application to an Australian Web-Based Dementia Care Competency and Training Network: Integrative Systematic Review. [2020]Dementia education that meets quality and safety standards is paramount to ensure a highly skilled dementia care workforce. Web-based education provides a flexible and cost-effective medium. To be successful, Web-based education must contain features that promote learning and support knowledge translation into practice. The Dementia Care Competency and Training Network (DCC&TN) has developed an innovative Web-based program that promotes improvement of the attitudes, knowledge, skills, behavior, and practice of clinicians, regardless of their work setting, in order to improve the quality of life for people living with dementia.
An Online Program for Caregivers of Persons Living With Dementia: Lessons Learned. [2022]The population of individuals living with dementia and their caregivers and the need to provide caregiver training will increase in the next several decades. In-person caregiver educational programs are delimited by logistical and resource boundaries that could be overcome with online programs. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the acceptability and ways to improve the content and delivery of an online 7-week psychoeducational pilot program-Tele-Savvy. Thirty-six caregivers who completed the pilot were interviewed about their experience with Tele-Savvy and their suggestions for its improvement. Conventional content analysis allowed for the identification of three themes: barriers and facilitators to establishing rapport with participants and instructors, content enrichment and diversification, and structural refinement. These lessons learned directly from the caregivers provide evidence to guide the refinement of analogous online interventions and highlight the need for their wider availability.