Mobile Tablet Education to Advance Caregiver Health
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Neurology |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Neurology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - Any |
| Updated: | 7/8/2018 |
| Start Date: | January 1, 2015 |
| End Date: | June 30, 2018 |
Mobile Media Intervention for Family Caregivers of Veterans With Dementia
To address the high burden of caring for a Veteran with dementia, the investigators propose
to study the effect of a low-cost, rehabilitative intervention for family caregivers of
Veterans with dementia. The investigators' novel approach will use mobile media technology
that can reach caregivers in rural areas who do not have easy access to major VA medical
centers. If this rehabilitative intervention proves successful, it may represent an approach
to Veteran and family-centered dementia care that can be used throughout VA with low staff,
resource, and cost burdens.
to study the effect of a low-cost, rehabilitative intervention for family caregivers of
Veterans with dementia. The investigators' novel approach will use mobile media technology
that can reach caregivers in rural areas who do not have easy access to major VA medical
centers. If this rehabilitative intervention proves successful, it may represent an approach
to Veteran and family-centered dementia care that can be used throughout VA with low staff,
resource, and cost burdens.
The proposed project studies the effects of an education and skill-building rehabilitation
intervention, designed to be low-cost and clinically translatable through mobile media
devices (i.e., tablets), on family caregivers of Veterans with dementia. Intervention effects
will be examined longitudinally at baseline and 3 months post-intervention.
Advanced statistical techniques will be used to determine the impact of the intervention on:
quality of life in caregivers of Veterans with dementia (Aim 1), perceived stress and
depressive symptoms in caregivers (Aim 2), and socialization and engagement in pleasant
activities in caregivers (Aim 3).
If this rehabilitative intervention proves successful, it may represent an approach to
Veteran- and family-centered dementia care that can be used throughout VA with low staff,
resource, and cost burdens.
intervention, designed to be low-cost and clinically translatable through mobile media
devices (i.e., tablets), on family caregivers of Veterans with dementia. Intervention effects
will be examined longitudinally at baseline and 3 months post-intervention.
Advanced statistical techniques will be used to determine the impact of the intervention on:
quality of life in caregivers of Veterans with dementia (Aim 1), perceived stress and
depressive symptoms in caregivers (Aim 2), and socialization and engagement in pleasant
activities in caregivers (Aim 3).
If this rehabilitative intervention proves successful, it may represent an approach to
Veteran- and family-centered dementia care that can be used throughout VA with low staff,
resource, and cost burdens.
Inclusion Criteria:
-- Participants must:
- report distress associated with being the primary caregiver for a family member with
dementia
- reporting at least 2 of the following 6 items at baseline assessment: felt
overwhelmed, felt like they often needed to cry, were angry or frustrated, felt they
were cut off from family or friends, reported moderate to high levels of general
stress, or felt their health had declined
- provide at least 7 hours of care (supervision or direct assistance) per week over the
past 3 months (other sources of caregiving for the Veteran with dementia can also be
utilized; e.g., respite, home health aide, other family members)
- cohabitate with a Veteran diagnosed with dementia
- be proficient in spoken and written English
- be capable of providing informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
-- Potential participants will be screened and excluded for:
- current or lifetime history of any psychiatric disorder with psychotic features
- prominent suicidal or homicidal ideation
- having met DSM-IV criteria for drug or alcohol abuse or dependence (except nicotine)
within the past six months
- presence of alcohol intoxication (by breathalyzer) or alcohol withdrawal (by exam)
during study recruitment or participation
- diagnosis of probable or possible dementia
- a Telephone Cognitive Screen score of < 20
- participation in another caregiver intervention study within the past year
- lack of access to telephone and internet services in the home
- illness that would prevent study participation
- planned transfer of care receiver to another caregiver or nursing home within 6 months
- currently living with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator or pacemaker
- known pregnancy at time of consent
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