Evaluation of an App to Alleviate Stress Among Caregivers of People With Dementia
Development and Preliminary Evaluation of an App to Reduce Caregiver Stress and Burden Among Informal Caregivers of People Living With Dementia
Study Overview
Status
Status
Conditions
Conditions
Intervention / Treatment
Intervention / Treatment
Detailed Description
Study Type
Study Type
Enrollment (Actual)
Enrollment
Phase
Phase
- Not Applicable
Contacts and Locations
Study Contact
Study Contact
- Name: Louise Castillo, MSc
- Phone Number: 3063372537
- Email: castilll@uregina.ca
Study Locations
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Saskatchewan
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Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, S4S 0A2
- University of Regina
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Participation Criteria
Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility Criteria
Ages Eligible for Study
- Adult
- Older Adult
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Description
Inclusion Criteria:
- caregivers providing informal and unpaid care (e.g., spouses, children, relatives) for a person living with dementia
- providing primary care (i.e., most of the care or equally shares the care with another individual such as a mother or sibling) for the person living with dementia
- own a smartphone/tablet (i.e., can access either IOS or Android platforms).
Exclusion Criteria:
1) Currently using an app for caregiver stress/burden
Study Plan
How is the study designed?
Design Details
- Primary Purpose: Other
- Allocation: Randomized
- Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
- Masking: None (Open Label)
Number of Arms
Arms and Interventions
Participant Group / ArmParticipant Group / Arm |
Intervention / TreatmentIntervention / Treatment |
|---|---|
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Experimental: UR Caregiver group
Participants will be asked to use the UR Caregiver app daily (e.g., at least 15 minutes/day) for 8 weeks and complete and practice one module per week.
On the eighth week, participants will be asked to review one of the past modules of their choice.
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The UR Caregiver app was informed by previous research and developed in collaboration with caregiver partners.
The app utilizes cognitive behavioural principles and is consistent with models of stress and coping.
The app consists of seven modules.
The app is available on IOS and Googe Play store.
In addition to the didactic information provided in the app, worksheets are available in each module to practice the strategy/skill provided.
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Active Comparator: Active control
Participants will be asked to use the app daily (e.g., at least 15 minutes/day) for an 8-week period.
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A subset of participants will be randomly assigned to use the CLEAR Dementia Care app as part of an active control group.
The app consists of features that primarily address care-related needs (as opposed to stress management strategies) allowing for a comparison with the UR Caregiver app.
The app was developed by the Northern Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland) and is freely available on both IOS and Google Play stores.
The CLEAR Dementia Care app provides users with information about dementia (e.g., the different types of dementia, how dementia affects the brain, and symptoms associated with dementia).
The app offers suggestions and alternative approaches to various care-related situations through illustrations/images that caregivers may experience.
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No Intervention: Non-app using control
Participants in this group will not be using any apps in the study.
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What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
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Change from baseline in the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) total scores at 8-weeks
Time Frame: The PSS-10 will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and immediately after the end of the intervention period (i.e., after a 8-week period)
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Perceived stress over the course of the intervention will be assessed using the PSS-10.
The PSS-10 is a 10-item self-report questionnaire designed to measure general feelings of stress and overload over the past month.
Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (Never) to 4 (Very often).
A total score ranging from 0 to 40 is calculated with increasing scores indicating greater stress
|
The PSS-10 will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and immediately after the end of the intervention period (i.e., after a 8-week period)
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Change from baseline in the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) total scores at a 4-week follow-up
Time Frame: The PSS-10 will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and at a 4-week follow-up period
|
Perceived stress over the course of the intervention will be assessed using the PSS-10.
The PSS-10 is a 10-item self-report questionnaire designed to measure general feelings of stress and overload over the past month.
Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (Never) to 4 (Very often).
A total score ranging from 0 to 40 is calculated with increasing scores indicating greater stress
|
The PSS-10 will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and at a 4-week follow-up period
|
|
Change from after the 8-week period in the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) total scores at a 4-week follow-up
Time Frame: The PSS-10 will be administered immediately after the 8-week period and at a 4-week follow-up period
|
Perceived stress over the course of the intervention will be assessed using the PSS-10.
The PSS-10 is a 10-item self-report questionnaire designed to measure general feelings of stress and overload over the past month.
Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (Never) to 4 (Very often).
A total score ranging from 0 to 40 is calculated with increasing scores indicating greater stress
|
The PSS-10 will be administered immediately after the 8-week period and at a 4-week follow-up period
|
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Change from baseline in the Burden Scale for Family Caregivers-Short Version (BSFC-S) total scores at 8-weeks
Time Frame: The BSFC-S will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and immediately after the end of the intervention period (i.e., after a 8-week period)
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Subjective caregiver burden will be assessed using the BSFC-S.
The BSFC-S is a 10-item scale developed to assess subjective burden.
The BSFC-S was derived from the original 28-item scale.
Each item is rated on a scale from 0 (Strongly disagree) to 3 (Strongly agree).
Responses are summed with total scores ranging from 0 to 30 points with higher scores indicating greater caregiver burden
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The BSFC-S will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and immediately after the end of the intervention period (i.e., after a 8-week period)
|
|
Change from baseline in the BSFC-S total scores at a 4-week follow-up
Time Frame: The BSFC-S will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and at a 4-week follow up
|
Subjective caregiver burden will be assessed using the BSFC-S.
The BSFC-S is a 10-item scale developed to assess subjective burden.
The BSFC-S was derived from the original 28-item scale.
Each item is rated on a scale from 0 (Strongly disagree) to 3 (Strongly agree).
Responses are summed with total scores ranging from 0 to 30 points with higher scores indicating greater caregiver burden
|
The BSFC-S will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and at a 4-week follow up
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Change from after the 8-week period in the BSFC-S total scores at a 4-week follow-up
Time Frame: The BSFC-S will be administered immediately after the 8-week period and at a 4-week follow-up period
|
Subjective caregiver burden will be assessed using the BSFC-S.
The BSFC-S is a 10-item scale developed to assess subjective burden.
The BSFC-S was derived from the original 28-item scale.
Each item is rated on a scale from 0 (Strongly disagree) to 3 (Strongly agree).
Responses are summed with total scores ranging from 0 to 30 points with higher scores indicating greater caregiver burden
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The BSFC-S will be administered immediately after the 8-week period and at a 4-week follow-up period
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Change from baseline in the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) total scores at 8-weeks
Time Frame: The PHQ-9 will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and immediately after the end of the intervention period (i.e., after a 8-week period)
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The PHQ-9 is a 9-item self-report instrument widely used to assess for the presence and frequency of depressive symptoms over the last two weeks.
Each of the nine items is rated on a Likert scale ranging from 0 (Not at all) to 3 (Nearly every day).
A total score (e.g., from 0 to 27) is calculated with increasing scores indicating greater depressive symptoms.
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The PHQ-9 will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and immediately after the end of the intervention period (i.e., after a 8-week period)
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Change from baseline in the PHQ-9 total scores at a 4-week follow-up
Time Frame: The PHQ-9 will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and at a 4-week follow-up period
|
The PHQ-9 is a 9-item self-report instrument widely used to assess for the presence and frequency of depressive symptoms over the last two weeks.
Each of the nine items is rated on a Likert scale ranging from 0 (Not at all) to 3 (Nearly every day).
A total score (e.g., from 0 to 27) is calculated with increasing scores indicating greater depressive symptoms.
|
The PHQ-9 will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and at a 4-week follow-up period
|
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Change from after the 8-week period in the PHQ-9 total scores at a 4-week follow-up
Time Frame: The PHQ-9 will be administered immediately after the 8-week period and at a 4-week follow-up period
|
The PHQ-9 is a 9-item self-report instrument widely used to assess for the presence and frequency of depressive symptoms over the last two weeks.
Each of the nine items is rated on a Likert scale ranging from 0 (Not at all) to 3 (Nearly every day).
A total score (e.g., from 0 to 27) is calculated with increasing scores indicating greater depressive symptoms.
|
The PHQ-9 will be administered immediately after the 8-week period and at a 4-week follow-up period
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Change from baseline in the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) total scores at 8-weeks
Time Frame: The GAD-7 will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and immediately after the end of the intervention period (i.e., after a 8-week period)
|
The GAD-7 is a 7-item self-report instrument widely used to assess for anxiety symptoms.
Each of the seven items is rated on a Likert scale ranging from 0 (Not at all) to 3 (Nearly every day).
A total score (e.g., from 0 to 21) is calculated with increasing scores indicating greater anxiety symptoms.
|
The GAD-7 will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and immediately after the end of the intervention period (i.e., after a 8-week period)
|
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Change from baseline in the GAD-7 total scores at a 4-week follow-up
Time Frame: The GAD-7 will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and at a 4-week follow up period
|
The GAD-7 is a 7-item self-report instrument widely used to assess for anxiety symptoms.
Each of the seven items is rated on a Likert scale ranging from 0 (Not at all) to 3 (Nearly every day).
A total score (e.g., from 0 to 21) is calculated with increasing scores indicating greater anxiety symptoms.
|
The GAD-7 will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and at a 4-week follow up period
|
|
Change from after the 8-week period in the GAD-7 total scores at a 4-week follow-up
Time Frame: The GAD-7 will be administered immediately after the 8-week period and at a 4-week follow-up period
|
The GAD-7 is a 7-item self-report instrument widely used to assess for anxiety symptoms.
Each of the seven items is rated on a Likert scale ranging from 0 (Not at all) to 3 (Nearly every day).
A total score (e.g., from 0 to 21) is calculated with increasing scores indicating greater anxiety symptoms.
|
The GAD-7 will be administered immediately after the 8-week period and at a 4-week follow-up period
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Secondary Outcome Measures
Secondary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Change from baseline in the Multidimensional Scale for Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) total scores at 8-weeks
Time Frame: The MSPSS will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and immediately after the end of the intervention period (i.e., after a 8-week period)
|
The MSPSS is a 12-item self-report scale that measures perceived social support across three areas (e.g., family, friends and significant others.
Each item is rated on a 7-point Likert scale with responses ranging from 1 (very strongly disagree) to 7 (very strongly agree).
Item ratings are summed with total scores ranging from 12-84 and higher scores indicating greater perceived support.
|
The MSPSS will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and immediately after the end of the intervention period (i.e., after a 8-week period)
|
|
Change from baseline in the MSPSS total scores at a 4-week follow-up
Time Frame: The MSPSS will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and at a 4-week follow up period
|
The MSPSS is a 12-item self-report scale that measures perceived social support across three areas (e.g., family, friends and significant others.
Each item is rated on a 7-point Likert scale with responses ranging from 1 (very strongly disagree) to 7 (very strongly agree).
Item ratings are summed with total scores ranging from 12-84 and higher scores indicating greater perceived support.
|
The MSPSS will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and at a 4-week follow up period
|
|
Change from after the 8-week period in the MSPSS total scores at a 4-week follow-up
Time Frame: The MSPSS will be administered immediately after the 8-week period and at a 4-week follow-up period
|
The MSPSS is a 12-item self-report scale that measures perceived social support across three areas (e.g., family, friends and significant others.
Each item is rated on a 7-point Likert scale with responses ranging from 1 (very strongly disagree) to 7 (very strongly agree).
Item ratings are summed with total scores ranging from 12-84 and higher scores indicating greater perceived support.
|
The MSPSS will be administered immediately after the 8-week period and at a 4-week follow-up period
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Change from baseline in the Caregiving Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES-8) total scores at 8-weeks
Time Frame: The CSES-8 will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and immediately after the end of the intervention period (i.e., after a 8-week period)
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The CSES-8 is an 8-item self-report measure that measures caregiver self-efficacy.
Respondents are asked to indicate their level of confidence in response to each item from 1 (not at all confident) to 10 (totally confident).
Accordingly, a single score is calculated by averaging the responses for the items (i.e., possible scores range from 1-10) with higher mean scores indicating higher self-efficacy.
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The CSES-8 will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and immediately after the end of the intervention period (i.e., after a 8-week period)
|
|
Change from baseline in the CSES-8 total scores at a 4-week follow-up
Time Frame: The CSES-8 will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and at a 4-week follow up period
|
The CSES-8 is an 8-item self-report measure that measures caregiver self-efficacy.
Respondents are asked to indicate their level of confidence in response to each item from 1 (not at all confident) to 10 (totally confident).
Accordingly, a single score is calculated by averaging the responses for the items (i.e., possible scores range from 1-10) with higher mean scores indicating higher self-efficacy.
|
The CSES-8 will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and at a 4-week follow up period
|
|
Change from after the 8-week period in the CSES-8 total scores at a 4-week follow-up
Time Frame: The CSES-8 will be administered immediately after the 8-week period and at a 4-week follow-up period
|
The CSES-8 is an 8-item self-report measure that measures caregiver self-efficacy.
Respondents are asked to indicate their level of confidence in response to each item from 1 (not at all confident) to 10 (totally confident).
Accordingly, a single score is calculated by averaging the responses for the items (i.e., possible scores range from 1-10) with higher mean scores indicating higher self-efficacy.
|
The CSES-8 will be administered immediately after the 8-week period and at a 4-week follow-up period
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Change from baseline in the Brief-Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Brief-COPE) subscale scores at 8-weeks
Time Frame: The Brief-COPE will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and immediately after the end of the intervention period (i.e., after a 8-week period)
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Brief-COPE is a 28-item measure developed to assess different coping strategies used by individuals in response to stress.
Three subscales can be obtained accordingly: emotion-focused, problem-focused, and dysfunctional subscale.
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The Brief-COPE will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and immediately after the end of the intervention period (i.e., after a 8-week period)
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Change from baseline in the Brief-COPE subscale scores at a 4-week follow-up
Time Frame: The Brief-COPE will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and at a 4-week follow up period
|
Brief-COPE is a 28-item measure developed to assess different coping strategies used by individuals in response to stress.
Three subscales can be obtained accordingly: emotion-focused, problem-focused, and dysfunctional subscale.
|
The Brief-COPE will be administered at baseline (i.e., prior to starting the study) and at a 4-week follow up period
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Change from after the 8-week period in the Brief-COPE subscale scores at a 4-week follow-up
Time Frame: The Brief-COPE will be administered immediately after the 8-week period and at a 4-week follow-up period
|
Brief-COPE is a 28-item measure developed to assess different coping strategies used by individuals in response to stress.
Three subscales can be obtained accordingly: emotion-focused, problem-focused, and dysfunctional subscale.
|
The Brief-COPE will be administered immediately after the 8-week period and at a 4-week follow-up period
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Collaborators and Investigators
Sponsor
Sponsor
Investigators
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Thomas Hadjistavropoulos, PhD, University of Regina
Publications and helpful links
General Publications
- Cohen S, Kamarck T, Mermelstein R. A global measure of perceived stress. J Health Soc Behav. 1983 Dec;24(4):385-96. No abstract available.
- Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB. The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med. 2001 Sep;16(9):606-13. doi: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x.
- Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JB, Lowe B. A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Arch Intern Med. 2006 May 22;166(10):1092-7. doi: 10.1001/archinte.166.10.1092.
- Carver CS. You want to measure coping but your protocol's too long: consider the brief COPE. Int J Behav Med. 1997;4(1):92-100. doi: 10.1207/s15327558ijbm0401_6.
- Graessel E, Berth H, Lichte T, Grau H. Subjective caregiver burden: validity of the 10-item short version of the Burden Scale for Family Caregivers BSFC-s. BMC Geriatr. 2014 Feb 20;14:23. doi: 10.1186/1471-2318-14-23.
- Ritter PL, Sheth K, Stewart AL, Gallagher-Thompson D, Lorig K. Development and Evaluation of the Eight-Item Caregiver Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES-8). Gerontologist. 2022 Mar 28;62(3):e140-e149. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnaa174.
Study record dates
Study Major Dates
Study Start (Actual)
Study Start
Primary Completion (Actual)
Primary Completion
Study Completion (Actual)
Study Completion
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
First Submitted
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
First Posted (Actual)
First Posted
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
Last Update Posted
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
Last Verified
Last Verified
More Information
Terms related to this study
Keywords
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
Other Study ID Numbers
Other Study ID Numbers
- 2022-069
Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)
Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?
IPD Plan Description
IPD Sharing Time Frame
IPD Sharing Access Criteria
IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type
- STUDY_PROTOCOL
- ICF
Drug and device information, study documents
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product
product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.
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