A Personalized Reminder Information and Social Management System (PRISM)

Personalized Reminder Information and Social Management System - PRISM

Although technology offers great potential for enhancing the health and well-being of older adults, robust studies are needed to quantify the value of technology and further the investigators understanding of barriers to technology access among older adults and of strategies that are effective in removing these barriers. This cross-site randomized field trial will evaluate a simple to use Personalized Reminder Information and Social Management System (PRISM) designed to support social connectivity, memory, skill building and resource access for older adults. The PRISM system (PRISM C condition) will be compared to an notebook information control condition (PRISM B condition). The target population is older adults who live at home alone and are at risk for isolation. The goal of the study is to gather systematic evidence about the value of technology for older adults and to identify factors that affect use and usability, acceptance and technology adoption. The investigators will also gather longitudinal data on the benefits of the system. Participants aged 65 - 85 years (100 per site) will be randomly assigned following baseline assessment to one of two conditions: PRISM C condition where participants receive the technology system or the PRISM B condition only control where participants receive a notebook that includes information similar to that provided in PRISM C (e.g., resource guide). The categories of information provided in the notebook is similar to the features provided on the system. Participants will include males and females who do not have a home computer and who have limited Internet experience. The intervention period is 12 months. A battery of measures that includes demographic information, attitudes towards technology (including computer self-efficacy and computer comfort), technology, computer and Internet experience, functional independence and well-being, emotional well-being social support/isolation, and quality of life will be administered at baseline, and 6 and 12 months post randomization. In addition, the investigators will assess cognitive abilities at baseline and twelve months. The investigators will also gather data regarding technology use and social interactions via a brief telephone interview at 18 months post randomization.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Social Isolation; Social Support (Formal and Informal); Well-being/Quality of Life
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: PRISM B: Notebook Condition; Behavioral: PRISM C: Computer Condition

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 300
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Florida
    • Miami, Florida, United States, 33136
      • University of Miami

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 65 years and older (Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 65+ years
• Live alone in the community in an independent residence
• Minimum computer and Internet use in the past three months
• English speaking
• Able to read English at the 6th grade level
• Has a telephone
• 20/60 Vision with or without correction
• Not employed or volunteering more than 5 hrs/week
• Does not spend more than 10 hrs./week at a Senior Center or Formal organization
• Planning to remain in the area in same living arrangements for duration of intervention period

Exclusion Criteria:

• Blind or deaf
• Cognitively impaired (MMSE) < 26
• Fuld Object Memory Test < 20 or 19
• Terminal illness
• Severe motor impairment

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: PRISM B: Notebook Condition; Telephone check-in calls and a notebook containing similar categories of information as the features on the PRISM C computer system such as a resource guide; games; classroom and information, calendar.	Behavioral: PRISM B: Notebook Condition; Telephone check-in calls and a notebook that contains information about community resources, games; topics of interests to seniors; a calendar and contact list.
Experimental: PRISM C: Computer Condition; A computer-based system designed to support socialization and access to resources; knowledge and prospective memory. The system is placed in the homes of those randomized to the condition for 12 months.	Behavioral: PRISM C: Computer Condition; A specialized computer system designed to support social connectivity and access to resources; knowledge and prospective memory

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Social Isolation Measured by Friendship Scale	Measures the level of social isolation from baseline to 6th month follow-up. Lower score means less social isolation. Range (0-24) .	Baseline and 6th month
Change in Level of Social Support Measured by Social Support Scale	Measures the level of social support from baseline to 6th month follow-up. Higher score means more social support. Range (6-36).	Baseline and 6th month
Change Overall Well-being Measured by SF-36 Overall Well-being Subscale	Use the SF-36 scale to measure the overall well-being from baseline to 6th month follow-up. Higher score indicates more peaceful, happy, and calm. Range (0-100)	Baseline and 6th month
Change in Social Isolation Measured by Friendship Scale	Measures the level of social isolation from baseline to 12th month follow-up. Lower score means less social isolation. Range (0-24) .	Baseline and 12th month
Change in Level of Social Support Measured by Social Support Scale	Measures the level of social support from baseline to 12th month follow-up. Higher score means more social support. Range (6-36).	Baseline and 12th month
Change Overall Well-being Measured by SF-36 Overall Well-being Subscale	Use the SF-36 to measure the overall well-being from baseline to 12th month follow-up. Higher score means more peaceful, happy and calm. Range (0-100).	Baseline and 12th month

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Computer Comfort Measured by Computer Attitude - Comfort Subscale .	Use the computer attitude scale to measure the level of computer comfort from baseline to 6th month follow-up. Higher score means more computer comfort. Range (5-25).	baseline and 6 months
Changes in Technology Proficiency Measured by Technology Proficiency Scale	Measures the level of technology proficiency from baseline to 6th month follow-up. Higher scores means more computer proficiency. Range (6-30)	baseline and 6 months
Change in Technology Adoption Measured by Technology Acceptance Questionnaire	Measure the level of technology adoption from baseline to 6th month follow-up. Higher score means more acceptance. Range (6-42)	baseline and 6 months
Change in Computer Comfort Measured by Computer Attitude - Comfort Subscale .	Use the computer attitude scale to measure the level of computer comfort from baseline to 12th month follow-up. Higher score means more computer comfort. Range (5-25)	baseline and 12 months
Changes in Technology Proficiency Measured by Technology Proficiency Scale	Measures the level of technology proficiency from baseline to 12th month follow-up. A higher score means more computer proficiency. Range (6-30)	baseline and 12 months
Change in Technology Adoption Measured by Technology Acceptance Questionnaire	Measures the level of technology adoption from baseline to 12th month follow-up. Higher score means more acceptance. Range (6-42)	baseline and 12 months
Change in Computer Interest Measured by Computer Attitude - Interest Subscale	Use the computer attitude scale to measure the level of computer interest from baseline to 6th month follow-up. Higher score means more interest towards computer. Range (5-25)	Baseline and 6th month follow-up
Change in Computer Interest Measured by Computer Attitude - Interest Subscale	Use the computer attitude scale to measure the level of computer interest from baseline to 12th month follow-up. Higher score means more interest towards computer. Range (5-25)	Baseline and 12th month follow-up
Change in Computer Efficacy Measured by Computer Attitude - Efficacy Subscale	Use the computer attitude scale to measure the level of computer efficacy from baseline to 12th month follow-up. Higher score means more efficacy towards computer. Range (5-25)	Baseline and 6th month follow-up
Change in Computer Efficacy Measured by Computer Attitude - Efficacy Subscale	Use the computer attitude scale to measure the level of computer efficacy from baseline to 12th month follow-up. Higher score means more efficacy towards computer. Range (5-25)	Baseline and 12th month follow-up

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Miami
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Sara J. Czaja, PhD, University of Miami

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Boot WR, Charness N, Czaja SJ, Sharit J, Rogers WA, Fisk AD, Mitzner T, Lee CC, Nair S. Computer proficiency questionnaire: assessing low and high computer proficient seniors. Gerontologist. 2015 Jun;55(3):404-11. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnt117. Epub 2013 Oct 9.
• Czaja SJ, Boot WR, Charness N, A Rogers W, Sharit J, Fisk AD, Lee CC, Nair SN. The personalized reminder information and social management system (PRISM) trial: rationale, methods and baseline characteristics. Contemp Clin Trials. 2015 Jan;40:35-46. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2014.11.004. Epub 2014 Nov 8.
• Yoon JS, Charness N, Boot WR, Czaja SJ, Rogers WA. Depressive Symptoms as a Predictor of Memory Complaints in the PRISM Sample. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2019 Jan 10;74(2):254-263. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbx070.
• Mitzner TL, Rogers WA, Fisk AD, Boot WR, Charness N, Czaja SJ, Sharit J. Predicting Older Adults' Perceptions about a Computer System Designed for Seniors. Univers Access Inf Soc. 2016 Jun;15(2):271-280. doi: 10.1007/s10209-014-0383-y. Epub 2014 Sep 7.
• Czaja SJ, Boot WR, Charness N, Rogers WA, Sharit J. Improving Social Support for Older Adults Through Technology: Findings From the PRISM Randomized Controlled Trial. Gerontologist. 2018 May 8;58(3):467-477. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnw249.
• Mitzner TL, Savla J, Boot WR, Sharit J, Charness N, Czaja SJ, Rogers WA. Technology Adoption by Older Adults: Findings From the PRISM Trial. Gerontologist. 2019 Jan 9;59(1):34-44. doi: 10.1093/geront/gny113.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: February 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 1, 2014
• Study Completion (Actual): May 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 13, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 21, 2011
• First Posted (Estimate): December 22, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 23, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 3, 2019
• Last Verified: January 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Quality of Life; Well-being; Socialization; Connectivity
• Other Study ID Numbers: 20100482