Evaluating the CG ASSIST Program for Caregiving Dyads (CG ASSIST)

The CG ASSIST Project is a four-year study for older Veterans with transfer impairments and informal caregivers. CG ASSIST is an in-home training program for dyads designed to teach Veterans how to safely, skillfully, and (when possible) independently perform Activities of Daily Living involving transfers. Experts (OTs) who provide this training will also recommend, provide, and install assistive technology devices such as grab bars, bed rails, and toileting aids as needed. Research assistants conduct home visits with the dyads pre and post intervention to determine the effects of the program on Veteran and caregiver quality of life measures (burden, depression, task efficacy, lifespace).

Half of the couples in this study will receive the training from the expert remotely through a tele-video conferencing device. Research assistants will bring the device to participants' homes and assist in the training session.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Transfer Impairment
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Immediate Intervention Group; Other: Delayed Intervention Control Group

Detailed Description

Introduction and Objective: The primary objective of the proposed four-year randomized, controlled trial is to document that providing a hands-on skills training and assistive technology (AT)/environmental modification program for older Veterans who are dependent in activities of daily living (ADLs) and their informal caregivers will result in improvements in caregiving processes (i.e., caregiving skills) and outcomes (i.e., safety during tasks) compared to the current standard of care and have beneficial direct and indirect effects for both members of the dyad. Secondary objectives are to determine the effects of the program on Veteran and caregiver subjective well-being (depression, quality of life) and to compare the relative effectiveness of two validated implementation modalities the traditional in-person approach and real-time interactive tele-video conferencing.

Research Plan. The study will be conducted with older Veterans (>60yrs) with mobility impairments who live in the community and are dependent on an informal caregiver for ADL assistance involving mobility, transfer or positional change. The study will utilize a modified randomized controlled cross-over design with four study arms and three or four outcome assessment periods. Prior to the first home visit, participants will be randomized to an intervention modality (in-person vs. tele-video) then randomized within those groups to an immediate intervention (IIG) or delayed intervention/control group (DICG).

Methods. In-home interviews will be completed with 180 Veteran caregiving dyads to obtain baseline, self-reported measures of caregiving needs, processes and outcomes using standardized, validated instruments. In-home visits by an Assistive Technology Specialist (ATS) will mirror the interview visits (within 1 week) to independently and objectively assess needs through observation of functional tasks. Dyads will be re-evaluated one (T2), two (T3), and four to five (T4) months later to ascertain change. Following T1 assessments, those in the IIG will receive 2 additional home visits from the ATS to (1) deliver the intervention and (2) reinforce the intervention. A 2nd blinded ATS will conduct the T2 outcome assessments. At T2 an ATS will conduct observation-based assessments which will also serve as a repeat baseline for the DICG. The intervention schedule will then be repeated for dyads in the DICG during T3. The final assessments for both groups will be collected 3 months after the intervention during T4.

Intervention. The Caregiver Assessment of Skill Sets & Individualized Support Thru Training or CG ASSIST program has recently undergone feasibility testing in a VA RR&D pilot study.

The intervention consists of (a) provision of assistive technology (AT) and simple home modifications to facilitate ADLs and (b) dyad training on the appropriate use of the devices and proper task execution using standardized protocols individualized to the needs and preferences of the dyad and environmental features of the home.

Clinical Relevance. Supporting and assisting caregivers in providing care for Veterans to help them age in place has important implications for the VHA system and the safety, dignity and quality of life of the Veterans we serve.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 126
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Georgia
    • Decatur, Georgia, United States, 30033
      • Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Veterans 60 who require assistance from the identified caregiver with more than one Activity of Daily Living or three or more Instrumental Activity of Daily Living,
• have a life expectancy of greater than or equal to six (6) months,
• have no plans for transitioning out of home or into hospice in the next six months,
• and have approval from the primary care provider to participate in the research.
• Caregivers must live with the Veteran, provide care four (4) or more days out of the week for at least 6 months,
• and obtain a negative mini-cog assessment. Caregivers can be any relation (spouse, child, sibling, friend, etc.) to the Veteran so long as the two are cohabitating.
• Caregiver can be any age.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Caregivers who have a positive screen with the Mini-Cog fail to demonstrate cognitive capacity to provide informed consent.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Immediate Intervention Group; Receives the in-home training intervention immediately after completing the baseline assessment. The intervention includes three home visits from an AT Specialist (Occupational or Physical Therapist) who observes the dyad perform three ADL transfers, provides recommendations, equipment, home modifications, training, and follow-up training as needed.	Behavioral: Immediate Intervention Group; Assistive Technology (AT) Specialists, experts on assistive technology devices and how to performing transfer tasks, train Veteran and caregiver dyads to safely, skillfully, and (when appropriate) independently perform three activities of daily living (ADLs): transferring in and out of bed, toileting, and bathing. During the baseline assessments, AT Specialists also recommend assistive technology equipment (grab bars, bed rails, raised toilet seats, etc.), environmental modifications, adaptive methods, and energy conservation techniques. On the first day of the intervention, AT Specialists provide and install recommended equipment and train the dyad to complete the three ADLs using the recommended the modified methods.; Other Names: In-home Training and Provision of AT (prn)
Other: Delayed Intervention Control Group; Receives the in-home training intervention six weeks after completing the initial baseline assessment. This allows for a control comparison group while still providing the intervention to all participants.	Other: Delayed Intervention Control Group; Receives the in-home training intervention six weeks after completing the initial baseline assessment. This allows for a control comparison group while still providing the intervention to all participants.; Other Names: Delayed In-home Training and Provision of AT (prn)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Caregiver Transfer Efficacy	Caregiver reported the level of confidence that Veteran care recipient can perform 10 activity of daily living tasks rated on scale of 1-10. Efficacy in task completion reported both with assistance from the informal caregiver and performed independently by the Veteran. Scores range from 10-100 with higher scores reflecting greater transfer efficacy.	T1 Baseline and T2 Post Intervention; 4-6 Weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Veteran Task Efficacy	Veteran care recipient reported confidence in the performance of 10 activity of daily living tasks rated on scale of 1-10. Items are assessed for efficacy with and without (independently) assistance provided from a caregiver. Scores range from 10-100 with higher scores reflecting greater task efficacy.	T1 baseline and T2 Post Intervention; 4-6 weeks
Caregiver Burden	Zarit Burden Interview Revised -indicating caregiver burden. Caregivers endorse 22 items using a 5-point scale. Response options range from 0 (Never) to 4 (Nearly Always). Higher scores reflect greater caregiver burden. Scores range from 0 to 88.	T1 Baseline and T2 Post Intervention; 4-6 Weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Patricia C Griffiths, PhD, Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: December 1, 2013
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 1, 2016
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 12, 2013
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 19, 2013
• First Posted (Estimate): December 27, 2013

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 1, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 28, 2018
• Last Verified: February 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Telemedicine; Veterans; Dementia; Activities of Daily Living; Caregivers; Self-Help Devices
• Other Study ID Numbers: D7873-R; 00050313 (Other Identifier: Emory IRB)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No