Evaluation of Usage and Efficacy of the 656 Online Platform for Reducing Caregiver Stress in Chinese Caregivers

January 8, 2025 updated by: Dr Wendy Zhang Wen, Hong Kong Metropolitan University

Evaluation of Usage and Efficacy of the 656 Online Platform for Reducing Caregiver Stress in Chinese Caregivers: Longitudinal Open-trial Study

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a new online platform, 656 Online Platform, in Hong Kong in reducing caregiver stress and enhancing caregiver preparedness and competence of caring for older adults with stroke, dementia, and fracture, investigate the factors influencing the usage of the online platform, and examine user satisfaction and engagement.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The informal caregivers of older adults with serious health problems, especially for stroke, dementia, and fracture, are facing numerous caregiving stress. The online platform can be a cost-effective way to support caregivers and reduce their caregiving stress.

A new online platform, the 655 Online Platform, was developed by St. James Settlement in Hong Kong, to provide caregivers with appropriate information and support, attempting to reduce their pressure. Therefore, this study was launched to evaluate the efficacy of a new online platform in reducing caregiver stress and enhancing caregiver preparedness and competence in caring for older adults with stroke, dementia, and fracture, investigate the factors influencing the usage of the online platform, and examine user satisfaction and engagement.

A longitudinal open-trial study design was applied (N=287) with outcome measures administered at baseline, 3-month follow-up, and 15-month follow-up. Primary outcomes included changes in caregiver stress, caregiver preparedness, and competence. The user profile was explored by comparing the characteristics of participants in user group and non-user group. User satisfaction and engagement were also reported.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

287

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Hong Kong
      • Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077
        • Hong Kong Metropolitan University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Family caregivers who are Chinese citizens aged 18 or above and provide care for elderly individuals aged 65 or above diagnosed with stroke, dementia, or fall-related fractures

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Family caregivers who have been diagnosed with severe mental or physical illness or have impairments in cognitive function, such as comprehension, memory, observation, and other related abilities

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Users of the 656 Online Platform
The experimental arm includes caregivers of the elderly with three targeted disorders (stroke, dementia, and fall-related fractures) who used the 656 Online Platform. The 656 Platform provides valuable information regarding three common ailments among the elderly, namely stroke, dementia, and fall-related fractures.
Other: 656 Online Platform
The 656 Platform provides valuable information regarding three common ailments among the elderly, namely stroke, dementia, and fall-related fractures. Serving as an online platform, the 656 Platform incorporates a Chatbot feature that facilitates connections between local caregivers, social workers, and community members to various services. Serving as an online platform, the 656 Platform incorporates an AI Chatbot and a Live Chat feature that facilitates connections between local caregivers, social workers, and community members to various services. Apart from this, the 656 Platform offers several features that enhance its functionality and user experience, including problem-based elderly resource database, interim care solutions, exchange forum, data analytics and research, and professional knowledge and resources.
No Intervention: Non-users of the 656 Online Platform
This arm includes caregivers of the elderly with three targeted disorders (stroke, dementia, and fall-related fractures) who did not use the 656 Online Platform. The 656 Platform provides valuable information regarding three common ailments among the elderly, namely stroke, dementia, and fall-related fractures.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Caregiver stress
Time Frame: From the baseline survey to the second follow-up survey at 15 months
Caregiver stress was measured by Modified Caregiver Strain Index (C-M-CSI). It consists of 13 items with a total score ranging from 0 to 26. Each item is rated by a score of 0 (no), 1 (yes, sometimes) or 2 (yes, always). A higher score suggests a higher amount of strain felt by caregivers. The C-M-CSI demonstrated good psychometric properties in the Chinese population.
From the baseline survey to the second follow-up survey at 15 months
Preparedness for caregiving
Time Frame: From the baseline survey to the second follow-up survey at 15 months
Preparedness for caregiving was measured by the Chinese version of Preparedness for Caregiving Scale. The scale consists of 8 items that ask careers how well prepared they believe they are for multiple domains of caregiving. Each item is rated by a five-point Likert scale from 0 (not at all prepared) to 4 (very well prepared) with a total score from 0 to 32. The scale showed good reliability and validity in the Chinese population.
From the baseline survey to the second follow-up survey at 15 months
Caregiver competence
Time Frame: From the baseline survey to the second follow-up survey at 15 months
Caregiver competence was measured by the Chinese version of Caregiver Competence Scale (CCS-C).The scale includes 4 items to assess the sufficiency of a caregiver's performance as administered by the caregiver. A higher score indicates a better sense of competence. The CCS-C demonstrated good psychometric properties in the Chinese caregivers.
From the baseline survey to the second follow-up survey at 15 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Hong Kong Metropolitan University

Collaborators

City University of Hong Kong

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Yuen Ha WONG, Hong Kong Metropolitan University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

December 1, 2020

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 31, 2022

Study Completion (Actual)

August 31, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 8, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 8, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 25, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 8, 2025

Last Verified

January 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 1-2021-39-E

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

The privacy and personal information of the respondents are highly valued and strictly protected.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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