Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuroscience
• Digital Health

Background:

• Dementia prevalence is rising globally, increasing the burden on unpaid family and friend care partners.
• Care partners often lack sufficient knowledge, leading to stress and impacting care quality.
• Existing web-based interventions show promise but require more rigorous study for knowledge enhancement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of iGeriCare, a novel e-learning platform for dementia care partners.
• To assess the impact of iGeriCare on dementia knowledge, self-efficacy, and caregiver burden.
• To identify specific care partner needs and inform future intervention design.

Main Methods:

• A two-arm pilot feasibility randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing iGeriCare to an alternative e-learning.
• Recruitment of two cohorts of dementia care partners, with protocol refinements after the first cohort.
• Assessment of outcomes including adherence, feasibility, participant feedback, knowledge, self-efficacy, and burden at baseline and 8 weeks, supplemented by qualitative thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Participants found the iGeriCare e-learning content relevant, clear, and beneficial, reporting acceptable study methods and intervention duration.
• Preliminary analysis showed significant knowledge gains (13.9 points increase on a 50-point scale) in older care partners (≥45 years) in the iGeriCare group compared to the control.
• No statistically significant differences were found in self-efficacy or burden between groups. Qualitative data revealed specific skill needs for different age groups.

Conclusions:

• The iGeriCare platform is a feasible and acceptable web-based educational tool for dementia care partners.
• Preliminary results suggest iGeriCare can improve dementia knowledge, particularly in older care partners.
• Lessons learned will guide a larger RCT to assess long-term impacts on care partner outcomes.