Connect for Caregivers

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Connect for Caregivers is a intervention feasibility pilot study. The purpose of the study is to pilot test a newly developed single session behavioral intervention to help caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's Disease or related dementias gain understanding of the importance of increasing social connectedness, awareness of their personal barriers to connectedness, and knowledge of local resources for promoting connectedness.

Detailed Description
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Connect for Caregivers is a intervention feasibility pilot study. We use a mixed methods approach to initiate the development and testing process for a single session behavioral intervention to help caregivers gain understanding of the importance of increasing connectedness, awareness of their personal barriers to connectedness, and knowledge of local resources for promoting connectedness. The intervention-Connect 4 Caregivers-has three components: 1) psychoeducational materials on the importance of connectedness for health and wellbeing; 2) a card sort-based 'discussion prioritization tool' that systematizes and routinizes the process of identifying and prioritizing barriers to connectedness; 3) personalized resources to address the identified barriers/targets. Aim 1 is to investigate whether Connect for Caregivers is associated with a signal for efficacy for changing connectedness by having n=5 caregivers complete the single session intervention and provide quantitative and qualitative data on their experience with the intervention and motivation to work on increasing their social connectedness (a signal for potential efficacy).

Official Title
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'Connect for Caregivers' - Developing a Brief Intervention for Social Connectedness

Conditions
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Loneliness, Social Isolation

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Connect for Caregivers


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age ≥ 50 yrs; English speaking; Caregiver (age 50 or older) for a community-dwelling family member with ADRD, living with (or in close proximity to) family member with dementia; Elevated caregiving distress: Above population mean (>11) on 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and/or at least moderate caregiver strain (score >= 5) on the Modified Caregiver Strain Index (MCSI). Social connectedness: UCLA Loneliness Scale: Short Form score of >5. Exclusion Criteria: Primary language is not English; Current problem drinking on the AUDIT-C (score of 5 or greater indicating exclusion); Current non-alcohol psychoactive substance abuse (MINI Neuropsychiatric Interview), psychotic disorders (current and lifetime, MINI), bipolar disorder (MINI), and current mood disorder with psychotic features (MINI); Significant cognitive impairment (MOCA <22); and Hearing problems that preclude completion of the intervention.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 50 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Connect for Caregivers<br>Connect for Caregivers is a single session behavioral intervention with three components: 1) psychoeducation on the importance of connectedness for health and well-being; a card sort-based discussion prioritization tool that systematizes and routinizes the process of identifying and prioritizing barriers to connectedness; 3) personalized resources to address the identified barriers and targets. | Behavioral: Connect for Caregivers<br>* The intervention being studied is a single session guided behavioral intervention to improve social connectedness in caregivers of individuals with ADRD. The intervention, Connect for Caregivers, provides psychoeducation on the importance of social connectedness for health and well-being, includes a card-sort process to identify and prioritize barriers to connectedness, and provides personalized resources and strategies for caregivers to use to increase their social connectedness.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Perceived Autonomy | This is a self-report measure that assesses a mechanism posited by Self-Determination Theory to increase motivation for healthy behaviors. It has 6 items, a range from 6-30, and higher scores indicate greater perceived autonomy. | two weeks | 
| Perceived Competence Scale | This is a self-report measure that assesses a mechanism posited by Self-Determination Theory to increase motivation for healthy behaviors. It has 7 items, a range from 7-35, and higher scores indicate greater perceived competence. | two weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Knowledge of Social Engagement | This is a self-report measure that assesses a subject's knowledge of the importance of social connections. It has 4 items, a range from 4-20, and higher scores indicate greater knowledge. | two weeks | 
| Loneliness | UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3, which assesses self-reported loneliness. 20 items, rated as to how often the participant has felt a certain way in the prior month (e.g., How often do you feel alone?) -- never (1), rarely (2), sometimes (3), or often (4). Higher scores indicate greater loneliness. Total scores range from 20 to 80, with higher scores representing a worse outcome (i.e., greater loneliness). | two weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Social Connectedness