WeCareAdvisor: A Web-Based Tool to Improve Quality of Life for Military Veterans With Dementia and Their Caregivers

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This research will test the WeCareAdvisor tool for family caregivers of military veterans with dementia to help caregivers assess, manage and track behavioral symptoms and their contributing factors (e.g., pain, sleep disturbance), and that provides tailored strategies for in-home, medication-free behavior management. 60 caregiver-person with dementia dyads will be recruited (30 Treatment Group, 30 Wait-List Control Group).

Official Title
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WeCareAdvisor: A Web-Based Tool to Improve Quality of Life for Military Veterans With Dementia and Their Caregivers

Conditions
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Dementia, Caregiver, Memory Disorders, Alzheimer Disease, Behavioral Symptoms

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: WeCareAdvisor


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Eligible caregivers must: Be the primary caregiver of a military veteran with dementia for at least 6 months and planning to remain the primary caregiver for the next 2 months Currently living with the person they are caring for (care recipient) Comfortable utilizing technology (e.g. computers, tablets, the internet) Have access to the internet and a computer or tablet device Plans to live in the area for the duration of the study Care recipients (military veteran living with dementia) must: Exhibit at least one or more behavioral symptoms (any behavior at any frequency) Receiving psychotropic medication or cognitive enhancers will not exclude the care recipient. Have a clinical diagnosis of dementia (any type) per caregiver report. Be a military veteran. Exclusion Criteria: Inability to read, speak or understand English Lack of regular access to a telephone, internet, technology (tablet or computer) Caregiver is unable to use a computer or tablet Person with dementia is not a military veteran

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 21 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: Supportive Care
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: WeCareAdvisor<br>immediate use of the WeCareAdvisor tool for a 1 month period | Behavioral: WeCareAdvisor<br>* Tailored, internet-based software intended to assess, manage and track behavioral symptoms and their contributing factors and to instruct dementia caregivers in problem solving approaches (tailored strategies for in-home, medication-free behavior management) to address difficult or disruptive behaviors exhibited by the person with dementia. During the testing period participants will refer to the WeCareAdvisor when behavioral challenges occur.<br>|
| Active Comparator: WeCareAdvisor after 1 month<br>after a wait period of 1 month, use of the WeCareAdvisor tool for a 1 month period | Behavioral: WeCareAdvisor<br>* Tailored, internet-based software intended to assess, manage and track behavioral symptoms and their contributing factors and to instruct dementia caregivers in problem solving approaches (tailored strategies for in-home, medication-free behavior management) to address difficult or disruptive behaviors exhibited by the person with dementia. During the testing period participants will refer to the WeCareAdvisor when behavioral challenges occur.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Caregiver Stress | As measured by a study specific questionnaire completed by caregivers. Stress is measured on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 is equivalent to no stress and 5 is equivalent to extreme stress. | Baseline to 2 months | 
| Change in Caregiver Confidence in Managing Problematic Behavior | As measured by a study specific questionnaire completed by caregivers. Confidence in managing problematic behavior is measured on a scale of 0 to 10, where a score of 0 means not confident and 10 means extremely confident | Baseline to 2 months | 
| Change in Caregiver Upset | As measured by a study specific questionnaire completed by caregivers. Upset is measured on a scale of 0 to 5 where 0 is equivalent to no upset and 5 is equivalent to extreme upset (midpoint is equivalent to fairly upset). | Baseline to 2 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Caregiver Communication | Caregivers rate the frequency of using six forms of negative communication (yelling, threatening, criticizing, withdrawing from patient, using harsh tone and screaming), measured on a scale of 1 to 5 where a score of 1 is never and a score of 5 is always. | Baseline to 2 months |