Learning Skills Together Pilot Study

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The Learning Skills Together (LST) program is a synchronous web-based educational intervention developed to address the essential need for training to equip family caregivers to someone with mid-stage Alzheimer's disease to confidently provide complex care tasks.The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate the feasibility of delivering LST, the program's acceptability to caregivers, and likelihood of effecting caregivers self-efficacy and mastery.

Official Title
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A Pilot Evaluation of Learning Skills Together: A Intervention to Teach Complex Care Skills to Caregivers of Persons Living With Alzheimer's Disease

Conditions
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Family Caregiving, Complex Care, Self Efficacy, Intervention

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Learning Skills Together


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Family member (including families of choice) to an individual living with Alzheimer's disease who has received a diagnosis from a physician Ages 18 and old Provides assistance with at least two instrumental activities of daily living or one activity of daily living Care recipient is described as being within mid-stage Alzheimer's Disease There are no plans to place the care recipient in a skilled nursing facility within the next 3 months Exclusion Criteria: The caregiver is paid to provide care The caregiver does not have reliable access to a computer and internet The caregiver is unable to read and speak English

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Interventional Model Description: A pre- and post-test design to test the Learning Skills Together program will be employed.
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Learning Skills Together Intervention<br>Participants in the Learning Skills Together program will begin their participation with a one-on-one phone call with an interventionist, who will ensure the participant is prepared to to attend the group sessions (e.g., familiar with videoconference technology) and will help the participant to set individual goals. The caregiver participant will then attend 4, group-based sessions lasting approximately 1.5 hours each, to learn about common complex care tasks managed by family caregivers to someone with mid-stage Alzheimer's disease, such as managing behavioral symptoms of dementia, incontinence, nutrition, transferring, medication management, and more. Sessions will integrate interactive activities, such as videos, case studies, and discussions. Approximately four weeks later, caregivers will be asked to attend a group reflection session to discuss application of what was learned and progress in meeting individual goals. | Behavioral: Learning Skills Together<br>* Information provided in arm/group description.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Caregiver Competency | This will be measured using the Caregiving Competence Scale. This measure includes 3-items pertaining to caregiver's confidence (e.g., I feel confident that I am meeting the needs of my relative). There are five response options to each statement (Strongly Disagree [1] to Strongly Agree [5]), such that scores may range from 3 to 15. A lower score indicates a lower level of confidence that the caregiver is meeting their relative's needs (i.e., higher scores are better). The outcome measure will use the average change score from baseline scores. | Change from baseline to 4 weeks post-intervention; and to 8 weeks post-intervention | 
| Change in Caregiver Mastery | This will be measured using the Caregiver Mastery Scale. This 7-item scale asks participants the extent to which they feel they have control over various parts of their lives (e.g., I have little control over the things that happen to me). Participants may respond that they Strongly Disagree (1) to Strongly agree (4) with each statement, such that scores range from 7 to 28. The lower the score, the less control the caregiver feels that they have control (i.e., higher scores are better). The mean score for this measure among caregivers to frail older adults was previously reported as 19.42 (SD 3.29), with Cronbach's alpha of 0.78. The outcome measure will use the average change score from baseline scores. | Change from baseline to 4 weeks post-intervention; and to 8 weeks post-intervention |