The goal of this project is to conduct an open pilot (N=5) among dyads (persons living with dementia and their caregivers) to assess the preliminary effects of an online videogame platform. The "Isle of TEND" is an immersive and interactive videogame platform designed for persons living with dementia and their caregivers. Dyads will use the platform three to four times a week for 20-30 minutes across four weeks. The investigators will assess for improvements in relationship satisfaction, wellbeing, and positive emotions and gather feedback on engagement in the platform. Dyads will complete measures at baseline and post-intervention as well as brief measures after each platform use.
The aim of this phase is to assess initial active engagement, sustained attention, and positive emotions of the "Isle of TEND" intervention platform. Our participants (N = 5 dyads) will be persons living with moderate-severe dementia and their caregivers in the Boston area. The intervention, "Isle of TEND" is an immersive and interactive videogame platform designed for persons living with dementia and their caregivers. Studio Elsewhere, a design and development team, developed the platform in consideration with feedback generated from focus groups and design workshops. Users navigate the online island and explore accompanying modules with varying audio and visual features. The platform aims to engage dyads in an enjoyable, shared, and "error-free" experience (i.e., creating poetry, viewing virtual art). Participants will use their personal "travel journal" after each platform session, in which they log engagement and positive emotion. Dyads are also encouraged to provide free response feedback on the platform. Once a week, dyads will record themselves as they use the platform. The investigators will conclude the pilot with exit interviews. Baseline and post intervention assessments will include self-reported measures including relationship satisfaction, wellbeing, and caregiver stress. The research team will engage in behavioral observation coding to assess active engagement.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
The "Isle of TEND" is an interactive videogame platform in which users navigate to different modules on a virtual island. The modules aim to create a pleasant, shared and "error-free" experience for persons with dementia and their caregivers.
Mass General Brigham
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Engagement
The investigators will examine whether the Isle of TEND is able to capture engagement among participants. Participants will complete the User Engagement Scale after each platform use to report engagement. The User Engagement Scale is on a scale of 1 (Strongly disagree) to 5 (Strongly agree) with higher scores indicating greater engagement. Participants can score between 3 and 15.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Adherence
The investigators will measure adherence through objective and self report measures. Participants will log in a journal each time and duration they use the platform. Additionally, the website platform will run diagnostics to report aggregated use across all participants.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Depression
The investigators will measure depression through the Geriatric Depression Scale. Participants will complete the Geriatric Depression Scale at baseline and post test periods. The Geriatric Depression Scale (GRS) is on a Yes/No scale. A score greater than 5 indicates depression. Participants can score between 0 and 15.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Caregiver stress
The investigators will examine measure caregiver stress through the Modified Caregiver Stress Index. Participants will complete the MCSI at baseline and post test periods. The Modified Caregiver Stress Index (MCSI) is on a scale of 2 (Yes, on a Regular Basis) to 0 (No). A higher score indicates greater caregiver stress. Participants can score between 0 and 26.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Relationship Satisfaction
The investigators will examine measure relationship satisfaction through the Dyadic Relationship Scale. Participants will complete the DRS at baseline and post test periods. The Dyadic Relationship Scale (DRS) is on a scale of 0 (Strongly Agree) to 3 (Strongly Disagree). A higher score indicates greater relationship satisfaction. Participants can score between 0 and 33.
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Time frame: 4 weeks