Testing the Effects of a Text Message Caregiver Support Intervention for Latinos

University of Kansas Medical Center288 enrolled

Overview

The goal of this randomized clinical trial it to test the efficacy of CuidaTEXT, the first Alzheimer's disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) caregiver support intervention to capitalize on text messaging, among Latinos. Researchers will compare those who receive the CuidaTEXT intervention to those who do not receive the intervention to see if CuidaTEXT effects Latino caregiver stressors and their negative consequences . Participants will receive a variety of text messages, from automatic to keyword-drive, regarding ADRD education, social support, self-care, ADRD care management, and behavioral symptoms. Participants will also complete measures regarding depressive symptoms, coping, behavioral symptoms, and preparedness for caregiving.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

288

Conditions

Alzheimer Disease

Interventions

CuidaTEXT is a multidomain, bilingual 6-month text message intervention that includes delivery and content features tailored to Latino caregivers. All caregivers receive one core daily automatic message on five domains: ADRD education, social support, self-care, ADRD care management, and behavioral symptoms. Caregivers can access on-demand automatic messages to expand on the five domains via sending keywords and interact with a coach via a live chat for more personalized help.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 100 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Over the age of 18 * Spanish and English-speaking people who identify as Latino * Reports providing hands-on care for a relative who has been given a clinical or research ADRD diagnosis and has an Eight-item Informant Interview to Differentiate Aging and Dementia (AD-8) screening score ≥2, indicating cognitive impairment * Has a score of 7 or higher on the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10) * Self-reports being able to read and write * Owns a cell phone with a flat fee, and uses it at least weekly for texting. Exclusion Criteria: * Participation in another wellbeing-related clinical trial * Cohabitation with another participant in the CuidaTEXT R01 Study * Participants who provide care for a person with ADRD already cared for by another participant in the CuidaTEXT R01 study * Participant plans to move to another country within seven months

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in caregiver depressive symptoms

Change in caregiver depressive symptoms from baseline to 6 months as measured by the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10). The CES-D-10 is a self-report rating scale that measures characteristic symptoms of depression in the past week (e.g. depression, loneliness). Each item is rated on a 4-point scale (Rarely or None of the Time-Most or All of the Time). The summary score ranges from 0 to 30 with higher scores indicating higher severity.

Time frame: Baseline and 6 months

Secondary Outcomes

Change in caregiver behavioral distress symptoms

Change in caregiver behavioral distress symptoms from baseline to 6 months as measured by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire (NPI-Q).If any of 12 care recipient behavioral symptoms is present in the last month (e.g., repeating, delusions), caregivers rate their own distress on a 6-point scale (Not at All-Extreme). A distress summary score is calculated by adding the scores of all items, with scores ranging from 0 to 60. Higher scores indicate higher distress.

Time frame: Baseline and 6 months

Central Contacts

Rachel Ruiz

CONTACT

913-945-5052 rruiz3@kumc.edu

Jaime Perales Puchalt, PhD, MPH