The study aims to develop a mobile-app (Care Buddy) which will be a one-stop integrated source of information and technology-based solutions for caregivers of people with dementia (PWDs). Study aims to bring caregivers into closer partnerships with the wider ecosystem (e.g., healthcare practitioners, community services, peer support, and care service providers) which will ultimately improve outcomes for both PWDs and their caregivers.
This is a 5-year study with various stages: 1) proof-of-concept stage to design and develop the Care buddy intervention, 2) proof-of-value stage to assess the feasibility, acceptability and satisfaction with the Care buddy intervention among informal caregivers of PWDs, 3) test-bedding stage to assess the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the Care buddy intervention versus usual care among informal caregivers of PWDs with help of a multi-centre 2-arm RCT and 4) deployment stage to scale up the intervention at multiple centres across Singapore, monitor its adoption and outcomes and assess any organizational and individual barriers to adoption. By the end of the proposed five-year project, investigators aim to develop and evaluate the technology as well as achieve widespread adoption among caregivers of PWDs. Investigators want to enable easy access to information, provide decisional and social support, improve the reach and uptake of existing community service providers, and assist with coordination among multiple informal and professional caregivers through the journey of dementia caregiving and into the bereavement phase.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
210
Care Buddy mobile intervention will be a one-stop solution for caregivers of dementia patients and help them in their care-giving journey by providing them solutions to manage behavioural problems, physical conditions of their loved one. The app will be multi-component and will provide tools for the caregiver to manage their stress and burden. It will provide information on dementia, list of service providers, information on grief, financial support. This app will provide a platform for all enrolled caregivers to chat with each other and provide social support.
Duke-NUS
Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
RECRUITINGCaregiver Psychological well-being
Flourish - range - 8 - 56, high score represents a person with many psychological resources and strengths
Time frame: 1 year from data collection
Caregiver social scale
Friendship scale - The score range is 0-24. A high score represents social connectedness and a score of "0" complete social isolation
Time frame: 1 year from data collection
Caregiver Dementia Knowledge
The Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool - range - 0-21. High score equals to higher knowledge of dementia.
Time frame: 1 year from data collection
Caregiver Impact
Revised Memory \& Behavior Problem checklist - range - 0-96 Higher score indicates increased impact.
Time frame: 1 year from data collection
Caregiver Burden
Zarit Burden scale - range 0-88. 0 - 21 little or no burden, 21 - 40 mild to moderate burden, 41 - 60 moderate to severe burden, 61 - 88 severe burden \>34 - clinically significant burden.
Time frame: 1 year from data collection
Caregiver Stress
Perceived Stress Scale: Scoring: PSS scores are obtained by reversing responses (e.g., 0 = 4, 1 = 3, 2 = 2, 3 = 1 \& 4 = 0) to the four positively stated items (items 4, 5, 7, \& 8) and then summing across all scale items.
Time frame: 1 year from data collection
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