DemensiaKITA Mobile Health App to Improve Knowledge, Attitude, Practice and Reduce Burden Among Dementia Caregivers in Malaysia

Universiti Teknologi Mara451 enrolled

Overview

Dementia is a growing health concern in Malaysia and places a heavy burden on family members who act as caregivers. Many caregivers struggle with limited knowledge, negative attitudes, and challenges in daily caregiving practices. These issues increase caregiver stress and reduce the quality of care for people living with dementia. The DemensiaKITA mobile health application was developed to support caregivers by providing educational content, self-help tools, and practical guidance. This study will evaluate whether using the DemensiaKITA app can improve caregivers' knowledge, attitudes, and caregiving practices (KAP), as well as reduce caregiver burden. This is a non-randomized controlled trial involving dementia caregivers in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. Participants in the intervention group will use the DemensiaKITA mobile app for a set period, while the control group will continue with usual support. Outcomes will be measured before and after the intervention using validated questionnaires. The results of this study will provide evidence on the effectiveness of a locally developed mobile health application in supporting dementia caregivers in Malaysia. If successful, this digital approach may be scaled up to improve caregiver support and dementia care in other settings.

The rising prevalence of dementia in Malaysia has increased the need for caregiver support strategies. Informal caregivers often face knowledge gaps, negative perceptions, and poor caregiving skills, collectively referred to as Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) challenges. Additionally, caregiver burden is a well-documented consequence of long-term dementia care, leading to stress and reduced quality of life. The DemensiaKITA mobile health application was designed to provide accessible, structured, and culturally relevant caregiver education. Its features include dementia-related knowledge modules, attitude-shaping messages to encourage empathy and positive caregiving, and practice tips for daily care. It also offers self-monitoring tools to track caregiving challenges and support caregiver well-being. This non-randomized controlled trial will recruit dementia caregivers from Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. Participants will be allocated into intervention and control groups. The intervention group will use the DemensiaKITA app for a defined duration, while the control group will receive usual care and information. Pre- and post-intervention data will be collected using validated instruments such as the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool (DKAT-2), caregiver attitude and practice scales, and the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). Primary outcomes include improvements in KAP scores, while secondary outcomes include reductions in caregiver burden. The study findings will inform the potential integration of mobile health applications into community-based dementia support programs in Malaysia and similar low- and middle-income country settings.

Interventions

DemensiaKITA mobile health applicationOTHER

A mobile health application developed to support dementia caregivers. It provides structured educational modules, attitude-shaping content, and practical caregiving tips, along with self-monitoring features to reduce caregiver stress and burden. Participants in the intervention group will use the app regularly during the study period.

Usual CareOTHER

Participants assigned to the control group will continue with usual caregiving practices and community-based resources available to dementia caregivers. They will not be given access to the DemensiaKITA mobile health application during the study period. This group provides a comparator for evaluating the added benefit of th

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 18 years and above * Primary informal caregiver of a person living with dementia (family member or household member) * Able to read and understand Malay * Owns a smartphone and is able to use mobile applications * Provides informed consent to participate Exclusion Criteria: * Professional/paid caregivers (e.g., nurses, domestic helpers hired solely for caregiving) * Caregivers of patients with conditions other than dementia * Individuals with severe cognitive or psychiatric illness that limits their ability to participate

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Dementia Caregivers' Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) Scores

Caregiver knowledge, attitude, and practice will be assessed using validated instruments, including the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool (DKAT-2) and caregiver attitude and practice scales. The primary outcome is the change in KAP scores between baseline and post-intervention, comparing the intervention (DemensiaKITA app) and control (usual care) groups. Higher scores indicate better knowledge, more positive attitudes, and improved caregiving practices.

Time frame: Baseline, 1 month and 3 months after intervention start

Secondary Outcomes

Change in Caregiver Burden Scores

Caregiver burden will be measured using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), a validated questionnaire assessing the level of stress, emotional strain, and impact of caregiving responsibilities. The outcome is the change in ZBI scores between baseline and post-intervention. Lower scores indicate reduced caregiver burden.