Online Workshop for Family Caregivers of People with Dementia
Trial Summary
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on providing support and education for caregivers, so it's unlikely that medication changes are required.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Building Better Caregivers workshop?
Research shows that structured workshops for family caregivers, like the Minnesota Family Workshop, can reduce the burden on caregivers by providing education, support, and skills training. These types of programs help caregivers manage stress and improve their caregiving skills, which suggests that the Building Better Caregivers workshop could be effective in similar ways.12345
Is the Online Workshop for Family Caregivers of People with Dementia safe?
How is the Building Better Caregivers workshop different from other treatments for dementia caregivers?
The Building Better Caregivers workshop is unique because it is an online program specifically designed to educate and support family caregivers of people with dementia, offering multimedia resources and interactive tools that can be accessed from home, making it more convenient and accessible compared to traditional in-person support groups.1112131415
What is the purpose of this trial?
Many family and friend caregivers of persons living with dementia experience depression, stress, and other adverse health consequences due to the responsibilities of their caregiving role. These caregivers express a desire for education and support. The overarching goal of this project is to improve education and support for caregivers of persons living with dementia so that they can take better care of themselves and also their person living with dementia.Building Better Caregivers workshop is an online, 6-week, small group workshop for family caregivers of persons living with dementia that teaches them caregiving skills and how to manage difficult emotions, stress, and other challenging aspects of caregiving. Caregivers also receive support from other caregivers and two trained workshop facilitators and a workbook to keep. The workshop uses asynchronous delivery that allows caregivers to use materials at home when they have time day or night, self-pace their learning, and chat with other caregivers through threaded discussion board conversations.In this pilot embedded pragmatic clinical trial the investigators will evaluate the workshop among 108 caregivers who receive health care in urban areas of California and rural areas of New York. To achieve the project goals the investigators will (1) determine the feasibility of identifying, enrolling, and randomizing caregivers to a workshop group or wait-list group; (2) assess the feasibility of using electronic health record data as study outcomes, including depressive symptoms of caregivers and emergency room visits and hospitalizations of their patients with dementia; and (3) determine whether caregivers complete the workshop and think it is acceptable.If this pilot trial is successful, the investigators will have the information necessary to conduct a larger study among many additional caregivers with the long-term goal of improving their health and the well-being of their person with dementia.
Research Team
Veronica Yank, MD
Principal Investigator
University of California, San Francisco
Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for family caregivers of persons living with dementia (PLWD) who are experiencing stress or depression. Participants must be receiving health care in urban California or rural New York and willing to engage in an online workshop.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Participants engage in a 6-week, online, peer-led small group workshop designed for family caregivers of persons living with dementia
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, including completion of caregiver depressive symptoms survey
Wait-list Control
Participants in the wait-list control group are offered the workshop after their 3-month trial participation is completed
Treatment Details
Interventions
- Building Better Caregivers workshop
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of California, San Francisco
Lead Sponsor
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Collaborator