Virtual Dementia-Friendly Communities (Verily Connect) Stepped-Wedge Cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial: Improving Dementia Caregiver Wellbeing in Rural Australia
Caring for people living with dementia often leads to social isolation and decreased support for caregivers. This study investigated the effect of a Virtual Dementia-Friendly Rural Communities (Verily Connect) model on social support and demand for caregivers of people living with dementia. The co-d...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Geriatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3417/8/5/85 |
| _version_ | 1797573766354567168 |
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| author | Irene Blackberry Tshepo Rasekaba Debra Morgan Kayla Royals Jennene Greenhill David Perkins Megan O’Connell Mohammad Hamiduzzaman Margaret Winbolt Ainsley Robinson Hilary Davis Clare Wilding |
| author_facet | Irene Blackberry Tshepo Rasekaba Debra Morgan Kayla Royals Jennene Greenhill David Perkins Megan O’Connell Mohammad Hamiduzzaman Margaret Winbolt Ainsley Robinson Hilary Davis Clare Wilding |
| author_sort | Irene Blackberry |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Caring for people living with dementia often leads to social isolation and decreased support for caregivers. This study investigated the effect of a Virtual Dementia-Friendly Rural Communities (Verily Connect) model on social support and demand for caregivers of people living with dementia. The co-designed intervention entailed an integrated website and mobile application, peer-support videoconference, and technology learning hubs. This mixed-methods, stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised controlled trial was conducted with 113 participants from 12 rural communities in Australia. Caregiver data were collected using MOS-SSS and ZBI between 2018 and 2020. The relationship between post-intervention social support with age, years of caring, years since diagnosis, and duration of intervention were explored through correlation analysis and thin plate regression. Google Analytics were analysed for levels of engagement, and cost analysis was performed for implementation. Results showed that caregivers’ perception of social support (MOS-SSS) increased over 32 weeks (<i>p</i> = 0.003) and there was a marginal trend of less care demand (ZBI) among caregivers. Better social support was observed with increasing caregiver age until 55 years. Younger caregivers (aged <55 years) experienced the greatest post-intervention improvement. The greatest engagement occurred early in the trial, declining sharply thereafter. The Verily Connect model improved caregivers’ social support and appeared to ease caregiver demand. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:13:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-56257efd5be04353b3c5358b49d406c8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2308-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:13:40Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-56257efd5be04353b3c5358b49d406c82023-11-19T16:36:38ZengMDPI AGGeriatrics2308-34172023-08-01858510.3390/geriatrics8050085Virtual Dementia-Friendly Communities (Verily Connect) Stepped-Wedge Cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial: Improving Dementia Caregiver Wellbeing in Rural AustraliaIrene Blackberry0Tshepo Rasekaba1Debra Morgan2Kayla Royals3Jennene Greenhill4David Perkins5Megan O’Connell6Mohammad Hamiduzzaman7Margaret Winbolt8Ainsley Robinson9Hilary Davis10Clare Wilding11John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research, La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Wodonga, VIC 3689, AustraliaJohn Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research, La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Wodonga, VIC 3689, AustraliaCanadian Centre for Rural and Agricultural Health, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, CanadaJohn Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research, La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Wodonga, VIC 3689, AustraliaFaculty of Health, Southern Cross University, Bilinga, QLD 4225, AustraliaSchool of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2300, AustraliaDepartment of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A5, CanadaFaculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, AustraliaAustralian Institute for Primary Care and Ageing, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, AustraliaGoulburn Valley Health, Shepparton, VIC 3630, AustraliaSocial Innovation Research Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3122, AustraliaJohn Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research, La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Wodonga, VIC 3689, AustraliaCaring for people living with dementia often leads to social isolation and decreased support for caregivers. This study investigated the effect of a Virtual Dementia-Friendly Rural Communities (Verily Connect) model on social support and demand for caregivers of people living with dementia. The co-designed intervention entailed an integrated website and mobile application, peer-support videoconference, and technology learning hubs. This mixed-methods, stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised controlled trial was conducted with 113 participants from 12 rural communities in Australia. Caregiver data were collected using MOS-SSS and ZBI between 2018 and 2020. The relationship between post-intervention social support with age, years of caring, years since diagnosis, and duration of intervention were explored through correlation analysis and thin plate regression. Google Analytics were analysed for levels of engagement, and cost analysis was performed for implementation. Results showed that caregivers’ perception of social support (MOS-SSS) increased over 32 weeks (<i>p</i> = 0.003) and there was a marginal trend of less care demand (ZBI) among caregivers. Better social support was observed with increasing caregiver age until 55 years. Younger caregivers (aged <55 years) experienced the greatest post-intervention improvement. The greatest engagement occurred early in the trial, declining sharply thereafter. The Verily Connect model improved caregivers’ social support and appeared to ease caregiver demand.https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3417/8/5/85caregivercommunitydementiamobile applicationruralvirtual |
| spellingShingle | Irene Blackberry Tshepo Rasekaba Debra Morgan Kayla Royals Jennene Greenhill David Perkins Megan O’Connell Mohammad Hamiduzzaman Margaret Winbolt Ainsley Robinson Hilary Davis Clare Wilding Virtual Dementia-Friendly Communities (Verily Connect) Stepped-Wedge Cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial: Improving Dementia Caregiver Wellbeing in Rural Australia Geriatrics caregiver community dementia mobile application rural virtual |
| title | Virtual Dementia-Friendly Communities (Verily Connect) Stepped-Wedge Cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial: Improving Dementia Caregiver Wellbeing in Rural Australia |
| title_full | Virtual Dementia-Friendly Communities (Verily Connect) Stepped-Wedge Cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial: Improving Dementia Caregiver Wellbeing in Rural Australia |
| title_fullStr | Virtual Dementia-Friendly Communities (Verily Connect) Stepped-Wedge Cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial: Improving Dementia Caregiver Wellbeing in Rural Australia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Virtual Dementia-Friendly Communities (Verily Connect) Stepped-Wedge Cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial: Improving Dementia Caregiver Wellbeing in Rural Australia |
| title_short | Virtual Dementia-Friendly Communities (Verily Connect) Stepped-Wedge Cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial: Improving Dementia Caregiver Wellbeing in Rural Australia |
| title_sort | virtual dementia friendly communities verily connect stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial improving dementia caregiver wellbeing in rural australia |
| topic | caregiver community dementia mobile application rural virtual |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3417/8/5/85 |
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