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A Mobile Informatics Solution to Aid in Memory

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Dementia
Alzheimer Disease
Interventions
Device: Smartwatch Reminder (SR) system
Registration Number
NCT04700540
Lead Sponsor
University of Minnesota
Brief Summary

The researchers propose to develop an informatics system to assist people with memory impairment. Persons with Memory Concern (PWMC) recognize the faces they see daily, such as a spouse or caregiver, but they may confuse visiting friends and grandchildren or they may not match names with faces well. The inability to remember names or relationships contributes to isolation and deeply affects their social lives. The proposed solution is a Smartwatch Reminder (SR) system to conspicuously provide this information to the PWMC when needed. The system will be evaluated on the target persons with memory concern population to measure engagement and improvements in social interactions and quality of life.

Detailed Description

This research will evaluate technology designed to improve the quality of life for persons with dementia through external aids to assist with remembering. The primary goal of the Smartwatch Reminder (SR) is to facilitate social interaction for Persons with Memory Concern (PWMC) by providing facial recognition of family, friends, and other key people. The SR will be evaluated using an embedded experimental mixed methods design that combines the collection and analysis of qualitative data within a traditional randomized controlled trial design. To do so, researchers will enroll 100 PWMC and their care partners to participate in initial, 3-month, and 6-month surveys. Half of the PWMCs will be randomly assigned to the intervention group (i.e. receive the SR) and the other half randomly assigned to the attention control group. Each participant will take part in the study for a total of 6 months. All study procedures and data analysis are anticipated to be completed within 24 months.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
162
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

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Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

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Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Intervention GroupSmartwatch Reminder (SR) systemThe PWMC and Care partner in this group will receive the SR. The project will provide a smartwatch and smartphone for the dyads in the study. All others (family, friends, etc.) will be able to download a smartphone app from an online store. Instructional material will be created to show the suggested information that can be entered into the app. Care partners and PWMC are administered surveys at baseline, 3 months and 6 months following enrollment.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in PWMC Social Interaction QualityBaseline, 3-, and 6-months

8-item measure of the quality of the PWMC's social interactions (scores range from 8 to 40; higher scores suggest greater satisfaction with social interactions)

Change in PWMC Social Interaction FrequencyBaseline, 3-, and 6-months

8-item measure of the frequency of the PWMC's social interactions

Change in PWMC Quality of LifeBaseline, 3-, and 6-months

21-item adapted Dementia Quality of Life (DQoL) measure (scores range from 0 to 105; higher scores indicate higher quality of life)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Care Partner Reactions to Memory and Behavioral ProblemsBaseline, 3-, and 6-months

24-item Revised Memory and Behavior Problem Checklist (scores range from 0 to 96; higher scores indicate greater distress associated with problems)

Change in Care Partner DepressionBaseline, 3-, and 6-months

10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies - Depression Scale (scores range from 0 to 30; higher scores suggest more severe depression symptoms)

Change in Care Partner Quality of Life LadderBaseline, 3-, and 6-months

Cantril's Ladder (scores range from 0 to 10; higher scores suggest higher quality of life)

Change in Care Partner Psychosocial Well-BeingBaseline, 3-, and 6-months

11-item Eriksonian Psychosocial Stage Inventory (scores range from 11 to 55; higher scores suggest greater well-being)

Change in Social EngagementBaseline, 3-, and 6-months

6-item Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6) (scores range from 0 to 30; higher scores suggest higher risk of social isolation)

Change in Negative Health TransitionsBaseline, 3-, and 6-months

1-item to assess change in living or care situation and mortality

Change in Care Partner Loneliness in RelationshipBaseline, 3-, and 6-months

UCLA Loneliness Scale (scores range from 20 to 80; higher scores indicate greater loneliness)

Change in Social SupportBaseline, 3-, and 6-months

8-item scale to assess affective assistance by care partner's social network (scores range from 8 to 40; higher scores suggest higher affective assistance by social network)

Change in Relationship QualityBaseline, 3-, and 6-months

6-item version of the Relationship Assessment Scale (scores range from 0 to 30; higher scores suggest higher satisfaction with the relationship)

Change in Pleasant Events ScheduleBaseline, 3-, and 6-months

20-items adapted measure of events and activities (PES-AD) (scores range from 0 to 60; higher scores suggest greater enjoyment with events and activities)

Change in Community EngagementBaseline, 3-, and 6-months

15-item survey developed to evaluate the PWMC's typical social interactions and destinations accessed outside of the home (scores range from 0 to 75; higher scores indicate greater community engagement)

Change in PWMC Functional StatusBaseline, 3-, and 6-months

12-item survey to assess Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) (scores range from 0 to 36; higher scores indicate greater impairment in function)

Change in Memory ImpairmentBaseline, 3-, and 6-months

8-item survey to evaluate level of memory impairment of PWMC (scores range from 8 to 40; higher scores indicate greater memory impairment)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Minnesota

🇺🇸

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

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