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Pilot Testing Dementia-Enhanced Training and Tool for Home Hospice Clinicians

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias
Interventions
Behavioral: EDITH-HC
Registration Number
NCT05719077
Lead Sponsor
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to pilot test the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a clinically useful, inclusive dementia-enhanced training and tool for use by home hospice clinicians to improve care and support for Black and White patients with dementia and their family caregivers. The investigators expect family caregivers of clinicians in the intervention group will report less caregiver burden (primary outcome) than caregivers of clinicians in the control group. The investigators expect that, compared to clinicians in the control group (usual care), clinicians in the intervention group (receive the training and use the tool) will demonstrate more knowledge of dementia-related caregiving issues (secondary outcomes). In exploratory analyses, the investigators expect family caregivers will report greater self-efficacy and preparedness, and that patients of clinicians in the intervention group will experience fewer live discharges than family caregivers of patients of clinicians in the control group.

Detailed Description

For this aim, the investigators will conduct a randomized pilot study to determine the feasibility and acceptability of implementing the training and tool in clinical practice compared to usual care with 40 clinicians (20 intervention, 20 control) and 160 Black and white FCG (80 intervention, 80 control). The investigators will also determine preliminary efficacy of the training and tool. Outcomes include feasibility and acceptability of the intervention, reducing FCG burden (primary outcome), improving clinician knowledge and confidence (secondary outcomes) and increasing FCG preparedness and self-efficacy.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
120
Inclusion Criteria
  • Individuals are not excluded from this study based on gender.
  • Based on proportion of hospice workforce and family caregivers that are female, we expect 70%-80% of participants will be female.
  • Nurse, social worker, or family member who provides care to persons(s) living with dementia enrolled in home hospice care.
  • 19-90 years old.
  • Can complete data collection in English.
  • Family Caregivers: identify as White or Black/African American.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Participant is less than 19 years old or older than 90 years old.
  • Does not provide care to person(s) living with dementia enrolled in home hospice.
  • Cannot complete data collection in English.
  • Family Caregiver does not identify as White or Black/African American.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Intervention GroupEDITH-HCClinicians in intervention group will watch a series educational and instructional videos and use caregiver burden assessment tool up to four times during regular home visits with family caregivers of home hospice patients living with dementia. Clinicians will be assessed for changes in knowledge regarding dementia caregiving (secondary outcome). Family caregivers will be assessed for changes in caregiver burden (primary outcome) and preparedness and self-efficacy (exploratory outcomes).
Control GroupEDITH-HCClinicians in control group will listen to a presentation on outcomes for home hospice patients living with dementia. Clinicians will be assessed for changes in knowledge regarding dementia caregiving (secondary outcome). Family caregivers will be assessed for changes in caregiver burden (primary outcome) and preparedness and self-efficacy (exploratory outcomes).
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Family Caregiver BurdenBaseline and through intervention completion, an average of 8 weeks

The investigators will assess this outcome using the validated, 12-item Zarit Caregiver Burden Inventory. The investigators will assess changes in reported caregiver burden between baseline and subsequent hospice visits and compare differences in changes between the intervention and control groups. Because family caregiver participants are relatives of hospice patients that may die (at which point they will no longer be receiving home visits from nurses and social workers), the investigators expect that many participants will not complete all four time points of data collection.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Clinician knowledge of dementia-related issues at end of lifeBaseline and through training completion, an average of 4 weeks

The investigators will assess clinician knowledge of dementia-related issues at end of life using a revised Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale and assessment questions that are tailored to the content of the training. The investigators will assess changes in reported knowledge between baseline and after completing the training. The investigators will compare differences in changes between clinicians receiving the training (intervention) and those receiving a presentation on patterns of hospice outcomes for persons living with dementia (control).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Rutgers Univeristy

🇺🇸

New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States

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