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EPIC: An Intervention for Early-stage AD Dyads - Adapted for Virtual Delivery

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Alzheimer Disease
Dementia
Memory Loss
Interventions
Behavioral: psychoeducational skills training intervention
Registration Number
NCT03144921
Lead Sponsor
Arizona State University
Brief Summary

EPIC II (Early-Stage Partners in Care) is a research project designed to assist people with early-stage memory loss and their care partners by providing early-stage related education and skill-training sessions, held via Zoom, designed to reduce stress, enhance well-being, manage challenges, and plan for the future. Researchers will gather feedback from individuals about their experience to continue to improve programs for early-stage memory loss.

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study is to help early-stage individuals who have early-stage memory loss or early stage dementia and their current or future care partners by providing education and skill-training programs, held via Zoom, designed to reduce stress and distress, increase well-being and quality of life, and plan for the future. About 160 early-stage dyads (person with early-stage dementia and his/her care partner) will be enrolled across the United States through Arizona State University.

People who decide to voluntarily participate in this program, will be asked to:

* Meet others with memory loss and their care partners.

* Attend six group sessions via Zoom (2 hours \& 30 minutes each) to learn strategies to help handle new situations, reduce stress, improve mood, communicate better with each other, and plan for the future.

* Participate in one 90-minute individualized session via Zoom to address specific issues that may be unique to each dyad's situation.

* Participate in three 2-hour confidential interviews that involve questions about background, mood, and quality of life.

* Participate in interviews at the start, and again about 3 and 6 months, via Zoom, to help us to continue to improve the program.

* Attend several monthly booster sessions after completion of the seven EPIC sessions.

Each person will receive up to $45 for completing all follow-up interviews, or $20- 25 for each interview completed. All participants are offered the EPIC sessions shortly after their first interview or shortly after their 3-month interview. Some participants will also attend an additional free education workshop within one month of the initial assessment.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
272
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
EPIC Apsychoeducational skills training interventionGroup A will start the EPIC intervention immediately after assessment 1. The EPIC program consists of a 7-session, psychoeducational skills training intervention, held via Zoom, designed to provide education and skills on how to prepare for the future and reduce stress regarding memory changes and loss for both the person with early-stage dementia and their care partner. Following the 7 EPIC sessions, participants will attend monthly booster sessions, held via Zoom, to reinforce the skills/lessons. Participants may voluntarily choose to continue attending booster sessions through 2024.
EPIC B (WLC)psychoeducational skills training interventionGroup B - the wait list comparison (WLC) group - will have a 75-minute group education session (comparator intervention), held via Zoom, about 3 weeks after baseline assessment. The WLC session is an overview of memory loss/dementia and its related impact for EPs and CPs and an overview of aging network services in the community. They will receive a brief telephone check-in call approximately 3 weeks before the T2 assessment. The WLC group will start the complete EPIC psychoeducational skills training intervention, held via Zoom, immediately after Assessment 2. Following completion of the 7 EPIC sessions, participants will attend monthly booster sessions, held via Zoom, to reinforce the skills/lessons. Participants may voluntarily choose to continue attending booster sessions through 2024.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
EP Quality of LifeAssessments T1-T3 to be conducted over span of six months

Assess EP Quality of life and CPs perception of EPs Quality of life by looking at the change over time in the Quality of Life Measure in Dementia.

EP and CP Emotional well-beingAssessments T1-T3 to be conducted over span of six months

Examine the efficacy of the EPIC intervention as compared with a Wait List Comparison condition by looking at the change over time in the Positive and Negative Affect Scales (Dementia Quality of Life Instrument).

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Knowledge and Use of Services for People with Dementia and their Care PartnersAssessments T1-T3 to be conducted over span of six months

Assess the knowledge of, use of, and satisfaction with a variety of services (for example, respite, support groups, case management, referral services) relevant to people with dementia and their care partners by looking at the change over time.

EP and CP Care preparednessAssessments T1-T3 to be conducted over span of six months

Assess EP and CP perceptions of how well prepared they feel for addressing future care needs by looking at the change over time in the Care Partners Preparedness Scale (modified).

Communication Skills and Support within the DyadAssessments T1-T3 to be conducted over span of six months

Assess communication by looking at the change over time in the Dyadic Relationship Scale and Emotional Intimacy Disruptive Behavior Scale.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Nationwide Program Locations (Based at ASU Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation)

🇺🇸

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

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