CAREGIVERSPRO-MMD:trial of a website for people with dementia/carers

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  CAREGIVERSPRO-MMD: A research trial examining the utility of a website for people with memory problems and their caregivers

• IRAS ID

  191941

• Contact name

  Emma Wolverson

• Contact email

  e.wolverson@hull.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Hull

• ISRCTN Number

  ISRCTN15654731

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 8 months, 8 days

• Research summary

  Because of the increasing number of people with memory problems, and the cost of caregiving, research has started to explore low cost methods to support people with dementia and their informal carers. There has been growing interest in the use of computers, tablets or phones to provide information, support and social networks for people with dementia and their caregivers.
  Our research is part of a larger study taking place across Europe, called CAREGIVERSPRO-MMD. The countries participating are: the UK, Italy, Spain, France and Greece. The study will explore whether a website for people with memory problems and their carers can support people to retain their independence for longer. Another aim of our study is to reduce carers’ burden by providing links with local services and other caregivers.
  The website will include self-administered questionnaires to allow people to monitor their own health and wellbeing, ways to chat and interact with other people, information about medication, and information about local support services and events.
  We will recruit 100 dyads consisting of people with memory problems and their carers in Hull and the East Riding. Participants will be randomly allocated to one of two groups. The intervention group will receive a tablet device to enable them to access the CAREGIVERSPRO-MMD website. The control group will not be given a tablet or access to the website. During the study, participants will be asked to complete questionnaires, interact with others through the website, and share information they find useful with their contacts in the platform. There are no time restrictions on how much time volunteers should spend on the website. Researchers will visit to collect information from participants every 6 months. To acknowledge participants’ contribution, they will be able to keep the tablet after the study is completed. The study will last 18 months.

• REC name

  Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  17/YH/0133

• Date of REC Opinion

  5 May 2017

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion