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. 2024 Jun 24;19(6):e0305729.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305729. eCollection 2024.

Evaluating a mobile-based intervention to promote the mental health of informal dementia caregivers in Singapore: Study protocol for a pilot two-armed randomised controlled trial

Yun Ting Lee  1 , Qi Yuan  1 , YunJue Zhang  1 , Ellaisha Samari  1 , Richard Goveas  2 , Li Ling Ng  3 , Mythily Subramaniam  1
Affiliations

Evaluating a mobile-based intervention to promote the mental health of informal dementia caregivers in Singapore: Study protocol for a pilot two-armed randomised controlled trial

Yun Ting Lee et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: Informal caregivers of persons with dementia (PWD) often suffer adverse impacts on their mental health and require interventions for effective support. As they are often occupied with providing care, web-based interventions could be more convenient and efficient for them. However, there is currently a dearth of evidence-based mobile interventions to enhance the mental well-being of dementia caregivers locally, especially ones that are user-centered and culturally relevant. Hence, having designed an app based on feedback from local dementia caregivers, this study will evaluate the effectiveness of this mobile app in promoting the mental health of informal caregivers of PWD in Singapore.

Methods: A pilot two-armed randomised controlled trial will be conducted on 60 informal caregivers of PWD recruited via convenience and snowball sampling. Thirty participants will be assigned to the intervention group, while another 30 will be in a waiting-list control group. Questionnaires will be administered at baseline and one month after, with the primary outcome being the difference in the change of depressive symptoms among the two groups.

Statistical analysis: Primary analyses will follow the intention-to-treat principle and compare changes from baseline to the one-month follow-up time point relative to the control group. A repeated measures ANOVA will be conducted to examine differences between the groups over time.

Significance: To our knowledge, this is the first study in Singapore that seeks to promote the mental health of informal dementia caregivers through a mobile-based intervention. The findings can inform the development and evaluation of future evidence-based digital interventions for local informal caregivers of PWD to address the gap in availability of such resources for them.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05551533). Registration date: September 22, 2022.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. SPIRIT figure; schedule of enrolment, intervention, and assessments.
*During enrolment, informed consent and eligibility screening will be conducted. Group allocation will be conducted immediately after if the participant meets the screening criteria. Thereafter, baseline assessments will be conducted immediately in the same session as well.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Flow chart of study procedure.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Summary of the Kampung Care app functions.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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