Encouraging Cognitive Screenings at African American Churches

University of Kansas

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 1

Conditions: Healthy; Dementia

Treatments: Behavioral: Project Grace

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05037578

2017382 KC

Details and patient eligibility

About

This pilot study plans to examine feasibility and outcomes of a culturally/religiously-tailored church-based dementia screening intervention among older adult African American church members and community members who use church outreach services in 4 African American churches.

Full description

The primary aim of this study is to conduct an exploratory pilot study to examine feasibility and outcomes of a culturally/religiously-tailored church-based dementia screening intervention among older adult African American church members and community members who use church outreach services in 4 African American churches (N=100). Our secondary outcomes are to assess the impact of the intervention on dementia-related stigma and linkage to care. Intervention content is based on the Theory of Planned Behavior; intervention delivery is based on the Social-Ecological Model - both guided by a faith community engagement approach. Trained faith leaders will deliver the tailored intervention through multilevel church outlets: individual self-help resources (e.g., risk checklist, commitment to screening cards); group ministry discussion guides/seminar on dementia; church-wide services using sermon guides, responsive readings, and church bulletin inserts; and church-community level text messages, dementia screening, and linkage to care services. Two screening events will be held at each church. We will also conduct a process evaluation that will include post-test study focus groups.

Specific Aim 1. Test a religiously/culturally-tailored, church-based dementia screening intervention on receipt of dementia screening, stigma, and linkage to care use among an older adult African American church-populations at 4 months.

Hypothesis. The tailored church-based dementia screening intervention will evidence increased screening and linkage to care rates, and lower dementia-related stigma beliefs at 4 months.

Specific Aim 2. Evaluate predictors of receipt of dementia screening at 4 months among older adult African American church-populations to determine modifiable screening facilitators/barriers.

Specific Aim 3. Conduct a process evaluation to examine study intervention implementation facilitators, barriers, and dose along with exposure and satisfaction to identify essential intervention components.

Enrollment: 99 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 55+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Age ≥55
2. Regular church member (attending church > monthly) or community member receiving church outreach services (>3 times annually)
3. Willing to participate in two surveys (baseline and 4 months)
4. Willing to provide contact information for at least 2 other persons
5. Residing in the Kansas City metropolitan area
6. Provide a working contact email address or number

Exclusion criteria

• None

Trial design

Primary purpose: Screening

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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99 participants in 2 patient groups

Project Grace

Experimental group

Description:

This intervention will be delivered through church-based multilevel activities by trained church leaders using religiously/ culturally-tailored study materials (sermon guides, responsive readings, educational games, brochures, educational/testimonial videos) packaged in a culturally-tailored. Intervention churches will receive the Project Grace Tool Kit and intervention implementation directions to seek cognitive screening. These churches will hold a Project Grace Kickoff event, where a sermon, and other tool kit materials will be distributed. After the Kick-off, liaisons will deliver 1-2 Tool Kit materials/activities per month through targeted multilevel church activities over 4 months. Delivery of intervention components will coincide with existing, multilevel activities that occur in churches through: a) church-wide services, b) outreach ministry groups; and c) individual level activities (e.g., text/voice/email health promotion messages from church) over 4 months.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Project Grace

Standard Control

Active Comparator group

Description:

Standard information churches will receive standard dementia education information. These churches will receive: a) non-tailored project materials collected from mental health organizations and b) standard community-based mental health screening events) coordinated by their Community Health Liaisons. These churches will receive all Project Grace Tool Kit materials and implementation training after the completion of assessments.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Project Grace