Evaluation of the Impact of a Social Network Via a Digital Platform for Caregivers of Patients Suffering From Mental Disorders (CONNECT)

Public Assistance-Hospitals of Marseille (AP-HM)

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Mental Illness

Treatments: Other: access to the social network

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03342248

2017-17

Details and patient eligibility

About

Severe mental illnesses have a significant social cost, as much by their impact on the sick as on their entourage. The Deinstitutionalization and care in the community of patients with severe mental illness result in increased families and loved ones (also known as "informal caregivers" or "informal caregivers") If psychoeducation programs have been developed to help caregivers better manage and cope with the illness of the person being helped (optimize the quality of care, manage anxiety and isolation, these initiatives appear minimal in view of the magnitude of the burden (notion of burden: "burden") and the suffering of caregivers. Quality of life levels remain extremely low compared to the general population, nearly 4 out of 10 caregivers show a sense of inability to cope with the "permanent anxiety" of this load, 1/3 feels depressed and over 1/10 feels isolated on a personal and professional level

Full description

This project will take place in three stages:

1- Development and development of the network: the conception of the social network is based on the point of view of the caregivers, which is one of the originalities of this project. Current social networks are very "medico-centric" And often poorly adapted to the needs of caregivers of patients suffering from pathologies mental disorders. This step is based on a qualitative approach to these caregivers. Focus groups (5 focus of 5 carers) will be led by a psychologist in order to understand their experience and identify the resulting needs in order to determine the architecture and services offered on the network social. From emerging needs, a study based on Delphi method will be conducted with professionals from different disciplines psychiatry, public health, communication and information professionals, ethicists, health economists and sociologists) to provide a light on the professional responses that can be proposed to the needs of carers. The development of the social network will be done in close collaboration with a caregiver who will be in charge of the animation and moderation of the network 2. Implementation of the randomized trial comparing two groups of caregivers (access to the social network vs. lack of access to the social network) over a period of 6 month. The same scales will be filled by both groups at T0 and then at 6 months.

3. Qualitative approach to network perception: semidirective interviews made by a psychologist to a panel of caregivers using the network at course of 6 months

Enrollment: 350 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Caregiver of patient suffering from a severe mental illness and consultant in one of the investigative centers
• over 18 years old
• Caregiver who has no problem understanding current French Careguiver who has agreed to participate in the study. The definition of the caregiver is that given by the High Authority of Health (HAS): The so-called natural caregivers are the unprofessional people who come to the help of a person dependent on his entourage for the activities of daily life.

Exclusion criteria

• Minors caregivers
• not speaking and not reading enough French to participate in the study
• not having agreed to participate in the study.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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350 participants in 2 patient groups

access to the social network

Experimental group

Description:

This group is made up of carers who have access to the social network via a digital platform developed during step 1. This network will offer features from step 1 (sharing experiences on a forum, monitoring health status )

Treatment:

Other: access to the social network

no access to the network

No Intervention group

Description:

This group consists of caregivers who do not have access to the social network via a digital platform developed during step 1. Access to the social network will be offered to all carers at the end of the study, especially those assigned in the control group to limit their refusal to participate.