WECARE: A Behavioral Intervention for Dementia Caregivers

George Mason University (GMU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Caregiver Burden; Caregiver Stress Syndrome

Treatments: Behavioral: Wellness Enhancement for Caregivers (WECARE)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05992467

George Mason University

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to pilot test a culturally tailored behavioral intervention called "WECARE" to enhance caregiving mastery and improve psychosocial wellbeing of Chinese American family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's Disease and related dementia.

Full description

The investigators propose to test a culturally tailored mHealth behavioral intervention to enhance caregiving mastery and improve psychosocial wellbeing among Chinese American family caregivers of persons living with Alzheimer's Disease and related dementia. This intervention, Wellness Enhancement for Caregivers (WECARE), will be delivered via WeChat, a social media app highly popular among Chinese Americans. About 45 participants will be recruited for the pilot test. Participants will complete a baseline survey, receive 7-week WECARE program on their WeChat accounts, complete a follow-up survey 12 weeks after the baseline, and then a qualitative interview on Zoom.

Enrollment: 48 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 21 to 90 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. 21 years or older,
2. self-identified as Chinese or Chinese American,
3. speak and read Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese),
4. own a smartphone and use WeChat,
5. living in Washington DC metropolitan, and
6. currently care for a family member with ADRD and provide care for at least 10 hours a week.

Exclusion criteria

1. do not read or speak Chinese,
2. care-recipient is in hospice care or have a life expectancy less than 6 months,
3. signs of severe intellectual deficits or psychotic disorders, or
4. unable to provide informed consent.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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48 participants in 1 patient group

WECARE

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will first complete a baseline survey online, then subscribe to the WECARE official account on their own WeChat accounts and begin receiving the 7-week interactive and personalized program. The program content includes short video clips, pictorial messages, and audio recordings. Each week, the WECARE program is focused on a theme aimed to increase participants' caregiving mastery, enhance self-care, and improve psychosocial wellbeing. Four weeks after the intervention or 11 weeks after the baseline, participants will complete a follow-up survey online.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Wellness Enhancement for Caregivers (WECARE)