Helping family caregivers of dementia patients manage stress and pain
Supporting Family Caregivers of Persons With Dementia
This study is testing a new program to see if it can help family caregivers of dementia patients manage their stress and pain better while providing care.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 412 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Pennsylvania Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) |
| Trial ID | NCT05336344 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This clinical trial aims to support family caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) by implementing a cognitive behavioral intervention called ENCODE. Caregivers will be randomly assigned to either receive standard hospice care with additional social support through video calls or to participate in the ENCODE intervention designed to help them address pain management challenges. The study will evaluate the effectiveness of this intervention over a five-year period, focusing on reducing caregiver stress and improving their ability to communicate care needs. The trial is based on previous findings highlighting the challenges faced by caregivers in managing pain for dementia patients.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are family caregivers of hospice patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias who have concerns about managing their care recipient's pain.
Not a fit: Patients who are not family caregivers or those without significant concerns about pain management may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly reduce caregiver stress and improve the quality of care for patients with dementia.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown mixed results regarding caregiver interventions, but this specific approach using the ENCODE model is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * enrolled as a family/informal caregiver of a hospice patient with primary or secondary diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or other related dementia * responding with "yes" to the question about having any concerns about effectively managing their care recipient's pain * 18 years or older * no or only mild cognitive impairment * speak and read English, with at least a 6th-grade education Exclusion Criteria: * Significant hearing loss that does not allow the participant to conduct telephone conversations as assessed by the research staff (by questioning and observing the caregiver)
Where this trial is running
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: George Demiris, PhD
- Email: gdemiris@upenn.edu
- Phone: 2158988559
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.