Measuring social connection in dementia care home residents
SOcial coNNEction in Long-Term Care Home Residents
This study is trying to create a new tool to better understand and measure how connected people with dementia feel in care homes.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 220 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 110 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University College, London Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Toronto, Ontario and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT05315960 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational study aims to develop a new measure to assess social connection among individuals with dementia living in long-term care homes. It will involve interviews and focus groups with residents, caregivers, and clinicians to identify key aspects of social connection that are important for this population. The study will also conduct a systematic review of existing measures and utilize COSMIN methodology to evaluate their effectiveness. The ultimate goal is to create a tailored measurement tool that accurately reflects the social needs of dementia patients in care settings.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates include long-term care residents with a confirmed diagnosis of dementia or those showing noticeable problems in social functioning.
Not a fit: Patients without dementia or those who are unable to provide consent or participate in interviews may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide a reliable tool for assessing and improving social connections for dementia patients in long-term care, enhancing their quality of life.
How similar studies have performed: While there is ongoing research in this area, the development of a specific measure tailored to dementia patients in long-term care settings is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Qualitative study Inclusion criteria: * LTC residents with or without dementia: Able to provide consent for research. * Caregivers: Visit the resident at least monthly (not including when COVID-related visitor restrictions are in place). * Clinicians/care staff: Whose role currently includes working in LTC home or has done in past 2 years. * Academic researchers: Have expertise in social functioning in dementia. * All participants must be over the age of 18 years old to participate in the study. Cross-sectional study Inclusion criteria * LTC residents: Have a confirmed diagnosis of dementia OR Scoring ≥2 on the Noticeable Problems Checklist * Proxy: Visit or care for the resident at least once monthly. * All participants must be over the age of 18 years old and have adequate English language proficiency to participate in the study.
Where this trial is running
Toronto, Ontario and 1 other locations
- University Health Network — Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Not_yet_recruiting)
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London — London, United Kingdom (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Andrew Sommerlad
- Email: a.sommerlad@ucl.ac.uk
- Phone: +442076799248
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.