Most people living with dementia are cared for at home, supported by a family member or friend who may have limited knowledge of the condition. The role can be very stressful, and many carers experience more mental health problems and physical illness compared to people who are not dementia carers.
The University of Strathclyde would like to invite dementia carers to take part in a research study which is investigating whether using an online education and self-care website called ‘iSupport’ is better at helping them take care of themselves and learning about dementia, compared to reading a booklet designed for dementia carers. For those receiving iSupport, instructions will be given in how to access it, and a member of the team will be available to help if required. iSupport has several different topics, and they can be accessed at any time. Carers can access all the topics or just those that are of interest or relevant to their situation.
We are looking for participants who are aged 18 or over and have caring responsibilities for a family member or friend living with dementia and live in Britain. Those who agree to take part will be asked to take part in 3 telephone or internet-based interviews. After the first interview, carers will be randomly allocated to receive iSupport for a six-month period or an information booklet. The 2nd and 3rd interviews would be held at 3-months and 6-months respectively. The questions asked during the interviews will be about their role as a carer and the potential emotional impact of this role. Each of the interviews should take no more than one hour and can be completed at a time that’s convenient to the carer. For those allocated the booklet, access will be given to the iSupport website following the 6-month interview. At the end of 6 months, a smaller group of carers will be asked to take part in an interview with a researcher who will ask more open questions about their experiences of using iSupport.
Taking part is voluntary, and if participants change their mind after agreeing to take part, they can withdraw at any time, without giving a reason. For those who decide not to take part, or to withdraw, this will not make any difference to their health care, and it will not affect their rights in any way.
If you are interested in taking part, please contact: [email protected]
You can also read more about the study on the project website here.