Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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RECRUITING
220 participants
OBSERVATIONAL
2022-05-16
2024-04-30
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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Can a new measure reliably and validly assess social connection for people with dementia in care homes?
Background:
Social connection, including objective and subjective constructs relating to human relationships, is a fundamental human need, but is impaired in people with dementia, particularly in those living in long-term care (LTC) settings due to cognitive impairment, complex health needs, and separation from previous social networks and community activities. Measurement instruments therefore need to be tailored to the distinct characteristics of this population and be tested in this setting, but there is no current evidence-based consensus on the best approaches to measurement.
Objectives:
1. Appraise existing measures of social connection used in LTC homes
2. Evaluate which aspects of social connection are considered important by people affected by dementia and professional staff
3. Develop a new measure informed by our appraisal of previous measures and the priorities of key stakeholders and test its preliminary psychometric properties
Methods:
A systematic review of measurement instruments assessing social connection in LTC residents, including dementia-specific measures will be conducted and measures will be appraised using COSMIN (COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments) methodology. Focus groups and qualitative interviews will then be conducted with 50-70 people living with dementia, LTC residents, families, clinicians, care staff, and researchers in the UK and Canada to establish the important aspects of social connection and its measurement, including considerations for LTC residents with dementia and those with different stages of dementia severity. Findings from the systematic review and qualitative study will be used to inform the development of a measure or measures which will be iteratively refined during interviews. Finally, the new measure(s) will be tested for psychometric properties in 150 people with dementia living in LTC homes in the UK and Canada to establish acceptability, reliability, and validity.
Conditions
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Keywords
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Study Design
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OTHER
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Study Groups
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Qualitative study
Consenting participants will complete a form asking about basic characteristics including age, sex, ethnicity, marital status etc. People living in long-term care and family carers will participate in an individual interview and professional staff will participate in an individual interview or focus group (between 5 and 10 participants) depending on their preference. The interview or focus group is expected to last 30-60 minutes. Sessions will be conducted in-person or online (using MS Teams), depending on preference and COVID-19-related restrictions. All sessions will be audio-recorded and transcribed.
No interventions assigned to this group
Cross-sectional study
Procedures:
Consent will be obtained from residents, for those who have mental capacity to give informed consent, or from a nearest relative or caregiver as consultee, for those who lack capacity. Once consent is obtained, the LTC resident will be asked to complete a form asking about their characteristics and a questionnaire about their social connections which is expected to take approximately 15 minutes. The proxy will be asked to complete a sociodemographic form about themselves along with a number of questionnaires regarding the LTC resident's dementia severity, neuropsychiatric symptoms, activities of daily living and quality of life for comparison. Data collection for the proxy is expected to take approximately 30-60 minutes. Anticipated sample size 150 between Canada and the UK.
No interventions assigned to this group
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* 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.
* 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.
18 Years
110 Years
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
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University Health Network, Toronto
OTHER
University College, London
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Locations
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University Health Network
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Division of Psychiatry, University College London
London, , United Kingdom
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Facility Contacts
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Jennifer Bethell
Role: primary
Andrew Sommerlad
Role: primary
References
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Chapman H, Bethell J, Dewan N, Liougas MP, Livingston G, McGilton KS, Sommerlad A. Social connection in long-term care homes: a qualitative study of barriers and facilitators. BMC Geriatr. 2024 Oct 22;24(1):857. doi: 10.1186/s12877-024-05454-8.
Other Identifiers
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146256
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id