Clinical Trial: EPIC: An Intervention for Early-stage AD Dyads

Study Status: Not yet recruiting
Recruit Status: Not yet recruiting
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: EPIC: A Group-based Intervention for Early-stage AD Dyads in Diverse Communities

Brief Summary: EPIC II (Early-Stage Partners in Care) is a research project designed to assist people with early-stage memory loss and their care partners by providing early-stage related education and skill-training sessions designed to reduce stress, enhance well-being, manage challenges, and plan for the future. Researchers will gather feedback from individuals about their experience to continue to improve programs for early-stage memory loss.

Detailed Summary:

The purpose of this study is to help early-stage individuals who have early-stage memory loss or early stage dementia and their current or future care partners by providing education and skill-training programs designed to reduce stress and distress, increase well-being and quality of life, and plan for the future. About 160 early-stage dyads (person with early-stage dementia and his/her care partner) will be enrolled across Arizona and Nevada through Arizona State University.

People who decide to voluntarily participate in this program, will be asked to:

  • Meet others with memory loss and their care partners.
  • Attend six group sessions (2 hours & 30 minutes each) to learn strategies to help handle new situations, reduce stress, improve mood, communicate better with each other, and plan for the future.
  • Participate in one 90-minute individualized session to address specific issues that may be unique to each dyad's situation.
  • Participate in five 2-hour confidential interviews that involve questions about background, mood, and quality of life.
  • Participate in interviews at the start, and again about 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, to help us to continue to improve the program.
  • Attend several monthly booster sessions after completion of the seven EPIC sessions.

Each person will receive up to $95 for completing all follow-up interviews, or $20- 25 for each interview completed. All participants are offered the EPIC sessions shortly after their first interview or shortly after their 3-month interview. Some participants will also attend an additional free education workshop within
Sponsor: Arizona State University

Current Primary Outcome:

  • EP and CP Emotional well-being [ Time Frame: Assessments T1-T5 to be conducted over span of one year ]
    Examine the efficacy of the EPIC intervention as compared with a Wait List Comparison condition by looking at the change over time in the Positive and Negative Affect Scales (Dementia Quality of Life Instrument).
  • EP Quality of Life [ Time Frame: Assessments T1-T5 to be conducted over span of one year ]
    Assess EP Quality of life and CPs perception of EPs Quality of life by looking at the change over time in the Quality of Life Measure in Dementia.


Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • Knowledge and Use of Services for People with Dementia and their Care Partners [ Time Frame: Assessments T1-T5 to be conducted over span of one year ]
    Assess the knowledge of, use of, and satisfaction with a variety of services (for example, respite, support groups, case management, referral services) relevant to people with dementia and their care partners by looking at the change over time.
  • Communication Skills and Support within the Dyad [ Time Frame: Assessments T1-T5 to be conducted over span of one year ]
    Assess communication by looking at the change over time in the Dyadic Relationship Scale and Emotional Intimacy Disruptive Behavior Scale.
  • EP and CP Care preparedness [ Time Frame: Assessments T1-T5 to be conducted over span of one year ]
    Assess EP and CP perceptions of how well prepared they feel for addressing future care needs by looking at the change over time in the Care Partners Preparedness Scale (modified).


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Arizona State University

Dates:
Date Received: May 2, 2017
Date Started: May 2017
Date Completion: May 2021
Last Updated: May 8, 2017
Last Verified: May 2017