Trial Outcomes & Findings for Pilot Pragmatic Clinical Trial to Embed Tele-Savvy Into Health Care Systems (NCT NCT05080777)

NCT ID: NCT05080777

Last Updated: 2025-02-14

Results Overview

Caregiving competence scale, minimum and maximum values 4-16, higher scores mean greater mastery.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

74 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

pre-randomization; 3 months post-randomization; and 6 months post-randomization (6 months post-randomization for Emory site only)

Results posted on

2025-02-14

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Tele-Savvy Group
The participants will be enrolled into the Tele-Savvy group. Software analytics monitor caregivers' use of asynchronous material each week. Tele-Savvy: A low-risk, psychoeducational, group-based intervention, is grounded in social learning and stress process theory and its main goal is to produce improved caregiver mastery over the symptom management skills commonly encountered when supervising and caring at home for an older adult living with ADRD. Over the 7-week program, there are synchronous and asynchronous activities each week. The synchronous portion includes weekly scheduled videoconferences (60-80 min) that serve as an online classroom in which facilitators lead lectures and discussions. Daily, caregivers access online 6- to 15-min prerecorded videos, each focused on one main learning objective. Caregivers can watch the lessons whenever and as often as they wish.
Attention Control Group
The participants will be enrolled in the Caregiving During Crisis program. Software analytics monitor caregivers' use of asynchronous material each week. Caregiving During Crisis (Educational Program): The attention control group will receive the self-guided Caregiving During Crisis program. Caregiving During Crisis is a fully online, asynchronous, professionally designed continuing education course aimed at developing the competency of informal caregivers of community-dwelling persons living with dementia to ensure the safety of that person and themselves during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. The course, readily accessible by home computer or smartphone, describes methods of home infection control and prevention to create a Safe Home space, strategies for safely leaving and re-entering the home (e.g., to shop), additional strategies for safely allowing service personnel (e.g., home health aides or electricians) and select family members to enter the Safe Home space, and risk management strategies to frame decisions when/if COVID restrictions are relaxed or revoked.
Overall Study
STARTED
44
30
Overall Study
COMPLETED
26
10
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
18
20

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Pilot Pragmatic Clinical Trial to Embed Tele-Savvy Into Health Care Systems

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Tele-Savvy Group
n=44 Participants
The participants will be enrolled into the Tele-Savvy group. Software analytics monitor caregivers' use of asynchronous material each week. Tele-Savvy: A low-risk, psychoeducational, group-based intervention, is grounded in social learning and stress process theory and its main goal is to produce improved caregiver mastery over the symptom management skills commonly encountered when supervising and caring at home for an older adult living with ADRD. Over the 7-week program, there are synchronous and asynchronous activities each week. The synchronous portion includes weekly scheduled videoconferences (60-80 min) that serve as an online classroom in which facilitators lead lectures and discussions. Daily, caregivers access online 6- to 15-min prerecorded videos, each focused on one main learning objective. Caregivers can watch the lessons whenever and as often as they wish.
Attention Control Group
n=30 Participants
The participants will be enrolled in the Caregiving During Crisis program. Software analytics monitor caregivers' use of asynchronous material each week. Caregiving During Crisis (Educational Program): The attention control group will receive the self-guided Caregiving During Crisis program. Caregiving During Crisis is a fully online, asynchronous, professionally designed continuing education course aimed at developing the competency of informal caregivers of community-dwelling persons living with dementia to ensure the safety of that person and themselves during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. The course, readily accessible by home computer or smartphone, describes methods of home infection control and prevention to create a Safe Home space, strategies for safely leaving and re-entering the home (e.g., to shop), additional strategies for safely allowing service personnel (e.g., home health aides or electricians) and select family members to enter the Safe Home space, and risk management strategies to frame decisions when/if COVID restrictions are relaxed or revoked.
Total
n=74 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous
66.0 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12.1 • n=99 Participants
63.7 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.2 • n=107 Participants
65.1 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.7 • n=206 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
32 Participants
n=99 Participants
22 Participants
n=107 Participants
54 Participants
n=206 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
12 Participants
n=99 Participants
8 Participants
n=107 Participants
20 Participants
n=206 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
0 Participants
n=206 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
44 Participants
n=99 Participants
30 Participants
n=107 Participants
74 Participants
n=206 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
0 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
0 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
1 Participants
n=107 Participants
1 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
1 Participants
n=107 Participants
1 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
6 Participants
n=99 Participants
7 Participants
n=107 Participants
13 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
38 Participants
n=99 Participants
21 Participants
n=107 Participants
59 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
0 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
0 Participants
n=206 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
44 participants
n=99 Participants
30 participants
n=107 Participants
74 participants
n=206 Participants
Marital Status
Married
35 Participants
n=99 Participants
23 Participants
n=107 Participants
58 Participants
n=206 Participants
Marital Status
Not Married
9 Participants
n=99 Participants
7 Participants
n=107 Participants
16 Participants
n=206 Participants
Educational level
High school or some college
7 Participants
n=99 Participants
6 Participants
n=107 Participants
13 Participants
n=206 Participants
Educational level
College degree
15 Participants
n=99 Participants
11 Participants
n=107 Participants
26 Participants
n=206 Participants
Educational level
Graduate degree
22 Participants
n=99 Participants
13 Participants
n=107 Participants
35 Participants
n=206 Participants
Relationship to person with dementia
Spouse/partner
26 Participants
n=99 Participants
13 Participants
n=107 Participants
39 Participants
n=206 Participants
Relationship to person with dementia
Daughter
13 Participants
n=99 Participants
11 Participants
n=107 Participants
24 Participants
n=206 Participants
Relationship to person with dementia
Son
3 Participants
n=99 Participants
4 Participants
n=107 Participants
7 Participants
n=206 Participants
Relationship to person with dementia
Sibling
1 Participants
n=99 Participants
1 Participants
n=107 Participants
2 Participants
n=206 Participants
Relationship to person with dementia
Other family member
1 Participants
n=99 Participants
0 Participants
n=107 Participants
1 Participants
n=206 Participants
Relationship to person with dementia
Unknown
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
1 Participants
n=107 Participants
1 Participants
n=206 Participants
Employed for pay outside the home
No
30 Participants
n=99 Participants
22 Participants
n=107 Participants
52 Participants
n=206 Participants
Employed for pay outside the home
Yes
14 Participants
n=99 Participants
8 Participants
n=107 Participants
22 Participants
n=206 Participants
Difficulty paying for basic needs
Not difficult at all
32 Participants
n=99 Participants
17 Participants
n=107 Participants
49 Participants
n=206 Participants
Difficulty paying for basic needs
Not very difficult, somewhat or very difficult
12 Participants
n=99 Participants
13 Participants
n=107 Participants
25 Participants
n=206 Participants
Primary caregiver
Yes
36 Participants
n=99 Participants
27 Participants
n=107 Participants
63 Participants
n=206 Participants
Primary caregiver
No
8 Participants
n=99 Participants
3 Participants
n=107 Participants
11 Participants
n=206 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: pre-randomization; 3 months post-randomization; and 6 months post-randomization (6 months post-randomization for Emory site only)

Population: In the Tele-Savvy group, 40 participants had baseline data, 24 participants had 3-month follow-up data, and 16 participants had 6-month follow-up data. In the Attention Control group, 28 participants had baseline data, 10 participants had 3-month follow-up data, and 8 participants had 6-month follow-up data.

Caregiving competence scale, minimum and maximum values 4-16, higher scores mean greater mastery.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Tele-Savvy Group
n=40 Participants
The participants will be enrolled into the Tele-Savvy group. Software analytics monitor caregivers' use of asynchronous material each week. Tele-Savvy: A low-risk, psychoeducational, group-based intervention, is grounded in social learning and stress process theory and its main goal is to produce improved caregiver mastery over the symptom management skills commonly encountered when supervising and caring at home for an older adult living with ADRD. Over the 7-week program, there are synchronous and asynchronous activities each week. The synchronous portion includes weekly scheduled videoconferences (60-80 min) that serve as an online classroom in which facilitators lead lectures and discussions. Daily, caregivers access online 6- to 15-min prerecorded videos, each focused on one main learning objective. Caregivers can watch the lessons whenever and as often as they wish.
Attention Control Group
n=28 Participants
The participants will be enrolled in the Caregiving During Crisis program. Software analytics monitor caregivers' use of asynchronous material each week. Caregiving During Crisis (Educational Program): The attention control group will receive the self-guided Caregiving During Crisis program. Caregiving During Crisis is a fully online, asynchronous, professionally designed continuing education course aimed at developing the competency of informal caregivers of community-dwelling persons living with dementia to ensure the safety of that person and themselves during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. The course, readily accessible by home computer or smartphone, describes methods of home infection control and prevention to create a Safe Home space, strategies for safely leaving and re-entering the home (e.g., to shop), additional strategies for safely allowing service personnel (e.g., home health aides or electricians) and select family members to enter the Safe Home space, and risk management strategies to frame decisions when/if COVID restrictions are relaxed or revoked.
Change in Caregiver Mastery
Scores at baseline
10.9 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.1
11.5 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.0
Change in Caregiver Mastery
Scores at 3-month follow-up
12.4 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.0
12.0 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.0
Change in Caregiver Mastery
Scores at 6-month follow-up
12.7 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.3
12.8 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.7

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: pre-randomization; 3 months post-randomization; and 6 months post-randomization (6 months post-randomization for Emory site only)

Population: In the Tele-Savvy group, 43 participants had baseline data, 26 participants had 3-month follow-up data, and 14 participants had 6-month follow-up data. In the Attention Control group, 29 participants had baseline data, 10 participants had 3-month follow-up data, and 8 participants had 6-month follow-up data.

The reactions caregivers have to the behavioral and psychological symptoms expressed by persons living with dementia, were assessed using the Revised Memory and Behavior Problem Checklist (RMBPC). The RMBPC is a 24-item scale capturing caregiver reactions to 24 memory and behavior problems. Scores are computed based on the presence or absence of each problem first, and then for caregiver "reaction" or the extent to which caregivers were "bothered" or "upset" by each endorsed behavior. Reactions are assessed by asking how "upsetting" each behavior is to the caregiver on a Likert scale of 0 to 4 (0 = Not at all, 1= a little, 2 = moderately, 3 = very much, and 4 =extremely). Scores on the scale can range from 0-96, with higher scores meaning a worse outcome.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Tele-Savvy Group
n=43 Participants
The participants will be enrolled into the Tele-Savvy group. Software analytics monitor caregivers' use of asynchronous material each week. Tele-Savvy: A low-risk, psychoeducational, group-based intervention, is grounded in social learning and stress process theory and its main goal is to produce improved caregiver mastery over the symptom management skills commonly encountered when supervising and caring at home for an older adult living with ADRD. Over the 7-week program, there are synchronous and asynchronous activities each week. The synchronous portion includes weekly scheduled videoconferences (60-80 min) that serve as an online classroom in which facilitators lead lectures and discussions. Daily, caregivers access online 6- to 15-min prerecorded videos, each focused on one main learning objective. Caregivers can watch the lessons whenever and as often as they wish.
Attention Control Group
n=29 Participants
The participants will be enrolled in the Caregiving During Crisis program. Software analytics monitor caregivers' use of asynchronous material each week. Caregiving During Crisis (Educational Program): The attention control group will receive the self-guided Caregiving During Crisis program. Caregiving During Crisis is a fully online, asynchronous, professionally designed continuing education course aimed at developing the competency of informal caregivers of community-dwelling persons living with dementia to ensure the safety of that person and themselves during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. The course, readily accessible by home computer or smartphone, describes methods of home infection control and prevention to create a Safe Home space, strategies for safely leaving and re-entering the home (e.g., to shop), additional strategies for safely allowing service personnel (e.g., home health aides or electricians) and select family members to enter the Safe Home space, and risk management strategies to frame decisions when/if COVID restrictions are relaxed or revoked.
Change in Caregiver Reactions
Scores at baseline
22.4 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 10.9
19.4 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 12.3
Change in Caregiver Reactions
Scores at 3-month follow-up
17.6 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 12.2
9.4 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 13.0
Change in Caregiver Reactions
Scores at 6-month follow-up
17.2 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 8.7
10.1 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 7.3

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: pre-randomization; 3 months post-randomization; and 6 months post-randomization (6-month post randomization for Emory site only)

Population: In the Tele-Savvy group, 44 participants had baseline data, 26 participants had 3-month follow-up data, and 15 participants had 6-month follow-up data. In the Attention Control group, 30 participants had baseline data, 10 participants had 3-month follow-up data, and 8 participants had 6-month follow-up data.

The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) is a 14-item instrument designed to measure the degree to which situations in one's life are appraised as stressful. Higher score reflects higher perceived stress. PSS items were designed to tap the degree to which respondents found their lives unpredictable, uncontrollable, and overloading. The scale also includes a number of direct queries about current levels of experienced stress. Each item is scored from 0 (never) to 4 (very often), for a possible score range of 0-56, with higher scores meaning worse outcomes.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Tele-Savvy Group
n=44 Participants
The participants will be enrolled into the Tele-Savvy group. Software analytics monitor caregivers' use of asynchronous material each week. Tele-Savvy: A low-risk, psychoeducational, group-based intervention, is grounded in social learning and stress process theory and its main goal is to produce improved caregiver mastery over the symptom management skills commonly encountered when supervising and caring at home for an older adult living with ADRD. Over the 7-week program, there are synchronous and asynchronous activities each week. The synchronous portion includes weekly scheduled videoconferences (60-80 min) that serve as an online classroom in which facilitators lead lectures and discussions. Daily, caregivers access online 6- to 15-min prerecorded videos, each focused on one main learning objective. Caregivers can watch the lessons whenever and as often as they wish.
Attention Control Group
n=30 Participants
The participants will be enrolled in the Caregiving During Crisis program. Software analytics monitor caregivers' use of asynchronous material each week. Caregiving During Crisis (Educational Program): The attention control group will receive the self-guided Caregiving During Crisis program. Caregiving During Crisis is a fully online, asynchronous, professionally designed continuing education course aimed at developing the competency of informal caregivers of community-dwelling persons living with dementia to ensure the safety of that person and themselves during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. The course, readily accessible by home computer or smartphone, describes methods of home infection control and prevention to create a Safe Home space, strategies for safely leaving and re-entering the home (e.g., to shop), additional strategies for safely allowing service personnel (e.g., home health aides or electricians) and select family members to enter the Safe Home space, and risk management strategies to frame decisions when/if COVID restrictions are relaxed or revoked.
Change in Caregiver Stress
Scores at baseline
25.6 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 6.6
24.5 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 9.5
Change in Caregiver Stress
Scores at 3-month follow-up
21.1 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 5.5
15.2 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 7.3
Change in Caregiver Stress
Scores at 6-month follow-up
19.9 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 5.7
16.8 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 9.2

Adverse Events

Tele-Savvy Group

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Attention Control Group

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Dr. Richard Fortinsky

University of Connecticut Center on Aging

Phone: 860-679-8069

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place