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User evaluation of the DEMentia-specific Digital Interactive Socal Chart (DEM-DISC). A Pilot study among informal carers on its impact, user friendliness and, usefulness

Authors

van der Roest, Henriëtte G., Meiland, Franka J. M., Jonker, Cees, Dröes, Rose-Marie

Journal

Aging & Mental Health, Volume: 14, No.: 4, Pages.: 461-470

Year of Publication

2010

Abstract

Objective: The need for information about the disease and coping with the consequences, as well as on available care and welfare services, is frequently unmet in people with dementia and their carers. To provide carers of community-dwelling people with dementia with tailored information, the DEMentia-specific dynamic interactive social chart (DEM-DISC) was developed. The impact on the daily life of people with dementia and their carers, the user friendliness and usefulness of a first prototype of DEM-DISC was evaluated. Method: DEM-DISC was tested among informal carers in a pretest-posttest control group design. Fourteen informal carers could access DEM-DISC at home during a two month period. Fourteen controls did not have access to DEM-DISC. Data were collected by separate interviews with people with dementia and carers at pretest and posttest, by means of digital logging, short telephone interviews, and a bottleneck checklist during the intervention period. Results: People with dementia and informal carers reported more met and less unmet needs after DEM-DISC use and carers in the experimental group reported higher levels of competence than controls. Although they were not explicitly satisfied with this first prototype of DEM-DISC, carers found DEM-DISC easy to learn and relatively user friendly. Carers acknowledged the system’s benefits. Conclusion: The positive effects might be caused by the systematic and tailored individual way of information provisioning by DEM-DISC. It would be worthwhile to continue to develop DEM-DISC and to conduct randomized trials on the impact on patients and carers as well as the impact on nursing home admission and healthcare expenditure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved). (journal abstract)

Bibtex Citation

@article{van_der_Roest_2010, doi = {10.1080/13607860903311741}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13607860903311741}, year = 2010, month = {may}, publisher = {Informa {UK} Limited}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {461--470}, author = {Henriëtte G. van der Roest and Franka J.M. Meiland and Cees Jonker and Rose-Marie Dröes}, title = {User evaluation of the {DEMentia}-specific Digital Interactive Social Chart ({DEM}-{DISC}). A pilot study among informal carers on its impact, user friendliness and, usefulness}, journal = {Aging {&} Mental Health} }

Keywords

caregivers, community welfare services, competence, coping behavior, dementia, dementiaspecific digital interactive social chart, health education, human factors engineering, informal carers, user friendliness, welfare services

Countries of Study

Netherlands

Types of Dementia

Dementia (general / unspecified)

Types of Study

Non randomised controlled trial

Type of Outcomes

Other carer outcomes (e.g. financial burden and more)

Type of Interventions

Intervention for Carers

Carer Focussed Interventions

Befriending (including telephone/online befriending services), Information and Advice, Training programmes / workshops including behavioural training