JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Dementia is a global public health priority with global prevalence estimated to be 150 million by 2050; nearly two-thirds of whom will live in the Asia Pacific region. Dementia creates significant care needs for people with the disease, their families and carers. iSupport is a self-help platform developed by the World Health Organization to provide education, skills training and support to dementia carers. It has been adapted in some contexts (Australia, India, Netherland and Portugal). Carers using the existing adapted versions have identified the need to have a more user-friendly version that enables them to identify solutions for immediate problems in real-time quickly. The iSupport virtual assistant (iSupport VA) is being developed to address this gap and will be evaluated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Objective:

This protocol outlines how a technologically enhanced version of the WHO iSupport program - the iSupport VA will be evaluated

Methods:

Seven versions of iSupport VA will be evaluated in Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand and Vietnam using a pilot RCT. Feasibility, acceptability, intention to use, and preliminary impact on carer perceived stress of the iSupport VA intervention will be assessed.

Results:

This study was funded by the e-ASIA Joint Research Program in November 2020. From January to July 2023, we will enrol 140 dementia carers (20 carers per iSupport VA version) for the pilot RCT. The study has been approved by the Human Research Committee, University of South Australia, Australia (Ethics approval number 203455).

Conclusions:

The study will be an important reference for countries planning to adapt and enhance the WHO iSupport program using digital health solutions. Clinical Trial: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial (http://www.anzctr.org.au), Identifier: 381146.