Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Oct 22, 2022
Date Accepted: Dec 17, 2022
The ‘Safe at Home Study’ of a Web-Based Decision Aid for Caregivers of Persons with Dementia with Firearm Access: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
ABSTRACT
Background:
Firearm safety among individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) is an under-discussed and under-researched concern in the United States, especially given the growing population of community-dwelling adults with ADRD. The “Safety in Dementia” (SiD) web-based decision aid was developed to support caregivers in addressing firearm access; the efficacy of SiD is unknown.
Objective:
Through the SiD decision aid [36,42], the Safe at Home (S@H) study aims to support caregivers in making decisions about home safety that align with their goals and values, and behaviors regarding firearm access for persons with ADRD and firearm access.
Methods:
The S@H study is a two-armed randomized controlled trial to test the effect of the SiD decision aid on caregivers of community-dwelling adults with ADRD who have firearm access. S@H aims to recruit 500 ADRD caregivers (age ≥18, fluent in English or Spanish, in the United States) through online/social media advertisements and through relevant organizations. Participants are randomized to view SiD or a control website at their own pace; all participants complete web-based questionnaires at baseline, 2 weeks, 2 months, and 6 months.
Results:
The primary outcome is immediate preparation for decision making; secondary outcomes include longitudinal decision outcomes and self-reported modifications to firearm access. The relative reach and effectiveness of each recruitment method (online/social media, and through relevant organizations) will be assessed by examining differences in caregiver participation, retention rates, and relative cost.
Conclusions:
The S@H study is the first randomized trial of a firearm safety decision aid for ADRD caregivers. Results from this study will inform how best to support caregivers in decision-making regarding firearm safety. Further, results may guide approaches for recruiting caregivers and for dissemination of resources. Clinical Trial: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05173922. Registered on December 30, 2021. Located at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05173922
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