Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Sep 7, 2025
Date Accepted: Dec 12, 2025
The Effect of DemensiaKITA Mobile Health Application Intervention on Knowledge, Attitude, Practice (KAP) and Burden Level of Dementia Caregivers in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, Malaysia: Protocol for a Non-Randomized Controlled Trial
ABSTRACT
Background:
Dementia is a growing public health concern, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Caregivers often face significant physical, psychological, social, and financial burdens, with high prevalence rates of caregiver strain in Malaysia. Mobile health (mHealth) applications have demonstrated potential to enhance caregiver knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP), and to reduce burden. However, few culturally tailored solutions exist for Malaysia. The DemensiaKITA app was developed to provide locally relevant information, support services, and stress management tools for dementia caregivers.
Objective:
This study aims to adapt, translate, and validate Malay-language questionnaires to assess dementia caregivers’ KAP and burden, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the DemensiaKITA mHealth app in improving KAP and reducing caregiver burden in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Methods:
This research will be conducted in two phases. Phase 1 involves adaptation, translation, and validation of four instruments: Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool (DKAT-2), Dementia Attitude Scale (DAS), Caregiver Task Inventory (CTI-25), and Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI-12). Content, face, construct validity, and reliability will be established through expert review, caregiver pre-testing, exploratory factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha, and test-retest intraclass correlation. Phase 2 is a single-blinded, non-randomized controlled trial in four public hospitals, with 88 caregivers recruited. 2 intervention hospitals will receive the DemensiaKITA app, while 2 control hospitals will receive MOH dementia leaflets. Outcomes (KAP and burden) will be assessed at baseline, 1, and 3 months using validated questionnaires. Data will be analyzed with descriptive statistics, chi-square and t-tests, and Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE).
Results:
Phase 1 is expected to produce valid and reliable Malay versions of KAP and burden instruments. Phase 2 is expected to show significant improvements in dementia knowledge, attitudes, caregiving practices, and reduced caregiver burden in the intervention group compared to controls.
Conclusions:
The DemensiaKITA app has the potential to empower caregivers, enhance dementia care practices, and alleviate caregiver burden. This protocol represents an important step toward improving dementia care support in Malaysia and may serve as a model for LMIC contexts globally. Clinical Trial: NCT07212894
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