title: Evaluation of DEM-DISC, customized e-advice on health and social support services for informal carers and case managers of people with dementia; a cluster randomized trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few personalized e-interventions are available for informal and professional caregivers of people with dementia. The DEMentia Digital Interactive Social Chart (DEM-DISC) is an ICT tool to support customized disease management in dementia. The aim of this study was to improve and evaluate DEM-DISC, its user-friendliness and usefulness and to investigate the future implementation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) design was used with measurements at baseline, 6 and 12 months. A total of 73 informal caregivers of people with dementia, supported by 19 randomized case managers participated in the study. In the intervention group, both carers (n = 41) and case managers (n = 13) could access DEM-DISC during twelve months. The control group, 32 carers and 14 case managers, had no access to DEM-DISC. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten stakeholders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Informal caregivers who used DEM-DISC for twelve months reported an increased sense of competence than controls. A subgroup of users who frequently accessed DEM-DISC reported more met needs after six months than controls. Overall informal caregivers and case managers judged DEM-DISC as easy to learn and user-friendly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that using DEM-DISC had a positive effect on the sense of competence and experienced (met) needs of informal carers. This shows the importance of user-friendly ICT solutions to assist carers in finding appropriate care services tailored to their specific situation and needs. For further implementation of DEM-DISC methods to keep the information updated is of great importance.
authors: Department of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine,EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research,VU University Medical Centre,Van der Boechorststraat 7,1081 BT Amsterdam,the Netherlands.
authors: Lisa D
authors: LD
authors: Van Mierlo
authors: Department of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine,EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research,VU University Medical Centre,Van der Boechorststraat 7,1081 BT Amsterdam,the Netherlands.
authors: Franka J M
authors: FJ
authors: Meiland
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatististics,EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research,VU University Medical Centre,De Boelelaan 1118,1081 HV,Amsterdam,the Netherlands.
authors: Peter M
authors: PM
authors: Van de Ven
authors: Department of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine,EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research,VU University Medical Centre,Van der Boechorststraat 7,1081 BT Amsterdam,the Netherlands.
authors: Hein P J
authors: HP
authors: Van Hout
authors: Department of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine,EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research,VU University Medical Centre,Van der Boechorststraat 7,1081 BT Amsterdam,the Netherlands.
authors: Rose-Marie
authors: RM
authors: Dröes
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D019090:Case Management; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods; D003704:Dementia / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support
keywords: ICT; dementia; intervention; psychosocial; self-management