title: WeCareAdvisor™: The Development of a Caregiver-focused, Web-based Program to Assess and Manage Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are nearly universal in dementia and associated with multiple negative outcomes. Current real-world management is largely pharmacologic, despite poor risk/benefit. The WeCareAdvisor was designed to enable family caregivers to assess, manage, and track BPSD using nonpharmacologic strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  In-depth qualitative data were collected from family caregivers of people with dementia to inform: (1) style of approach and "look and feel" of the tool, and (2) the types of psychoeducation most needed by caregivers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We conducted 4 focus groups and a technology survey (n=26) as well as additional individual semistructured interviews (n=12) with family caregivers. Main themes of the qualitative work included: (1) need to minimize difficulty and training time; (2) importance of "one-stop shopping" for information; and (3) necessity for information to be tailored to the caregiver and person with dementia. This information was then combined with effective existing evidence-based behavioral strategies to create a web-based tailored caregiver-support tool.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The WeCareAdvisor was designed with input on functionality and content by end-users, family caregivers. The randomized controlled trial of WeCareAdvisor will test whether the tool improves outcomes including caregiver upset and burden and frequency and severity of BPSD.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan †Department of Veterans Affairs, HSR&D Center for Clinical Management Research (CCMR) ‡Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System #School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI §Department of Community Public Health, School of Nursing ∥Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, School of Medicine ¶Center for Innovative Care on Aging, Johns Hopkins University **Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bayview and Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
authors.forename: Helen C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kales
authors.forename: Laura N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Gitlin
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stanislawski
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Marx
authors.forename: Molly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Turnwald
authors.forename: Daphne C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.forename: Constantine G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Lyketsos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology / Q000639:trends*; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000639:trends*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires