How is SHAPE organised?
We aim to test a new online training and support group for people in the early stages of dementia and e-learning programme for carers. This study is developed in collaboration with researchers in Norway and the United Kingdom, based on existing interventions using the principles of health promotion and self-management. We hope to place people with dementia at the center of their care and teach skills for decision-making, symptom management and healthy living.
Information about recruitment
We are looking to recruit people with a formal diagnosis of dementia as well as their care partner (who could be a family member or friend) to participate in this study. Participants will be recruited across Australia from StepUp for Dementia Research, Dementia Australia, aged care facilities and the NeuRA website.
What is involved in participation?
Participants in this study will be randomised into the intervention group or control group:
Intervention group
People with dementia will be invited to attend an online group training and support session led by 2 health professionals once a week for 10 weeks. All group members will be given a ‘SHAPE iPad’, where they can join the group at the touch of a button. Their care partners will not attend the group sessions but will receive an online program with similar training materials and support.
Control group
Participants will not receive the online group training from our team but will have access to the online educational program after the study is complete. All participants (people with dementia and care partner in both groups) will be asked to attend 3 telephone assessment to answer questionnaires about their health and wellbeing.
Contact person for Shape Australia
This is an EU Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND) project. The project is supported through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and JPND – www.jpnd.eu
