Internet-Based Dementia Prevention Intervention (DementiaRisk): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial and Knowledge Translation
BackgroundResearch has shown that engaging in a range of healthy lifestyles or behavioral factors can help reduce the risk of developing dementia. Improved knowledge of modifiable risk factors for dementia may help engage people to reduce their risk, with beneficial impacts o...
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JMIR Publications
2025-01-01
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| Series: | JMIR Research Protocols |
| Online Access: | https://www.researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e64718 |
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| author | Anthony J Levinson Stephanie Ayers Sandra Clark Rebekah Woodburn Maureen Dobbins Dante Duarte Roland Grad Nick Kates Sharon Marr Doug Oliver Alexandra Papaioannou Karen Saperson Henry Siu Gillian Strudwick Richard Sztramko Sarah Neil-Sztramko |
| author_facet | Anthony J Levinson Stephanie Ayers Sandra Clark Rebekah Woodburn Maureen Dobbins Dante Duarte Roland Grad Nick Kates Sharon Marr Doug Oliver Alexandra Papaioannou Karen Saperson Henry Siu Gillian Strudwick Richard Sztramko Sarah Neil-Sztramko |
| author_sort | Anthony J Levinson |
| collection | DOAJ |
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BackgroundResearch has shown that engaging in a range of healthy lifestyles or behavioral factors can help reduce the risk of developing dementia. Improved knowledge of modifiable risk factors for dementia may help engage people to reduce their risk, with beneficial impacts on individual and public health. Moreover, many guidelines emphasize the importance of providing education and web-based resources for dementia prevention. Internet-based interventions may be effective, but few have been studied rigorously or widely disseminated. We created DementiaRisk, an award-winning, web- and email-based education platform for the public focused on modifiable risk factors, featuring multimedia e-learning and email “microlearning” content, to help raise awareness and improve knowledge of actions to reduce dementia risk.
ObjectiveThis protocol describes a randomized controlled trial to (1) evaluate whether exposure to DementiaRisk changes knowledge of dementia risk factors, intention to engage in risk reduction activities, and health behaviors related to dementia risk reduction and to (2) explore qualitative aspects including participants’ engagement and satisfaction with the intervention and barriers and facilitators to use.
MethodsUsing a sequential explanatory mixed methods design, this study conducts a quantitative analysis followed by a qualitative inquiry to evaluate outcomes and feasibility. In total, 485 participants will be recruited on the web and randomly assigned to 2 groups: one accessing DementiaRisk and the other receiving alternative e-learning on mild cognitive impairment. Assessments will be delivered on the web at baseline (T1), at 4 weeks (T2), and at 2 months after the intervention (T3). Knowledge will be assessed using items from the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale, intentions to engage in risk reduction activities will be assessed using items in line with current evidence, and health behaviors related to dementia risk reduction will be assessed using items from the Godin-Shephard Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire along with additional questions related to a range of health status domains. Outcomes and feasibility will be assessed using the Information Assessment Method for patients and consumers. A linear mixed effects model will be used to examine the relationship between each outcome score by group and time point.
ResultsThis study was approved by the Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board on August 24, 2022 (project ID 14886) and received funding in February 2023. Recruitment took place from March 28, 2023, to April 28, 2023, with the final participants completing the intervention by August 18, 2023. Analyses and interpretation of data are ongoing.
ConclusionsDementiaRisk is a readily scalable, technology-enhanced solution for dementia prevention education. It has been designed using evidence-based principles of multimedia learning. It has the potential to scale and spread widely using the open internet, so it may be able to reach a wider audience than traditional in-person educational interventions.
Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05383118; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05383118
International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/64718 |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-03a196ca47454cab92eb61a4d3b3f10d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1929-0748 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Research Protocols |
| spelling | doaj-art-03a196ca47454cab92eb61a4d3b3f10d2025-01-27T21:00:47ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Research Protocols1929-07482025-01-0114e6471810.2196/64718Internet-Based Dementia Prevention Intervention (DementiaRisk): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial and Knowledge TranslationAnthony J Levinsonhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5240-6449Stephanie Ayershttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1979-6227Sandra Clarkhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3401-5556Rebekah Woodburnhttps://orcid.org/0009-0000-1589-800XMaureen Dobbinshttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1968-6765Dante Duartehttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7516-5473Roland Gradhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1591-613XNick Kateshttps://orcid.org/0009-0006-8467-6367Sharon Marrhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9897-1061Doug Oliverhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3099-6198Alexandra Papaioannouhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9412-0932Karen Sapersonhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9202-3511Henry Siuhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1593-6827Gillian Strudwickhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1080-7372Richard Sztramkohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4140-4218Sarah Neil-Sztramkohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9600-3403 BackgroundResearch has shown that engaging in a range of healthy lifestyles or behavioral factors can help reduce the risk of developing dementia. Improved knowledge of modifiable risk factors for dementia may help engage people to reduce their risk, with beneficial impacts on individual and public health. Moreover, many guidelines emphasize the importance of providing education and web-based resources for dementia prevention. Internet-based interventions may be effective, but few have been studied rigorously or widely disseminated. We created DementiaRisk, an award-winning, web- and email-based education platform for the public focused on modifiable risk factors, featuring multimedia e-learning and email “microlearning” content, to help raise awareness and improve knowledge of actions to reduce dementia risk. ObjectiveThis protocol describes a randomized controlled trial to (1) evaluate whether exposure to DementiaRisk changes knowledge of dementia risk factors, intention to engage in risk reduction activities, and health behaviors related to dementia risk reduction and to (2) explore qualitative aspects including participants’ engagement and satisfaction with the intervention and barriers and facilitators to use. MethodsUsing a sequential explanatory mixed methods design, this study conducts a quantitative analysis followed by a qualitative inquiry to evaluate outcomes and feasibility. In total, 485 participants will be recruited on the web and randomly assigned to 2 groups: one accessing DementiaRisk and the other receiving alternative e-learning on mild cognitive impairment. Assessments will be delivered on the web at baseline (T1), at 4 weeks (T2), and at 2 months after the intervention (T3). Knowledge will be assessed using items from the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale, intentions to engage in risk reduction activities will be assessed using items in line with current evidence, and health behaviors related to dementia risk reduction will be assessed using items from the Godin-Shephard Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire along with additional questions related to a range of health status domains. Outcomes and feasibility will be assessed using the Information Assessment Method for patients and consumers. A linear mixed effects model will be used to examine the relationship between each outcome score by group and time point. ResultsThis study was approved by the Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board on August 24, 2022 (project ID 14886) and received funding in February 2023. Recruitment took place from March 28, 2023, to April 28, 2023, with the final participants completing the intervention by August 18, 2023. Analyses and interpretation of data are ongoing. ConclusionsDementiaRisk is a readily scalable, technology-enhanced solution for dementia prevention education. It has been designed using evidence-based principles of multimedia learning. It has the potential to scale and spread widely using the open internet, so it may be able to reach a wider audience than traditional in-person educational interventions. Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05383118; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05383118 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/64718https://www.researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e64718 |
| spellingShingle | Anthony J Levinson Stephanie Ayers Sandra Clark Rebekah Woodburn Maureen Dobbins Dante Duarte Roland Grad Nick Kates Sharon Marr Doug Oliver Alexandra Papaioannou Karen Saperson Henry Siu Gillian Strudwick Richard Sztramko Sarah Neil-Sztramko Internet-Based Dementia Prevention Intervention (DementiaRisk): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial and Knowledge Translation JMIR Research Protocols |
| title | Internet-Based Dementia Prevention Intervention (DementiaRisk): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial and Knowledge Translation |
| title_full | Internet-Based Dementia Prevention Intervention (DementiaRisk): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial and Knowledge Translation |
| title_fullStr | Internet-Based Dementia Prevention Intervention (DementiaRisk): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial and Knowledge Translation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Internet-Based Dementia Prevention Intervention (DementiaRisk): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial and Knowledge Translation |
| title_short | Internet-Based Dementia Prevention Intervention (DementiaRisk): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial and Knowledge Translation |
| title_sort | internet based dementia prevention intervention dementiarisk protocol for a randomized controlled trial and knowledge translation |
| url | https://www.researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e64718 |
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