Negotiation Training for Family Caregivers of People With Alzheimer's Disease
Negotiation Training to Optimize Caregiver Communication in Alzheimer's Disease
Who can join
As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.
- Age
- 21 Years and older
- Sex
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Compensation
- Not stated
Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.
What to expect
No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.
What participation involves
- Procedures mentioned: Questionnaires
Only what the study's summary and detailed description on ClinicalTrials.gov say. Time periods may describe the whole study or a part of it — ask the study team what applies to you.
Show the study's own words
- "Participants will complete online surveys before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and at 1-month and 3-month follow-up time-points."
- Compensation
- Not stated
- Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
- Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
- Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
- Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.
About this study
In plain language
This study tests NegotiAge, an online program that teaches communication, problem-solving, and ways to handle disagreements. It is for family caregivers or unpaid care partners of people with Alzheimer's disease, related dementia, or memory or thinking problems. The study will test whether the program lowers caregiver stress and strain and improves well-being.
Family caregivers of people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias often experience conflicts and communication challenges when coordinating care, making decisions, and interacting with family members and healthcare providers. These challenges can contribute to caregiver burden, stress, anxiety, and reduced well-being. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of NegotiAge, an online negotiation and communication training program designed for family caregivers. NegotiAge provides education and interactive practice exercises to help caregivers develop negotiation, problem-solving, conflict-resolution, and communication skills that can be applied to real-world caregiving situations. Approximately 200 family caregivers will be randomly assigned to either the NegotiAge intervention or an attention-control educational website. Participants will complete online surveys before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and at 1-month and 3-month follow-up time-points. The study will examine whether NegotiAge reduces caregiver burden and improves communication, conflict-management behaviors, self-efficacy, stress, anxiety, fatigue, and well-being. Findings from this research may help improve support programs for family caregivers of people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.
Eligibility
Who can join
- You are age 21 or older.
- You consider yourself a family caregiver or unpaid care partner for someone with Alzheimer's disease, related dementia, or memory or thinking problems.
- You spend at least 2 hours a week helping that person, speaking up for their needs, arranging care, or making decisions.
- You can read, understand, and communicate in English.
- You can and will give informed consent, meaning you understand the study and agree to join.
- You have regular access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone with internet and are comfortable using online programs and surveys.
- You agree to be placed by chance in either the NegotiAge group or a group using an educational website, and to complete all study surveys.
Who can't join
- You took part in a PlanYourLifespan study (STU00209195 or STU00225351).
- You took part in any NegotiAge study (STU00212921).
- You are younger than 21.
- You are not currently a family caregiver or unpaid care partner for someone with Alzheimer's disease, related dementia, or memory or thinking problems.
- You cannot give informed consent, meaning you cannot understand the study and agree to join.
- You cannot read, understand, or communicate in English well enough to do the study activities.
- You have serious memory or thinking problems, or another condition that would keep you from taking part in study activities.
- You do not have access to the technology needed for the online program and study surveys.
Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.
Official eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 21 years or older * Self-identify as a family caregiver or unpaid care partner of a person with Alzheimer's disease, a related dementia, cognitive impairment, or memory loss. * Provide at least 2 hours per week of assistance, support, advocacy, healthcare coordination, or decision-making for the care recipient. * Able to read, understand, and communicate in English. * Able and willing to provide informed consent. * Have regular access to an internet-connected computer, tablet, or smartphone and be comfortable using web-based programs and surveys. * Willing to be randomized to either the NegotiAge intervention group or the attention-control group and complete all study assessments. Exclusion Criteria: * Prior participation in PlanYourLifespan studies (STU00209195 or STU00225351). * Prior participation in any NegotiAge study (STU00212921). * Younger than 21 years of age. * Not currently serving as a family caregiver or unpaid care partner for a person with Alzheimer's disease, a related dementia, cognitive impairment, or memory loss. * Unable to provide informed consent. * Unable to read, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to complete study activities. * Significant cognitive impairment or another condition that would prevent meaningful participation in study activities. * Lack of access to the technology required for participation in the online intervention and study assessments.
Study sites (1)
IL
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine · Chicago, IL 60611Lee A Lindquist, MD, MPH, MBA · Principal investigatorMore trials in Chicago