Evaluating willingness-to-pay thresholds for dementia caregiving interventions: application to the tailored activity program

Burden and Depression among Empirically-Derived Subgroups of Family Caregivers for Individuals With Dementia

Dementia caregiving experiences are not universal and different factors may influence the risk for burden and depression. This study examined factors such as the relationship with the care recipient, severity of dementia, and relationship satisfaction to uncover different types of caregiver burden profiles using baseline assessment for a telephone-based intervention study for dementia caregivers. Participants (n = 233) completed a battery of psychological and caregiving related surveys. The sample was predominantly White and female. Latent class analysis suggested four class models in subsamples of spousal caregivers and adult children caregivers. The results suggested four distinct classes among samples of spousal and adult child caregivers. Differences in burden emerged across both spouses and adult children, and differences in depression also emerged in the spousal sample. Our findings demonstrate the diversity of the caregiving experience and suggest that future psychosocial interventions may benefit from being tailored to the needs of caregiver subgroups.

Caregivers' willingness to pay for digital support services: Comparative survey

BACKGROUND

Considering the substantial information needs experienced by informal caregivers, the increased availability of digital support services for caregivers as well as the potential they offer, further understanding of caregivers' willingness to pay for digital support services is needed.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to identify associations between informal caregiver's characteristics and their willingness to pay for digital support services in two countries: Italy and Sweden.

METHODS

A sample of 378 respondents participated in a cross-sectional survey. Respondents were recruited by the Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing and the Swedish Family Care Competence Centre. A two-part regression model was used. In the first part, logistic regression analysis was applied to investigate the association between willingness to pay and sets of independent variables (caregiver's demographics, caregiver's socioeconomic resources and caregiving context). In the second part, a generalized linear model (log-link and gamma distribution) was applied to determine the adjusted mean willingness to pay.

RESULTS

More than half of the participants from both countries of our study were willing to pay out of pocket for digital support services. A recommendation by a healthcare professional was the top factor that may motivate caregivers' willingness to pay an additional amount for a paid version of a digital support service. In both countries, the majority of the respondents believe that the government should allocate more funds for digital support services and for improving digital infrastructures. Caregiver' s gender, care recipient relationship to the caregiver, care duration, the total household income and the amount spent per month on professional caregiving services are all associated with willingness to pay. For every additional 10 Euro increase in the amount spent per month on professional caregiving services, the odds of willingness to pay an additional Euro for a digital support service increased by 0.60 % in the Italian sample (p= 0.002, 95% CI: 1.002, 1.009) and 0.31% in the Swedish sample (p=0.015, 95% CI: 1.006, 1.057).

CONCLUSIONS

Factors such as demographics, socioeconomic resources and the caregiving context may play a role in caregivers' willingness to pay for digital support services. The digital and social divide may negatively affect caregivers' willingness to pay for digital support services. Policy makers and insurance providers should consider innovative policies to fund digital support services that have been shown to be effective at supporting and improving caregivers' health outcomes via subsidies or other incentives. Future research that evaluates the cost-effectiveness of digital support services is needed in a context of a growing number of informal caregivers and ever scarcer resources.

Development of a Home-Based Stress Management Toolkit for Dementia Caring Dyads: Protocol for a Pilot Intervention Development and Feasibility Study

BACKGROUND

People living with dementia (PLWD) and their care partners (dementia caring dyads) are at a heightened risk of experiencing stress-related symptoms and conditions. Yet, many dyadic stress management interventions have had limited uptake by health care systems and in the community. An intervention that combines simple, safe, easy-to-use, nonpharmacologic tools (eg, animatronic social pets, weighted blankets and garments, aromatherapy and bright light therapy devices, acupressure, and massage tools) that can be used in the home may be a promising approach to promote stress management among dementia caring dyads.

OBJECTIVE

The proposed study aims to develop and user test a dyadic toolkit intervention composed of simple, tangible stress management tools for community-dwelling PLWD and their care partners. This study will also explore the feasibility of collecting several stress-related outcome measures to inform measurement selection for future studies.

METHODS

A human-centered design (HCD) approach will be used to increase the likelihood of developing an intervention that will be translatable to real-world settings. This study consists of 2 phases. The first phase will address the discover, define, and design stages of HCD using qualitative focus groups with dementia caring dyads (N=12-16 dyads). Dyadic focus groups (3-4 groups anticipated) will be convened to understand participants' stress experiences and to co-design a stress management toolkit prototype. Rapid qualitative analysis will be used to analyze focus group data. In phase 2, the toolkit prototype will be user tested for 2 weeks in a new sample to address the validation step of HCD. A within-subjects (n=10 dyads), pre-post design will be used with measures of usability (frequency of toolkit use), feasibility (enrollment and withdrawal rates, adverse events/injuries), and acceptability (satisfaction, benefit) collected via questionnaires (at the end of weeks 1 and 2 of user testing) and focus groups (n=3-4 dyads/group at the end of week 2). The feasibility of collecting participant-reported, stress-related outcomes (neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia, caregiver stress, dyadic relationship strain) and salivary cortisol as a physiologic measure of stress will be assessed at baseline and after user testing.

RESULTS

This study will yield a working prototype of a stress management toolkit for dementia caring dyads, as well as preliminary data to support the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. User testing will elucidate areas to refine the prototype and provide data to inform preliminary testing of the intervention. As of September 2022, this study has received institutional ethics board approval with phase 1 recruitment anticipated to begin January 2023.

CONCLUSIONS

Few interventions have focused on combining simple, safe, low burden tools to promote stress management among community-dwelling dementia caring dyads. By involving families and exploring feasibility and acceptability at the onset of development, this intervention will have greater potential to be implemented and sustained in the future.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05465551; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05465551.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/43098.

Valuation of Informal Care Provided to People Living With Dementia: A Systematic Literature Review

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to identify the methods used to determine the value of informal care provided to people living with dementia and to estimate the average hourly unit cost by valuation method.

METHODS

A literature search in MEDLINE Complete, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EconLit, EMBASE and NHS Economic Evaluation Database was undertaken. Following the screening of title, abstract, and full text, characteristics of eligible studies were extracted systematically and analyzed descriptively. The corresponding hourly cost estimates were converted into 2018 US dollars based on purchasing power parities for gross domestic product.

RESULTS

A total number of 111 articles were included in this review from 3106 post-deduplication records. Three main valuation methodologies were identified: the replacement cost method (n = 50), the opportunity cost approach (n = 36), and the stated preference method based on willingness to pay (n = 3), with 16 studies using multiple methods and 6 studies not specifying the valuation method. The amount of informal care increased as the condition of dementia progressed, which was reflected in the cost of informal care. The average hourly unit cost used to value informal care was US $16.78 (SD = US $12.11). Although the unit cost was approximately US $15 per hour when using the opportunity cost method and US $14 when using the stated preference method, the highest unit cost was obtained when using the replacement cost method (US $18.37, SD = US $13.12).

CONCLUSIONS

Although costs of informal care should be considered when undertaking an economic evaluation or estimating the overall costs of dementia from a policy and priority-setting perspective, further research into applying consistent approaches to valuation is warranted.

Dementia Family Caregivers' Willingness to Pay for an In-home Program to Reduce Behavioral Symptoms and Caregiver Stress

OBJECTIVES

Our objective was to determine whether family caregivers of people with dementia (PwD) are willing to pay for an in-home intervention that provides strategies to manage behavioral symptoms and caregiver stress and to identify predictors of willingness-to-pay (WTP).

METHODS

During baseline interviews of a randomized trial and before treatment assignment, caregivers were asked how much they were willing to pay per session for an eight-session program over 3 months. We stratified the sample into those who refused to provide a WTP, those willing to pay $US0, and those willing to pay > $US0. We used a two-part model, controlling for demographic characteristics, to predict adjusted mean WTP and to examine associations between WTP, clinical features (cognition, function, behavioral symptoms), and time spent assisting PwD with daily activities. First, we used logistic regression to model the probability a caregiver was willing to pay > $US0. Second, we used a generalized linear model (log link and Gamma distribution) to estimate the amount caregivers were willing to pay conditional on WTP > $US0.

RESULTS

Of 250 dyads enrolled, 226 (90%) had complete data and were included in our analyses. Of 226 dyads, 26 (11%) refused to provide a WTP value, 72 (32%) were willing to pay $US0, and 128 (57%) were willing to pay > $US0. In the combined model, mean adjusted WTP was $US36.00 (95% confidence interval [CI] 26.72-45.27) per session. Clinical features were not significantly associated with WTP. One additional hour providing PwD assistance was associated with a $US1.64 (95% CI 0.23-3.04) increase in WTP per session.

CONCLUSION

As caregivers spend more time assisting with daily activities, they are willing to pay more for a supportive program.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT01892579.

Contingent Valuation Studies in Orthopaedic Surgery: A Health Economic Review

BACKGROUND

A greater emphasis on providing high-value orthopaedic interventions has resulted in increased health economic reporting. The contingent-valuation method (CVM) is used to determine consumer valuation of the benefits provided by healthcare interventions. CVM is an important value-based health economic tool that is underutilized in orthopaedic surgery.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

The purpose of this study was to (1) identify previously published CVM studies in the orthopaedic literature, (2) assess the methodologies used for CVM research, and (3) understand how CVM has been used in the orthopaedic cost-benefit analysis framework.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature using the MEDLINE database was performed to compile CVM studies. Search terms incorporated the phrase willingness to pay (WTP) or willingness to accept (WTA) in combination with orthopaedic clinical key terms. Study methodology was appraised using previously defined empirical and conceptual criteria for CVM studies.

RESULTS

Of the 160 studies retrieved, 22 (13.8%) met our inclusion criteria. The economics of joint arthroplasty (n = 6, 27.3%) and non-operative osteoarthritis care (n = 4, 18.2%) were the most common topics. Most studies used CVM for pricing and/or demand forecasting (n = 16, 72.7%); very few studies used CVM for program evaluation (n = 6). WTP was used in all included studies, and one study used both WTP and WTA. Otherwise, there was little consistency among included studies in terms of CVM methodology. Open-ended questioning was used by only ten studies (45.5%), a significant number of studies did not perform a sensitivity analysis (n = 9, 40.9%), and none of the studies accounted for the risk preference of subjects. Only two of the included studies applied CVM within a cost-benefit analysis framework.

CONCLUSION

CVM is not commonly reported in orthopaedic surgery and is seldom used in the context of cost-benefit analysis. There is wide variability in the methods used to perform CVM. We propose that CVM is an appropriate and underappreciated method for understanding the value of orthopaedic interventions. Increased attention should be paid to consumer valuations for orthopaedic interventions.

A randomized trial of a web-based platform to help families manage dementia-related behavioral symptoms: The WeCareAdvisor™

Dementia-related behavioral symptoms are challenging clinical features occurring across etiologies and disease progression. They are associated with increased healthcare utilization, nursing home placement, family upset and burden. Families typically manage behavioral symptoms without requisite knowledge, skills and guidance. We designed WeCareAdvisor™ as an easy-to-use, evidence-informed web-based platform. It provides families knowledge about dementia, daily tips, and a systematic approach to describe behaviors, investigate modifiable contributors, create treatment plans (WeCareAdvisor™ Prescription) consisting of management tips tailored to symptom presentation, and evaluate effectiveness. WeCareAdvisor™ is being tested in a randomized trial to assess acceptability, usability and immediate impact on caregiver confidence managing and upset with behavioral symptoms, and secondarily, frequency of behavioral occurrences. Fifty-seven caregivers will be enrolled from communities and medical clinics at two sites (University of Michigan; Johns Hopkins University). Families reporting behavioral symptoms in a telephone screen are consented and interviewed at home. Following the interview, an envelope is opened by interviewers to reveal group assignment (immediate vs one-month delayed treatment group). Those receiving WeCareAdvisor™ immediately are provided an iPad and instruction in its use; those in the delayed treatment group are informed of next study steps. All caregivers are reassessed at home one month from baseline. The delayed treatment group then receives iPad instructions and are re-interviewed one month thereafter. During treatment phase, participants receive 3 weekly check-in calls to encourage tool use and troubleshoot. Key outcomes include number of times using WeCareAdvisor™ and for which behaviors, self-efficacy and upset managing behavioral symptoms, and frequency of behavioral occurrences. Clinical trial registration #: NCT02420535.

Effects of cognition, function, and behavioral and psychological symptoms on out-of-pocket medical and nursing home expenditures and time spent caregiving for persons with dementia

INTRODUCTION

Clinical features of dementia (cognition, function, and behavioral and psychological symptoms) may differentially affect out-of-pocket medical and nursing home (NH) expenditures and informal care received (outcomes).

METHODS

We used cross-sectional data (Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study) to estimate probabilities of experiencing outcomes by clinical features. For those experiencing an outcome, we estimated effects of clinical features on the amount of the outcome.

RESULTS

No clinical feature predicted the probability of having out-of-pocket medical expenditures. For those with medical expenditures, higher cognition and poorer function were associated with more spending. Poorer function predicted having out-of-pocket NH expenditures. For those with NH expenditures, no clinical feature predicted the amount. Poorer function and a greater number of behavioral and psychological symptoms predicted the probability of receiving caregiving. For those receiving care, poorer function was associated with more caregiving.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical features differentially impact outcomes with poorer function associated with all types of costs and caregiving received.

Translation of the Care of Persons with Dementia in their Environments (COPE) intervention in a publicly-funded home care context: Rationale and research design

BACKGROUND

Dementia is the leading cause of loss of independence in older adults worldwide. In the U.S., approximately 15 million family members provide care to relatives with dementia. This paper presents the rationale and design for a translational study in which an evidence-based, non-pharmacologic intervention for older adults with dementia and family caregivers (CGs) is incorporated into a publicly-funded home care program for older adults at risk for nursing home admission.

METHODS

The 4-month Care of Persons with Dementia in their Environments (COPE) intervention is designed to optimize older adults' functional independence, and to improve CG dementia management skills and health-related outcomes. COPE features 10 in-home occupational therapy visits, and 1 in-home visit and 1 telephone contact by an advanced practice nurse. COPE was deemed efficacious in a published randomized clinical trial. In the present study, older adults with dementia enrolled in the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE) and their CGs are randomly assigned to receive COPE plus their ongoing CHCPE services, or to continue receiving CHCPE services only.

OUTCOMES

The primary outcome for older adults with dementia is functional independence; secondary outcomes are activity engagement, quality of life, and prevention or alleviation of neuropsychiatric symptoms. CG outcomes include perceived well-being and confidence in using activities to manage dementia symptoms. Translational outcomes include net financial benefit of COPE, and feasibility and acceptability of COPE implementation into the CHCPE. COPE has the potential to improve health-related outcomes while saving Medicaid waiver and state revenue-funded home care program costs nationwide.

A non-pharmacologic approach to address challenging behaviors of Veterans with dementia: description of the tailored activity program-VA randomized trial

Background

Behavioral symptoms accompanying dementia are associated with increased health care costs, reduced quality of life and daily functioning, heightened family caregiver burden, and nursing home placement. Standard care typically involves pharmacologic agents, but these are, at best, modestly effective, carry serious risks, including mortality, and do not address behavioral symptoms families consider most distressful and which may prompt nursing home placement. Given dementia’s devastating effects and the absence of an imminent cure, the Veterans Administration has supported the development and testing of new approaches to manage challenging behaviors at home.

Methods/Design

The Tailored Activity Program – Veterans Administration is a Phase III efficacy trial designed to reduce behavioral symptoms in Veterans with dementia living with their caregivers in the community. The study uses a randomized two-group parallel design with 160 diverse Veterans and caregivers. The experimental group receives a transformative patient-centric intervention designed to reduce the burden of behavioral symptoms in Veterans with dementia. An occupational therapist conducts an assessment to identify a Veteran’s preserved capabilities, deficit areas, previous roles, habits, and interests to develop activities tailored to the Veteran. Family caregivers are then trained to incorporate activities into daily care. The attention-control group receives bi-monthly telephone contact where education on topics relevant to dementia is provided to caregivers. Key outcomes include reduced frequency and severity of behavioral symptoms using the 12-item Neuropsychiatric Inventory (primary endpoint), reduced caregiver burden, enhanced skill acquisition, efficacy using activities, and time spent providing care at 4 months; and long-term effects (8 months) on the Veteran’s quality of life and frequency and severity of behavioral symptoms, and caregiver use of activities. The programs’ impact of Veterans Administration cost is also examined. Study precision will be increased through face-to-face research team trainings with procedural manuals and review of audio-taped interviews and intervention sessions.

Discussion

The Tailored Activity Program – Veterans Administration is designed to improve the quality of life of Veterans with dementia and lessen the burden of care on caregivers. Activities are tailored to reflect the Veteran’s preserved capabilities and interests to enhance active engagement, while not taxing areas of cognition that are most impaired.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01357564

Assistive devices caregivers use and find helpful to manage problem behaviors of dementia

PURPOSE

Use of assistive devices in caring for individuals with dementia has not been systematically examined, particularly as it concerns managing behavioral symptoms. We tested a nonpharmacologic intervention to manage behaviors that involved instructing families in effective communication techniques, simplifying tasks and the home environment and using assistive devices. This paper describes the assistive devices provided to families assigned to intervention, extent of use of issued devices, their perceived helpfulness, and cost.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Following each treatment session, occupational therapists (OT) documented time spent training in the use of strategies to manage problem behaviors. For families receiving assistive devices, OTs asked caregivers after 4 months whether they continued to use the device (yes/no), and extent to which it helped manage the targeted problems (not at all, somewhat, very helpful). We also tracked the costs associated with ordering, delivering and installing devices.

RESULTS

Of 272 caregiver-patient dyads enrolled in the original trial, 136 were randomized to the intervention group, of whom 63 received one or more assistive devices. Of 13 intervention sessions, an average of 4 (31%) involved discussing or training caregivers in using assistive devices. A total of 197 devices (3 per dyad) were issued of which 87.6% were reported in use at 4 months. Caregivers reported that overall, devices were somewhat to very helpful. Devices ranged in cost from US$4.80 to US$282.93 with an average cost per dyad of US$152.52(SD=US$102.70) which included the device, its ordering, delivery and installation.