A multi-method co-design approach to develop CONTACT: A communication coaching tool for caregivers
Gail L Towsley PhD*, Alexandra L Terrill PhD, Gregory Bayles MEAE
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AbstractBackground: Care partners (CPs; relatives, and friends) are an integral part of the care team for persons living with dementia (PLWD) residing in long-term care facilities, where good communication is critical. Existing interventions to support CP communication skills while effective, are resource-intensive and often deploy a top-down approach, limiting uptake and sustainability.
Objective: To adapt our existing in-person coaching session intervention to an online CONversaTion cAre Coaching Tool (CONTACT), and obtain feedback on its acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility.
Method: We developed and tested CONTACT using a multi-method approach in an iterative co-design process: (1) In-person coaching session content was adapted to an online platform (REDCap); (2) 3 professionals with clinical/research expertise in caregiving, nursing, social work, and gerontology provided feedback, which was incorporated into the next iteration; (3) CONTACT was tested by two cohorts of CPs, who then completed an online survey rating the tool’s acceptability (4 items), appropriateness (4 items), and feasibility (4 items) on a scale of 1=strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree, and participated in a subsequent focus group session. Data were analyzed using summary statistics and content analysis.
Results: CPs (n=8) favorably rated the tool. Mean ratings for acceptability ranged from 4.13 – 4.25 mean ratings for appropriateness ranged from 3.88 – 4.43, and mean ratings for feasibility ranged from 4.13 – 4.57. CPs reported that the tool was clear, simple, informative, and logically organized and that it provided direction and structure for starting a conversation. They liked that instructions were provided via video and in writing, the definitions of terms, and large response buttons. CPs recommended additional videos depicting different scenarios.
Conclusion: Utilizing a collaborative co-design process to develop our tool empowered CPs to advocate for important features of CONTACT, including the type and method of providing information to foster communication skills that would support them in having conversations.Keywords: caregivers, communication tool, long-term care
Gail L Towsley PhD*, Alexandra L Terrill PhD, Gregory Bayles MEAE (2023). A multi-method co-design approach to develop CONTACT: A communication coaching tool for caregivers. Gerontechnology, 22(1), 1-7
https://doi.org/10.4017/gt.2023.22.1.839.09