CuidaTXT: a Text Message Dementia-caregiver Intervention for Latinos

CuidaTXT: a Text Message Dementia-caregiver Intervention for Latinos

Latino families with dementia experience substantial disparities in access to caregiver support compared to their non-Latino white peers, putting them at an increased risk for negative emotional, physical and financial outcomes. This R21 will address this research gap by 1) Developing a culturally and linguistically appropriate text message intervention for caregiver support among Latino family caregivers of individuals with dementia and 2) Testing the feasibility and acceptability of CuidaTXT, a multicomponent text message caregiver support intervention culturally and linguistically tailored for the Latino community.

Latino relatives of individuals with dementia are less likely than non-Latino whites to have access to caregiver support. Text messaging can dramatically enhance the reach of effective culturally and linguistically tailored caregiver support interventions. However, to our knowledge, no text message interventions exist to provide caregiver support among caregivers of individuals with dementia. Text message interventions can capitalize on the fact that Latinos own cellphones and use them to text at a higher rate than non-Latino whites. The overall aim of this proposal is to develop and test the first text message intervention for caregiver support of individuals with dementia among Latinos. This intervention, CuidaTXT [Spanish for self-care and texting], will be available in English and Spanish, incorporate two-way messaging and will tailor text messages to the preferences of Latino caregivers. CuidaTXT will be multicomponent and based on the Stress Process Framework as supported by evidence. The intervention will incorporate social support and coping components including dementia education, problem-solving skills training, social network support, care management and referral to community resources. This research corresponds with Stage 1 of the NIH Stage Model for Behavioral Intervention Development. In Aim 1, researchers will develop a culturally and linguistically appropriate text message intervention for caregiver support among Latino family caregivers of individuals with dementia using user-centered design methods. In Aim 2, researchers will test the feasibility and acceptability of CuidaTXT during six months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Spanish and English-speaking individuals
• Over the age of 18
• Identify as Latino
• Report providing hands-on care for a relative who has been given a clinical or research dementia diagnosis
• Care recipient has an AD-8 screening score greater than or equal to 2, indicating cognitive impairment
• Self-report being able to read and write
• Self-report owning a cell phone with a flat fee and use it at least weekly for texting

Exclusion Criteria:

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