VOCALE-LBD Pilot
Welcome and thank you for your interest in our research study, “Virtual Online Communities for Aging Life Experiences” or VOCALE for short.
Overview
We are looking for caregivers of people with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) to engage in an 8-week online discussion about problem solving related to caregiving. By participating in this discussion,you can contribute to creating a resource that will help caregivers like you!
Purpose
The purpose of the study is to better understand caregivers’ experiences through the use of moderated online discussions within a private online discussion group. This academic research study is funded by the National Institutes of Health.
The group itself is moderated by the research team and is only accessible to those invited to the group. Simply, the content and participants in this group cannot be seen by the public. The study is eight weeks long. Each week, we will have a unique discussion topic related to caregiving challenges and/or problem-solving strategies.
Study format
The study involves participating in an 8-week online program that takes place entirely on an asynchronous, private discussion board. Each participant will also complete three live, remote sessions, an individual training session and two follow-up interviews, one at the end of the 8-week program, and the other one four weeks later. During these three sessions, participants will be asked to complete online questionnaires. No in-person contact is needed.
Compensation
If you are eligible and participate in all parts of the study, you can receive a virtual gift card of up to $250 for your contribution and time. If you do not complete all required activities, you will receive a prorated amount for compensation.The breakdown of payment is as follows:
| Study activity | Compensation amount |
| Completing initial questionnaires and training session | $50 |
| Posting at least twice a week on the discussion board during the 8-week pilot | $10/week ($80 maximum) |
| Incentive to complete week 8 of the pilot | $20 |
| Completing post-intervention session (interview and questionnaires) | $50 |
| Completing follow-up session (interview and questionnaires) | $50 |
| Maximum Total: | $250 |
Timeline
If you are eligible to participate, the following steps will be followed:
- We will send you more detailed information about the study, including its purpose, format, risks, and benefits. You will have a chance to ask any questions. We will also work with you to schedule your remote, 1:1 training session, one of three live sessions required for this study.
- You will complete the training session with one or two study team members. At this session, you will also provide electronic consent to participate in the study and fill out a series of questionnaires. More training sessions and materials will be provided if needed.
- Once all participants have been enrolled and trained, the pilot program will begin and continue for 8 weeks. The study team will post weekly prompts and ask each participant to post at least twice a week.
- When the program has ended, you will complete two remote, individual follow-up interviews with one or two study team members, one at the end of the program and the other one four weeks later. These sessions will be recorded. You will also fill out follow-up questionnaires.
** If you change your mind during the study and no longer want to participate, you are able to withdraw at any point in the study. Simply send us an email and we will terminate your participation. We will send you a gift card for the amount you participated.
Eligibility
In order to participate in the study, we have a few eligibility requirements. Participants must:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Be an informal/lay caregiver of a person diagnosed with LBD (you may be family, friend, or have some other relationship to the person)
- Have access to a computer/smartphone/tablet and internet access
- Be able to read, write, and speak English
Interested in participating?
Click here to take our eligibility survey!
Last Updated: April 2023