Investigation of the implementation, take-up and use of an online personalised platform for those who care for people with dementia in real world sett

Collaborative project
There are an estimated 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK, with around two-thirds living outside residential care in the community. Informal carers play a critical role in their support, but face numerous challenges from how to recognise and respond to the physical, psychological and social care needs of the person being cared for, to living with the uncertainty and isolation. Carers' health and wellbeing deteriorates as caring needs intensifies and a lack of support for carers is known to contribute to poor outcomes for the cared-for person, including avoidable hospital admissions, prolonged stays and delayed discharge. Hence, supporting carers has important health and economic benefits, and the need for more effective carer support is recognised in UK health policy.
Digital technologies have the potential to address the information, advice and support needs of carers, but it is often difficult to navigate online resources and to identify sites that are reliable and relevant. Recent publications from the Netherlands and Germany provide evidence to support digital innovations that address this issue, with both reporting high levels of acceptability.
Two years ago with funding from Coventry & Rugby and S Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) Warwick Medical School established a collaboration with carer groups, third sector, NHS and local government organisations to co-develop an innovation (the Care Companion) to address carers' support needs. The unique aspect of the intervention is the way it provides personalised resources and notifications linked to the user's profile and the way that they use it. It is targeted on four principle themes (burden of care, lack of knowledge, self-efficacy and lack of time). Its design and content draws on the theoretical framework of the behaviour change wheel. [...]
KEY RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The overall aim will be to investigate how to optimise the implementation, take-up and use of an online personalised platform for those who care for people with dementia in real world settings.
Key research questions (RQs) are:
1. What are the likely influences on the uptake and sustained use of the Care Companion designed to support the needs of those caring for people with dementia?
2. In what ways is the implementation of the online platform and its use influenced by the expectations and experiences of carers, those living with dementia, health care professionals, third sector organisations and commissioners?
3. How do different implementation approaches impact on uptake, and potentially on health service, social care and voluntary sector service use?
The research will involve close working with local government and NHS managers and professional staff and voluntary sector organisations in the areas covered by the collaborating CCGs. We already have an established stakeholder group that represents these bodies, as well as carer organisations, that will be
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involved in informing the overall shape of the PhD, supporting access to research subjects and sites, and who will contribute to the interpretation of findings.
The PhD student will explore different theories of uptake and implementation, drawing on expertise in WBS and WMS, during the first year in order to refine the research questions and methodological approach. It is anticipated that the design will be informed by implementation science theory and theories of diffusion of complex innovations within health and social care. We will engage potential users and, where possible people with dementia, in all aspects of the study, from its design to the analysis and interpretation of findings, so ensuring the relevance of all stages of the research to those living with dementia and those who care.