N/A
N=43
Improving Care Through Improv: Promoting Mastery in the Moment
Caregiver Burden
Bottom Line
View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05996718 ↗Enrolled (actual)
43
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
Jun 2025
Primary outcome: Primary: Pearlin Mastery, Loss, and Competence: Caregiver Competence Subscale — 11.10; 11.63; 11.93 Score on a scale
Study Design & Population
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- N/A
- Interventions
- Training program pilot (Behavioral)
- Age
- Adult, Older Adult · 18+ yrs
- Sex
- All
- Sponsor
- Georgia State University
- Primary completion
- May 2024
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Pearlin Mastery, Loss, and Competence: Caregiver Competence Subscale |
11.10; 11.63; 11.93 | — |
| SECONDARY Perceived Stress Scale |
26.25; 26.65; 23.10 | — |
| SECONDARY Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale |
14.83; 14.78; 12.98 | — |
| SECONDARY State-Trait Anxiety Inventory |
36.15; 35.38; 34.85 | — |
| SECONDARY Zarit Burden Inventory |
61.95; 61.63; 59.68 | — |
| SECONDARY Revised Memory and Behavioral Problems Checklist - FREQUENCY |
37.20; 36.55; 38.05 | — |
| SECONDARY Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease Scale |
27.85; 27.88; 27.63 | — |
| SECONDARY Revised Memory and Behavioral Problems Checklist - REACTION |
20.13; 19.70; 16.35 | — |
Summary
The goals of this clinical trial are to: 1) refine the training program, "Improving Care though Improv;" and 2) test the program for its influence self-perceived caregiving mastery (i.e., how persons assess their ability to provide care) among informal caregivers of persons living with moderate dementia. Forty-three informal caregivers will be involved in testing the training program. These individuals will be assigned to groups of between 8 to12 caregivers and take part in weekly 2-hour sessions held over a 4-week period. These caregivers will be taught improvisational (improv) theater skills, which involves being in the moment, self-awareness, and responsiveness to others. This group also will be asked to answer surveys questions about themselves and the person receiving care at three timepoints and invited to provide feedback on their training experiences.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Actively engaged in the care of community-dwelling persons living with moderate dementia (4 or 5 on a 7-point dementia-staging scale) who is not likely to be institutionalized within the next 6 months
- Able to attend at least 3 of the 4 in-person sessions
- Ability to communicate in English
Exclusion Criteria: Potential participants were excluded if they did not meet the above criteria or anticipated moving their person to a skilled nursing facility within the next 6 months.
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05996718). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.