Analysis of the intensity of engagement with CuidaTEXT, a text message intervention for dementia caregiver support among Latinos/as

ABSTRACT

Objectives

To examine the associations between participant intensity of engagement with a text message intervention, CuidaTEXT, and socio-demographic factors, acceptability measures, and clinical outcomes among Latino/a caregivers of individuals with dementia.

Methods

CuidaTEXT is a six-month, bilingual, and bidirectional intervention. We enrolled 24 Latino/a caregivers in a one-arm feasibility trial. Participants received approximately one automatic daily text message and could engage with the intervention by texting specific keywords (e.g. STRESS to receive messages about stress-coping), and by chat-texting with a live coach. We used metrics and psychometric scales to quantify variables.

Results

Participants sent a total of 1847 messages to CuidaTEXT. Higher intensity of engagement was associated with higher intervention satisfaction (r = 0.6, p = 0.007), as were several other acceptability outcomes. We found no associations between intensity of engagement with CuidaTEXT and sociodemographic or clinical outcomes (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Encouraging more intense engagement with CuidaTEXT might lead to higher levels of satisfaction with the intervention. However, it is possible that those who are highly satisfied, engage more intensely with CuidaTEXT. Future research should determine the directionality of these associations to optimize text message interventions.

Clinical Implications

Creating more opportunities to increase the intensity of text message engagement with caregiver support interventions may improve caregiver satisfaction with them.

KEYWORDS:

• Latino/a
• caregiver
• mHealth
• intervention
• dementia
• engagement

Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 3: Good health and well-being
• SDG 10: Reduced inequalities

Acknowledgements

The research team thanks research participants included in all stages of this research as well as anyone who has contributed directly and indirectly to this research. We also thank the UsAgainstAlzheimer’s A-List and the Alzheimer’s Association’s TrialMatch for sharing the opportunity to participate in CuidaTEXT with their registries and website visitors. The ideas and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors alone, and endorsement by the authors’ institutions or the funding agency is not intended and should not be inferred.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health: (Grant Number R21 AG065755, K01 MD014177, P30 AG072973, P20GM139733).