CIRCA Study
Observational Study
Get in touch about this studyFull study title: CIRCA: A Canadian Version of the Computer Interactive Reminiscing and Conversation Aid
What is the study about?
The goal of this study is to develop and test a computer program to aid conversation. The Computer Interactive Reminiscing and Conversation Aid (CIRCA) is an ‘electronic scrapbook’ with generic photos, music, and videos (e.g., famous singers and popular buildings). It was developed to spark meaningful conversation between caregivers and people with dementia. CIRCA is currently designed for people with dementia in the UK, Sweden, and British Columbia. A version with broad Canadian-relevant content needs to be developed and tested so Canadians can benefit from CIRCA. This study aims to develop and test the Canadian version of CIRCA.
Eligibility – Who can participate?
Pairs of people consisting of a person living with dementia and their caregiver living in the same household.
Participants must:
- Live in Ontario, Canada (within a two-hour drive from Toronto, Ontario)
- Speak and understand English
- Agree to be video and audio recorded as part of the study
Time requirement
This study will take approximately 5 weeks to complete, and will include the following:
- Memory test, with questions involving recalling words, repeating numbers, etc. This should take about 10 minutes to complete.
- Demographic questionnaire, including the collection of sex, date of birth, and previous experience with touchscreen technology. This should take about 5 minutes to complete.
- Testing CIRCA. You will be asked to use CIRCA at home with a friend/family caregiver weekly for four (4) weeks for as little/often as you and your caregiver choose. In the sessions, caregivers will show the contents (e.g., music, videos, photos) within CIRCA and facilitate conversations about what is presented on the screen (e.g., famous buildings).
- Caregiver Interview. At the end of the study, you will be invited to participate in a 30-minute interview about your experiences using CIRCA. Even if you do not use CIRCA with the person with dementia during the study, you can still participate in the interview. The interview will be audio-recorded.
TDRA study investigator
Dr. Arlene Astell
Video
Advances in Dementia Research Webinar- Listen to Dr. Arlene Astelle (Principal Investigator) discuss the CIRCA study in further detail: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK-T7Sw21tE
TDRA Site:
Participate from home,
Age Group:
18 - 24, 25 - 29, 30 - 39, 40 - 49, 50 - 54, 55 - 59, 60 - 64, 65 - 69, 70 - 80, 81 - 85, 86 - 90, 91+
Target Population:
Alzheimer’s disease, Caregivers, Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Mild cognitive impairment, Mild Dementia, Moderate Dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Subjective cognitive decline, Vascular dementia