Use of the Roadmap positive activity app in daily life among dementia caregivers: evidence of feasibility and acceptability

Abstract

Dementia caregivers often report poor mental health, which has implications for the quality of care, as well as care recipient well-being. Thus, it is imperative to identify modifiable factors that influence caregiver mental health and can be targeted through personalized interventions. The purpose of the present study was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of the Roadmap mHealth app, a positive activity intervention for dementia caregivers, and preliminary associations with caregiver mental health. A total of 20 dementia caregivers participated in a 14-day study, during which they received prompts to engage in Roadmap positive activities twice a day and complete nightly mobile surveys regarding their own and their care recipient’s mental health. Both caregivers and their recipients were asked to wear Fitbit® devices. Caregivers completed a feasibility and acceptability survey at the end of the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and 2-level multilevel linear models with days nested in participants. The app showed high feasibility, with caregivers engaging in Roadmap positive activities on 87% of the days and completing 95% of nightly surveys. All caregivers and 75% of their recipients wore Fitbits®. The Fitbit® and nightly surveys were acceptable (above 80% agreement), but there were some aspects of the app that may warrant improvement (72–78% agreement). Same-day positive activities were associated with lower caregiver depression, lower appraisals of caregiving as stressful, and higher caregiver positive mood. Overall, the Roadmap app is feasible and shows promising associations with caregiver mental health, but some improvements are needed to improve acceptability. A larger, fully powered randomized controlled trial is needed to evaluate whether the Roadmap app improves caregiver mental health.