E-Tailored Pain Management Support for Dementia Family Caregivers: Feasibility of the PACE-app
E-Tailored Pain Management Support for Dementia Family Caregivers
Who can join
Ages 18 to 100 · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Be a primary caregiver - (a family member, relative, or friend) of a person with dementia (or cognitive impairment) and chronic pain (lasting \>3 months)' * Be responsible for managing the care recipient's pain and pain treatments (including interpreting verbal or non-verbal pain communication). * Be age 18 - 100. * Be able to read and speak English. * Have regular access to an electronic device (tablet, laptop, or computer) with internet connectivity (for using the app and participating in data collection). * Be accessible by phone or email to schedule meetings. * Be willing to commit to the full study duration and protocol. Exclusion Criteria: * Currently participating in another research study that could interfere with this intervention.
About the study
The goal of this clinical trial is to test whether a web-based application called the Pain Control Enhancement App (PACE-app) can support family caregivers in managing pain for their care recipients with dementia. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Is it feasible and acceptable for family caregivers to use the PACE-app?
Does using the PACE-app improve caregiver self-efficacy in pain management, adherence to pain treatments, communication with care providers, well-being, and their care recipient's pain conditions?
Researchers will compare caregivers who use the PACE-app to those who continue with their usual care practices to see if the app leads to better outcomes for both caregivers and care recipients.
Participants will:
Be randomly assigned to either the PACE-app group or a usual-care control group
Complete online surveys at baseline, 1 month, and 2 months
If assigned to the PACE-app group:
Use the PACE-app for 1 month to receive tailored pain management strategies and tools, and record their care recipient's pain in a digital diary
Participate in an interview about their experience with the app
All participation activities can be done remotely or in person.
What is being tested
- Web-based pain management support tool (other)
- Usual Pain Management Care (behavioral)
Sponsor: University of Iowa · Participants: 60 · Started: May 22, 2025
Contact the study team
- Nai-Ching Chi, PhD, MS, BSN · Phone: 319-335-7064
- Gabriel M Vald, MS, BA · Phone: 515-897-8517
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07032350
Locations in the U.S.
| Iowa | College of Nursing, Iowa City |
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.