Diapason

Description:

Diapason is an open site targeting informal carers of persons with Alzheimer's disease. This site provides practical information, videos of health professionals, and practice guides for applying content in one's life. Program content covers topics ranging from caregiver stress, understanding the disease and maintaining the loved ones' autonomy, to avoiding falls, improving the loved ones' daily lives, and social and financial support. Each session is designed to take approximately 15-30 minutes, and can be worked through at carers' own pace. 

Service URL:

http://www.etreaudiapason.com/

Agency Responsible:

Hopital Broca, Paris, France.

Details

Format:

Website.

Intervention Type:

Stress management including relaxation.

Course Length:

Long (more than 5 modules).

Support Option:

Program guidance. e-mail to seek program guidance

Target Audience

Primary Category:

Stress.

Target Audience:

Adult.

Language:

French.

Access

Fee:

Free.

Access:

Open: No registration required.

Contact Details:

diapason.broca@aphp.fr

Research evidence

Research Trials:

1

Research RCTs:

0

Outcome Summary:

A randomised trial was conducted and published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research in 2015. 49 informal carers of a person with Alzheimer's Disease, living in Paris, were randomised to either the Diapason program in addition to care as usual (N=25), or care as usual by itself (N=24). Participants receiving the Diapason program were provided with a new module each week, spanning a 3-month period. Data were collected at baseline, immediate post-test, and 6-month follow-up, and covered perceived stress, self-efficacey, burden, perceived health status, and depression. Groups did not differ on the primary outcome measure - perceived stress, however knowledge of the disease increased signficantly more from baseline to immediate posttest for participants receiving the program. This effect was not apparent at 6-month follow-up.  

 [Note that the inclusion of an active control condition - i.e. one that provided therapeutic care - means that for the purposes of Beacon this is not counted as a randomised controlled trial]

Recommended rating, reviewer 1:

Recommended rating, reviewer 2:

Read more about Beacon's Smiley Rating System.

Research paper citations

Cristancho-Lacroix, V. and J. Wrobel (2015). "A web-based psychoeducational program for informal caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease: a pilot randomized controlled trial."  17(5): e117.