Using the iPad for self-management and health promotion activities, and social inclusion
 VU University Medical Centre |
Netherlands |
| Early Stage Researcher (ESR8)
Kim Beentjes
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Supervisor(s)
Prof. Rose-Marie Droes
Dr Franka Meiland
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| As an Early stage Researcher of INDUCT, Kim Beentjes will conduct the research “Using the iPad for self-management, health promotion activities and social inclusion”, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Rose-Marie Dröes and Dr. Franka Meiland.
She graduated at Maastricht University in European Public Health (BSc) and at the United Nations University (UNU-MERIT) in Public Policy and Human Development (MSc). After this she studied Medicine at the University of Zagreb for two years. Kim is very interested in expanding her knowledge in the public health field related to the combination of dementia and technology. |
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| Start date | May 2019 |
Objectives
The ESR will (1) conduct a randomised controlled trial among people with dementia and their informal carers, using iPAD based measures to compare the intervention with usual care, and explore implementation issues using the intervention with people with a range of dementia severity and in a variety of care settings. Facilitators and barriers of implementation will be investigated and strategies for implementation developed (including a guide for informal carers and a business model). The study will be in collaboration with Saxion University of Applied Sciences. In previous PhD research VUMC (in collaboration with Saxion University of Applied Sciences) developed a client-centred four step iPAD programme supporting individual people with dementia and their carers to plan and perform activities for leisure, self-management and social inclusion. This included methods for: assessing the individual needs, wishes and abilities; selecting usable apps & connecting to these individual needs, wishes and abilities; coaching people with dementia in iPAD use plus coaching staff and informal carers (including volunteers), in how to help people with dementia use the iPAD tablet. The development of this client centred-programme was based on the Medical Research Council’s (MRC) framework with regard to the design and evaluation of complex interventions to improve health.
Expected Results
Increased engagement in activities, increased self-management and increased social contacts in people with dementia who are offered the iPad and matching programme as compared to people who use the tablet without the matching programme or people who do not use the iPad at all. In addition the client-centred programme is expected to increase the sense of competence of informal carers and to relief their burden (because of the results achieved in the persons with dementia).
Planned secondment(s)
In the first year a secondment of 3 months with the University of Nottingham-UK, Institute of Mental Health working with MindTech the mental health technology enterprise to develop skills around implementation in practice and application development. The second secondment of 3 months will be at a technology organisation (Silverfit) which develops apps by means of user participatory design to get insight in the functional requirements and implementation issues at a user level Contacts exist with technology and care organisations via the Dutch Coalition of Applied Gaming and previous research projects.
Dissemination
News
INDUCT newsletter Spring 2017 – Exploring a new workplace and culture, can’t expect anything better! – https://www.dementiainduct.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/INDUCT-newsletter-Spring-2017.pdf – page 2
As training manager of INDUCT, I am responsible for the overall coordination and organization of the individual and network-wide training of our 15 ESRs. My main task is the organization of five INDUCT Summer and Winter Schools. Together with the local and management team, we identify needs and interests among the ESRs, compose a varied program for the week including training sessions, project meetings and social and networking events, invite academic and non-academic expert speakers, organize practical matters, and afterwards we evaluate the event, write a report, and try to incorporate all suggestions in our future training events.