What is the purpose of this study?

We (the research team based at the University of Washington) are developing and piloting a human support role (mobile health support specialist, mHSS) to accompany the Bolster mobile application. We want to know if the addition of a human support role will enhance the use of Bolster, and if it will improve illness knowledge and coping skills for caregivers. To test this, we are conducting a pilot trial in which caregivers will have access to the Bolster intervention for a one-month period. Participants will download and use the Bolster application on their personal devices, as well as receive brief check-in phone calls from the mHSS weekly during the study period.

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What will my participation look like?

This study is 100% remote, which means you can participate from anywhere in Washington state. Here's a quick rundown:

1. You'll take our eligibility survey. This should take 10 minutes or so.

2. If you're eligible, you'll be asked to complete a set of survey assessments (about 30 minutes) about caregiving, your stress levels, and illness knowledge.

3. You will then schedule an orientation session with the mHealth support specialist to download the Bolster application and go over study details. After this session, you'll receive your first $90 study payment.

4. You'll have access to Bolster for a trial period of 4 weeks. We expect that you'll use Bolster frequently in short spurts (for example, five minutes each day or 15 minutes every few days). Each week, you'll receive a short (15-20 minute) phone call from the mHSS to discuss your experience using the app and provide any support (i.e., technology troubleshooting, applying skills learned in the app).

5. At the one-month mark, you'll complete the second survey assessment and complete a few additional surveys to provide your feedback on the Bolster app and the mHSS. After completing the surveys, you will receive your second $90 payment. You will uninstall the Bolster app from your phone, and your trial with the mHSS will end. 

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Who will see my data?

The research team will have access to the amount of time you spend in the Bolster app each day, and numeric scores you enter for your loved one's symptom severity (you will never report your loved one's name or information). No one will have access to anything you write in the app; anything you write in the app will not be stored. You will have the option to export your responses to a location of your choice. If you decline to export responses, they will be deleted. 

 

All identifiers (like your name or email address) will be kept on secure databases and not shared outside the research team. We will collect your IP address once, when you take the eligibility survey. Once you are enrolled in our study, you will be assigned a number, which will be associated with your responses to surveys and time spent in the Bolster application. We will not link any identifying information to study data after the eligibility survey. If we publish our findings from these sessions, there will be no identifiable information published. 

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Why do you pay people? 

We send Amazon gift cards to express our thanks for participating -- we know you're busy, and we value your time.