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A Web-Based Decision Aid for Caregivers of Persons With Dementia With Firearm Access (Safe at Home Study): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
McCarthy V, Portz J, Fischer SM, Greenway E, Johnson RL, Knoepke CE, Matlock DD, Omeragic F et al.. JMIR research protocols, 2023-01-31
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Firearm safety among individuals with Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD) is an underdiscussed and underresearched concern in the United States, especially given the growing population of community-dwelling adults with ADRD. The "Safety in Dementia" (SiD) web-based decision aid was developed to support caregivers in addressing firearm access; the efficacy of SiD is unknown. Objective Through the SiD decision aid, the Safe at Home (S@H) study aims to support caregivers in making decisions about home safety that align with their goals and values, and behaviors regarding firearm access for persons with ADRD and firearm access. Methods The S@H study is a 2-armed randomized controlled trial to test the effect of the SiD decision aid on caregivers of community-dwelling adults with ADRD who have firearm access. S@H aims to recruit 500 ADRD caregivers (age ≥18 years, fluent in English or Spanish, and in the United States) through online or social media advertisements and through relevant organizations. Participants are randomized to view SiD or a control website at their own pace; all participants complete web-based questionnaires at baseline, 2 weeks, 2 months, and 6 months. The primary outcome is immediate preparation for decision-making; secondary outcomes include longitudinal decision outcomes and self-reported modifications to firearm access. The relative reach and effectiveness of each recruitment method (online/social media and through relevant organizations) will be assessed by examining differences in caregiver participation, retention rates, and relative cost. Results The study enrollment began in May 2022. As of December 2022, a total of 117 participants had enrolled. Conclusions The S@H study is the first randomized trial of a firearm safety decision aid for ADRD caregivers. The results from this study will inform how best to support caregivers in decision-making regarding firearm safety. Further, results may guide approaches for recruiting caregivers and for dissemination of resources. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05173922; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05173922. International registered report identifier (irrid) DERR1-10.2196/43702.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
McCarthy, V., Portz, J., Fischer, S. M., Greenway, E., Johnson, R. L., Knoepke, C. E., et al. (2023). A Web-Based Decision Aid for Caregivers of Persons With Dementia With Firearm Access (Safe at Home Study): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR research protocols. https://doi.org/10.2196/43702
Vancouver
McCarthy V, Portz J, Fischer SM, Greenway E, Johnson RL, Knoepke CE, et al. A Web-Based Decision Aid for Caregivers of Persons With Dementia With Firearm Access (Safe at Home Study): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR research protocols. 2023. doi:10.2196/43702. PMID: 36719721.
BibTeX
@article{mccarthy2023-36719721,
author = {McCarthy, V. and Portz, J. and Fischer, S. M. and Greenway, E. and Johnson, R. L. and Knoepke, C. E. and Matlock, D. D. and Omeragic, F. and others},
title = {{A Web-Based Decision Aid for Caregivers of Persons With Dementia With Firearm Access (Safe at Home Study): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial}},
journal = {JMIR research protocols},
year = {2023},
doi = {10.2196/43702},
pmid = {36719721},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2196/43702}
}
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Key findings
- Results The study enrollment began in May 2022.
- The results from this study will inform how best to support caregivers in decision-making regarding firearm safety.
- Further, results may guide approaches for recruiting caregivers and for dissemination of resources.
Why it matters
This is a protocol for a trial testing a web-based decision aid to help caregivers of people with dementia manage firearm access. Enrollment began in May 2022, and no results on the aid's effectiveness are reported yet.
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Study details
- Study designrandomized controlled trial
- Participants117
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 58/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomized controlled trial. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (JMIR research protocols) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | JMIR Research Protocols: journal h-index 62 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomized controlled trial |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2023 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 117 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomized / blinded | 1 / 2 | Randomized (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 8 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.6 citations a year over 5 year(s) since 2023 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 6 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Marian E. Betz: h-index 42 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Brown University: institution h-index 1,120 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 36719721) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 58 / 100 | — |
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