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Effects of a virtual iSupport Program on carers and people with dementia
Lily Dongxia Xiao, Shahid Ullah, Ying Yu, Claudia Meyer, Michael Chapman, Langduo Chen, Kai Ping Tan, Sue McKechnie et al.. Alzheimer s & Dementia, 2025-09-29
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
One hundred forty-nine carers enrolled in the study. The intervention group reported increased mental-health-related QoL points of 12.0 (p < 0.001), self-efficacy points of 14.8 to 18.5 (p < 0.001), social support points of 0.25 (p < 0.028), reduced reactions to behavior points of -0.25 (p < 0.028), and a 60% lower hospital admission rate (p = 0.045) at 12 months compared with the usual care group. The virtual iSupport Program showed benefits for both carers and PLWD in a 12-month intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12622000199718. HIGHLIGHTS: A total of 149 dementia carers participated in the virtual iSupport program intervention trial. The program included skills training, peer support, and access to care services. The program improved mental health-related quality of life for carers. The program improved self-efficacy, social support, and reduced distress for carers. The program reduced 60% hospital admission rate for people with dementia.
Key findings
- One hundred forty-nine carers enrolled in the study.
- The intervention group reported increased mental-health-related QoL points of 12.0 (p < 0.001), self-efficacy points of 14.8 to 18.5 (p < 0.001), social support points of 0.25 (p < 0.028), reduced reactions to behavior points of -0.25 (p < 0.028), and a 60% lower hospital admission rate (p = 0.045) at 12 months compared with the usual care group.
- The virtual iSupport Program showed benefits for both carers and PLWD in a 12-month intervention.
- TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12622000199718.
- HIGHLIGHTS: A total of 149 dementia carers participated in the virtual iSupport program intervention trial.
Why it matters
In this randomized controlled trial, a virtual iSupport program improved carers' mental-health-related quality of life, self-efficacy, and social support, and reduced distress and hospital admission rates for people with dementia at 12 months. The program showed benefits for both carers and people living with dementia.
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Study details
- Study designrandomized controlled trial
- Participants149
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 62/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomised 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 (Alzheimer s & Dementia) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised 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 | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 149 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) |
| Randomised / blinded | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 8 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.1× 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 8 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Alison A. Kitson: h-index 61 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Central South University: institution h-index 699 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41023309) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 62 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Xiao, L. D., Ullah, S., Yu, Y., Meyer, C., Chapman, M., Chen, L., et al. (2025). Effects of a virtual iSupport Program on carers and people with dementia. Alzheimer s & Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70747
Vancouver
Xiao LD, Ullah S, Yu Y, Meyer C, Chapman M, Chen L, et al. Effects of a virtual iSupport Program on carers and people with dementia. Alzheimer s & Dementia. 2025. doi:10.1002/alz.70747. PMID: 41023309.
BibTeX
@article{xiao2025-41023309,
author = {Xiao, Lily Dongxia and Ullah, Shahid and Yu, Ying and Meyer, Claudia and Chapman, Michael and Chen, Langduo and Tan, Kai Ping and McKechnie, Sue and others},
title = {{Effects of a virtual iSupport Program on carers and people with dementia}},
journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/alz.70747},
pmid = {41023309},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70747}
}
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