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Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy protocol of an intervention for caregivers of hospice patients living with dementia: A pilot randomized control trial
Ebtesam Tamer, Donald R. Hoover, Margaret V. McDonald, Kira G Sheldon, Felix Vasquez, Maryam Gaibi, Elizabeth A. Luth. PLoS ONE, 2025-11-03
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
We have enrolled 29 clinicians and 53 FCPs and aim to have 24 clinicians matched with 96 FCPs (N = 120) to complete the intervention. If the pilot shows positive results for the intervention, we plan to test it in a multi-site, fully-powered RCT. Enhancing support for clinicians and FCP of PLwD could optimize FCP and hospice patient outcomes.
Key findings
- We have enrolled 29 clinicians and 53 FCPs and aim to have 24 clinicians matched with 96 FCPs (N = 120) to complete the intervention.
- If the pilot shows positive results for the intervention, we plan to test it in a multi-site, fully-powered RCT.
- Enhancing support for clinicians and FCP of PLwD could optimize FCP and hospice patient outcomes.
Why it matters
This pilot randomized controlled trial protocol describes an intervention for caregivers of hospice patients living with dementia, with enrollment ongoing. If the pilot shows positive results, the plan is to test it in a multi-site, fully-powered RCT.
Study details
- Participants120
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 45/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design and effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (PLoS ONE) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | PLoS ONE: journal h-index 594 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| 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 | 120 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 | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Elizabeth A. Luth: h-index 16 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey: institution h-index 1,147 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41183023) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 45 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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 names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Tamer, E., Hoover, D. R., McDonald, M. V., Sheldon, K. G., Vasquez, F., Gaibi, M., et al. (2025). Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy protocol of an intervention for caregivers of hospice patients living with dementia: A pilot randomized control trial. PLoS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0332360
Vancouver
Tamer E, Hoover DR, McDonald MV, Sheldon KG, Vasquez F, Gaibi M, et al. Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy protocol of an intervention for caregivers of hospice patients living with dementia: A pilot randomized control trial. PLoS ONE. 2025. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0332360. PMID: 41183023.
BibTeX
@article{tamer2025-41183023,
author = {Tamer, Ebtesam and Hoover, Donald R. and McDonald, Margaret V. and Sheldon, Kira G and Vasquez, Felix and Gaibi, Maryam and Luth, Elizabeth A.},
title = {{Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy protocol of an intervention for caregivers of hospice patients living with dementia: A pilot randomized control trial}},
journal = {PLoS ONE},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0332360},
pmid = {41183023},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0332360}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.