Home › Research › Disparities
Qualitative Evaluation of an Online Technology to Support Rural Caregivers of People with Dementia
Carmela Leone, Clare Wilding, Tshepo Mokuedi Rasekaba, Megan E. O’Connell, Debra Morgan, Irene Blackberry. Geriatrics, 2025-12-05
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Key barriers included limited digital literacy, resistance to technology and privacy concerns, as well as competing organisational priorities, and inadequate technological infrastructure. Facilitators included organisational alignment and supportive management. The perceived relevance and usability of Verily Connect were enhanced by its co-design with caregivers and integration into health service models. Addressing digital literacy for caregivers, infrastructure limitations, and organisational readiness is essential for future technology-based health interventions in rural dementia care.
Key findings
- Key barriers included limited digital literacy, resistance to technology and privacy concerns, as well as competing organisational priorities, and inadequate technological infrastructure.
- Facilitators included organisational alignment and supportive management.
- The perceived relevance and usability of Verily Connect were enhanced by its co-design with caregivers and integration into health service models.
- Addressing digital literacy for caregivers, infrastructure limitations, and organisational readiness is essential for future technology-based health interventions in rural dementia care.
Why it matters
This evaluation of an online tool for rural dementia caregivers found key barriers including limited digital literacy, resistance to technology, privacy concerns, and inadequate infrastructure. It concludes that addressing digital literacy, infrastructure, and organizational readiness is essential for future technology-based health interventions in rural dementia care.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Disparities →
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 32/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Geriatrics) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Geriatrics: journal h-index 45 (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 | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” 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 | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.4× 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 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Irene Blackberry: h-index 31 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | University of Saskatchewan: institution h-index 575 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41440731) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 32 / 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. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Leone, C., Wilding, C., Rasekaba, T. M., O’Connell, M. E., Morgan, D., & Blackberry, I. (2025). Qualitative Evaluation of an Online Technology to Support Rural Caregivers of People with Dementia. Geriatrics. https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics10060161
Vancouver
Leone C, Wilding C, Rasekaba TM, O’Connell ME, Morgan D, Blackberry I. Qualitative Evaluation of an Online Technology to Support Rural Caregivers of People with Dementia. Geriatrics. 2025. doi:10.3390/geriatrics10060161. PMID: 41440731.
BibTeX
@article{leone2025-41440731,
author = {Leone, Carmela and Wilding, Clare and Rasekaba, Tshepo Mokuedi and O’Connell, Megan E. and Morgan, Debra and Blackberry, Irene},
title = {{Qualitative Evaluation of an Online Technology to Support Rural Caregivers of People with Dementia}},
journal = {Geriatrics},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.3390/geriatrics10060161},
pmid = {41440731},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics10060161}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
Related studies in Disparities
Also tagged “dementia-label-and-life-sustaining-care”
2 studies in the library carry the topic tag “dementia-label-and-life-sustaining-care”; these are this study's neighbours in a fixed, alphabetical-by-hash tour of them, not the closest in content. All 2 tagged studies.