What is the study about?

The goal of this study is to develop and test a computer program to aid conversation. The Computer Interactive Reminiscing and Conversation Aid (CIRCA) is an ‘electronic scrapbook’ with generic photos, music, and videos (e.g., famous singers and popular buildings). It was developed to spark meaningful conversation between caregivers and people with dementia. CIRCA is currently designed for people with dementia in the UK, Sweden, and British Columbia. A version with broad Canadian-relevant content needs to be developed and tested so Canadians can benefit from CIRCA. This study aims to develop and test the Canadian version of CIRCA.

Eligibility - Who can participate?

Pairs of people consisting of a person living with dementia and their caregiver living in the same household.

Participants must:

• Live in Ontario, Canada (within a two-hour drive from Toronto, Ontario)

• Speak and understand English

• Agree to be video and audio recorded as part of the study

Study Site

Participate from home.

Department of Occupational Sciences & Occupational Therapy

Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto

500 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 2A2

Time requirement

This study will take approximately 5 weeks to complete, and will include the following:

• Demographic questionnaire, including the collection of sex, date of birth, and previous experience with touchscreen technology. This should take about 5 minutes to complete.

• Testing CIRCA. You will be asked to use CIRCA at home with a friend/family caregiver weekly for four (4) weeks for as little/often as you and your caregiver choose. In the sessions, caregivers will show the contents (e.g., music, videos, photos) within CIRCA and facilitate conversations about what is presented on the screen (e.g., famous buildings). 

• Caregiver Interview. At the end of the study, you will be invited to participate in a 30-minute interview about your experiences using CIRCA. Even if you do not use CIRCA with the person with dementia during the study, you can still participate in the interview. The interview will be audio-recorded.

U of T study investigator

Dr. Arlene Astell, arlene.astell@utoronto.ca

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