Work

The Effect of the “Safety in Dementia” Online Tool to Assist Decision Making for Caregivers of Persons With Dementia and Access to Firearms

Year: 2024

Type: article

Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Caregivers face challenges (including competing desires to prevent injury, respect autonomy, and avoid conflict) when addressing firearm access by community-dwelling persons with Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD). OBJECTIVE: To test the effect of the online Safety in Dementia (SiD) decision aid on caregivers' decision making about firearm access for people with ADRD. DESIGN: Prospective 2-group randomized trial with longitudinal follow-up. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05173922). SETTING: United States. PARTICIPANTS: English- or Spanish-speaking caregivers (aged ≥18 years) of community-dwelling adults with ADRD and firearm access. INTERVENTION: SiD versus a web-based information control. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was preparation for decision making about firearm access. The secondary outcome at follow-up was self-reported action to reduce access. RESULTS: = 0.024). There was no significant effect on actions to reduce firearm access at 2 weeks or 2 months. LIMITATION: The results may not be generalizable to non-English-speaking populations. CONCLUSION: The online SiD decision aid increased preparation for decision making about firearm access in this sample of ADRD caregivers in the United States. Use of such resources in clinical or community settings may support caregivers and people with ADRD in avoiding firearm injury or death. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health.

Source: Annals of Internal Medicine

DOI: 10.7326/annals-24-00763