Effectiveness of a Digital Activity Platform for Informal and Formal Caregivers in Long-Term Care Facilities

Background Population aging and the increasing number of older people with cognitive andphysical impairments present major challenges for long‐term care facilities. At the sametime, shortages of nursing and care staff, as well as a decline in informal support,contribute to increasing demands on caregivers. In this context, innovative approachesare needed to support caregivers and promote high‐quality person‐centredcare.Person‐centred care focuses on the individual needs, preferences, abilities, andlife experiences of residents. Digital technologies may support caregivers in planningand delivering individualized and meaningful activities while enhancing residents' socialparticipation.Study Objectives The primary objective of this study is to investigate the effects ofusing the digital engagement platform on person‐centred care. In addition, the study willexamine caregivers' cultural competence, the collection of residents' biographicalinformation, the frequency and duration of platform use, and users' experiences with theplatform. Adverse events occurring during the study period will also be documented.Intervention This study evaluates the effectiveness of the digital engagement platform"PflegeZeit" in residential long‐term care facilities. The platform is used on tablets orother digital devices and provides individualized engagement activities. The interventionis based on three core components: the integration of biographical information andreminiscence, cognitive stimulation, and physical activation. By combining thesecomponents, the platform aims to support caregivers in implementing individualized andperson‐centred engagement activities in everyday care practice.Control Group The control group will not receive access to the digital engagementplatform and will continue routine care practices within their respective long‐term carefacilities. No additional digital support tools will be provided as part of the study.Study Population The study targets both formal caregivers (e.g., nursing and care staff)and informal caregivers (e.g., family members, volunteers, or civilian serviceparticipants) who provide care and support to residents in residential long‐term carefacilities.Defined inclusion and exclusion criteria will be applied to ensure that participantsrepresent the intended target population. Detailed eligibility criteria are provided inthe corresponding section of the study registration.Study Design The study is designed as a multicentre, open‐label, quasi‐experimentalpre‐post study with a control group.Participating long‐term care facilities will be assigned to either the intervention groupor the control group prior to study initiation. Facilities in the intervention group willimplement the digital engagement platform as part of routine care, whereas facilities inthe control group will continue providing usual care without the platform. Participantswill be observed over a period of 12 weeks. Data collection will take place at four timepoints: baseline and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks.Sample Size and Recruitment Participating caregivers will be recruited from four to eightlong‐term care facilities. The sample size is based on the primary outcome, thegroup‐by‐time interaction in the Person‐Centred Practice Inventory for Staff (PCPI‐S),and was determined using an a priori sample size calculation conducted with G*Power 3.1.The calculation indicated a required sample size of 36 participants. To account for ananticipated dropout rate of up to 15%, a target sample size of 42 caregivers will berecruited. Of these, 21 participants will be allocated to the intervention group and 21participants to the control group.Statistical Analysis Data analysis will be conducted according to a predefinedstatistical analysis plan. Descriptive statistical methods will be used to characterizethe study population and study variables. Changes over time and differences between theintervention and control groups will be evaluated using linear mixed‐effects models.These analyses will account for both repeated measurements and the clustered structure ofthe data at the facility level.Potential Benefits and Risks The use of digital health applications in long‐term care hasthe potential to support caregivers in the delivery of person‐centred care. Previousresearch suggests that digital interventions may positively influence communication,caregivers' job satisfaction, and the social participation of residents. This study aimsto provide further evidence regarding the potential benefits of a digital engagementplatform in residential long‐term care settings.No specific risks or disadvantages associated with participation in the study or the useof the digital engagement platform are known for caregivers. The platform is used withinroutine care activities. Any additional burden is limited to the time required forplatform use and participation in study‐related data collection. Adverse events will besystematically monitored and documented throughout the study.Expected Contribution The findings of this study are expected to contribute to theevidence base for digital support interventions in long‐term care. The results may helpidentify effective strategies to support caregivers, strengthen person‐centred care, andfurther develop the quality of care for residents in residential long‐term carefacilities