DementiaNCT07244497
Dementia Communication Training Program for Novice Home Care Workers
A study testing virtual trainer-based dementia communication training and scenario-based discussions dementia communication training in people with Dementia, run by Tzu Chi University at 1 site in Taiwan.
Trial summary
This study aims to evaluate the effects of a dementia communication training program using a real-time interactive virtual trainer among novice home care workers. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Dementia
- What is being tested?
- virtual trainer-based dementia communication training and scenario-based discussions dementia communication training
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 92 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTaiwan
- Study dates
- 15 Dec 2025to 30 Sep 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 20 to 65 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Novice home care workers who had been employed in home care agencies for less than one year.
- ages ranging from 20 to 65 years,
- completed care worker training program
- Had not previously received any virtual trainer training.
- Taiwanese nationality
- provided informed consent to participate in the study.
Who cannot join
- home care workers who do not meet the inclusion criteria
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Evaluation of a Dementia Communication Training Program Using a Real-time Interactive Virtual Trainer Among Novice Home Care Workers
This study aims to evaluate the effects of a dementia communication training program using a real-time interactive virtual trainer among novice home care workers.
Read the detailed description
This randomised controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of a dementia communication training program using a real-time interactive virtual trainer on dementia knowledge, communication skills, empathy, and competence of managing behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) among novice home care workers.
The virtual trainer (VT) group will receive the 8-week virtual trainer-based dementia communication training.
The control group will receive the 8-week scenario-based discussions dementia communication training.
Both groups will be assessed for their dementia knowledge, communication skills, empathy, and competence of managing BPSD at baseline, week 4, and week 18, and week 12.
- Conditions
- Dementia
- Being tested
- virtual trainer-based dementia communication training, scenario-based discussions dementia communication training
- Keywords
- virtual technology, dementia, communication skill, novice home care worker
- Medical subject headings
- Dementia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
virtual trainer-based dementia communication trainingOther
8-week dementia communication training program using a real-time interactive virtual trainer
scenario-based discussions dementia communication trainingOther
8-week dementia communication training program using scenario-based discussions
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| virtual trainer-based dementia communication training | Experimental | 8-week dementia communication training program using a real-time interactive virtual trainer Receives: Other: virtual trainer-based dementia communication training |
| scenario-based discussions dementia communication training | Active comparator | 8-week dementia communication training program using scenario-based discussions Receives: Other: scenario-based discussions dementia communication training |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale
Dementia Knowledge, total score ranges from 0 to 50, with higher scores indicating a higher level of knowledge.
Measured: baseline, week 4, week 8, week 12
Caregiver Communication Competence Scale
communication skills, total score ranges from 14 to 56, with higher scores indicating stronger communication skills.
Measured: baseline, week 4, week 8, week 12
Secondary outcomes (2)
Jefferson Scale of Empathy
empathy, total score ranges from 20 to 140, with higher scores indicating a more positive level of empathy.
Measured: baseline, week 4, week 8, week 12
Competence Scale in Managing Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia
Competence in Managing Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia, the total score ranges from 28 to 140, with higher scores indicating better ability to manage behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).
Measured: baseline, week 4, week 8, week 12
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Nov 2025
- Study start15 Dec 2025
- Primary completion30 Sep 2026
- Study completion30 Sep 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for DementiaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 92 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Tzu Chi University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Huei-Chuan Sung, Tzu Chi University
- Investigators
- HUEICHUAN SUNG, Principal investigator, Tzu Chi University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07244497
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- YLH-IRB-11326
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 17 Nov 2025
- Last updated
- 22 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Evaluation of a Dementia Communication Training Program Using a Real-time Interactive Virtual Trainer Among Novice Home Care Workers
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07244497
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- YLH-IRB-11326
- Conditions
- Dementia
- Keywords
- virtual technology, dementia, communication skill, novice home care worker
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 92 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Tzu Chi UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Sep 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 24 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to evaluate the effects of a dementia communication training program using a real-time interactive virtual trainer among novice home care workers.
Detailed description
This randomised controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of a dementia communication training program using a real-time interactive virtual trainer on dementia knowledge, communication skills, empathy, and competence of managing behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) among novice home care workers.
The virtual trainer (VT) group will receive the 8-week virtual trainer-based dementia communication training.
The control group will receive the 8-week scenario-based discussions dementia communication training.
Both groups will be assessed for their dementia knowledge, communication skills, empathy, and competence of managing BPSD at baseline, week 4, and week 18, and week 12.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| virtual trainer-based dementia communication training | Experimental | Other: virtual trainer-based dementia communication training8-week dementia communication training program using a real-time interactive virtual trainer |
| scenario-based discussions dementia communication training | Active comparator | Other: scenario-based discussions dementia communication training8-week dementia communication training program using scenario-based discussions |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Novice home care workers who had been employed in home care agencies for less than one year.
- ages ranging from 20 to 65 years,
- completed care worker training program
- Had not previously received any virtual trainer training.
- Taiwanese nationality
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- home care workers who do not meet the inclusion criteria
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| virtual trainer-based dementia communication training8-week dementia communication training program using a real-time interactive virtual trainer | Other | virtual trainer-based dementia communication training |
| scenario-based discussions dementia communication training8-week dementia communication training program using scenario-based discussions | Other | scenario-based discussions dementia communication training |
Primary outcome
Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale
Time frame: baseline, week 4, week 8, week 12
Dementia Knowledge, total score ranges from 0 to 50, with higher scores indicating a higher level of knowledge.
Caregiver Communication Competence Scale
Time frame: baseline, week 4, week 8, week 12
communication skills, total score ranges from 14 to 56, with higher scores indicating stronger communication skills.
2 secondary outcomes
Jefferson Scale of Empathy
Time frame: baseline, week 4, week 8, week 12
Competence Scale in Managing Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia
Time frame: baseline, week 4, week 8, week 12
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 22 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
HUEICHUAN SUNG principal investigator
Tzu Chi University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing virtual trainer-based dementia communication training and scenario-based discussions dementia communication training in people with Dementia, run by Tzu Chi University at 1 site in Taiwan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Taiwan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale (time frame: baseline, week 4, week 8, week 12). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 22 Oct 2026.