iSupport-Portugal: Challenges and Insights in Designing a Web Platform for Intervention and Research on Informal Dementia Caregivers

Soraia Teles, Soraia Teles, Constança Paúl, Constança Paúl, João Viana, João Viana, Alberto Freitas, Alberto Freitas, Sara Alves, Sara Alves, Óscar Ribeiro, Óscar Ribeiro, Ana Ferreira, Ana Ferreira

2025

Abstract

eHealth programmes are increasingly explored to improve access to training and support for informal caregivers of people with dementia (PwD). iSupport-Portugal is an eHealth programme for these caregivers, culturally adapted from the World Health Organization's original iSupport. iSupport-Portugal is the only version being explored internationally as a remote measurement tool (RMT) to collect sociodemographic, health and psychosocial data on care dyads. The aim of this paper is to discuss the challenges and lessons learned in the deployment of iSupport-Portugal. Four studies were conducted, including a mixed-methods cross-sectional study of informal dementia caregivers' attitudes and needs towards eHealth interventions (N=157), a usability study (N=17), a pilot randomised controlled trial (N=42), and an ongoing prospective cohort study (N=173). Insights and recommendations are provided on user uptake of eHealth interventions and user-centred approaches, ethics and data privacy considerations, study design for usability and effectiveness evaluation, and the use of platform data for research. This paper provides insights relevant to researchers, developers, and designers involved in implementing digital solutions for caregivers of PwD and other audiences. To realise the full potential of eHealth interventions and RMTs, it is imperative to establish guidelines that address the ethical, technological, and methodological complexities of the field.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Teles S., Paúl C., Viana J., Freitas A., Alves S., Ribeiro Ó. and Ferreira A. (2025). iSupport-Portugal: Challenges and Insights in Designing a Web Platform for Intervention and Research on Informal Dementia Caregivers. In Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies for Ageing Well and e-Health - Volume 1: ICT4AWE; ISBN 978-989-758-743-6, SciTePress, pages 92-103. DOI: 10.5220/0013328100003938

in Bibtex Style

@conference{ict4awe25,
author={Soraia Teles and Constança Paúl and João Viana and Alberto Freitas and Sara Alves and Óscar Ribeiro and Ana Ferreira},
title={iSupport-Portugal: Challenges and Insights in Designing a Web Platform for Intervention and Research on Informal Dementia Caregivers},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies for Ageing Well and e-Health - Volume 1: ICT4AWE},
year={2025},
pages={92-103},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0013328100003938},
isbn={978-989-758-743-6},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies for Ageing Well and e-Health - Volume 1: ICT4AWE
TI - iSupport-Portugal: Challenges and Insights in Designing a Web Platform for Intervention and Research on Informal Dementia Caregivers
SN - 978-989-758-743-6
AU - Teles S.
AU - Paúl C.
AU - Viana J.
AU - Freitas A.
AU - Alves S.
AU - Ribeiro Ó.
AU - Ferreira A.
PY - 2025
SP - 92
EP - 103
DO - 10.5220/0013328100003938
PB - SciTePress