Current projects

START Foundation Laying – Implementation Project (2017-2020)

The original START intervention was delivered within NHS service structures by psychology graduates. The main purpose of this study is to widen access to the START intervention by adapting it for delivery in the third sector and to Minority Ethnic (ME) groups, within existing structures of the Alzheimer’s Society (AS) and the South Asian community in the first instance.

In Phase 1 (Month 1-18) we will undertake focus groups and/or individual interviews, and consult with Alzheimer’s Society stakeholders and family carers of relatives with dementia from South Asian backgrounds (using translators as appropriate), to inform changes to the START intervention. We will use the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research Tool (CFIR) to assess baseline barriers and facilitators and the Knowledge-to-Action framework (KTA) as a guide for translating findings into practice.

In Phase 2 (Month 12-30) we will implement the modified intervention, within existing structures of the Alzheimer’s Society and the South Asian community respectively.

In Phase 3 (Month 20-33) an independent evaluation will assess the impact of the intervention incorporating qualitative and quantitative information, using the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) implementation tool. Benefits are expected in terms of improved access for family carers including those in hard to reach groups to START, as well as a template for implementation of the START intervention in the third sector and for other ME groups.

Project partners