Background/Objectives:Medication management is challenging for persons with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and their caregivers. Electronic medication management devices (eMMDs) are specifically designed to support this task. However, theory-driven interventions for eMMD training with this population are rarely described. This study aimed to develop and assess the appropriateness of an intervention protocol to train persons with early-stage AD how to use an eMMD.Methods:Interviews with three categories of participants [persons with early-stage AD (n = 3), caregivers (n = 3), and clinicians (n = 3)] were conducted to understand medication management needs, perceived usefulness of an eMMD, and to explore training strategies. Subsequently, this knowledge was integrated in an intervention protocol which was validated with the three clinicians. A content analysis led to iterative modifications to maximize the acceptability and coherence of the intervention protocol in a homecare context.Results:The final intervention protocol specifies the expertise required to provide the training intervention and the target population, followed by an extensive presentation of eMMD features. Specific learning strategies tailored to the cognitive profile of persons with AD with step-by-step instructions for clinicians are included. Finally, it presents theoretical information on cognitive impairment in AD and how eMMDs can support them.Conclusions:This intervention protocol with its theoretical and pragmatic foundation is an important starting point to enable persons with early-stage AD to become active users of eMMDs. Next steps should evaluate the immediate and long-term impacts of its implementation on medication management in the daily lives of persons with AD and their caregivers.

中文翻译：

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培训早期阿尔茨海默病患者如何使用电子药物管理设备：制定干预协议

背景/目的：药物管理对阿尔茨海默病 (AD) 患者及其护理人员而言具有挑战性。电子药物管理设备 (eMMD) 专为支持这项任务而设计。然而，很少描述针对这一人群的 eMMD 培训的理论驱动干预。本研究旨在开发和评估干预方案的适当性，以培训早期 AD 患者如何使用 eMMD。方法：对三类参与者 [早期 AD 患者（n= 3)、护理人员 (n= 3) 和临床医生 (n= 3)] 旨在了解药物管理需求、eMMD 的感知有用性以及探索培训策略。随后，这些知识被整合到一个经过三位临床医生验证的干预方案中。内容分析导致了迭代修改，以最大限度地提高干预方案在家庭护理环境中的可接受性和连贯性。结果：最终干预方案指定了提供培训干预和目标人群所需的专业知识，随后广泛介绍了 eMMD 特征. 包括针对 AD 患者的认知特征量身定制的特定学习策略，并为临床医生提供分步指导。最后，它提供了关于 AD 认知障碍的理论信息以及 eMMD 如何支持它们。结论：这种具有理论和实用基础的干预协议是使早期 AD 患者成为 eMMD 活跃用户的重要起点。下一步应评估其实施对 AD 患者及其护理人员日常生活中药物管理的直接和长期影响。