The IDEMCare Study—Improving Dementia Care in Black African and Caribbean Groups: A feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of a tailored evidence‐based intervention, consisting of a leaflet and a letter, to encourage timely help‐seeking for dementia in Black elders. METHODS: Participating GP surgeries were randomised to send either the intervention or a control leaflet about ageing well to Black patients aged ≥50 years old without known dementia. We interviewed patients 2 weeks later about the intervention's acceptability using closed and open‐ended questions, and they completed a Theory‐of‐Planned‐behaviour questionnaire about what they would do if they developed memory problems, which they also completed 4 months later. RESULTS: Five of 26 surgeries approached agreed to invite patients. Sixty‐five patients responded, of whom 61 (93.8%) agreed to participate. At 2 weeks, we consented and interviewed 47/61 (77%), of whom 24 received the intervention, and at 4 months we followed up 43/47 (91.5%). At 2 weeks, 44/47 (93.6%) found either intervention acceptable to receive by post, including 23/24 of the intervention. Nineteen of 24 (79.2%) reported reading the intervention leaflet compared with 13/23 (56.5%) controls. The intervention leaflet made 16/24 (66.7%) think about visiting their doctor for memory problems and led 4 to help‐seeking behaviour. We calculated that 191 patients and 24 surgeries are required for an efficacy trial. CONCLUSIONS: Given the intervention is acceptable, inexpensive, and unlikely to cause harm, we judge it appropriate to disseminate it without a full‐scale trial. Recruitment attainment, retention, and projected sample size calculation indicated feasibility for a larger trial.