Early Career Researchers Respond to Cross-Cutting Principles for Dementia Care Pragmatic Trials: Lessons Learned
Natalie F. Douglas, Lisa A. Juckett, Andrew M. Kiselica, Rebecca Lassell, Erica L. Frechman, Latarsha Chisholm, Tina R. Sadarangani, Alexia M. Torke, Komal Patel MuraliPurpose:
Pragmatic clinical trials are essential for moving evidence-based practices into routine care for people living with dementia, yet few early career researchers (ECRs) receive formal preparation to design or conduct such trials.
Method:
This methods-focused article synthesizes lessons learned by ECRs using pragmatic data sources across nursing, social work, neuropsychology, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology. Guidance was organized on four principles: engaging partners across roles and care levels; including representative participants; attending to organizational strain and readiness; and learning from adaptations.
Results:
Case examples show how teams identify and use existing data, collaborate with care teams and families to collect data in a feasible manner, tailor methods to cultural and linguistic contexts, and balance fidelity with necessary flexibility during implementation.
Conclusion:
Situated within these principles, this methods-focused article offers practical direction to advance pragmatic trials in dementia care and supports early career development.