ABSTRACT
Spurred by COVID-19 challenges and an AI boom, eHealth – digital technologies for mental, physical, and social health – is growing faster than research into its effectiveness and implementation. This chapter shows how a randomised controlled trial with a nested mixed methods process evaluation can address three key questions for eHealth developers, implementers, and evaluators: What impact can personalised eHealth have on people with dementia and caregivers? Who benefits most from personalised eHealth? Which research methods should be used to evaluate personalised eHealth? These questions are explored through the FindMyApps study, which assessed a personalised, hybrid eHealth intervention comprising a tablet, training, and the FindMyApps app selection tool. This tool helps users find and download easy-to-use apps that meet personal needs and interests. The study found that FindMyApps improved tablet user experience, increased caregiver competence, and reduced care costs compared to usual tablet use. Younger age and less severe cognitive impairment predicted better outcomes. The FindMyApps study highlights the merits and limitations of randomised controlled trial designs in evaluating personalised eHealth, which are crucial to consider in designing future research.
