Co‐designed films to reduce care burden in India: The Moving Pictures pilot trial

INTRODUCTION Evidence for digital dementia care interventions is limited in low‐and middle‐income countries. We co‐designed 10 short films on dementia care with Indian family carers and clinicians and tested their feasibility and effect on family carers’ distress, mood, and quality of life. METHODS In a single‐blind, online pilot randomized clinical trial, adult carers across India were randomized 1:1 to intervention or waitlist. Feasibility was defined as >70% consent and >80% retention at 3 and 6 months. Outcomes included distress, mood, and quality of life. RESULTS Of 58 carers expressing interest, 50 (86%) were randomized, and 43 (86%) and 45 (90%) completed 3‐ and 6‐month follow‐ups. Intervention participants viewed the films for an average of 1.3 h. No significant differences between intervention and control were seen at 6 months. DISCUSSION Co‐designed, multilingual films are feasible and low cost but do not improve carers’ distress, mood, or quality of life. These films may support carers in other ways. Trial registration: Clinical Trials Registry India, CTRI/2021/01/030403 Highlights Ten multilingual short films were co‐designed for dementia carers in India. A pilot RCT was conducted for feasibility and films’ effect on burden, mood, and quality of life. Fifty carers joined, 43 (86%) at 3 months and 44 (88%) at 6 months; the average viewing time was 1.3 h. No statistically significant group differences were observed, but a small benefit trend in the intervention group was noted.