Introducing the METHODEM project
METHODEM: Methodological Consensus for Complex Interventions in Dementia was launched in July 2024. It is a project led by the INTERDEM Methodology Taskforce and funded by the Alzheimer’s Association. Running over the next two years, METHODEM aims at advancing the methodologies and designs used in psychosocial interventions in dementia research.
Why is METHODEM important?
Over the past 25 years, a significant body of research has focused on the development, evaluation, and implementation of psychosocial interventions in dementia care. To support these efforts, various frameworks have been created to guide research and clinical practice in the successful development, evaluation, and implementation of complex psychosocial intervention. One such framework is the updated UK Medical Research Council (MRC) framework, which provide a useful tool for navigating the complexity of psychosocial intervention (Skivington et al., 2021, 2024). The MRC framework emphasises the importance of understanding the underlying mechanisms of change, societal impact, and intervention sustainability.
Although there is a considerable emphasis in the literature on the importance of carefully developing complex interventions in dementia care, important methodological issues remain for future consideration. Traditionally, Randomised Control Trial (RCT) have been considered the ‘gold standard’ for intervention evidence. However, RTCs are not always the first port of call for developing evidence-based practice. While RCTs have their strengths, they can also lead to research waste due to “implementation errors”. These errors occur where costly and time-consuming evaluations, including RCTs, either fail to demonstrate effectiveness but interventions themselves reported positive effect on peoples’ experiences or, conversely, show effectiveness but are unfeasible, unacceptable, ineffective in practice or viable only under limited circumstances. Despite these limitations, RCTs continue to dominate the field, often overshadowing novel methodological and design.
This is where METHODEM steps in. METHODEM will address these challenges by exploring (novel) methodologies and design used to develop, evaluate and implement complex psychosocial interventions in dementia care.
Key Objectives
METHODEM will undertake two complementary studies:
Study 1 – Systematic review: Provide a comprehensive overview of (novel) designs and methodologies in research to develop, evaluate, and implement complex psychosocial interventions in dementia care.
Study 2 – Delphi study: Reach a consensus on which designs and methodologies a) integrate the core elements of the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions and b) suit the objectives of each phase in this area.
Why METHODEM Matters
The METHODEM project will present methodological trends, identify gaps, highlight strengths and limitations of methodologies, and provide consensus-based recommendations for future research.
By gathering, discussing, and disseminating evidence on current research methodology and design practices, and by exploring future directions, METHODEM seeks to improve the relevance and effectiveness of psychosocial interventions in dementia care and ultimately the lives of people affected by dementia.
Project team
Prof dr Maud Graff, Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen (Principal Investigator)
Dr Sara Laureen Bartels, Maastricht University (Project lead)
Dr Federica D’Andrea, University of West London (Project lead)
Andrea Nakakawa Bernal, Politecnico di Milano
Prof Esme Moniz-Cook, University of Hull
Dr Gwen Teesing, Alzheimer Nederland
Dr Hannah Christie, Maastricht University
Prof dr Karen Windle, University of Bradford
Lesley Garcia, University of Nottingham
Prof dr Lieve Van den Block, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels
Marine Markaryan, Maastricht University
Prof dr Martina Roes, University of Witten/Herdecke
Dr Melanie Handley, University of Hertfordshire
Nathan Stephens, University of Worcester
Dr Niels Janssen, Maastricht University
Dr Simone de Bruin, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences
We look forward to sharing our progress and findings. Follow us on METHODEM LinkedIn page for updates.
Authors blog: Federica D’Andrea, Sara Laureen Bartels, Maud Graff and on behalf of Methodology Taskforce of INTERDEM
METHODEM: Methodological Consensus for Complex Interventions in Dementia was launched in July 2024. It is a project led by the INTERDEM Methodology Taskforce and funded by the Alzheimer’s Association. Running over the next two years, METHODEM aims at advancing the methodologies and designs used in psychosocial interventions in dementia research.
Figure licensed iStock by Rawpixel (www.istockphoto.com)
Why is METHODEM important?
Over the past 25 years, a significant body of research has focused on the development, evaluation, and implementation of psychosocial interventions in dementia care. To support these efforts, various frameworks have been created to guide research and clinical practice in the successful development, evaluation, and implementation of complex psychosocial intervention. One such framework is the updated UK Medical Research Council (MRC) framework, which provide a useful tool for navigating the complexity of psychosocial intervention (Skivington et al., 2021, 2024). The MRC framework emphasises the importance of understanding the underlying mechanisms of change, societal impact, and intervention sustainability.
Although there is a considerable emphasis in the literature on the importance of carefully developing complex interventions in dementia care, important methodological issues remain for future consideration. Traditionally, Randomised Control Trial (RCT) have been considered the ‘gold standard’ for intervention evidence. However, RTCs are not always the first port of call for developing evidence-based practice. While RCTs have their strengths, they can also lead to research waste due to “implementation errors”. These errors occur where costly and time-consuming evaluations, including RCTs, either fail to demonstrate effectiveness but interventions themselves reported positive effect on peoples’ experiences or, conversely, show effectiveness but are unfeasible, unacceptable, ineffective in practice or viable only under limited circumstances. Despite these limitations, RCTs continue to dominate the field, often overshadowing novel methodological and design.
This is where METHODEM steps in. METHODEM will address these challenges by exploring (novel) methodologies and design used to develop, evaluate and implement complex psychosocial interventions in dementia care.
Key Objectives
METHODEM will undertake two complementary studies:
Study 1 – Systematic review: Provide a comprehensive overview of (novel) designs and methodologies in research to develop, evaluate, and implement complex psychosocial interventions in dementia care.
Study 2 – Delphi study: Reach a consensus on which designs and methodologies a) integrate the core elements of the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions and b) suit the objectives of each phase in this area.
Why METHODEM Matters
The METHODEM project will present methodological trends, identify gaps, highlight strengths and limitations of methodologies, and provide consensus-based recommendations for future research.
By gathering, discussing, and disseminating evidence on current research methodology and design practices, and by exploring future directions, METHODEM seeks to improve the relevance and effectiveness of psychosocial interventions in dementia care and ultimately the lives of people affected by dementia.
Project team
Prof dr Maud Graff, Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen (Principal Investigator)
Dr Sara Laureen Bartels, Maastricht University (Project lead)
Dr Federica D’Andrea, University of West London (Project lead)
Andrea Nakakawa Bernal, Politecnico di Milano
Prof Esme Moniz-Cook, University of Hull
Dr Gwen Teesing, Alzheimer Nederland
Dr Hannah Christie, Maastricht University
Prof dr Karen Windle, University of Bradford
Lesley Garcia, University of Nottingham
Prof dr Lieve Van den Block, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels
Marine Markaryan, Maastricht University
Prof dr Martina Roes, University of Witten/Herdecke
Dr Melanie Handley, University of Hertfordshire
Nathan Stephens, University of Worcester
Dr Niels Janssen, Maastricht University
Dr Simone de Bruin, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences
We look forward to sharing our progress and findings. Follow us on METHODEM LinkedIn page for updates.
Authors blog: Federica D’Andrea, Sara LaureenBartels, Maud Graff and on behalf of Methodology Taskforce of INTERDEM