Leader: Veronica Moretti (UNIBO); Other collaborator(s): Riccardo Pronzato (UNIBO)
Within a work plan that aims to design an e-learning platform directed at informal caregivers of people with dementia, the following task has three main goal.
Brief description of the activities and of the intermediate results:
The project consists of 3 methodological phases:
Main policy, industrial and scientific implications
The dissemination phase will require to reach out to caregivers, patient associations, policymakers, the academic community, and, in particular, citizens interested in the topic of caregiving. The dissemination initiatives will enable the implementation and development of the principles of relational ethics, i.e., the idea that the research process should develop mutual caring relationships involving researchers, participants, and the public to foster positive change within society.
Each task conducted a literature review regarding its topic of expertise. In this case, a literature review was conducted regarding studies using a co-design approach to create eHealth interventions, digital inequalities, and critical studied on the production of technology .
Each task participated in data collection to co-design the platform and its content. Specifically, this task participated in the supervision of the interviews and focus groups with family caregivers.
Moreover, contributions were presented at national and international conferences.
Each task participated in the construction and revision of the lessons that will constitute the content of the platform. Specifically, this task reviewed the learning modules about: communication, diagnosis, home environment management, the care of the caregiver, technologies and active ageing, territorial networks and services and the biographical folder of the patient.
Moreover, contributions were presented at national and international conferences.
During this period, significant progress was made in reviewing and refining the learning modules, ensuring their relevance, clarity, and alignment with the needs of formal and informal caregivers, family care assistant with a migration background and social service professionals.
Furthermore, this task played a key role in supervising the collaboration between the external company hired to design the e-learning platform and each task of the project team. Regular meetings were held to review progress, provide feedback, and ensure that the design and development of the platform can be closely aligned with the needs identified in the co-design phase. This collaboration ought to allow for the integration of user-centered features into the platform, with particular attention to user experience, usability, and functionality. The research team aims to ensure that all technological developments remain consistent with the project’s goals of accessibility, equity, and social inclusion.
Furthermore, contributions continued to be presented at national and international conferences.
During this period, important progress was made in the development of the e-learning platform. Following the conclusion of the public call and the decision to adopt an AI-powered chatbot as the core tool for content delivery, the research team responsible for this task collaborated closely with the selected company and with fellow project researchers to ensure consistency with the educational goals and user-centered principles established during the co-design phase.
To do so, the team held a series of coordination meetings with representatives of the cooperative to monitor, supervise and guide the development process. These sessions facilitated a continuous exchange of feedback, aimed at ensuring that the technological implementation effectively addresses the needs of formal and informal caregivers, migrant care workers, and social and healthcare professionals.
This phase represents a key transition from content development to implementation, underscoring the project’s commitment to technological innovation, digital accessibility, and comprehensive support for caregivers through tailored training and education tools.
Moreover, the team continued to disseminate research outputs through presentations at national and international conferences.
During this period, the members of this task supervised the finalisation of the textual materials derived from the learning modules, which now constitute the knowledge base of the chatbot. These materials were reviewed and adapted to ensure clarity, thematic coherence, and accessibility for all target users, including formal and informal caregivers, migrant care workers, and social professionals.
In parallel, researchers closely supervised the production process carried out by the selected technology company. This phase included the development of the chatbot’s Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architecture and the integration of the finalised knowledge base into the system. Regular coordination meetings ensured continuous alignment between the technical implementation and the pedagogical objectives identified during the co-design phase.
A first demo version of the chatbot was completed and delivered. Researchers are currently conducting internal testing activities to assess the chatbot’s performance, with specific attention to the relevance, accuracy, and clarity of the responses provided. This testing phase aims to identify areas for refinement in preparation for a broader user evaluation.
Moreover, academic dissemination activities continued throughout the quarter. Members of the task authored academic articles based on the methodological and empirical findings of the project and presented them at national and international conferences.