*2.3. Use of Resources*

The instrument used for data collection in TECH@HOME was the Resource Utilization in Dementia (RUD) [36]. This instrument has been extensively used especially for cost analysis and has a widespread use in global settings. The RUD instrument collects information regarding the level of resource utilization by frequency in hours and days, from both the person with dementia and the caregiver, together with other demographic and health status information. The UP-TECH study used an ad-hoc developed Resource Utilization Form, which had several sections overlapping with those included in the RUD, therefore providing comparable data for the analysis [30].

Some variables have been be recoded to obtain identical unit of measurements: for example, outpatient visits in Italy were measured using a six-month timeframe, while in the Swedish questionnaire they were measured using a 30-day period. Time spent in care activities by informal caregivers in TECH@HOME has been assessed using the specific section of the RUD instrument, while in UP-TECH one item assessed the hours spent in caregiving activities by the primary caregiver during the day. A second item retrieved the time spent by other secondary caregivers.
