Abstract
Objective: The feasibility of research into internet-delivered guided self-help Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for family carers of people with dementia is not known. This study assessed this in an uncontrolled feasibility study.
Methods: Family carers of people with dementia with mild to moderate anxiety or depression were recruited from primary and secondary healthcare services in the UK. Participants were offered eight, guided, self-help online ACT sessions adapted for the needs of family carers of people with dementia with optional online peer support groups. Pre-defined primary indicators of success included recruitment of 30 eligible carers over six months and ≥70% completing at least two online sessions.
Results: Thirty-three participants (110% of the target sample) were recruited over six months and 30 participants (91%) completed two or more sessions, and thus both indicators of success were met. Further, 70% of participants completed seven or all eight sessions, and 27% of participants were lost to follow-up, but none of the reasons for early withdrawal were related to the intervention.
Conclusion: This study supports the feasibility, including recruitment and treatment completion. A full-scale trial to assess the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of the intervention including its long-term effects is warranted.
Registration: ISRCTN trial registration 18956412
Methods: Family carers of people with dementia with mild to moderate anxiety or depression were recruited from primary and secondary healthcare services in the UK. Participants were offered eight, guided, self-help online ACT sessions adapted for the needs of family carers of people with dementia with optional online peer support groups. Pre-defined primary indicators of success included recruitment of 30 eligible carers over six months and ≥70% completing at least two online sessions.
Results: Thirty-three participants (110% of the target sample) were recruited over six months and 30 participants (91%) completed two or more sessions, and thus both indicators of success were met. Further, 70% of participants completed seven or all eight sessions, and 27% of participants were lost to follow-up, but none of the reasons for early withdrawal were related to the intervention.
Conclusion: This study supports the feasibility, including recruitment and treatment completion. A full-scale trial to assess the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of the intervention including its long-term effects is warranted.
Registration: ISRCTN trial registration 18956412
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1933-1941 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Aging & Mental Health |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| Early online date | 7 Oct 2021 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2022 |
Keywords
- CBT
- caregivers
- eHealth
- mindfulness
- online
- web-based