Abstract
Background: Caring for a family member with dementia is stressful and challenging. Family caregivers, as a vulnerable marginalized population and invisible backbone of the health care system, need accessible and effective interventions that are tailored to their particular needs.
Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a live online mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (tele-MBCT) intervention for family caregivers of individuals with dementia.
Methods: Family caregivers were assigned to a tele-MBCT intervention or a usual care control group. Tele-MBCT participants attended eight weekly live online training and practiced mindfulness practices at home. All participants completed surveys at baseline, post-intervention, and 4-week follow-up.
Results: 26 participants (age 60±13 years) were enrolled and randomized (14 in the intervention and 12 in the control group), and 92.3% completed the study. 88% of the participants were female, and 70% were caring for a parent for a mean of 5.12±2.88 years. 84% of the participants in the intervention group attended at least seven sessions and the average of daily practice was 23.58±45.71 minutes. All participants were satisfied with the intervention, and 88.8% were satisfied with the online delivery method. Participants in the intervention group showed Pre-Post improvement in self-compassion (t (11) = -2.49, p=0.03) and coping strategies (t (11) = 3.62, p=0.004) compared to the control group.
Conclusion: Tele-MBCT is a feasible intervention and may improve psychological outcomes and adaptive coping in family caregivers of individuals with dementia. A larger controlled trial is warranted.
Keywords: Neurodegenerative diseases, caregiving, clinical trial, online, mindfulness, feasibility, dementia.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/med:psych/9780199828036.001.0001]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00019442-200405000-00002]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnu177] [PMID: 26035608]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8031-1_2]
[PMID: 14746123]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2009.10.002] [PMID: 20401164]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15298860309032]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2015.1065790] [PMID: 26211415]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geront/gns126] [PMID: 23070934]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/acm.2009.0733] [PMID: 20929380]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2136404] [PMID: 6668417]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/014662167700100306]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9780470479216.corpsy0943]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jclp.10197] [PMID: 8408679]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.752] [PMID: 14712852]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/WNL.44.12.2308] [PMID: 7991117]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbp015] [PMID: 19318470]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X97006429]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12906-015-0540-8] [PMID: 25887324]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12160-013-9490-x] [PMID: 23632913]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1099800404267353] [PMID: 15388906]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1891/0889-8391.26.3.270]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12671-013-0205-y]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/01939450222045716] [PMID: 11829276]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2008.12.008]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12671-011-0047-4]