Feasibility and acceptability of a telephone-based ACT intervention for caregivers (TACTICs) of adults with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD): a randomized pilot during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES

Examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of the Telephone Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Intervention for Caregivers (TACTICs) on dementia caregivers' anxiety, depression, caregiver burden, suffering, and anticipatory grief.

METHOD

A 2-arm pilot randomized trial with dementia caregivers ≥ 21 years old with clinically elevated anxiety or anxiety-related functional interference. Two cohorts were recruited at the beginning and end of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Intervention participants received 6 telephone sessions delivered by a non-licensed interventionist and control participants received readings and a list of dementia caregiver support groups in their area. Outcomes were measured at baseline, post-intervention, and at 3 and 6 months. Feasibility was measured by enrollment rates, completion rates, and adherence to TACTICs by interventionists. Acceptability was measured with participant satisfaction surveys.

RESULTS

TACTICs was feasible and acceptable with 96% enrollment, 98.6% adherence, 65.5% completion, and a mean satisfaction score of 9.35 out of 10 (SD 0.91). The TACTICs group showed clinically relevant reductions in anxiety post-intervention (SRM 4.1, 95% CI [2.4,5.8]), however reductions were not significantly different from the control group ( = 0.98).

CONCLUSION

Implementation of TACTICs during the COVID-19 pandemic was feasible and acceptable. The preliminary outcomes were not as strong as expected. The results will inform the design of future trials with larger samples.