Virtual Acceptance and Commitment Training to Promote Wellbeing of Staff Supporting Adults With Intellectual Disabilities: A Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND

Staff supporting people with intellectual disabilities may experience work-related stress that adversely impacts their wellbeing and capacity to provide support. Acceptance and Commitment Training interventions like Promotion of Acceptance in Carers and Teachers (PACT) have been shown to be effective for reducing stress and promoting psychological flexibility in direct staff in the United Kingdom.

AIMS

We evaluated the feasibility of a virtual adaptation of PACT for staff in Canada.

METHODS

Within a single-arm feasibility trial, we assessed five categories of feasibility: acceptability, demand, implementation, adaptation and limited efficacy testing. Between 2021 and 2023, 149 staff consented to participate and 81 completed all measures.

RESULTS

The intervention was a feasible and acceptable method of supporting staff wellbeing with promising outcomes in terms of improved psychological flexibility and decreased stress, anxiety and depression.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Future research should explore the benefits of this intervention relative to other staff wellbeing interventions in randomised controlled trials.