Internet-delivered guided self-help Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for family carers of people with dementia (iACT4CARERS): a qualitative study of carer views and acceptability

Figures & data

Table I. Content of each session of the iACT4CARERS intervention

	ACT process	Content of the session (learning objectives); by the end of the session, participants will be able to:
Session 1	Introduction to ACT Creative hopelessness Openness	Describe the ACT model and the main goal of this therapy See the potential adverse impact of common control strategies (denial, avoidance and suppression of feelings) Engage with the present moment awareness exercise
Session 2	Values Introduction to committed actions	See the differences between values and goals Identify the important areas of their life Be aware of a lack engagement with some areas of their life (e.g., self-care) Identify the smallest step they are willing to take that would move them towards valued directions
Session 3	Overcoming external barriers	See the differences between common external barriers and internal barriers experienced by carers of people with dementia Come up with ideas to overcome their own external barriers using selective optimization and compensation in order to take committed actions Identifying the smallest step they are willing to take that would move them towards valued directions
Session 4	Overcoming internal barriers (cognitive fusion)	See the potential adverse impact of common control strategies (controlling thoughts) Engage with various defusion exercises Identifying the smallest step they are willing to take that would move them towards valued directions
Session 5	Overcoming internal barriers (awareness and openness)	See what it means by present moment awareness Engage with various present moment awareness exercises Identifying the smallest step they are willing to take that would move them towards valued directions
Session 6	Self-compassion	See the potential adverse impact of repetitive self-critical judgements Engage with a self-compassion exercise Identifying the smallest step they are willing to take that would move them towards valued directions
Session 7	Building a pattern of effective action	Reconnect with their values Describe a pattern of effective action that reflect their values Identify helpful steps to take when emotional distress is too painful Identifying the smallest step they are willing to take that would move them towards valued directions
Session 8	Summary of ACT Preparing for the future	Summarize all ACT skills learned Identify some future challenges and see how some of ACT skills may be useful to address them

Note. ACT = Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Figure 1. Overview of overarching themes and sub-themes.

Table 2. Characteristics of participants (N = 23)

Carer age (Mean and SD)	62.91 (10.73)
Carer gender
Female	20 (87%)
Male	3 (13%)
Relationship with the care recipient
Spouse	12 (52%)
Child	10 (44%)
Sibling	1 (4%)
Hours of caring per week
0–2 hours per week	2 (9%)
3–10 hours per week	3 (13%)
11–20 hours per week	2 (9%)
21–40 hours per week	2 (9%)
41–80 hours per week	5 (20%)
81 or more hours per week	9 (40%)
Care recipient’s dementia diagnosis
Alzheimer’s disease	6 (26%)
Vascular dementia	3 (13%)
Dementia with Lewy bodies	1 (4%)
Frontotemporal dementia	1 (4%)
Mixed dementia	9 (40%)
Other	3 (13%)
Number of online sessions completed (out of 8)
8 sessions	18 (78%)
7 sessions	4 (18%)
4 sessions	1 (4%)
Optional peer support group participation
Attended 0 peer support groups	16/23
Attended 1 peer support groups Attended 2 peer support groups	7/23 7/23
Attended 3 peer support groups	6/23

Data availability statement

The data are not publicly available due to their containing information that could compromise the privacy of research participants.