Blended intervention based on acceptance and commitment therapy for informal caregivers of people with dementia (ACT-IC): protocol of a mixed-methods feasibility study

INTRODUCTION: Numerous caregiver support programmes have shown promise in promoting the mental health of informal caregivers of people with dementia (PwD). However, there is still a lack of evidence-based interventions tailored to the specific needs of this population. This mixed-methods study aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a blended intervention based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for informal caregivers of PwD, leading to a better understanding of intervention refinements for future controlled trials. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study includes an uncontrolled pre-post intervention pilot study. A total of 30 informal caregivers of PwD will be recruited through memory clinics and social media platforms in the Netherlands. The ACT for informal caregiver (ACT-IC) intervention will be delivered over a 9-week period and consists of a collaborative goal-setting session, nine online ACT modules, nine telephone-based motivational coaching sessions and 6 monthly booster sessions following the main intervention period. Feasibility and acceptability will be assessed using attrition rate, adherence to and engagement with the intervention, proportion of missing data and semistructured interviews. Preliminary efficacy will be assessed with retrospective measures of depression, anxiety, stress, sense of competence, burden and self-efficacy at baseline, postintervention, at 3-month and 6-month follow-ups. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The Medical Ethical Committee from the Maastricht academic hospital and Maastricht University approved the study. The findings of this study will be shared with healthcare professionals, researchers and public audience through various channels, including scientific publications, conference presentations, online forums and community outreach programmes. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05064969.