Views and experiences of ethnic minority family carers on iACT4CARERS
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Views and experiences of ethnic minority family carers on internet-delivered guided self-help Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for family carers of people with dementia (iACT4CARERS): A qualitative study
IRAS ID
316137
Contact name
Naoko Kishita
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of East Anglia
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN15520542
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 30 days
Research summary
Family carers of people with dementia are at higher risk of anxiety, but they currently have limited access to psychological services due to various barriers. Offering psychological treatments online improves availability for people who have mobility problems, live remotely, or cannot leave home. This makes it more accessible to everyone and easier to provide, so could be rolled out nationally, reducing inequalities in access to care.
We conducted a first study to explore if we could deliver Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for family carers of people with dementia online within GPs and NHS mental health services, and family carer views of it (acceptability). This initial study was successful and more than 100 potential participants were referred to the study in just six months. Thirty-three eligible participants received online ACT, more than originally planned. We now need a larger trial involving enough carers to establish whether online ACT can reduce carer anxiety and is affordable and whether it should be widely rolled out in the NHS.
The first step in preparing for the next large trial will be to investigate the acceptability of online ACT among family carers from ethnic minority groups as we did not fully explore the views of this population in our first study. Family carers from ethnic minority groups currently have the least access to formal support services. Ensuring that online ACT is acceptable and accessible to culturally diverse family carers will be critical for a successful wider rollout. In this study, we will pilot online ACT with ten family carers from ethnic minority groups. Carers will be asked to complete eight online sessions on a self-learning basis with weekly feedback from their therapist. Individual interviews will be conducted with carers and therapists to assess the acceptability and identify areas for further improvement.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/PR/0743
Date of REC Opinion
16 Aug 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion