Adaptation and feasibility testing of an AI-enabled web app based on acceptance and committment therapy for family caregivers of people with dementia

Project Summary/ Abstract The greatest unmet need in family caregivers of persons living with dementia (PLWD) is support for these caregivers’ mental health. Family caregivers of PLWD express a desire for mental health support and a need to learn strategies to cope better with the emotions and thoughts that arise from caregiving situations and to balance care demands with other important aspects of life. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based transdiagnostic approach that can promote mental health through acceptance and mindfulness processes and behavior change processes that support living in alignment with values. Previous studies focused on in-person ACT programs, but internet- delivered self-help ACT programs have the potential to increase caregivers’ access to mental health support at low cost. The current study's objectives are to adapt and finalize our artificial intelligence (AI)- enabled ACT app for family caregivers of PLWD and to test its feasibility, acceptability, and usability. The proposed study will have two phases. The first phase aims to adapt our AI-enabled ACT web app (WeACT) through collaboration with a community advisory board (Aim 1). The second phase aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and usability of the WeACT app program for family caregivers of PLWD as a small feasibility (Aim 2). This feasibility study will involve a convergent mixed-methods study design (i.e., a one-group pretest–posttest design with a phenomenological approach). Twenty family caregivers of PLWD will be recruited and asked to use the WeACT app in the manner determined in Aim 1. Feasibility and usage of the app will be assessed with the number of days and total minutes of engagement with the app during the study period. Adherence to the app-based program will be determined through the completion rates of ACT modules, evaluations, and ACT practice on the app in the manner determined in Aim 1. Caregivers’ acceptability, perceived usability, and experiences in the program will be explored using an individual interview and a usability scale. Preliminary data on caregivers’ mental health outcomes and ACT processes will be collected using self-reported questionnaires. We will refine and finalize the app based on the feedback from caregivers (Exploratory Aim). This study will provide important guidance for further development of the WeACT app for future larger-scale clinical trials to promote mental health in family caregivers of PLWD. Given the evidence that the greatest unmet need among family caregivers of PLWD is support for mental health, the findings will contribute to the timely development of an evidence-based, easily accessible mental health app.