Connect for caregivers: an exemplar using the NIH Stage Model for behavioral intervention development

In this study, we adapted, refined, and tested feasibility of a card sort-based prioritization tool, Connect for Caregivers (C4C), to foster action planning for social connectedness in lonely family caregivers of persons living with dementia (PLWD).

A mixed methods intervention development study with three phases: (1) Family caregivers of PLWD ages 50+ (n = 20), who were lonely (n = 10) and not lonely (n = 10), participated in individual interviews to identify thematic content for the C4C tool; (2) A focus group was conducted with caregiver support staff (n = 8) from a local aging services organization to solicit feedback on the adapted tool. (3) A prototype of C4C was tested with family caregivers (n = 5), refined based on their feedback, and then 5 additional caregivers completed C4C and feasibility measures.

Barriers and goals to social connectedness were identified and incorporated into the C4C tool. Outcomes of the caregiver support staff focus group included recommendations for implementation. Prototype and feasibility testing with the final sample of caregivers indicated that the intervention was feasible and acceptable, and 4/5 completed their action plans.

C4C is a promising behavioral intervention that should undergo further development and testing to improve social connectedness in family caregivers of PLWD.

https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04919070.