FEASBILITY AND ACCEPTABILITY OF A PILOT INTERVENTION FOR VIETNAMESE DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS

This ongoing pilot study examines the feasibility and acceptability of a culturally adapted intervention to reduce stress and enhance the health of Vietnamese dementia caregivers and quality of life for their care recipients. Thus far, a total of 8 caregivers have been recruited into the intervention via the Alzheimer's Association, Vietnamese language newspapers, and word-of-mouth. Feasibility outcomes were assessed as follows: recruitment: number of caregivers screened in order to identify caregivers (and time/resources required to recruit); retention in the intervention (i.e. % of dyads engaged in the initial session, % completing at least 3 sessions, and % completing all sessions); and administration of study measures: % of baseline, post-, and 3-month assessments completed. Acceptability was assessed through a short qualitative interview assessing the perceptions of the intervention by caregivers. While assessing efficacy was not a primary goal of this pilot, we also describe pre-post differences in caregiver's Alzheimer's disease (AD) knowledge and psychosocial outcomes. Feasibility outcomes are as follows: out of the 62 individuals contacted, 15 were eligible, and of these, 8 enrolled in the intervention; 100% came to five of the six sessions; 7 of the 8 caregivers completed all baseline, post-, and 3-month follow-up data (one caregiver whose care recipient died did not complete follow-up data). Qualitative data indicated participants enjoyed and benefited from the intervention. Additionally, Wilcoxon tests comparing pre- and post-intervention data showed significant increases in caregiver's AD knowledge (20.57 vs. 22.57, p< .05) and self-efficacy in using support services (2.51 vs. 5.35, p < .05), and a significant decrease in perceived stress (15.50 vs. 11.44, p< .05). Although not significant, there were also increases in care recipient quality of life and caregiver self-efficacy in symptom management, and decreases in caregiver burden, depression, anxiety, somatization, and intention to use services. Results indicated that the six-week intervention is feasible and acceptable for Vietnamese dementia caregivers, although challenges with recruitment were encountered. Promising trends for pre-post outcomes were also observed. Moving into the randomized controlled trial next, recruitment strategies have been changed and these will be discussed.