Feasibility,acceptability,and pre- post-program outcome changes of the real-world implementation of an informal caregiver support program via text message

Abstract

Background

Few dementia caregiver support programs have been tested in real-world settings.

Objective

We tested the feasibility and pre- post-program outcome changes (e.g., preparedness for caregiving) of the first short message service texting program to support informal caregivers of people with dementia.

Methods

We analyzed observational data from 147 caregivers of people with dementia participating in a service program. This program was a remote, asynchronous, and bidirectional texting program focused on dementia education, skill-building, and community resources that lasted six months. We measured outcomes via surveys and metrics of program usage over six months.

Results

Two caregivers experienced technical issues during the program, 12.9% unsubscribed, and 68.8% read most texts thoroughly. Most caregivers (64.3–75.9%) reported the two highest levels of acceptability in four four-level items ranging from not at all to a lot/extremely. Levels of preparedness for caregiving and unmet needs improved from pre- to post-program testing in the full sample. We only observed pre- to post-program changes in depressive symptoms and strain when restricting the sample to those with worse baseline levels of those outcomes.

Conclusions

Acceptability and pre- to post-program changes in this real-world implementation of a texting caregiver support program were encouraging, though smaller than those observed in efficacy research trials, consistent with findings from other implemented caregiver programs.