Easing the burden of dementia caregiving: Protocol development for a telephone-delivered mindfulness intervention for rural, African American families

BACKGROUND: There have been few interventions targeted for rural African American (AA) caregivers of persons with dementia despite their unique cultural, geographic, health-related and socio-economic needs, including relatively less access to—and willingness to engage with—formal supports and resources. One effective intervention, Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), has been found to be culturally acceptable in AA populations; however, no studies have assessed feasibility, acceptability and impact of an adapted mindfulness intervention targeting rural AA dementia caregivers. AIMS: The purpose of this study is to 1) determine the feasibility and acceptability of a telephone-delivered mindfulness training intervention in decreasing caregiver burden among rural, AA, informal caregiving teams of people with dementia; 2) to explore the effects of the training on caregiver burden and relevant secondary outcomes for both caregiving team members, including emotional regulation, tolerance of uncertainty, emotional and physical health, family conflict within the informal caregiving team, and self-efficacy; and 3) to explore comfort with and willingness to adopt technologies to access mindfulness practices and existing caregiving educational resources. METHODS: Our study utilizes a single-group, uncontrolled design to assess the feasibility and acceptability of telephone-delivered mindfulness training designed to alleviate burden for rural caregivers of AA individuals with moderate to severe dementia. A care partner—the person who provides additional help —is included in the intervention. The primary outcome is feasibility of the telephone-delivered mindfulness intervention as assessed by an 85% retention rate with completion of at least 6 of the intervention sessions. Pre- and post-participation interviews assess acceptability.