The feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of an acceptance and commitment therapy- based intervention for patients with chronic heart failure and their family caregivers: A pilot study

Abstract Background Patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) often experience self-management challenges associated with psychological distress and impaired health-related quality of life (HRQOL) affecting both themselves and their family caregivers. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has shown positive effects on chronically ill patients or their caregivers, but has not been assessed in the context of CHF or applied in patient-caregiver dyads. Aims This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of a group ACT-based intervention for patients with CHF and their family caregivers. Method A single-group pretest and post-test study was conducted in a hospital in China. A total of five patient-caregiver dyads were recruited through convenience sampling. Data on recruitment, retention, intervention adherence, homework completion, and participant satisfaction were collected as an indication of feasibility and acceptability. The effects of the ACT intervention were assessed at two time-points (baseline and immediately after the intervention) in terms of self-reported HRQOL, anxiety, depression, relationship quality, perceived health status, psychological flexibility, self-compassion of patients and their family caregivers, patients' self-care behaviors, and caregiver burden. Results Recruitment, retention, intervention adherence, and homework completion rates were acceptable. Participants were generally satisfied with the program. The preliminary findings showed a trend of greater improvement over time for most outcome measures with small-to-medium within-group effect sizes. Conclusions The ACT-based intervention is generally feasible, acceptable, and effective in patients with CHF and their family caregivers. Some modification on the intervention protocol should be considered.