Pandemic Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Pan-ACT): Feasibility and Acceptability of Telehealth Delivery with Older Veterans

NIH RePORTER · VA · I21 · · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

Significance: Accounting for over 80% of COVID-19 related deaths in the United States, adults ages 65 and older have been disproportionately impacted by this pandemic more than any other age group. As a result, they may bear a heavy psychological burden in the months and years to come. Older adults have been labeled “vulnerable” to COVID-19 and strongly encouraged to adhere to “social distancing.” This prevention measure is meant to mitigate the spread of the virus but has increased older adults’ risk of social isolation and loneliness, which are two known correlates of increased morbidity and mortality in late life. Pandemic-related restrictions have decreased older adults’ life-space mobility and negatively affected their physical and nutritional well- being, impairing their quality of life and potentially increasing their vulnerability to poorer outcomes if exposed to COVID-19. Research has documented a plethora of pandemic-related stressors that are common among older adults (e.g., fear of infection, loss of loved ones, financial repercussions) and the culminating psychological impact. Telehealth-adapted evidence-based psychological interventions are needed to address the psychosocial and physical toll of the pandemic among older Veterans. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) decreases emotional suffering, improves well-being, promotes and supports healthy behavior changes, and treats a wide range of diagnoses by increasing psychological flexibility through mindfulness, acceptance, and values-based behaviors. Higher psychological flexibility has been associated with pandemic- related coping and well-being. Randomized studies of ACT with older adults are few but promising, and most research studies with this population have used a group format. While research on telehealth delivery of ACT for older adults is limited, preliminary results indicate it is feasible and as effective as ACT delivered in person. Specific Aim: The proposed study will pilot a 10-session telehealth Pandemic ACT group intervention (i.e., Pan-ACT group) with Veterans ages 65 and older who are experiencing pandemic-related emotional and physical distress. Methods and Procedures: Twenty-five older Veterans will be enrolled in this single-arm feasibility pilot trial. The intervention will be delivered weekly in 90-minute sessions of groups of {four} to five Veterans. {Feasibility and acceptability of study procedures will be measured by referred-to-enrolled rate, telehealth access and capability, electronic data collection of outcome measures, and qualitative feedback on data collection procedures and measures. Feasibility and acceptability of the intervention will be measured by attendance; attrition; homework completion; participant ratings of the intervention’s feasibility, acceptability, and fit; qualitative feedback; and treatment fidelity.} Preliminary responsiveness of outcomes measures will be explored. Participants will complete measures of pandemic-related emotio...

Key facts

NIH application ID
10485409
Project number
1I21RX003898-01A1
Recipient
TUSCALOOSA VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CTR
Principal Investigator
LORI L. DAVIS
Activity code
I21
Funding institute
VA
Fiscal year
2022
Award amount
Award type
1
Project period
2022-07-01 → 2024-06-30