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

> **NIH VA I21** · TUSCALOOSA VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CTR · 2022 · —

## 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 organization:** TUSCALOOSA VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** LORI L. DAVIS
- **Activity code:** I21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-07-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10485409

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10485409, Pandemic Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Pan-ACT): Feasibility and Acceptability of Telehealth Delivery with Older Veterans (1I21RX003898-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10485409. Licensed CC0.

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