Mental Health and COVID-19: The Impact of a Virtual Course for Family Caregivers of Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Overview

Journal J Intellect Disabil Res

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2022 Aug 2

PMID 35915874

Authors

J K Lake

T Volpe

L St John

A Thakur

L Steel

A Baskin

A Durbin

M A Chacra

Y Lunsky

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted family caregivers of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This study evaluated a virtual course for family caregivers from across Canada, focused on supporting the mental health and well-being of adults with IDD and their families. The evaluation examined the feasibility and acceptability of the course, as well as the impact of the intervention on participants' overall health and well-being.

Methods: The 6-week virtual course, informed by a parallel Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) course for service providers, combined didactic instruction with applied activities. A total of 126 family caregiver course participants consented to be part of the research evaluation delivered over three cycles between October 2020 and April 2021. Attendance was measured at each weekly session. Satisfaction was assessed weekly and post-program. Learning, self-efficacy, and well-being were assessed pre- and post-course, and again at follow-up (8 weeks post-course). Mixed-effects models assessed changes between and within individuals across time.

Results: Participants had consistent attendance, low-dropout rates, and reported high satisfaction, with 93% of participants reporting that their expectations for the course were met. Compared with pre-course, participants reported improved self-efficacy and well-being post-course, which were maintained at follow-up.

Conclusions: An interactive and applied virtual education course delivered to a large group of family caregivers of adults with IDD was both feasible and acceptable. It positively impacted participants' well-being by offering much needed mental health support and creating a peer-led community of practice.

Citing Articles

Predictors of mental well-being among family caregivers of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities during COVID-19.

Mendoza O, St John L, Tarzi G, Thakur A, Lake J, Lunsky Y BJPsych Open. 2024; 10(6):e191.

PMID: 39465571 PMC: 11698171. DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2024.761.

Bridging the gap: national virtual education programme for professionals caring for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities at the time of COVID-19.

Thakur A, Bobbette N, Bond V, Gonzales A, Lake J, Lefkowitz G BJPsych Open. 2024; 10(4):e130.

PMID: 39051453 PMC: 11698200. DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2024.67.

Experiences of UK and Irish family carers of people with profound and multiple intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Linden M, Leonard R, Forbes T, Brown M, Marsh L, Todd S BMC Public Health. 2023; 23(1):2475.

PMID: 38082349 PMC: 10714525. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17432-7.

Survey results on training in developmental disabilities in Canadian psychiatry residency programs.

OFlanagan S, Nicolson R J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2023; 32(1):4-13.

PMID: 36776931 PMC: 9879034.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on family carers of those with profound and multiple intellectual disabilities: perspectives from UK and Irish Non-Governmental Organisations.

Linden M, Forbes T, Brown M, Marsh L, Truesdale M, McCann E BMC Public Health. 2022; 22(1):2095.

PMID: 36384516 PMC: 9668390. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14560-4.

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