@Article{info:doi/10.2196/42861,
author="Sui, Yufang
and Kor, Patrick Pui Kin
and Li, Mengli
and Wang, Jingjing",
title="Effects of a Social Media--Based Mind-Body Intervention Embedded With Acupressure and Mindfulness for Stress Reduction Among Family Caregivers of Frail Older Adults: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial",
journal="JMIR Form Res",
year="2023",
month="Feb",
day="20",
volume="7",
pages="e42861",
keywords="mind-body intervention; acupressure; mindfulness meditation; social media",
abstract="Background: Family caregivers of frail older adults experience high levels of stress. Mind-body interventions (MBIs) focused on caregiver stress are often limited in teaching approaches, difficult to practice, and costly. A social media--based MBI embedded with mindfulness meditation (MM) and self-administered acupressure (SA) may be effective for family caregivers, offer greater usability, and lead to greater adherence. Objective: The aim of this study was to test the feasibility and preliminary effects of a social media--based MBI embedded with MM and SA on family caregivers of frail older adults and to investigate the preliminary effects of the intervention using a pilot randomized controlled trial. Methods: A 2-arm randomized controlled trial design was adopted. Family caregivers of frail older adults (n=64) were randomized into either the intervention group (n=32), receiving 8 weeks of social media--based MM and SA, or the control group (n=32), receiving brief education on caregiving for people with frailty. The primary outcome (caregiver stress) and secondary outcomes (caregiver burden, sleep quality, and mindfulness awareness and attention) were measured using a web-based survey at baseline (T0), immediately after the intervention (T1), and at the 3-month follow-up (T2). Results: The feasibility of the intervention was established with a high attendance rate (87.5{\%}), high usability score (79), and low attrition rate (1.6{\%}). The generalized estimating equation results showed that participants in the intervention group at T1 and T2 experienced a significant improvement in stress reduction (P=.02 and P=.04, respectively), sleep quality (P=.004 and P=.01, respectively), and mindful awareness and attention (P=.006 and P=.02, respectively) compared with the control group. There were no substantial improvements in caregiver burden at T1 and T2 (P=.59 and P=.47, respectively). A focus group session conducted after the intervention had 5 themes: impact on the family caregivers, difficulty in practicing the intervention, the strength of the program, the limitations of the program, and perception of the intervention. Conclusions: The findings support the feasibility and preliminary effects of social media--based MBI embedded with acupressure and MM on reducing stress among family caregivers of frail older people and enhancing sleep quality and mindfulness levels. A future study with a larger and more diverse sample is proposed to evaluate the longer-term effects and generalizability of the intervention. Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2100049507; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=128031 ",
issn="2561-326X",
doi="10.2196/42861",
url="https://formative.jmir.org/2023/1/e42861",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/42861",
url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36804167"
}