ASYNCHRONOUS PEER SUPPORT CHAT GROUPS FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS - LESSONS LEARNED

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Marglet

Peer support groups are a key resource for family caregivers of people living with dementia, yet the benefit of text-based chat peer support groups remains unclear. This study tested feasibility of an embedded mobile App chatroom within a randomized controlled trial, using MGH CareDoc over 24 weeks with daily learning modules and peer chat. Caregivers could also opt for weekly telehealth psychoeducation during the first 8 weeks, while feasibility and acceptability were assessed via posts and semi-structured interviews.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Background and Aim

Intervention and Design

Participant and Group Structure

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Findings

1106 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.3716 ASYNCHRONOUS PEER SUPPORT CHAT GROUPS FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS: LESSONS LEARNED Felipe Jain1, Maria Galvez2, Noura Attili3, and Paulina Gutierrez-Ramirez2, 1. Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 1107 2. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States Peer support groups serve as a vital resource for family caregivers of people living with dementia. Smartphone apps provide opportunities for convenient, asynchronous interaction, without the need to travel or plan for meetings. However, the value of text-based chat peer support groups for family caregivers is unclear. We aimed to determine the feasibility of a mobile App peer support chatroom embedded within a randomized, controlled trial of caregiver skills with or without mentalizing imagery therapy. Participants received the MGH CareDoc application over 24 weeks, which provided daily learning modules alongside peer support chat. For the first 8 weeks, caregivers could opt to receive weekly telehealth groups that provided psychoeducation on study topics. Caregivers were divided into chatgroups of 4-6 participants based on their telehealth group assignment and on dementia severity of the relatives, to encourage small-group participation and similarity of caregiving experiences. Feasibility and acceptability were determined based on chatroom posts and semi-structured interviews. The trial included 110 participants (mean age 68.8), divided into 29 chat groups. High variability in chatgroup activity was observed, with an average of 104 messages per chatgroup (range 1 to 904). Individual users posted an average of 29 messages (range 1 to 299). Although some participants found the chatgroups to be supportive and helpful, several participants expressed that their chat group did not fully establish cohesion. Findings highlight both potential and challenges of mobile chatrooms, and caregiver feedback on ways to improve the structure of the chatgroups.

FAQs

What was the main goal of the study?

To determine the feasibility and acceptability of a text-based, asynchronous mobile app peer support chatroom for family caregivers of people living with dementia.

How was the peer support chat delivered in the trial?

Participants used the MGH CareDoc application for 24 weeks, which included daily learning modules and a peer support chat embedded in the app.

What challenges were observed with the chat groups?

There was high variability in chat activity, and some participants reported that their chat group did not fully establish cohesion.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Marglet