Feasibility and acceptability of the World Health Organization’s iSUPPORT program for dementia caregivers in Uganda

This study aims to address Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It involves adaptation of the World Health Organization’s iSUPPORT (WHO-iSUPPORT) psychosocial intervention for Uganda, assessing its feasibility and acceptability, and its effects on caregivers’ psychological distress, quality of life (QoL), and depression levels. The adapted iSUPPORT (UGA-iSUPPORT) program was translated into Luganda, a local language, validated by experts, divided into four modules, and later piloted for four weeks in Wakiso, Uganda. The caregivers were randomly assigned to receive weekly UGA-iSUPPORT sessions or modified standard care via weekly phone consultations. Baseline and endpoint changes were assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10), the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and the Measure of Quality of Life for Dementia Caregivers (C-DEMQOL). The intervention group (n = 33, 87.9% females, mean age 32.5 years) showed significant improvements in psychological distress (decreased from 29.2 to 23.7, p = 0.001), depression (from 33.4 to 25.6, p = 0.001), and QoL (from 81.1 to 89.4, p = 0.001). The control group (n = 32, 50% female, mean age 36.7 years) did not experience similar enhancements. The high retention rate (97%) and positive feedback from the participants underscored the program’s feasibility and acceptability. UGA-iSUPPORT effectively boosted the mental health and well-being of dementia caregivers in LMICs. This study highlights the necessity of enduring and expandable interventions within healthcare systems. Further studies are warranted to examine these interventions’ prolonged impacts. Trial registration: Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR202211700581839).