Skip to main content
Download PDF
  • Study Protocol
  • Open access
  • Published:

Randomised controlled feasibility study protocol of the Carers-ID online intervention to support the mental health of family carers of people with intellectual disabilities

Pilot and Feasibility Studies volume 10, Article number: 25 (2024) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Family carers play a crucial role in supporting the health and well-being of people with intellectual disabilities. Given their role and responsibilities, many family carers experience significant and ongoing stress and mental health difficulties. Programmes and interventions which provide training and support to family carers have been shown to have a positive impact on levels of stress and quality of life. However, these are often face to face which can create barriers to full participation. Online interventions have been shown to offer flexibility in delivery compared with traditional face-to-face approaches. The primary objective of this study is to determine the feasibility of delivering the Carers-ID online intervention, while the secondary outcome is improved mental health in family carers of people with intellectual disabilities.

Methods

Family carers (n = 120) will be randomised to receive the intervention (n = 60) or assigned to a wait-list control (n = 60) group. The intervention (www.Carers-ID.com) consists of 14 modules which cover topics including the following: promoting resilience, providing peer support, reducing anxiety, managing stress, accessing local supports and managing family conflict and information for siblings who are carers. The intervention has been co-produced with voluntary sector organisations and family carers and tested for acceptability. Primary outcomes for this study include acceptability and feasibility of the outcome measures, recruitment, participation and retention rates and effect sizes. Secondary outcomes will be completed at three time points (baseline, following intervention completion and 3 months after completion). These include the following: the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, the Resilience Scale and the Social Connectedness Scale Revised. Participants (n = 12) who have taken part in the intervention arm of the research will be invited to participate in semi-structured interviews as part of the process evaluation.

Discussion

The Carers-ID intervention provides an online resource for family carers to support their mental health and well-being and promote their resilience. It represents an affordable and accessible means of delivering such support. Testing the feasibility of the intervention and related trial procedures is required to determine whether a full-scale randomised controlled trial to evaluate the intervention’s effectiveness is warranted.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05737823

Peer Review reports

Background

The majority of people with intellectual disabilities are living at home with their family, and family carers are providing ongoing and multifaceted care for their family members across the lifespan. Care can include any or all of the following: medication management, monitoring a physical condition, direct care, arranging and managing community presence and participation, liaising with professionals, supportive interventions, and behaviour management [1]. As approximately 77% of people with ID in England lived with their families in 2017–2018 [2], family carers play a crucial role in supporting their health and well-being. However, many family carers experience significant and ongoing stress and mental health difficulties [3, 4]; many also experience the positive aspects of caring for a family member who has ID [5, 6].

Programmes and interventions which provide training and support for family carers have been shown to have a positive impact on the following: levels of stress and feelings of confidence [7], child socialisation [8], and quality of life [9]. However, some family carers may face barriers in taking part in such interventions including time, family pressures, cost, and availability of services [10]. Online programmes offer greater flexibility of delivery and have been shown to offer comparable outcomes to more traditional treatment approaches in areas such as parenting styles [11], knowledge, and self-efficacy [12]. However, while online programmes show tangible benefits for family carers, few have been designed in collaboration with carers to better address their needs (Forbes T, Brown M, Marsh L, Truesdale M, McCann E, Todd S, et al: Online support programmes for family carers of people with intellectual disabilities: systematic review of the international evidence base, under review).

The COVID-19 pandemic made access to face-to-face care and support even more challenging for families, with some services offering online alternatives [13, 14]. While this created challenges for many, including access to reliable technology, it has also provided opportunities, such as reduced travel and delivery costs, and improved access to programmes [15].

A previous study conducted in 2021 by the same authors explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on family carers. Based on these findings, a programme to support family carers of people with Profound and Multiple Intellectual Disabilities was developed — www.Carers-ID.com. The programme, co-produced with family carers and voluntary sector organisations across the UK and Ireland, sought to provide connectedness, reliable and easily accessible evidence-based materials and information on how to support mental health.

Aim and objectives

The current study will be conducted in line with the updated Medical Research Council (MRC) framework for the development of complex interventions [16]. According to the framework, testing of intervention procedures, establishing recruitment and retention rates and determining a suitable sample size are key elements in the development of complex interventions. Therefore, the primary aim of this study is to determine the feasibility of conducting a large-scale effectiveness trial of the Carers-ID intervention. Specifically, we will determine the following:

  1. 1.

    Recruitment, retention and attrition rates of participation in the trial.

  2. 2.

    Intervention engagement and adherence

  3. 3.

    Potential effect sizes and variability to inform a sample size calculation in an effectiveness trial

  4. 4.

    Feasibility of collecting outcome data using measures of stress, anxiety, depression, resilience and well-being in assessing the impact of the intervention on family carers

The secondary aims are as follows:

  1. 1.

    Examine impact on family carers mental health outcomes (stress, anxiety, depression, well-being and resilience) to guide a future trial.

Methods

Design

This is a randomised controlled feasibility design utilising a wait-list control with data collection at baseline (T0), on intervention completion, 2 weeks after baseline (T1) and at 3 months from baseline (T2). It will employ a qualitative process evaluation to explore acceptability of the outcome measures [17]. This trial is registered with the US National Library of Medicine, Clinical Trials Register (ID: NCT05737823), and will be reported in accordance with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement for pilot and feasibility studies [18]. Table 1 describes the flow of participants through the trial and the schedule of intervention and assessment.

Table 1 Schedule of intervention and assessment
Full size table

Participants and recruitment

Based on previous studies [19, 20] and best practice guidelines [19, 21] we estimate, we will need to recruit between 100 and 120 family carers who will be randomised to receive the intervention (n = 60) or assigned to a wait-list control (n = 60) group. The sample characteristics will be similar to the target population of the future large-scale effectiveness trial. Participants will be UK adults > 18 years of age and will be caring for a family member with an ID (people with all levels of ID). As this is a feasibility trial, the sample size is not intended to detect a statistically significant difference. However, these numbers will be sufficient to allow us to test the trial methodology and acceptability and feasibility of our psychometric measures [22, 23]. Data gained from this study will allow us to calculate a sample size for a future effectiveness trial.

Participants will be recruited through our voluntary sector partners. Letters of invitation and information sheets will be sent out to members of our partner organisations to inform them of the study trial. Those interested in taking part will contact the research team if they require further information or to indicate their wish to participate.

For the process evaluation, participants (n = 12) who have taken part in the intervention arm of the study will be invited to participate in an online interview. An invitation letter and information sheet will be sent to all participants in the intervention group by the researcher. Those interested in taking part will contact the research team if they require further information or to indicate their wish to participate.

The intervention

The intervention (www.Carers-ID.com) is delivered online and comprises video and audio accounts of family carers’ experiences, peer-to-peer support, resources and activities which promote resilience and improve mental health. Carers-ID consists of 14 modules which cover topics including the following: promoting resilience, providing peer support, reducing anxiety, managing stress, accessing local supports and managing family conflict and information for siblings who are carers. It also shares examples of carers’ experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic and offers day-to-day accounts of successful strategies individuals used to improve their mental health. Our research showed that family carers wanted to feel connected to others and enjoyed sharing their experiences, and the Carers-ID intervention connects family carers with each other so they can provide peer support.

Outcomes and success criteria

Primary outcomes

Criteria to assess the feasibility of progressing to a large-scale effectiveness trial include the following:

  1. 1.

    Acceptability and feasibility of the outcome measures (completed by > 80% of family carers)

  2. 2.

    Sufficient recruitment (> 90 carers) and participation and retention rates (> 80% of family carers)

  3. 3.

    Effect sizes and estimate of variability (standard deviation), along with data from previous studies, may inform a sample size for a future effectiveness trial.

The primary outcome of this trial is to determine the feasibility of conducting a future effectiveness trial of the Carers-ID intervention, including acceptability and feasibility of the outcome measures, recruitment, participation and retention rates and effect sizes and estimates of variability.

Data on numbers of participants identified, recruited, commenced and finished in the intervention will be collected throughout the study. Reasons for declining participation and reasons for drop out will be recorded where possible. Feasibility of using the stress, anxiety, depression, resilience and well-being outcomes will be assessed through number of participants completing pre, post and follow-up measures. Acceptability of measures will be assessed qualitatively through semi-structured interviews (see below). We will also collect data on participant’s activity within the online intervention, including total time spent on the intervention and number of modules accessed, to enable us to assess intervention engagement and adherence.

Secondary outcomes measures

Our psychometrically validated outcome measures comprise the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 [24], the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale [25], the Resilience Scale [26] and the Social Connectedness Scale Revised [27]. Participant demographics such as age, sex, country (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and relationship to person with ID will also be collected.

The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 items (DASS-21) [24] are a set of three self-report sub-scales designed to measure the emotional states of depression, anxiety and stress. Each of the three DASS-21 sub-scales contains 7 items, with 21 items in total. Items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale, from ‘Did not apply to me at all’ to ‘Applied to me very much or most of the time’. Scores for depression, anxiety and stress are calculated by summing the scores for the relevant items and multiplying by 2, with potential scores ranging from 0 to a maximum of 42, as scoring is based on the full 42-item version [24]. The scale has excellent reliability, with Cronbach’s alphas of 0.94, 0.88 and 0.93 for depression anxiety and stress respectively [24].

The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) was developed to enable the measurement of mental well-being and has excellent reliability with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.91 [25]. The WEMWBS is a 14-item scale of positively worded statements covering feeling and functioning aspects of mental well-being. The 14 statements have five response categories from ‘none of the time’ to ‘all of the time’. The WEMWBS is scored by summing the scores for each of the 14 items, which are scored from 1 to 5. Scores range from 14 to 70 with higher scores indicate greater positive mental well-being [25]. Previous research found that a change of about 3 or more points can be considered clinically significant [26].

The 25-item Resilience Scale was developed as a general measure of resilience for adults across the lifespan [26]. Participants respond by either agreeing or disagreeing with statements on a scale of 1 (disagree) to 7 (agree). The responses are summed (minimum score of 25 to a maximum of 175) with higher score reflecting stronger resilience. Reported Cronbach’s alpha for this scale range from 0.87 to 0.95 [27].

The 20-item Social Connectedness Scale Revised (SCS-R) is used to assess the extent to which persons feel connected to others in their surrounding social area [28]. Responses are on a Likert scale with 1 ‘strongly disagree’ to 6 ‘strongly agree’. Negatively worded items are reverse scored and summed together with the positively worded items to create a score ranging from 20 to 120. Higher scores on the SCS-R reflect a stronger sense of social connectedness. The scale has a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.92 [28].

Process evaluation

Feasibility and acceptability of our outcome measures will also be determined by gaining the perspectives of family carers who took part in the intervention arm. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted post intervention (see Table 1) and held via a secured online platform, and interviews will be recorded, transcribed verbatim, and subjected to thematic analysis [29]. The interview schedule was developed to explore ways to make improvements to the Carers-ID intervention. Questions focused on the overall experience, relevance, usefulness, and potential impact of the intervention. For example, ‘What improvements do you think could be made to the Carers-ID programme?’ and ‘What has been the impact of the Carers-ID online programme on you and/or your family?’

Procedures

Ethical approval has been granted by a university ethics committee at the lead authors institution (MHLS 23_04). Participants will be required to give informed consent before commencing the study. Participants will be asked to complete the psychometrically validated questionnaires at three time points: prior to taking part in the intervention, baseline measurement (T0), 2 weeks following baseline/completion of intervention (T1), and 3 months after baseline(T2). Semi-structured interviews will be conducted, as part of the process evaluation, with 12 participants to determine acceptability and feasibility of the outcome measures and the intervention.

Random allocation to the intervention and control conditions will be undertaken by an independent third party not involved with the research. The allocation ratio used will be 1:1. Random sequences will be generated using the Random.org (https://www.random.org/lists/) online service which uses atmospheric noise to ensure randomness. This will ensure members of the research team will be blind to allocation to reduce selection bias. Participants will complete the psychometric measures online with no data collection by members of the research team. Blinding of the research team to outcome assessment should have the effect of reducing detection bias. All participants will receive the intervention with those in the control group receiving this at a later stage. Due to the difference in timings, participants may become aware of group allocation.

Data analysis

All analysis will be conducted on an ‘intention-to-treat’ basis. Participants’ data will be analysed based on the group to which they have been assigned, irrespective of attrition. IBM SPSS Statistics 27 software will be used to analyse the data.

A CONSORT diagram will outline the number of participants who were identified, recruited, commenced and finished the intervention, with recruitment rate reported as a percentage. Reasons for refusal and dropout during the intervention will also be recorded and reported. Descriptive statistics will be used to present baseline characteristics and feasibility outcomes. Inferential statistics (correlations and analysis of variance — ANCOVA) will be used as indicators of difference between the intervention and control arms and correlation between baseline and follow-up measurements. We will use data from this study, together with that from previous research, to inform a suitable sample size for a future effectiveness trial.

Discussion

Interventions for family carers with a training and support component have been shown to be effective in reducing levels of stress and improving quality of life [7,8,9]. However, these interventions are often delivered face to face, which can be a barrier to some family carers’ participation [10]. The online delivery of the current intervention offers flexibility, removing these barriers [11, 12] and encouraging and promoting participation. Despite the potential benefits of the Carers-ID intervention, its feasibility is unknown.

The Carers-ID intervention was co-designed with family carers of people with ID and voluntary sector partners and is therefore directly relevant to their lives. Our initial testing has shown that the programme is acceptable to family carers who felt that providing peer support and the opportunity to talk to other carers was an important element of the work. However, our use of convenience sampling in the absence of a sampling frame from which to draw a list of eligible participants may mean that our sample lacks representativeness to the wider population of family carers of people with ID. We intend to address this issue by recruiting from across the four countries of the UK and providing all who are interested in taking part with the opportunity to do so.

The mixed-methods design in the current study will provide important information on the feasibility of the Carers-ID online intervention. It will provide us with useful data on how our chosen outcome measures perform while also contributing information on the mental health of family carers. Findings from this trial will inform the appropriateness of progression to a phase III effectiveness trial, in addition to offering further recommendations to the content of the intervention, if required.

Availability of data and materials

The authors confirm that data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analysed in this manuscript.

Abbreviations

CONSORT:

Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials

DASS-21:

Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21

ID:

Intellectual disabilities

MRC:

Medical Research Council

SCS-R:

Social Connectedness Scale Revised

UK:

United Kingdom

WEMWBS:

Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale

References

  1. Yannamani N, Zia A, Khalil N. Family carers of people with learning disabilities: common themes across caring. Psychiatry. 2009;8(11):441–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Nuffield Trust. Adults with learning disabilities who live in their own home or with their family. 2022. Available from: https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/resource/adults-with-learning-disabilities-who-live-in-their-own-home-or-with-their-family

    Google Scholar 

  3. Totsika V, Hastings RP, Emerson E, Lancaster GA, Berridge DM. A population-based investigation of behavioural and emotional problems and maternal mental health: associations with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability. J Child Psychol Psychiatry Allied Discip. 2011;52(1):91–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Cook T, Noone S, Thomson M. Mindfulness-based practices with family carers of adults with learning disability and behaviour that challenges in the UK: participatory health research. Heal Expect. 2019;22(4):802–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Beighton C, Wills J. How parents describe the positive aspects of parenting their child who has intellectual disabilities: a systematic review and narrative synthesis. J Appl Res Intellect Disabil. 2019;32(5):1255–79.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Lee CE, Burke MM. Caregiving roles of siblings of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities: a systematic review. J Policy Pract Intellect Disabil. 2018;15(3):237–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Hudson AM, Matthews JM, Gavidia-Payne ST, Cameron CA, Mildon RL, Radler GA, et al. Evaluation of an intervention system for parents of children with intellectual disability and challenging behaviour. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2003;47(4–5):238–49.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. MacDonald EE, Hastings RP. Mindful parenting and care involvement of fathers of children with intellectual disabilities. J Child Fam Stud. 2010;19(2):236–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Masulani-Mwale C, Mathanga D, Kauye F, Gladstone M. Psychosocial interventions for parents of children with intellectual disabilities–a narrative review and implications for low income settings. In: Mental Health and Prevention, vol. 11. Elsevier GmbH; 2018. p. 24–32.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Davis C, Hendon F, McDonald K, Blanco S. Use of technology in facilitating remote caregiver training for token systems. Int J Dev Disabil. 2020;66(5):330–8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Sanders MR, Dittman CK, Farruggia SP, Keown LJ. A comparison of online versus workbook delivery of a self-help positive parenting program. J Prim Prev. 2014;35(3):125–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Corralejo SM, Domenech Rodríguez MM. Technology in parenting programs: a systematic review of existing interventions. In: Journal of Child and Family Studies, vol. 27. New York LLC: Springer; 2018. p. 2717–31.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Monaghesh E, Hajizadeh A. The role of telehealth during COVID-19 outbreak:a systematic review based on current evidence. BMC Public Health. 2020;20(1):1193.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Webster P. Virtual health care in the era of COVID-19. Lancet. 2020;395(10231):1180–1.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Lunsky Y, Albaum C, Baskin A, Hastings RP, Hutton S, Steel L, et al. Group virtual mindfulness-based intervention for parents of autistic adolescents and adults. J Autism Dev Disord. 2021;51(11):3959–69.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Craig P, Dieppe P, Macintyre S, Michie S, et al. Developing and evaluating complex interventions: the new Medical Research Council guidance. BMJ. 2008;29:a1655.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Bowen DJ, Kreuter M, Spring B, et al. How we design feasibility studies. Am J Prev Med. 2009;36(5):452–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2009.02.002.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Eldridge SM, Chan CL, Campbell MJ, et al. CONSORT 2010 statement: extension to randomised pilot and feasibility trials. BMJ. 2016;355:i5239. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i5239.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Lancaster GA, Dodd S, Williamson PR. Design and analysis of pilot studies: recommendations for good practice. J Eval Clin Pract. 2004;10(2):307–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/j..2002.384.doc.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Arain M, Campbell MJ, Cooper CL, Lancaster GA. What is a pilot or feasibility study? A review of current practice and editorial policy. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2010;10(67) https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-10-67.

  21. Teare MD, Dimairo M, Shephard N, Hayman A, Whitehead A, Walters SJ. Sample size requirements to estimate key design parameters from external pilot randomised controlled trials: a simulation study. Trials. 2014;15(264) https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-15-264.

  22. Hinton S, Sheffield J, Sanders MR, Sofronoff K. A randomized controlled trial of a telehealth parenting intervention: a mixed-disability trial. Res Dev Disabil. 2017;65:74–85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Lappalainen P, Pakkala I, Strömmer J, Sairanen E, Kaipainen K, Lappalainen R. Supporting parents of children with chronic conditions: a randomized controlled trial of web-based and self-help ACT interventions. Internet Interv. 2021:24.

  24. Lovibond PF, Lovibond SH. The structure of negative emotional states: comparison of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) with the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories. Behav Res Ther. 1995;33(3):335–43.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Tennant R, Hiller L, Fishwick R, Platt S, Joseph S, Weich S, et al. The Warwick-Dinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS): development and UK validation. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2007;5:1–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Maheswaran H, Weich S, Powell J, et al. Evaluating the responsiveness of the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS): group and individual level analysis. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2012;10:156. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-10-156.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Wagnild G, Young H. Development and pshycometric evaluation of a recilience scale. J Nurs Meas. 1993;1(2):165–78.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Lee RM, Robbins SB. Measuring belongingness: the social connectedness and the Social Assurance Scales. J Couns Psychol. 1995;42(2):232–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qual Res Psychol. 2006;3(2):77–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank the family carers and voluntary sector partners who have contributed their time and energy to developing this intervention.

Funding

Received from The Baily Thomas Charitable Fund (TRUST/VC/AC/SG/6324/9576) and the Public Health Agency of the Health and Social Care, Research and Development Division for Northern Ireland (COM/5717/22).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Biology Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen’s University, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Ireland

    Mark A. Linden, Rachel Leonard, Trisha Forbes, Michael Brown & Lynne Marsh

  2. School of Care Sciences, University of South Wales, Caerleon, Wales

    Stuart Todd

  3. Department of Sociological Studies, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, England

    Nathan Hughes

  4. School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland

    Maria Truesdale

Authors
  1. Mark A. Linden
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rachel Leonard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Trisha Forbes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Michael Brown
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Lynne Marsh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Stuart Todd
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Nathan Hughes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Maria Truesdale
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

ML formulated the research question, designed the study and is principal investigator for this research. RL drafted the initial protocol paper. ML, MB, TF, LM, MT, ST and NH were the original creators of the Cares-ID intervention. MB, TF, LM, MT, ST and NH critically reviewed this manuscript and approved the final draft.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rachel Leonard.

Ethics declarations

Ethical approvals and consent to participate

Our protocol has been approved by a Queen’s University Belfast Ethics Review Board (MHLS23_04). All participants will be required to give their consent to participate after reading an information sheet which informs them of their right to confidentiality, explains how their data would be treated and used, and informs them of their right to withdraw from the research. Only members of the research team will have access to project data for the purposes of analysis. Electronic data will be held on encrypted, secured Queen’s University Belfast servers. On completion of the research, all data will be anonymised and made available on a data sharing repository.

Consent for publication

Not applicable

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated in a credit line to the data.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Linden, M.A., Leonard, R., Forbes, T. et al. Randomised controlled feasibility study protocol of the Carers-ID online intervention to support the mental health of family carers of people with intellectual disabilities. Pilot Feasibility Stud 10, 25 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-024-01448-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-024-01448-w

Keywords

Pilot and Feasibility Studies

ISSN: 2055-5784