Online eCoaching to help family caregivers boost wellbeing and resilience
Official title: Randomized Controlled Trial to Test the Efficacy of Online Ecoaching to Support Caregivers of Older Adults in Hong Kong: Enhancing Carers' Wellbeing and Resilience
Run by The University of Hong Kong · NCT06604481 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This 6-week program will test whether an online self-help eCoaching course can reduce stress and depressive symptoms and increase confidence for family caregivers of older adults in Hong Kong.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 232 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | The University of Hong Kong Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Hong Kong) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 30, 2025 |
| Main results expected | September 2026 |
| Study ends | September 2026 |
| Registry record updated | June 10, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT06604481 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults (18+) living in Hong Kong who provide at least six hours per week of care to a family member aged 60 or older, can communicate with the interventionist, and report mild needs on the Carer Need Screening tool.
✕Probably not a fit
Caregivers with diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia, those with acute health conditions that prevent participation, or caregivers living outside Hong Kong are unlikely to benefit from this online intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a three-armed, double-blind randomized trial comparing two online eCoaching intervention formats against a control over six weeks for caregivers of older adults. The intervention combines elements of cognitive behavioral therapy, lifestyle change strategies, and communication skills training delivered via an online self-help platform. Individual randomization will be done using permuted blocks through an independent online system, enrolling 232 caregivers recruited from seven district-based support units. Primary outcomes include caregiver well-being, depressive and anxiety symptoms, self-efficacy for stress management, and resilience.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce caregiver distress and depressive symptoms while improving confidence and coping skills for day-to-day caregiving.
How similar studies have gone: Previous digital CBT and self-help programs for caregivers have shown mixed but generally encouraging results in lowering burden and depressive symptoms, so this approach builds on existing evidence.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * being an adult aged 18 or above with a family member aged 60 or above requiring caregiving, providing at least 6 hours of care per week * self-identifying as a family caregiver * living in Hong Kong * able to communicate with the interventionist * voluntary participation * reporting mild risk need in Carer Need Screening tool Exclusion Criteria: * having diagnosed Alzheimer's or other dementia * experiencing acute health conditions that hinder caregiving support or intervention participation
Where it's running
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Sau Po Center on Ageing HKU
Hong Kong, Hong Kong Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Vivian Lou, PhD — Sau Po Center on Ageing, HKU
- Study coordinator: Vivian Lou, PhD
- Email: wlou@hku.hk
- Phone: 3917 4835
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.