Evaluating Behavioural Skills Training via Telecommunication to Teach Mediators to Facilitate Acceptance and Commitment Training

Multiple randomized control trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment training (ACT) for improving the quality of life of numerous populations, including caregivers of children with NDDs. However, little research has been conducted on effective methods to train facilitators to lead ACT experiential exercises in general, with even less research incorporating caregivers as co-facilitators. To increase potential facilitators’ access to the ACT facilitation training and reduce geographical barriers, a telecommunication format may be leveraged. The aim of this research was to examine the effect of providing behavioural skills training via telecommunication to caregiver and clinician facilitators across Canada that had already received a manualized, group-based ACT facilitation training. This study included a total of three caregivers and one clinician, where quantitative data on fidelity, confidence, and quality of ACT facilitation was collected at baseline, post-training, and at 1-month follow-up using a multiple-probe design. In addition, a BST and telecommunication acceptability measure was administered post-training. The results from this study suggest that implementing behavioural skills training to teach facilitators to provide ACT greatly improved the facilitators’ fidelity. Increasing the number of competently trained facilitators will help build capacity to increase caregivers’ access to ACT, ideally resulting in decreased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression this population has reported experiencing