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Developing Evidence for an Internet-Based Psychotherapeutic Group Intervention

Abstract This paper describes the stages of collecting evidence for the effectiveness of a psychotherapeutic support group for family care-givers of persons with neuro-degenerative diseases. The goal was to duplicate on-line, the professional practice standards and client outcomes that apply when evaluating face-to-face support groups for family care-givers. Pilot studies of three caregiver groups generated data for the development of an intervention training manual, a user-friendly web site, and a computer training manual. Subsequently an Internet-based version of the group intervention was evaluated in a feasibility study with six groups of caregivers. This consisted of 10 on-line, professionally facilitated group sessions. In terms of technology, a user-friendly Web site that included video conferencing support for group member communication was developed and evaluated. Analyses of early, middle and late group video conferencing sessions supported fidelity of the on-line intervention and yielded themes congruent with face-to-face group process. Follow-up interviews six months following the initiation of the on-line groups showed overall positive participant responses in each of the following areas: using technology to communicate, bonding and providing mutual guidance and support, and benefiting in terms of coping with the stresses of caregiving.