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Assessing the Time for Living and Caring (TLC) Study: Mixed-Methods Feasibility Study of a Web-Based Caregiver Intervention to Improve Respite
Amber D. Thompson, Alexandra L. Terrill, Michael S. Caserta, Bob G. Wong, Eli Iacob, Catharine Sparks, Louisa A. Stark, Rebecca Utz. JMIR Aging, 2025-06-10
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The TLC study used an appropriate design and data collection procedures, along with acceptable recruitment capability. Out of 5 intervention features, 4 received favorable ratings (range of 82%-99%) by intervention participants and respite providers, which, when combined with open-ended recommendations for improvements, indicate a high degree of usability. Acceptability was measured through appraisal of the intervention experience (135/159, 85% positive), potential future use (127/163, 78%), willingness to recommend (148/163, 91%), and perceived benefit (135/163, 83%). Taken together, the data suggest that the TLC app is a promising intervention that could be implemented as an on-demand resource for respite-using caregivers, irrespective of where they are located or when they choose to access it. Additionally, this paper provides a blueprint for systematically evaluating multiple dimensions of feasibility, using various forms of mixed-methods data collected during intervention development and pilot testing of an intervention, which should help streamline the eventual implementation of effective interventions in real-world settings.
Key findings
- The TLC study used an appropriate design and data collection procedures, along with acceptable recruitment capability.
- Out of 5 intervention features, 4 received favorable ratings (range of 82%-99%) by intervention participants and respite providers, which, when combined with open-ended recommendations for improvements, indicate a high degree of usability.
- Acceptability was measured through appraisal of the intervention experience (135/159, 85% positive), potential future use (127/163, 78%), willingness to recommend (148/163, 91%), and perceived benefit (135/163, 83%).
- Taken together, the data suggest that the TLC app is a promising intervention that could be implemented as an on-demand resource for respite-using caregivers, irrespective of where they are located or when they choose to access it.
- Additionally, this paper provides a blueprint for systematically evaluating multiple dimensions of feasibility, using various forms of mixed-methods data collected during intervention development and pilot testing of an intervention, which should help streamline the eventual implementation of effective interventions in real-world settings.
Why it matters
This mixed-methods feasibility study found the web-based TLC caregiver intervention had high usability and acceptability ratings among participants and respite providers. It is a feasibility study of a respite resource for caregivers, not a test of any treatment, cure or prevention for dementia.
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Study details
- Participants15
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 36/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (JMIR Aging) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | JMIR Aging: journal h-index 49 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 15 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Rebecca Utz: h-index 29 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Utah: institution h-index 1,238 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40825209) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 36 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Thompson, A. D., Terrill, A. L., Caserta, M. S., Wong, B. G., Iacob, E., Sparks, C., et al. (2025). Assessing the Time for Living and Caring (TLC) Study: Mixed-Methods Feasibility Study of a Web-Based Caregiver Intervention to Improve Respite. JMIR Aging. https://doi.org/10.2196/71792
Vancouver
Thompson AD, Terrill AL, Caserta MS, Wong BG, Iacob E, Sparks C, et al. Assessing the Time for Living and Caring (TLC) Study: Mixed-Methods Feasibility Study of a Web-Based Caregiver Intervention to Improve Respite. JMIR Aging. 2025. doi:10.2196/71792. PMID: 40825209.
BibTeX
@article{thompson2025-40825209,
author = {Thompson, Amber D. and Terrill, Alexandra L. and Caserta, Michael S. and Wong, Bob G. and Iacob, Eli and Sparks, Catharine and Stark, Louisa A. and Utz, Rebecca},
title = {{Assessing the Time for Living and Caring (TLC) Study: Mixed-Methods Feasibility Study of a Web-Based Caregiver Intervention to Improve Respite}},
journal = {JMIR Aging},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.2196/71792},
pmid = {40825209},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2196/71792}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.