Information use environments of African-American dementia caregivers over the course of cognitive–behavioral therapy for depression

•Interpersonal information seeking is supported by formal information sources.•Exchanging information in a structured setting is important to caregivers.•A physical information object can be a valuable source of comfort and support.•Information settings are shaped more by people/activities than by medium.•Information behavior is influenced by therapeutic intervention.

Caregivers of older adults with dementia face significant challenges associated with their care recipients' condition and with their own mental and physical wellbeing. Qualitative research data were collected via interviews with caregivers who participated in the African-American Alzheimer's Caregiver Training and Support (ACTS) research project. Analysis of these data with a focus on information use indicated that participating caregivers' information use environments were shaped by key individuals, settings, and information sources. These included the ACTS counselors, ACTS intervention guidebook, fellow caregivers, use of a personal calendar/datebook, and the identification of key problems and development of goals to help ameliorate those problems. CBT groups fostered sharing, synthesizing, and validating information about dementia caregiving and dementia care resources; the ACTS CBT guidebook served as an important physical touchstone of reliable and portable information. Understanding the specific needs, behaviors, and constraints of African-American caregivers is important to the future development of information components of tailored, depression–reduction interventions.