Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Jul 20, 2023
Open Peer Review Period: Jul 20, 2023 - Aug 4, 2023
Date Accepted: Sep 5, 2023
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Tailored to Spouses and Significant Others of Public Safety Personnel: A Formative Evaluation
ABSTRACT
Background:
Spouses and significant others (SSOs) of public safety personnel (PSP) are impacted by the risks and requirements of these occupations. Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) provides a convenient and accessible treatment format that can be tailored to the needs of SSOs of PSP.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to assess the initial usage and participant perceptions (e.g., likes, helpfulness, areas for improvement) of a self-guided, transdiagnostic ICBT course designed for Canadian SSOs of PSP and identify opportunities to further tailor ICBT for this group.
Methods:
SSOs of PSP were invited to complete a 5-lesson self-guided transdiagnostic ICBT. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze demographic and clinical characteristics of SSOS of PSP. Content analysis was used to analyze data from open-ended survey responses and interviews to understand experiences with ICBT.
Results:
Participants (N = 118) endorsed various mental health concerns (e.g., depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress symptoms, relationship concerns) with a range of severity levels. Most participants identified as white (n = 110, 94.8%) and as women (n = 108, 91.5%), with a mean age of 42.03 (SD = 9.36). Of those who were interviewed (n = 26), most (n = 23, 89%) reported believing that ICBT is helpful, and most (n = 24, 92%) reported finding at least one skill helpful. Participants provided suggestions for course improvements. Based on this feedback and/or quantitative data, changes were made to areas such as the delivery of materials, content, case stories, and timelines. Overall, the results indicated that many SSOs of PSP had positive perceptions of ICBT tailored to their needs and found several aspects of the course helpful, supporting the continued delivery of tailored ICBT to this population. However, continued promotion of the course and reach to diverse groups of SSOs of PSP are needed.
Conclusions:
Findings from this formative evaluation increase knowledge about the unique experiences and needs of SSOs of PSP and provide preliminary evidence for the use of tailored ICBT to support the mental health of the group across Canada.
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