JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Make It Training is an e-mental health intervention designed for individuals affected by cancer that aims to reduce psychological distress, improve disease-related coping, and improve quality of life.

Objective:

The present study evaluated the experienced effectiveness and usability of the web-based Make It Training using a qualitative approach.

Methods:

In the present study, semi-structured interviews with participants that had previously participated in the Reduct trial, a randomized controlled trial that assesses the efficacy of the Make It Training, were conducted. The data were analyzed de-ductively using thematic codebook analysis.

Results:

Analysis of experienced effectiveness resulted in four themes (developing coping strategies to reduce psychological distress, improvement quality of life, Make It vs. traditional psychotherapy and integration in daily life) with eleven subthemes. Analysis of experienced usability resulted in three themes (efficiency and accessi-bility, user-friendliness, and recommendations to design the Make It Training more appealing) with six subthemes. The Make It Training was evaluated as a user-friendly intervention helpful for developing functional coping strategies to reduce psychological distress and improving quality of life. The overall consensus regard-ing the Make It Training was that it was described as a 'daily companion' that inte-grates well into daily life and that it has the potential to be routinely implemented within oncological healthcare, either as a standalone intervention or in addition to psychotherapy.

Conclusions:

E-mental health interventions such as the Make It Training can target both preven-tion of mental health issues as well as health promotion. Moreover, they offer a cost-efficient and low threshold possibility to receive psycho-oncological support. Clinical Trial: German Clinical Trial Register (DRKS); DRKS-ID: DRKS00025213