Exploring reasons for usage discontinuation in an internet-delivered stress recovery intervention: A qualitative study.

Nomeikaite, Auguste; Gelezelyte, Odeta; Berger, Thomas; Andersson, Gerhard; Kazlauskas, Evaldas (2023). Exploring reasons for usage discontinuation in an internet-delivered stress recovery intervention: A qualitative study. Internet Interventions, 34(100686), p. 100686. Elsevier 10.1016/j.invent.2023.100686

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Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) interventions can be as effective as traditional face-to-face therapy for various mental health conditions. However, a significant challenge these online interventions face is the high rate of people who start but then stop using the program. This early discontinuation can be seen as incomplete treatment and can reduce the potential benefits for users. By exploring why people stop using ICBT programs, we can better understand how to address this problem. This study aimed to examine the experiences of healthcare workers who had stopped using a therapist-guided internet-delivered stress recovery program to gain deeper insights into usage attrition. We conducted semi-structured interviews with twelve participants who were female healthcare workers ranging in age from 24 to 68 years (M = 44.67, SD = 11.80). Telephone interviews were conducted and the data were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. Qualitative data analysis revealed that most participants had multiple reasons for discontinuing the program. They identified both barriers and facilitators to using the program, which could be categorized as either personal or program related. Personal aspects included life circumstances, personal characteristics, and psychological responses to the program. Program-related aspects encompassed technical factors, program content, and the level of support provided. The findings of this study can enhance our understanding of why people stop using guided internet-delivered programs. We discuss the practical and research implications, with the ultimate aim of improving the design and efficacy of internet interventions.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

07 Faculty of Human Sciences > Institute of Psychology > Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy

UniBE Contributor:

Berger, Thomas (B)

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

2214-7829

Publisher:

Elsevier

Language:

English

Submitter:

Pubmed Import

Date Deposited:

13 Nov 2023 13:53

Last Modified:

26 Nov 2023 02:26

Publisher DOI:

10.1016/j.invent.2023.100686

PubMed ID:

37942059

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Healthcare workers Internet intervention Stress recovery Usage attrition

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/188756

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/188756

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