Exploring reasons for usage discontinuation in an internet-delivered stress recovery intervention: A qualitative study
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. Th...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Internet Interventions |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782923000866 |
| _version_ | 1827596482717417472 |
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| author | Auguste Nomeikaite Odeta Gelezelyte Thomas Berger Gerhard Andersson Evaldas Kazlauskas |
| author_facet | Auguste Nomeikaite Odeta Gelezelyte Thomas Berger Gerhard Andersson Evaldas Kazlauskas |
| author_sort | Auguste Nomeikaite |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:10:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a1bb6abb618f4323a90f5cab0237e329 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2214-7829 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:10:08Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Internet Interventions |
| spelling | doaj.art-a1bb6abb618f4323a90f5cab0237e3292023-12-04T05:22:01ZengElsevierInternet Interventions2214-78292023-12-0134100686Exploring reasons for usage discontinuation in an internet-delivered stress recovery intervention: A qualitative studyAuguste Nomeikaite0Odeta Gelezelyte1Thomas Berger2Gerhard Andersson3Evaldas Kazlauskas4Center for Psychotraumatology, Institute of Psychology, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania; Corresponding author at: Center for Psychotraumatology, Institute of Psychology, Vilnius University, M. K. Ciurlionio st. 29-203, LT-03100 Vilnius, Lithuania.Center for Psychotraumatology, Institute of Psychology, Vilnius University, Vilnius, LithuaniaDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, SwitzerlandDepartment of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, SwedenCenter for Psychotraumatology, Institute of Psychology, Vilnius University, Vilnius, LithuaniaInternet-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.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782923000866Internet interventionUsage attritionStress recoveryHealthcare workers |
| spellingShingle | Auguste Nomeikaite Odeta Gelezelyte Thomas Berger Gerhard Andersson Evaldas Kazlauskas Exploring reasons for usage discontinuation in an internet-delivered stress recovery intervention: A qualitative study Internet Interventions Internet intervention Usage attrition Stress recovery Healthcare workers |
| title | Exploring reasons for usage discontinuation in an internet-delivered stress recovery intervention: A qualitative study |
| title_full | Exploring reasons for usage discontinuation in an internet-delivered stress recovery intervention: A qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Exploring reasons for usage discontinuation in an internet-delivered stress recovery intervention: A qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring reasons for usage discontinuation in an internet-delivered stress recovery intervention: A qualitative study |
| title_short | Exploring reasons for usage discontinuation in an internet-delivered stress recovery intervention: A qualitative study |
| title_sort | exploring reasons for usage discontinuation in an internet delivered stress recovery intervention a qualitative study |
| topic | Internet intervention Usage attrition Stress recovery Healthcare workers |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782923000866 |
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