Defining internet-supported therapeutic interventions
- Authors: Barak, Azy , Klein, Britt , Proudfoot, Judith
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Annals of Behavioral Medicine Vol. 38, no. 1 (2009), p. 4-17
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: BACKGROUND: The field of Internet-supported therapeutic interventions has suffered from a lack of clarity and consistency. The absence of professional leadership and of accepted governing approaches, terminology, professional standards, and methodologies has caused this field to be diffused and unstructured. Numerous terms have been used to label and describe the activities conducted over the Internet for mental and physical health purposes: web-based therapy, e-therapy, cybertherapy, eHealth, e-Interventions, computer-mediated interventions, and online therapy (or counseling), among others. METHODS: Following a comprehensive review, we conceptualized Internet-supported interventions, using four categories based on prime practice approaches: web-based interventions, online counseling and therapy, Internet-operated therapeutic software, and other online activities (e.g., as supplements to face-to-face therapy). We provide a working definition and detailed description of each category, accompanied by numerous examples. CONCLUSIONS: These categories may now serve as guiding definitions and related terminologies for further research and development in this emerging field.
Establishing guidelines for executing and reporting internet research
- Authors: Proudfoot, Judith , Klein, Britt , Barak, Azy , Calbring, Per , Cuijpers, Pim , Lange, Alfred , Ritterband, Lee , Andersson, Gerhard
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Cognitive behaviour therapy Vol. 40, no. 2 (2011), p. 82-97
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: The field of Internet interventions is growing rapidly. New programs are continually being developed to facilitate health and mental health promotion, disease and emotional distress prevention, risk factor management, treatment, and relapse prevention. However, a clear definition of Internet interventions, guidelines for research, and evidence of effectiveness have been slower to follow. This article focuses on the quality standardization of research on Internet-delivered psychological and behavioural interventions. Although the science underpinning Internet interventions is just starting to be established, across research studies there are often conceptual and methodological difficulties. The authors argue that this situation is due to the lack of universally accepted operational guidelines and evaluation methods. Following a critical appraisal of existing codes of conduct and guidelines for Internet-assisted psychological and health interventions, the authors developed a framework of guidelines for Internet intervention research utilizing aspects of facet theory (Guttman & Greenbaum, 1998). The framework of facets, elements, and guidelines of best practice in reporting Internet intervention research was then sent to several leading researchers in the field for their comment and input, so that a consensus framework could be agreed on. The authors outline 12 key facets to be considered when evaluating and reporting Internet intervention studies. Each facet consists of a range of recommended elements, designed as the minimum features for reporting Internet intervention studies. The authors propose that this framework be utilized when designing and reporting Internet intervention research, so results across studies can be replicated, extended, compared, and contrasted with greater ease and clarity.
Development of a suicidal ideation detection tool for primary Healthcare settings : Using open access online psychosocial data
- Authors: Meyer, Denny , Abbott, Jo-Anne , Rehm, Imogen , Bhar, Sunil , Barak, Azy , Deng, Gary , Wallace, Klaire , Ogden, Edward , Klein, Britt
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Telemedicine and e-Health Vol. 23, no. 4 (2017), p. 273-281
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: Suicidal patients often visit healthcare professionals in their last month before suicide, but medical practitioners are unlikely to raise the issue of suicide with patients because of time constraints and uncertainty regarding an appropriate approach. Introduction: A brief tool called the e-PASS Suicidal Ideation Detector (eSID) was developed for medical practitioners to help detect the presence of suicidal ideation (SI) in their clients. If SI is detected, the system alerts medical practitioners to address this issue with a client. The eSID tool was developed due to the absence of an easy-to-use, evidence-based SI detection tool for general practice. Material and Methods: The tool was developed using binary logistic regression analyses of data provided by clients accessing an online psychological assessment function. Ten primary healthcare professionals provided advice regarding the use of the tool. Results: The analysis identified eleven factors in addition to the Kessler-6 for inclusion in the model used to predict the probability of recent SI. The model performed well across gender and age groups 18-64 (AUR 0.834, 95% CI 0.828-0.841, N = 16,703). Healthcare professionals were interviewed; they recommended that the tool be incorporated into existing medical software systems and that additional resources be supplied, tailored to the level of risk identified. Conclusion: The eSID is expected to trigger risk assessments by healthcare professionals when this is necessary. Initial reactions of healthcare professionals to the tool were favorable, but further testing and in situ development are required. © 2017, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.