Figure - uploaded by Shelley Rottenberg
Content may be subject to copyright.
Caregiver participants' engagement numbers.
Source publication
This study aims to evaluate the acceptability of the web-based delivery of the Caregiving Essentials course for informal caregivers of older adults. Both the strengths and limitations of using a web-based platform to provide information and resources were explored to see whether the method of delivery enhanced or hindered the overall course experie...
Contexts in source publication
Context 1
... participants involved in the course evaluation were informal caregivers of older adults who had finished the majority of the module material by the official course end date. Participation in the evaluation was not a compulsory component of the course; therefore, data were only collected from those who were willing to offer their feedback (Table 1). The course users who completed all elements of the evaluation (pre-and postcourse surveys and a telephone interview) received a Can $20.00 (US $16.58) Tim Hortons gift card as a token of appreciation. ...Context 2
... survey data collected from participants before and after the course could not be compared because there was a significant difference between the number of people who completed the precourse survey and those who completed the postcourse survey (Table 1). However, the postcourse survey responses were compared with the qualitative interview feedback and supported the major findings in terms of overlapping identified themes. ...Citations
... Participants expressed concerns about the security of their privacy, aligning with the findings of previous online interventions [53][54][55]. They considered its direct impact on trust and participation in the online intervention. ...
Background
In recent years, mobile psychological interventions have proven effective in reducing self-injury and suicide-related behaviors. Therefore, it is essential to continually enhance the user experience and address patients' needs to facilitate the development of mobile mental health interventions. Identifying patients with mobile mental health needs can be challenging for mental health professionals. To address this, we conducted a systematic review of qualitative research to synthesize the needs of patients engaged in self-injury and suicide-related behaviors for mobile and internet-based psychological interventions.
Methods
This study adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement (PRISMA) and the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research statement (ENTREQ). We explored 11 databases and synthesized the results using thematic analysis.
Results
Sixteen qualitative and mixed-method studies were included. The study found that the needs of patients with self-injury and suicide-related behaviors for mobile psychological intervention included therapy, technology, culture, privacy, communication, emotional support, personalization, and self-management. Consistent with the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the needs of patients with self-injury and suicide-related behaviors are influenced by the perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of the mobile intervention. However, the findings also highlight the importance and unmet needs of peer support, communication, self-management, and empowerment in using mobile psychological interventions for patients with self-injury and suicide-related behaviors.
Conclusions
Studies in this area have shown that the needs of patients with self-harm and suicide-related behaviors cover multiple stages, including basic therapeutic and technical needs and advanced emotional needs. This complexity makes it challenging to address the needs of patients engaged in self-injury and suicide-related behaviors through digital interventions. In the future, mental health professionals should be encouraged to participate in multidisciplinary collaborations to expand the use of digital interventions, enhancing remote self-management for patients and providing new strategies for the ongoing care of psychiatric patients.
We registered the review protocol on PROSPERO (CRD42022324958).
... Moreover, delivering the course through the internet enables individuals to work independently with modules at their preferred pace, at their convenience, and from any location. Discussion forums have also been identified as a significant advantage due to the potential for social interaction and a sense of community, which many experienced while sharing their experiences [30]. ...
The growing number of older adults with long-term health issues has led to more family members becoming informal caregivers. These caregivers play a crucial role in providing care to their elderly loved ones. However, this caregiving can be physically and emotionally demanding, affecting the caregivers’ own well-being. This scientific mini-review examines various ways, known as “interventions,” that can help ease the challenges faced by informal caregivers and improve their quality of life. These interventions can include things like training programs, support groups, or using technology to assist caregivers. To get the most up-to-date information, we looked at the recent systematic reviews and studies published in the last 5 years. We searched for this information in three widely recognized electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus with full text. These interventions show promise in making life easier for informal caregivers and improving their quality of life. This mini review intends to offer insights into how these interventions can be beneficial, serving as a resource for healthcare professionals, policymakers, and researchers working to enhance the well-being of both caregivers and the elderly individuals they care for.
... With estimates of 430,000 Ontarians living with Dementia by 2038 (The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Ontario, 2016), the need for informal caregivers will continue to grow who are often thrown into the role without any formal training or necessary knowledge to handle Dementia (Ihilchik, 2019). The caregiver is typically required to provide regular emotional, physical, psychological, social, and financial support to the individual (Rottenberg & Williams, 2021). As a result of the multiple responsibilities associated with their caregiving role, they experience high levels of burden and report increased rates of mental health declines, exhaustion, depression, and burnout. ...
... To protect the privacy Framing □ of other caregivers, the recordings should only feature the session speakers . In another study, participants praised the flexibility of the web-based course and their ability to participate on their own time (Rottenberg & Williams, 2021). They appreciated the self-paced nature of the course as they could complete it from the comfort of their own home or during work breaks. ...
... This may result in confusion or the inability to access helpful eHealth initiatives for some individuals. Users of a web-based course reported a lack of peer engagement as a barrier to participating, since the discussion boards were perceived as lacking interactions between caregivers (Rottenberg & Williams, 2021). Therefore, a hybrid approach to delivery of eHealth solutions is crucial. ...
One of the key focus areas of the National Dementia Strategy, released by the Canadian government in 2019, is improving informal caregivers' quality of life through better support. While an array of services are available to support them, it’s usually up to caregivers to find them and navigating through a fragmented health and social support system can be challenging, time-consuming, frustrating, and often ineffective.
Innovative approaches and eHealth interventions that can provide easy, timely, and need-based access to knowledge resources, enhances and safeguards care capacity among informal caregivers, reducing stress and depression levels, delaying nursing home placements, improving mood and their quality of life (Brodaty & Donkin, 2009). Innovations in technology are becoming a crucial element in improving support for and the well-being of family caregivers but
a number of social, cultural, ethical, and technical issues complicate the rapid emergence of new technologies which affects its adoption, implementation, and scalability.
Using a participatory foresight approach, this research project speculates futures, 15 years from now, to explore and envision an implementation model for eHealth services for informal Dementia caregivers in Ontario. At a time when technology innovations present significant challenges and opportunities, the purpose is to identify leverage points that will inspire and inform organizations, developers, researchers, healthcare providers, and innovators interested in translating knowledge into practice by designing sustainable and resilient eHealth interventions. This has been accomplished by understanding the needs of informal caregivers, implications of emerging technologies, and factors affecting implementation of eHealth solutions that support informal caregivers.
