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BMJ Publishing Group, BMJ Open, 11(11), p. e046755, 2021

DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046755

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‘Care co-ordinator in my pocket’: a feasibility study of mobile assessment and therapy for psychosis (TechCare)

This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

ObjectivesThe aim of the project was to examine the acceptability and feasibility of a mobile phone application-based intervention ‘TechCare’, for individuals with psychosis in the North West of England. The main objectives were to determine whether appropriate individuals could be identified and recruited to the study and whether the TechCare App would be an acceptable intervention for individuals with psychosis.MethodsThis was a mixed methods feasibility study, consisting of a test-run and feasibility evaluation of the TechCare App intervention.SettingEarly Intervention Services (EIS) for psychosis, within an NHS Trust in the North West of England.ParticipantsSixteen participants (test-run n=4, feasibility study n=12) aged between 18 and 65 years recruited from the East, Central and North Lancashire EIS.InterventionA 6-week intervention, with the TechCare App assessing participants’ symptoms and responses in real-time and providing a personalised-guided self-help-based psychological intervention based on the principles of Cognitive Behaviorual Therapy (CBT).ResultsA total of 83.33% (n=10) of participants completed the 6-week feasibility study, with 70% of completers achieving the set compliance threshold of ≥33% engagement with the TechCare App system. Analysis of the qualitative data suggested that participants held the view that the TechCare was both an acceptable and feasible means of delivering interventions in real-time.ConclusionInnovative digital clinical technologies, such as the TechCare App, have the potential to increase access to psychological interventions, reduce health inequality and promote self-management with a real-time intervention, through enabling access to mental health resources in a stigma-free, evidence-based and time-independent manner.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02439619.