Background---- Public Safety Personnel (PSP) are at an increased risk of developing
mental disorders. PSP also face many barriers to accessing mental health services (e.g.,
stigma, location, time). The PSP Wellbeing Course is a transdiagnostic internet-delivered
cognitive behaviour therapy (ICBT) course that has been specifically tailored to PSP. The
effectiveness of the therapist-guided course and a self-guided course have both been
supported. Consistent with the larger literature on self-guided ICBT, engagement with and
outcomes of the self-guided PSP Wellbeing Course could be strengthened. Persuasive design
describes using technology to influence human behaviour. The current study is designed to
assess the impact of different timing options (i.e., tunneled vs. personalized) and
increased social learning (i.e., standard versus enhanced social learning) on user
experience, adherence, and outcomes in ICBT.
Methods--- Participants will be recruited via posts on the PSPNET social media platforms
(i.e., Twitter and Facebook) and emails distributed by PSP organizations. Members of the
PSPNET team will also reach out to contacts within PSP organizations to ask them to tell
their colleagues about the proposed research. All interested participants will be
directed to the study website (www.pspnet.ca) to complete an online screening
questionnaire. As part of this questionnaire, they will be presented with a consent form
explaining the screening. After consent is given, clients will be assessed for
eligibility using an online screening questionnaire. The online screening questionnaire
captures demographic information (e.g., sex, ethnicity, location), information about
depression and other mental health issues, and background information (e.g., medical
history, mental health history, symptoms).
After completing the questionnaires, participant responses will be reviewed by PSP staff
for eligibility. Clients who are eligible will be randomized into one of four conditions.
Participants who do not meet criteria, but are over the age of 18, will not be randomized
and will instead be enrolled into the "treatment-as-usual" version of the course, which
consists of a tunneled delivery and standard resources. Ineligible participants' data
will not be included in analyses. Individuals under the age of 18 will not be eligible
for any services.The two factors in the trial are:
Factor 1: Tunneled course delivery or personalized course delivery
Factor 2: Standard or enhanced social learning resources.
As this is a factorial trial with two factors, each client will be randomized to one of
four conditions:
Condition 1: Tunneled Delivery and Standard Resources Condition 2: Tunneled Delivery and
Enhanced Social Learning Resources Condition 3: Personalized Delivery and Standard
Resources Condition 4: Personalized Delivery and Enhanced Social Learning Resources
Randomization will occur within 2 business-days of completion of the screening
questionnaires.
All participants will receive the Self-Guided PSP Wellbeing Course, a transdiagnostic
internet intervention. The program is an adaptation of a previous Australian course, the
Wellbeing Course. The course involved 5 lessons that are typically completed over an 8
week period, though participants will have access to the course materials for up to 26
weeks. The content is focused on cognitive behavior therapy and relapse prevention.
Materials are presented in a didactic (i.e., text-based with visual images) and
case-enhanced learning format (i.e., educational stories demonstrate the application of
skills). All participants are presented with worksheets at the end of each lesson that
contain exercises that facilitate skill acquisition. Participants will be sent automatic
emails reminding them to stay engaged with the lessons and to complete questionnaires.
Participants will complete questionnaires at screening, 4 weeks, 8 weeks
(post-treatment), and 20 weeks (post-treatment).