The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Understanding user reactions and interactions with an internet-based intervention for tinnitus self-management: A mixed methods process evaluation protocol

Understanding user reactions and interactions with an internet-based intervention for tinnitus self-management: A mixed methods process evaluation protocol
Understanding user reactions and interactions with an internet-based intervention for tinnitus self-management: A mixed methods process evaluation protocol
BACKGROUND:
Tinnitus is a common medical symptom that can affect an individual's emotional and functional quality of life. Psychological therapies are acknowledged as beneficial to people with tinnitus; however, such therapies are not always readily accessible. With their global reach, automated Internet-based interventions have the potential to reduce the disparity in access to psychological support that people with tinnitus currently experience. However, the evidence on the acceptability and efficacy of these interventions is lacking. Process evaluations that develop an in-depth understanding of how users experience these interventions provide an essential first step when evaluating complex psychological interventions.
OBJECTIVE:
To describe the protocol for a study that will explore past, current, and new users' reactions to and interactions with the Tinnitus E-Programme, an Internet-based intervention for the self-management of tinnitus.
METHODS:
Two parallel mixed-methods studies will be carried out with 2 different populations. Study 1 will use an online survey to gather past and current users' views of the program. Study 2 will recruit new program users to take part in an interview and complete a relaxation log to explore how well they were able to implement the skills they learned during the program in their everyday lives. The findings from both studies will be triangulated to develop an in-depth understanding of the program's mechanisms of impact and identify any implementation or contextual factors that strengthen or impede its delivery and functioning.
RESULTS:
Study 1 is open for recruitment with a projected completion in June 2016 and Study 2 was completed November 2015. At the time of submission, 36 participants have been recruited to Study 1 and 12 participants have taken part in Study 2.
CONCLUSIONS:
Findings will inform the optimization of the Tinnitus E-Programme and guide future evaluation work to assess the program's effectiveness as a therapy for people with tinnitus.
e49
Greenwell, Kate
4bac64bd-059f-4d7d-90d3-5c0bccb7ffb2
Sereda, Magdalena
ed765297-068c-4c80-ba69-18d67c9085cc
Coulson, Neil
eaee5265-b3a5-4560-a48f-1684bb8e0b59
Hoare, Derek
413e5905-a6f9-44e7-859a-766c9af2cf6d
Greenwell, Kate
4bac64bd-059f-4d7d-90d3-5c0bccb7ffb2
Sereda, Magdalena
ed765297-068c-4c80-ba69-18d67c9085cc
Coulson, Neil
eaee5265-b3a5-4560-a48f-1684bb8e0b59
Hoare, Derek
413e5905-a6f9-44e7-859a-766c9af2cf6d

Greenwell, Kate, Sereda, Magdalena, Coulson, Neil and Hoare, Derek (2016) Understanding user reactions and interactions with an internet-based intervention for tinnitus self-management: A mixed methods process evaluation protocol. JMIR Research Protocols, 5 (1), e49. (doi:10.2196/resprot.5008).

Record type: Article

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Tinnitus is a common medical symptom that can affect an individual's emotional and functional quality of life. Psychological therapies are acknowledged as beneficial to people with tinnitus; however, such therapies are not always readily accessible. With their global reach, automated Internet-based interventions have the potential to reduce the disparity in access to psychological support that people with tinnitus currently experience. However, the evidence on the acceptability and efficacy of these interventions is lacking. Process evaluations that develop an in-depth understanding of how users experience these interventions provide an essential first step when evaluating complex psychological interventions.
OBJECTIVE:
To describe the protocol for a study that will explore past, current, and new users' reactions to and interactions with the Tinnitus E-Programme, an Internet-based intervention for the self-management of tinnitus.
METHODS:
Two parallel mixed-methods studies will be carried out with 2 different populations. Study 1 will use an online survey to gather past and current users' views of the program. Study 2 will recruit new program users to take part in an interview and complete a relaxation log to explore how well they were able to implement the skills they learned during the program in their everyday lives. The findings from both studies will be triangulated to develop an in-depth understanding of the program's mechanisms of impact and identify any implementation or contextual factors that strengthen or impede its delivery and functioning.
RESULTS:
Study 1 is open for recruitment with a projected completion in June 2016 and Study 2 was completed November 2015. At the time of submission, 36 participants have been recruited to Study 1 and 12 participants have taken part in Study 2.
CONCLUSIONS:
Findings will inform the optimization of the Tinnitus E-Programme and guide future evaluation work to assess the program's effectiveness as a therapy for people with tinnitus.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Accepted/In Press date: 22 November 2015
Published date: 23 March 2016

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 417200
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/417200
PURE UUID: ed138fc6-40a3-435e-81a9-86be534be7a0
ORCID for Kate Greenwell: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-3662-1488

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 24 Jan 2018 17:32
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 04:28

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: Kate Greenwell ORCID iD
Author: Magdalena Sereda
Author: Neil Coulson
Author: Derek Hoare

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×