Understanding User Reactions and Interactions With an Internet-Based Intervention for Tinnitus Self-Management: Mixed-Methods Process Evaluation Protocol.

Kate Greenwell,Derek J Hoare,Magdalena Sereda,Neil Coulson

doi:10.2196/resprot.5008

Abstract

BackgroundTinnitus 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.ObjectiveTo 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.MethodsTwo 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.ResultsStudy 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.ConclusionsFindings 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.

Highlights

Tinnitus affects approximately 10%-18% of the population [1,2,3] and is characterized by a conscious perception of a sound without a corresponding external source
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. (JMIR Res Protoc 2016;5(1):e49) doi:10.2196/resprot
In the absence of a definitive biomedical cure, current health care strategies focus on supporting people to manage their tinnitus to reduce the tinnitus percept and associated psychological distress [7]

Summary

Introduction

Background Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) affects approximately 10%-18% of the population [1,2,3] and is characterized by a conscious perception of a sound without a corresponding external source. Internet-based interventions, with their global reach, have the potential to reduce this disparity and improve access to psychological support for people with tinnitus. They provide an alternative for those unable or unwilling to access traditional face-to-face psychological services [11,12]. There is evidence to suggest that Internet-based interventions are effective for reducing tinnitus distress and psychological comorbidity while improving quality of life [13,14,15,16]. Psychological therapies are acknowledged as beneficial to people with tinnitus; 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. Process evaluations that develop an in-depth understanding of how users experience these interventions provide an essential first step when evaluating complex psychological interventions

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion