Internet-based Support Interventions Research Articles

Internet interventions for parents of young children: A cross-sectional study of health, social, and welfare professionals’ attitudes to their use

BackgroundDespite the increasing popularity of internet-based parent support interventions (IPSI[s]), little is known about attitudes that might promote or prevent the uptake of such interventions among professionals working in prenatal, infant and child services for children under 5 years of age. ObjectiveThis cross-sectional study aimed to investigate attitudes towards IPSIs. We also wanted to identify predictors of attitudes to determine which professionals may be willing to use IPSIs in their work and to what extent attitudes related to efficacy and comfort predicted whether professionals would use IPSIs. MethodsBetween May and September 2018, 1 910 leaders and practitioners of prenatal, infant, and child services were recruited to a cross-sectional web-based survey either through: (a) a course database, (b) an official mailing list to infant and child health services, (c) social media or (d) other recruitment channels. Attitudes toward internet-based parenting interventions were measured by the Computer-Assisted Therapy Attitudes Scale. ResultsParticipants were generally positive about using IPSIs. Professionals’ belief in IPSIs efficacy and their comfort in using them, was associated with younger age, higher education, previous experience with IPSIs, and being a top-level manager. They were also more likely to believe IPSIs were efficacious if they had internet access at work and worked in well-baby clinics, and more comfortable using IPSIs if they were male. Higher scores on both the Efficacy and Comfort sub-scales were associated with more likely use of IPSIs, if such programs were available. ConclusionParticipants’ perceived efficacy and level of comfort with using IPSIs matters in terms of how likely they are to use IPSIs in their work. Prior experience with IPSIs predicted both efficacy and comfort, suggesting that exposure might be important to bridge the gap between expressed attitudes and actual use of IPSIs in practice.

Internet-Based Supportive Interventions for Family Caregivers of People With Dementia: Randomized Controlled Trial.

As dementia progresses, patients exhibit various psychological and behavioral symptoms, imposing a significant burden on families and society, including behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. However, caregivers lack professional care knowledge and skills, making it difficult for them to effectively cope with the diverse challenges of caregiving. Therefore, it is necessary to provide caregivers with professional knowledge and skills guidance. This study aimed to analyze the impact of internet-based training on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in patients, and explore how this training model affects the caregiving abilities and caregiving burden of the family caregivers of patients with dementia. Using a consecutive enrollment method, the Department of Geriatrics at Zhejiang Hospital (Zhejiang, China) recruited 72 informal caregivers of patients with dementia. These caregivers were randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group, with 36 participants in each group. The intervention group underwent caregiver skill training via a web-based platform, whereas the control group initially received face-to-face follow-up guidance and was subsequently offered web-based training after 6 months. To assess the effectiveness of the intervention program, we used the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q), the Chinese version of the Zarit Burden Interview (CZBI), and the Sense of Competence in Dementia Care Staff Scale (SCIDS) for evaluations conducted before the intervention, 3 months after the intervention, and 6 months after the intervention. Between July 2019 and December 2020, a total of 66 patients successfully completed the intervention and follow-up. After 6 months of intervention, the NPI-Q score of the intervention group was 3.18 (SD 3.81), the CZBI score was 10.97 (SD 5.43), and the SCIDS score was 71.88 (SD 4.78). The NPI-Q score of the control group was 8.09 (SD 8.52), the CZBI score was 30.30 (SD 13.05), and the SCIDS score was 50.12 (SD 9.10). There were statistically significant differences in NPI-Q (P=.004), CZBI (P<.001), and SCIDS scores (P<.001) between the intervention group and the control group. Repeated measures analysis of variance showed that compared with before the intervention, there were statistically significant differences in CZBI (P<.001) and SCIDS (P<.001) scores 3 months after the intervention, while the difference in NPI-Q (P=.11) scores was not significant. The total scores of NPI-Q (P<.001), CZBI (P<.001), and SCIDS (P<.001) were significantly improved 6 months after the intervention. In addition, the results of the covariance analysis showed that after excluding the time effect, the web-based training intervention significantly reduced the NPI-Q score (-2.79, 95% CI -4.38 to -1.19; P<.001) of patients with dementia and the CZBI score (-13.52, 95% CI -15.87 to -11.16; P<.001) of caregivers, while increasing the SCIDS score (12.24, 95% CI 9.02-15.47; P<.001). Internet-based training could significantly reduce the level of behavioral symptoms in older patients with dementia and alleviate the burden on caregivers, enhancing their caregiving abilities. Our results confirmed the effectiveness and feasibility of web-based training, which was of great significance in providing caregiving knowledge training for informal caregivers of persons with dementia.

Internet-based interventions for parents with children 0-5 years: A scoping review.

This study aims to review the existing literature on Internet-based health interventions directed to support parents of children aged 0-5 years. We systematically searched electronic databases between January 2000 and 2018. The search consisted of terms describing eHealth, intervention and families and/or children. Internet-based parent support interventions were most often directed at rehabilitation and selective prevention, and we identified more studies on mental health (57%) than somatic health (41%). Developmental disorders were the most frequently studied mental health condition (n=33), while interventions for obesity (15%) were the most studied somatic health condition. Forty-four percent of mental health studies were RCTs and 65% of interventions were theory driven. Interventions most often used a behavioural approach, included guidance and delivered content via text-based information. Several significant gaps were identified such as the need for more research outside of English-speaking countries, more systematic reviews and effect studies. This review also elucidates the need for researchers to improve reporting on the theoretical approaches employed in interventions, and to focus on determining the importance of guidance. Finally, program developers should consider using more audio-visual technology to avoid reinforcing social inequalities in access to healthcare.

Internet-based peer support interventions for people living with HIV: A scoping review.

Peer support interventions for people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) are effective, but their associated time and material costs for the recipient and the health system make them reachable for only a small proportion of PLWHA. Internet-based interventions are an effective alternative for delivering psychosocial interventions for PLWHA as they are more accessible. Currently, no reviews are focusing on internet-based interventions with peer support components. This scoping review aims to map the existing literature on psychosocial interventions for PLWHA based on peer support and delivered through the internet. We conducted a systematic scoping review of academic literature following methodological guidelines for scoping reviews, and 28 articles met our criteria. We summarized the main characteristics of the digital peer support interventions for PLWHA and how they implemented peer support in a virtual environment. Overall the reported outcomes appeared promising, but more robust evidence is needed.

Effectiveness of internet-based support interventions on patients with breast cancer: a systematic review and narrative synthesis

ObjectiveTo identify the elements of internet-based support interventions and assess their effectiveness at reducing psychological distress, anxiety and/or depression, physical variables (prevalence, severity and distress from physical symptoms) and improving...

Internet-Based Supportive Interventions for Family Caregivers of People With Dementia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BackgroundCaring for people with dementia is perceived as one of the most stressful and difficult forms of caring. Family caregivers always experience high levels of psychological burden and physical strain, so effective and practical support is essential. Internet-based supportive interventions can provide convenient and efficient support and education to potentially reduce the physical and psychological burden associated with providing care.ObjectiveThis review aimed to (1) assess the efficacy of internet-based supportive interventions in ameliorating health outcomes for family caregivers of people with dementia, and (2) evaluate the potential effects of internet-based supportive intervention access by caregivers on their care recipients.MethodsAn electronic literature search of the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO databases was conducted up to January 2020. Two reviewers (ML and YZ) worked independently to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that met the inclusion criteria and independently extracted data. The quality of the included RCTs was evaluated using the approach recommended by the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% CIs were applied to calculate the pooled effect sizes.ResultsIn total, 17 RCTs met the eligibility criteria and were included in this systematic review. The meta-analysis showed that internet-based supportive interventions significantly ameliorated depressive symptoms (SMD=–0.21; 95% CI –0.31 to –0.10; P<.001), perceived stress (SMD=–0.40; 95% CI –0.55 to –0.24; P<.001), anxiety (SMD=–0.33; 95% CI –0.51 to –0.16; P<.001), and self-efficacy (SMD=0.19; 95% CI 0.05-0.33; P=.007) in dementia caregivers. No significant improvements were found in caregiver burden, coping competence, caregiver reactions to behavioral symptoms, or quality of life. Six studies assessed the unintended effects of internet-based supportive intervention access by caregivers on their care recipients. The results showed that internet-based supportive interventions had potential benefits on the quality of life and neuropsychiatric symptoms in care recipients.ConclusionsInternet-based supportive interventions are generally effective at ameliorating depressive symptoms, perceived stress, anxiety, and self-efficacy in dementia caregivers and have potential benefits on care recipients. Future studies are encouraged to adopt personalized internet-based supportive interventions to improve the health of family caregivers and their care recipients.Trial RegistrationPROSPERO CRD42020162434; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=162434

Mining Social Media Data to Study the Consequences of Dementia Diagnosis on Caregivers and Relatives

Introduction: Caregivers for people with dementia face a number of challenges such as changing family relationships, social isolation, or financial difficulties. Internet usage and social media are increasingly being recognised as resources to increase support and general public health. Objective: Using automated analysis, the aim of this study was to explore (i) the age and sex of people who post to the social media forum Reddit about dementia diagnoses, (ii) the affected person and their diagnosis, (iii) which subreddits authors are posting to, (iv) the types of messages posted, and (v) the content of these posts. Methods: We analysed Reddit posts concerning dementia diagnoses and used a previously developed text analysis pipeline to determine attributes of the posts and their authors. The posts were further examined through manual annotation of the diagnosis provided and the person affected. Lastly, we investigated the communities posters engage with and assessed the contents of the posts with an automated topic gathering/clustering technique. Results: Five hundred and thirty-five Reddit posts were identified as relevant and further processed. The majority of posters in our dataset are females and predominantly close relatives, such as parents and grandparents, are mentioned. The communities frequented and topics gathered reflect not only the person’s diagnosis but also potential outcomes, for example hardships experienced by the caregiver or the requirement for legal support. Conclusions: This work demonstrates the value of social media data as a resource for in-depth examination of caregivers’ experience after a dementia diagnosis. It is important to study groups actively posting online, both in topic-specific and general communities, as they are most likely to benefit from novel internet-based support systems or interventions.

Internet-Based Supportive Education Intervention to Physical Activity of Cancer Survivors: A Scoping Review

Cancer survivors are at risk of decreasing health and psychosocial problems. Physical activity can reduce the risk of recurrence, death, and negative effects of cancer treatment. Severalstudies have investigated how the use of internet technology can increase the physical activity of survivors of cancer. The purpose of this review is to explore and identify the types of internet-based supportive education interventions to increase the physical activity of cancer survivors. We followed the methodology for scoping studies which consists of identifying the research question, locating relevant studies, selecting studies, charting the data, and collating, summarizing, and reporting the results. The search method used several electronic databases namely Google Scholar, Proquest, PubMed, and Scopus. Articles obtained from keywords: internet-based; supportive education; physical activity; cancer survivors. The inclusion criteria are: peer reviewed articles, publication year from 2008 to 2018 and has a minimal research design quasi experiment. Out of 5375 original articles identified in the literature search, 15 articles were analysed. Online support groups are the most frequently studied method of educational intervention, followed by interactive messages and webforums. Most studies showed improved results on intensity of physical activity. Online groups can improve the wellbeing of survivors of cancer by providing opportunities to engage in social networking, connect with others with similar cancer experiences, and obtain cancer related information. Based on the findings of this review. Supportive education through internet technology approaches can encourage increased physical activity and changes in health behavior of survivors of cancer. Future research should consider the potential role of social media in addressing the unmet needs of survivors of cancer and in particular the implications for clinical and public health practice

The Effect of Internet Group Support for Caregivers on Social Support, Self-Efficacy, and Caregiver Burden: A Meta-Analysis.

Family caregivers are socially isolated and burdened as they care for their loved one, often for many years. Internet support groups can address some of the barriers related to the social isolation, self-efficacy, and burden experienced during caregiving by connecting individuals with similar problems to one another. The purpose of the meta-analysis was to analyze the effect of Internet-based group support interventions on social support, self-efficacy, and burden. A two-step search process was used to identify peer reviewed evidence to answer the research question. Multiple databases, including MEDLINE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and several others, were searched to identify systematic reviews from which to identify the final articles for data extraction. Seven systematic reviews identified 10 studies to answer the research question. A statistically significant effect was found from the interventions targeting social support and self-efficacy. We were unable to assess the effect of these interventions on caregiver burden due to the variance in measurement constructs. While it has been found that Internet group support interventions have a positive effect on social support and self-efficacy, the size and quality of studies are moderate, and thus, large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed for a higher level of evidence.

Distressed and Looking for Help: Internet Intervention Support for Arthritis Self-Management

PurposeFocusing on youth with juvenile arthritis (JA), this study investigates eHealth interventions as a means to develop services to improve the health of youth with chronic conditions. Internet use and preferences for Internet-based interventions were compared among youth with high and low psychosocial quality of life (PS-QL) scores. MethodsYouth with JA (n = 134; high PS-QL, n = 67; low PS-QL, n = 67) completed the MyRheum online survey, which assessed physical functioning, psychosocial health, Internet usage, and amount of time spent using social networking Web sites. Youth indicated their choice, interest, and preferences in using a Web site for youth with JA. The t tests, chi-squared tests, and Fisher exact tests were used to assess significance between high and low PS-QL groups. ResultsYouth with lower PS-QL reported greater intrusiveness of their condition across life's activities than did youth with higher PS-QL. Low PS-QL was associated with spending more than 1 hour per day using social networking sites and having used the Internet to find information on various health and substance use topics. Youth with lower PS-QL expressed more interest in messaging others, online forums, building personal profiles, and networking with other teens than did youth with higher PS-QL. Both those with high and low PS-QL preferred online to in-person support groups. ConclusionsMany youth with JA report low PS-QL and identify interest in Internet-based supportive interventions. The next generation of eHealth interventions for youth with JA, and possibly other chronic conditions, may better address their needs by recognizing the diversity of experiences and tailoring intervention strategies accordingly.

How language affects peer responsiveness in an online cancer support group: implications for treatment design and facilitation.

Little is known about how positive group interactions develop in online support groups. Previous research suggests that message content, self-disclosure, and emotional expression may be central to this process. The purpose of this study was to identify linguistic and qualitative characteristics of participants' messages that predict how other participants respond in an asynchronous discussion board for cancer-related distress. 525 discussion board messages posted by 116 participants in the health-space.net trial were collected. Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (2001) was used to identify linguistic markers of emotional expression and pronoun use. Message topics were identified using qualitative analysis. Logistic regression and chi-square analyses were used to evaluate whether linguistic characteristics and message topics predicted receiving a response from other survivors in the online group. Messages were more likely to receive a reply if they had higher word count, OR=1.30, p=0.001, or fewer second-person pronouns, OR=0.923, p=0.040. Messages with high levels of positive emotion were less likely to receive a reply, OR=0.94, p=0.03. Common message topics related to self-disclosure (51%), the support group (38.5%), medical experiences (30.9%), and experiences with the website (30.1%). Several message topics were associated with greater likelihood of a reply: self-disclosure (p<0.001), medical experiences (p=0.01), relationship issues (p=0.05), and introductory posts (p<0.01). Informing participants how to introduce themselves to the group (i.e., detailed and self-focused messages discussing personal issues such as the effects of illness on life and relationships) could promote cohesion and enhance overall engagement with Internet-based support groups or interventions.

Can pain be managed through the Internet? A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Given the increasing penetration and health care related use of the Internet, we examined the evidence on the impact of Internet-based interventions on pain. A search of Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library was conducted for literature published from 1990 to 2010 describing randomized controlled trials that assessed the effects of Internet-based interventions on patients with pain of any kind. Of 6724 citations, 17 articles were included. The studies evaluated the effects of interventions that provided cognitive and behavioral therapy, moderated peer support programs, or clinical visit preparation or follow-up support on 2503 people in pain. Six studies (35.3%) received scores associated with high quality. Most cognitive and behavioral therapy studies showed an improvement in pain (n=7, 77.8%), activity limitation (n=4, 57.1%) and costs associated with treatment (n=3, 100%), whereas effects on depression (n=2, 28.6%) and anxiety (n=2, 50%) were less consistent. There was limited (n=2 from same research group) but promising evidence that Internet-based peer support programs can lead to improvements in pain intensity, activity limitation, health distress and self-efficacy; limited (n=4 from same research group) but promising evidence that social networking programs can reduce pain in children and adolescents; and insufficient evidence on Internet-based clinical support interventions. Internet-based interventions seem promising for people in pain, but it is still unknown what types of patients benefit most. More well-designed studies with diverse patient groups, active control conditions, and a better description of withdrawals are needed to strengthen the evidence concerning the impact of Internet-based interventions on people in pain.This systematic review of Internet-based treatments for pain indicates that the evidence for such treatment is promising.

Internet-based patient education and support interventions: a review of evaluation studies and directions for future research

The Internet provides patients, families, and health providers with unparalleled opportunities to learn, inform, and communicate with one another. This paper is a review of studies that have evaluated the impact of professionally facilitated Internet-based programs for diverse clinical populations on health outcomes, utilization, and user satisfaction. The findings suggest that some outcomes in certain groups can be moderately improved and that user satisfaction has been generally positive. Given the increasing need to provide timely and effective patient-centered care, a stronger evidence base for eHealth applications must be established before broader deployment of such programs will take place.

The Unmet Information and Support Needs of Women with a Family History of Breast Cancer: A Descriptive Survey

This study aims to survey the unmet support needs of women at increased risk of developing breast cancer. In total, 173 unaffected women with a family history of breast cancer completed a 28-item purposely-designed mailed survey. The majority of participants did not report a high level of unmet need for support. Receiving further information about cancer genetics was the most commonly reported area of unmet need. Only about 20% of participants reported a moderate to high degree of interest in attending a hypothetical support group. However, a higher degree of interest was expressed in internet-based information and supportive interventions. Amongst those interested in attending a support group, discussion, and receiving further information were the most preferred activities. Higher levels of unmet support needs were significantly associated with interest in attending groups. No demographic variables were found to predict interest in attending a support group. Implications for those considering establishing support groups are discussed.