My Health Too: Investigating the feasibility and the acceptability of an internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy program developed for healthcare workers (Preprint)

Authors:
  • DBDoha Bemmouna
    Doha Bemmouna
  • CFClara Gitahy Falcão Faria
    Clara Gitahy Falcão Faria
  • AGAnne-Aline Catteau Goethals
    Anne-Aline Catteau Goethals
  • FDFloriane Douhet
    Floriane Douhet
  • AMAmaury Camille Mengin
    Amaury Camille Mengin
  • AFAurélie Fritsch
    Aurélie Fritsch
  • ABAnna Zinneti Bertschy
    Anna Zinneti Bertschy
  • IFIsabelle Frey
    Isabelle Frey
  • LWLuisa Weiner
    Luisa Weiner
Preprint
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 crisis has had a considerable mental health impact on healthcare workers. High levels of psychological distress are expected to have a significant impact on healthcare systems, warranting the need for evidence-based psychological interventions targeting stress and fostering resilience in this population. Online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has proved to be effective in targeting stress and promoting resilience. However, online CBT programs targeting stress in healthcare workers are lacking. OBJECTIVE The aim of our study is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an internet-based CBT intervention, the My Health Too program we developed during the first COVID-19 epidemic peak in France. METHODS We recruited 10 participants among Alsace region hospital staff during the pandemic first peak in France. They were given one week to test the website, and were then asked to answer an internet survey and a semi-structured phone interview. RESULTS We conducted a thematic analysis of the content from the phone interviews. Major themes were identified, discussed and coded: the technical aspects, the content of the website and its impact on participants’ emotions and everyday life. Overall, the participants reported finding the website easy to use and interactive. They described the resources as easy to understand, readily usable, and useful in inducing calm and in helping them practice self-compassion. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that the My Health Too online CBT program is highly feasible and acceptable to healthcare workers during the highly stressful times of the pandemic peak. The feedback provided helped to improve the program whose efficacy is to be tested.
All Related Versions

This publication has 35 references indexed in Scilit: