A Multicomponent eHealth Intervention for Family Carers for People Affected by Psychosis: A Coproduced Design and...

Area of Science:

• Mental Health Research
• Digital Health Interventions
• Participatory Research Design

Background:

• Psychosis, including schizophrenia, affects 1% of the global population, with many individuals relying on family caregivers.
• Traditional face-to-face psychoeducational interventions improve caregiver outcomes but face access limitations.
• There is a significant demand for accessible, flexible online interventions for psychosis caregivers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To integrate public, patient, and carer participatory research into the design of an eHealth intervention.
• To enhance the usability and acceptability of the digital health tool through co-design.
• To develop an accessible online resource for supporting individuals caring for relatives with psychosis.

Main Methods:

• Adapted a structured eHealth intervention build method incorporating participatory research.
• Established an Expert Advisory Group (EAG) with lived experience, professional, and technical expertise.
• Conducted coproduction workshops and focus groups with carers to iteratively refine the intervention prototype.

Main Results:

• Co-produced an eHealth intervention named COPe-support (Carers fOr People with Psychosis e-support).
• The participatory approach ensured the intervention design and usability met end-user needs and usage patterns.
• The final intervention includes psychoeducation, interactive forums, and psychosocial support for carers.

Conclusions:

• Participatory research methodologies successfully optimized the design and usability of the COPe-support eHealth intervention.
• The developed intervention addresses the need for flexible, accessible online psychoeducation and support for psychosis caregivers.
• COPe-support is undergoing an online randomized controlled trial to evaluate its effectiveness in improving caregiver health outcomes.