Exploring Patients' Experiences in a Blended Transdiagnostic Group Treatment: Qualitative Study.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Mental Health
• Health Services Research
• Qualitative Research Methodology

Background:

• Emotional disorders (EDs) are highly prevalent globally, posing challenges for healthcare systems in meeting demand for evidence-based treatments.
• Transdiagnostic, group, and blended formats offer potential solutions to enhance treatment accessibility for EDs.
• Qualitative assessment is crucial for evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of new interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore patient experiences and opinions regarding transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) delivered in a group and blended format.
• To identify facilitators and barriers to treatment adherence and satisfaction within this novel intervention model.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving focus groups with intervention completers (n=18) and online questionnaires for non-completers (n=4).
• Analysis employed a consensus qualitative research methodology, with findings reported according to COREQ guidelines.
• Two independent researchers identified key themes to complement focus group data.

Main Results:

• Participants reported benefits, satisfaction, and perceived usefulness of the blended group transdiagnostic intervention.
• Positive aspects included good platform usability and the ability to form a therapeutic alliance.
• Reasons for dropout included perceived lack of efficacy, stress, and motivational issues; suggestions for improvement focused on format and session configuration.

Conclusions:

• Qualitative findings support the feasibility, acceptability, and clinical utility of blended group transdiagnostic interventions for EDs.
• This format presents a scalable and valued option for mental health services.
• Further optimization based on patient feedback is recommended to enhance the intervention.