Reducing Methamphetamine Use in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities With the “We Can Do This” Web App: Qualitative Evaluation of Acceptability and Feasibility
Abstract BackgroundPreventing and treating methamphetamine-related harm in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations is a significant challenge for health care services. Digital health care may offer opportunities to support individuals and families in ways that comple...
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JMIR Publications
2025-07-01
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| Series: | JMIR Formative Research |
| Online Access: | https://formative.jmir.org/2025/1/e58369 |
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| author | Leda Sivak Rachel Reilly Shani Crumpen Carla Treloar Rebecca McKetin Julia Butt Yvette Roe Nadine Ezard Brendan Quinn Jack Nagle Wade Longbottom Clifford Warrior James Ward |
| author_facet | Leda Sivak Rachel Reilly Shani Crumpen Carla Treloar Rebecca McKetin Julia Butt Yvette Roe Nadine Ezard Brendan Quinn Jack Nagle Wade Longbottom Clifford Warrior James Ward |
| author_sort | Leda Sivak |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Abstract
BackgroundPreventing and treating methamphetamine-related harm in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations is a significant challenge for health care services. Digital health care may offer opportunities to support individuals and families in ways that complement existing methamphetamine treatment options. This study responds to a community-identified priority as Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services identified methamphetamine use as a key concern and sought support to respond to the needs of people who use methamphetamine and their families.
ObjectiveThis paper reports on a process evaluation of the web application’s acceptability and feasibility when used by clients and clinicians in residential rehabilitation services and primary care. This study is part of a larger project entitled “Novel Interventions to address Methamphetamine use in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities” (NIMAC), which seeks to develop culturally appropriate and strengths-based prevention and treatment interventions to reduce methamphetamine related harm. “
MethodsClinicians and clients who had used the web application were recruited through Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and Aboriginal residential rehabilitation services in urban and regional Victoria and South Australia. Unidentified usage data was collected from all participants. After using the web application, those who indicated a willingness to be interviewed were contacted and interviewed by phone or in person and asked about the feasibility and acceptability of the web application. The framework method of analysis was used to structure and summarise the resulting qualitative data.
ResultsInterviews with 24 clients and 11 clinicians explored the acceptability and feasibility of the web application. Acceptability incorporated the following domains: affective attitude, burden, ethicality, cultural appropriateness, coherence, opportunity cost, perceived effectiveness, and self-efficacy. The evaluation of feasibility assessed barriers and facilitators to the implementation of the program, with a focus on demand, practicality, fidelity, and integration. Results indicated that both clients and clinicians found the web application content coherent, relatable, empowering, and culturally safe. Barriers to using the web application for clients included a lack of internet connectivity and personal issues such as scheduling.
ConclusionsProcess evaluation is often under-valued. However, as “We Can Do This” was new, innovative and targeted a hard-to-reach population, understanding its feasibility and acceptability as a clinical tool was essential to understanding its potential. “We Can Do This” is unique as the only evidence-based, culturally appropriate internet-based therapeutic program specifically designed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who use methamphetamine. Findings suggest it was both acceptable and feasible as a low-cost adjunct to usual care in residential rehabilitation and primary care settings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-92d45606fe5d4f608e55b1d75186fe78 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2561-326X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Formative Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-92d45606fe5d4f608e55b1d75186fe782025-08-20T02:46:57ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Formative Research2561-326X2025-07-019e58369e5836910.2196/58369Reducing Methamphetamine Use in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities With the “We Can Do This” Web App: Qualitative Evaluation of Acceptability and FeasibilityLeda Sivakhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-2619-7716Rachel Reillyhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-2107-9187Shani Crumpenhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-0781-0386Carla Treloarhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-8230-0386Rebecca McKetinhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-2833-4830Julia Butthttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-4714-2252Yvette Roehttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-6851-4233Nadine Ezardhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-7495-8305Brendan Quinnhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-2977-3133Jack Naglehttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-2510-3076Wade Longbottomhttp://orcid.org/0009-0005-1197-4980Clifford Warriorhttp://orcid.org/0009-0009-5124-8122James Wardhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-2892-4542 Abstract BackgroundPreventing and treating methamphetamine-related harm in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations is a significant challenge for health care services. Digital health care may offer opportunities to support individuals and families in ways that complement existing methamphetamine treatment options. This study responds to a community-identified priority as Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services identified methamphetamine use as a key concern and sought support to respond to the needs of people who use methamphetamine and their families. ObjectiveThis paper reports on a process evaluation of the web application’s acceptability and feasibility when used by clients and clinicians in residential rehabilitation services and primary care. This study is part of a larger project entitled “Novel Interventions to address Methamphetamine use in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities” (NIMAC), which seeks to develop culturally appropriate and strengths-based prevention and treatment interventions to reduce methamphetamine related harm. “ MethodsClinicians and clients who had used the web application were recruited through Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and Aboriginal residential rehabilitation services in urban and regional Victoria and South Australia. Unidentified usage data was collected from all participants. After using the web application, those who indicated a willingness to be interviewed were contacted and interviewed by phone or in person and asked about the feasibility and acceptability of the web application. The framework method of analysis was used to structure and summarise the resulting qualitative data. ResultsInterviews with 24 clients and 11 clinicians explored the acceptability and feasibility of the web application. Acceptability incorporated the following domains: affective attitude, burden, ethicality, cultural appropriateness, coherence, opportunity cost, perceived effectiveness, and self-efficacy. The evaluation of feasibility assessed barriers and facilitators to the implementation of the program, with a focus on demand, practicality, fidelity, and integration. Results indicated that both clients and clinicians found the web application content coherent, relatable, empowering, and culturally safe. Barriers to using the web application for clients included a lack of internet connectivity and personal issues such as scheduling. ConclusionsProcess evaluation is often under-valued. However, as “We Can Do This” was new, innovative and targeted a hard-to-reach population, understanding its feasibility and acceptability as a clinical tool was essential to understanding its potential. “We Can Do This” is unique as the only evidence-based, culturally appropriate internet-based therapeutic program specifically designed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who use methamphetamine. Findings suggest it was both acceptable and feasible as a low-cost adjunct to usual care in residential rehabilitation and primary care settings.https://formative.jmir.org/2025/1/e58369 |
| spellingShingle | Leda Sivak Rachel Reilly Shani Crumpen Carla Treloar Rebecca McKetin Julia Butt Yvette Roe Nadine Ezard Brendan Quinn Jack Nagle Wade Longbottom Clifford Warrior James Ward Reducing Methamphetamine Use in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities With the “We Can Do This” Web App: Qualitative Evaluation of Acceptability and Feasibility JMIR Formative Research |
| title | Reducing Methamphetamine Use in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities With the “We Can Do This” Web App: Qualitative Evaluation of Acceptability and Feasibility |
| title_full | Reducing Methamphetamine Use in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities With the “We Can Do This” Web App: Qualitative Evaluation of Acceptability and Feasibility |
| title_fullStr | Reducing Methamphetamine Use in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities With the “We Can Do This” Web App: Qualitative Evaluation of Acceptability and Feasibility |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reducing Methamphetamine Use in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities With the “We Can Do This” Web App: Qualitative Evaluation of Acceptability and Feasibility |
| title_short | Reducing Methamphetamine Use in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities With the “We Can Do This” Web App: Qualitative Evaluation of Acceptability and Feasibility |
| title_sort | reducing methamphetamine use in aboriginal and torres strait islander communities with the we can do this web app qualitative evaluation of acceptability and feasibility |
| url | https://formative.jmir.org/2025/1/e58369 |
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