Reach, uptake, and psychological outcomes of two publicly funded internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy programs in Ontario, Canada: an observational study
Abstract Background Access to traditional mental health services in Canada remains limited, prompting exploration into digital alternatives. The Government of Ontario initiated access to two internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) programs, LifeWorks AbilitiCBT and MindBeacon TAiCBT, for...
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| Format: | Article |
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BMC
2024-11-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Mental Health Systems |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-024-00651-9 |
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| author | Bilal Noreen Khan Rebecca H. Liu Cherry Chu Blanca Bolea-Alamañac Megan Nguyen Serena Thapar Roz Fanaieyan Marisa Leon-Carlyle Mina Tadrous Paul Kurdyak Anne O’Riordan Maggie Keresteci Onil Bhattacharyya |
| author_facet | Bilal Noreen Khan Rebecca H. Liu Cherry Chu Blanca Bolea-Alamañac Megan Nguyen Serena Thapar Roz Fanaieyan Marisa Leon-Carlyle Mina Tadrous Paul Kurdyak Anne O’Riordan Maggie Keresteci Onil Bhattacharyya |
| author_sort | Bilal Noreen Khan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Access to traditional mental health services in Canada remains limited, prompting exploration into digital alternatives. The Government of Ontario initiated access to two internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) programs, LifeWorks AbilitiCBT and MindBeacon TAiCBT, for adults with mental health issues. Methods An uncontrolled observational study utilizing secondary retrospective program data was conducted to evaluate the reach, uptake, and psychological symptom changes among participants engaging with either iCBT program. Results Between May 2020 and September 2021, 56,769 individuals enrolled in LifeWorks AbilitiCBT, and 73,356 in MindBeacon TAiCBT. However, substantial exclusions were made: 56% of LifeWorks participants and 68% of MindBeacon participants were ineligible or failed to initiate treatment. Consequently, 25,154 LifeWorks participants and 23,795 MindBeacon participants were included in the analysis. Of these, 22% of LifeWorks and 26% of MindBeacon participants completed over 75% of iCBT treatment. On average, LifeWorks participants received 13 ± SD 7.1 therapist messages and sent 5 ± SD 10.3 messages, while MindBeacon participants received 25 ± SD 20.7 therapist messages and sent 13 ± SD 16.4 messages. LifeWorks included synchronous therapist contact averaging 1.4 ± SD 1.9 h per participant, while MindBeacon was purely asynchronous. Baseline severity of anxiety (37%) and depression symptoms (22%) was higher for LifeWorks participants compared to MindBeacon participants (24% and 10%, respectively). Clinically significant changes in anxiety and depression scores were observed: 22% of LifeWorks and 31% of MindBeacon participants exhibited reliable recovery in PHQ-9 scores, while 26% of LifeWorks and 25% of MindBeacon participants demonstrated reliable recovery in GAD-7 scores. Conclusion In conclusion, iCBT programs show promise for engaged participants with varying levels of severity in anxiety and depression symptoms. Future iterations of iCBT should consider adopting a broad entry criterion to iCBT programming to increase accessibility, especially for those with severe symptoms, alongside integrated intake care pathways, and potential payment structure adjustments for iCBT service providers. Taken all together, these factors could temper high dropout rates post-intake assessment. This evaluation underscores the potential and value of digital mental health interventions for individuals with mild to severe anxiety or depression symptoms, emphasizing the importance of addressing participant dropout. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9e14f159b5bf40f7b9a1fe889025e7b7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1752-4458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Mental Health Systems |
| spelling | doaj-art-9e14f159b5bf40f7b9a1fe889025e7b72024-11-10T12:08:32ZengBMCInternational Journal of Mental Health Systems1752-44582024-11-0118111410.1186/s13033-024-00651-9Reach, uptake, and psychological outcomes of two publicly funded internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy programs in Ontario, Canada: an observational studyBilal Noreen Khan0Rebecca H. Liu1Cherry Chu2Blanca Bolea-Alamañac3Megan Nguyen4Serena Thapar5Roz Fanaieyan6Marisa Leon-Carlyle7Mina Tadrous8Paul Kurdyak9Anne O’Riordan10Maggie Keresteci11Onil Bhattacharyya12Women’s College HospitalWomen’s College HospitalWomen’s College HospitalWomen’s College HospitalWomen’s College HospitalWomen’s College HospitalWomen’s College HospitalWomen’s College HospitalWomen’s College HospitalInstitute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of TorontoWomen’s College HospitalWomen’s College HospitalWomen’s College HospitalAbstract Background Access to traditional mental health services in Canada remains limited, prompting exploration into digital alternatives. The Government of Ontario initiated access to two internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) programs, LifeWorks AbilitiCBT and MindBeacon TAiCBT, for adults with mental health issues. Methods An uncontrolled observational study utilizing secondary retrospective program data was conducted to evaluate the reach, uptake, and psychological symptom changes among participants engaging with either iCBT program. Results Between May 2020 and September 2021, 56,769 individuals enrolled in LifeWorks AbilitiCBT, and 73,356 in MindBeacon TAiCBT. However, substantial exclusions were made: 56% of LifeWorks participants and 68% of MindBeacon participants were ineligible or failed to initiate treatment. Consequently, 25,154 LifeWorks participants and 23,795 MindBeacon participants were included in the analysis. Of these, 22% of LifeWorks and 26% of MindBeacon participants completed over 75% of iCBT treatment. On average, LifeWorks participants received 13 ± SD 7.1 therapist messages and sent 5 ± SD 10.3 messages, while MindBeacon participants received 25 ± SD 20.7 therapist messages and sent 13 ± SD 16.4 messages. LifeWorks included synchronous therapist contact averaging 1.4 ± SD 1.9 h per participant, while MindBeacon was purely asynchronous. Baseline severity of anxiety (37%) and depression symptoms (22%) was higher for LifeWorks participants compared to MindBeacon participants (24% and 10%, respectively). Clinically significant changes in anxiety and depression scores were observed: 22% of LifeWorks and 31% of MindBeacon participants exhibited reliable recovery in PHQ-9 scores, while 26% of LifeWorks and 25% of MindBeacon participants demonstrated reliable recovery in GAD-7 scores. Conclusion In conclusion, iCBT programs show promise for engaged participants with varying levels of severity in anxiety and depression symptoms. Future iterations of iCBT should consider adopting a broad entry criterion to iCBT programming to increase accessibility, especially for those with severe symptoms, alongside integrated intake care pathways, and potential payment structure adjustments for iCBT service providers. Taken all together, these factors could temper high dropout rates post-intake assessment. This evaluation underscores the potential and value of digital mental health interventions for individuals with mild to severe anxiety or depression symptoms, emphasizing the importance of addressing participant dropout.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-024-00651-9 |
| spellingShingle | Bilal Noreen Khan Rebecca H. Liu Cherry Chu Blanca Bolea-Alamañac Megan Nguyen Serena Thapar Roz Fanaieyan Marisa Leon-Carlyle Mina Tadrous Paul Kurdyak Anne O’Riordan Maggie Keresteci Onil Bhattacharyya Reach, uptake, and psychological outcomes of two publicly funded internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy programs in Ontario, Canada: an observational study International Journal of Mental Health Systems |
| title | Reach, uptake, and psychological outcomes of two publicly funded internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy programs in Ontario, Canada: an observational study |
| title_full | Reach, uptake, and psychological outcomes of two publicly funded internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy programs in Ontario, Canada: an observational study |
| title_fullStr | Reach, uptake, and psychological outcomes of two publicly funded internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy programs in Ontario, Canada: an observational study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reach, uptake, and psychological outcomes of two publicly funded internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy programs in Ontario, Canada: an observational study |
| title_short | Reach, uptake, and psychological outcomes of two publicly funded internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy programs in Ontario, Canada: an observational study |
| title_sort | reach uptake and psychological outcomes of two publicly funded internet based cognitive behavioural therapy programs in ontario canada an observational study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-024-00651-9 |
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