None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
WAKA is a new online tool that has been co-designed with people living with schizophrenia, and doctors, that provides access to support and information to help people to live well with schizophrenia. The aim of this study is to find out if this new online (web and mobile) tool WAKA is acceptable and helpful for individuals living with schizophrenia, who are having treatment with paliperidone Injection (Invega Sustenna), and whether it affects their medication use and social connectedness. We plan to do this by inviting people living with schizophrenia, who are on treatment with monthly paliperidon injection, to use the WAKA tool for 6-months. We will then collect feedback from users at the end.
Interventions
WAKA is a recently developed novel digital self-management tool which has been co-created with people living with schizophrenia and healthcare providers experienced in managing schizophrenia. WAKA is co-designed, which mean its development has been informed by insights from service users, support groups, clinicians and other health providers involved in caring for people living with schizophrenia. It aims to deliver self-management education and support as well as provide a social support netw
WAKA is a recently developed novel digital self-management tool which has been co-created with people living with schizophrenia and healthcare providers experienced in managing schizophrenia. WAKA is co-designed, which mean its development has been informed by insights from service users, support groups, clinicians and other health providers involved in caring for people living with schizophrenia. It aims to deliver self-management education and support as well as provide a social support network to people living with schizophrenia in New Zealand who are prescribed paliperidone injection. WAKA is available via web or app, on any device or operating system, and accessible to any user who can connect to the internet. WAKA is a self-directed self-management tool. It offers a suite of easily accessible online resources including engagement, activation, goal setting and tracking of feelings, behaviours and activity. The tracking / monitoring function includes a symptom tracker on the app (online diary), access to a 24/7 helpline delivered by HomeCare Medical mental health nurses, a moderated social community of fellow service users, and self-management modules and resources. The tool is centred around a private secure service user community that is moderated around the clock by a team of mental health professionals. WAKA’s key aim is to deliver engaging and interactive self-management tools and education to encourage and enable service users to achieve and stay active in their recovery. Below are WAKA’s key components: • 24/7 online peer support moderated by mental health clinicians • one to one access to a mental health trained coaches • an online diary for service users track and monitor their own physical and mental health; • engaging educational material; • a portal for service users to store their own clinical information or share information directly with their care team • a HELP button for service users to push if they feel they require additional support outside of WAKA’s scope The educational material provided is designed specifically for this study and has been reviewed by health professionals with expertise in this field. WAKA is not a clinical or crisis management tool and is not intended to be used by participants in this way. Any concerns/ questions regarding the clinical care of users will be directed to the usual care team. This study aims to evaluate the acceptability of the WAKA tool in people living with schizophrenia, who are treated with monthly paliperidone injection. People living with schizophrenia, who have been prescribed paliperidone long-acting therapy, will be invited to participate in the evaluation of the WAKA tool.. Participants will have the opportunity to use WAKA and provide feedback on the tool during the 6-month study. Participation and use of WAKA will be entirely voluntary and no particular frequency of use will be stipulated as the study is observational, with the aim of assessing acceptability of the WAKA tool.
Sponsors
Dr Lyndy Matthews
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Educational / counselling / training
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
People living with schizophrenia, who have been prescribed paliperidone long-acting therapy, will be invited to participate. To be eligible for inclusion in the study service users must: • be aged 18-65 years, • have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, • currently reside in one of the locations served by the recruitment sites • be on a paliperidone long-acting therapy • have internet access and a device that can access the internet (e.g. a smartphone) • have capacity to provide informed consent • be able to read and understand English at a sufficient level to provide informed consent and participate in the study. Enrolment onto the trial is open to service users who meet the above inclusion criteria and are under a Compulsory Treatment Order (CTO). In order to manage any ethical concerns around this issue, DHB enrollers will make it explicitly clear to potential participants that enrolling onto the trial is entirely voluntary. Enrollers will assess the initial response of individuals under CTO and provide information accordingly for those who are interested in enrolling. DHB staff will explain the aim of the study and provide any safeguards to address any feelings of coercion by the service user.
Exclusion criteria
Service Users will be excluded if they: • do not have daily access to the internet • are unable to use a mobile phone or computer due to physical disabilities affecting eyesight or dexterity or do not have cognitive ability to navigate digital programmes
Outcome results
None listed