Evaluating a website to help Australians better manage stress, adapt to change and optimise their mental health

INTERVENTION NAME icanactnow website MATERIALS The intervention was developed based on ACT by clinical psychologists and with consumer input. All content has been reviewed by additional mental health professionals. The intervention contains five ACT-based modules that include strategies to foster the key ACT processes of defusion, acceptance, values, connecting with the present moment and psychological flexibility. Users will create a profile (using a pseudonym if preferred) upon first login. The first module begins with a questionnaire to assess current wellbeing and provision of practical psychoeducation. Users are then given carefully tailored feedback and advice, based on their results. Users are given the option of printing the results of their online assessment and a script that will guide a conversation about their mental health with their GP. Users will also be presented with a short video that will show someone else having that conversation with their GP. The website is free to use, and users are able to log on at any time. Modules have been written for a low reading age, in a friendly way, with appropriate humour. Features include automated text message reminders and messages of support, and a very simple website navigation design suitable for use on desktop, laptops, iPads/tablets and mobile devices. Modules may be completed fortnightly and take 30-40 minutes each to complete. At the end of each module, the program will put together a list of strategies that users can choose to save to their profile or 'tool box'. PROCEDURES The website will be open to anyone to use. Alongside the operation of the website, we will conduct a website evaluation using (a) data that is already collected through the website and as part of the intervention, and (b) additional data for those users who wish to help us by answering questionnaires in addition to core measures included in the intervention. The purpose of this is to (1) establish the safety and efficacy of the website (Aim 1), and (2) evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention in targeting each of the key ACT processes (Aim 2). Data from the first 100 users who register will be used to address Aim 1. This will be the default pathway and all users will be required to allow us to use their data in order to proceed with the website (Option 1). All users will be given the option to answer additional questionnaires. We will use the data of 60 users who opt in to answer additional questionnaires to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention (Aim 2). These users will answer additional questionnaires upon registration, at the end of the intervention, and 6 months post-intervention (Option 2). Note: This data will be collected concurrently. Users who opt in to answer additional questionnaires will also complete core measures included in the intervention, and their data will be used to address both aims (Aim 1 and Aim 2). As outlined above, data from the first 100 users who register will be used to address Aim 1, and data from the first 60 users who opt in to answer additional questionnaires will be used to address Aim 2. All measures will be completed online. The core measures (built into the modules) do not add any time to the intervention for users. Additional optional questionnaires (Option 2) are expected to take 10 minutes at the start of the intervention (before completing Module 1), at the end of the intervention (after completing Module 5), and 6 months post-intervention. People who are interested in accessing the modules will be required to create an account. Allowing data use for research purposes will be compulsory to enter the website and complete the intervention modules (default pathway; Option 1). Upon creating an account/login, participants will be given the option to answer additional questionnaires (Option 2, as outlined above). Participants who opt in to answer additional research questions (Option 2) will move on to a suite of validated measures (see 'Outcomes' section below) prior to proceeding to the intervention modules. Participants who take the default pathway (Option 1) will proceed to the intervention modules immediately after creating an account/login. DELIVERY The intervention is delivered online to individuals. Participants complete five modules approximately fortnightly for 10 weeks, and each module is expected to take approximately 30-40 minutes to complete. Modules will be completed in sequential order; subsequent modules will become available two weeks after completing the preceding module (i.e., Module 2 will be made available two weeks after completing Module 1, and so on). Participants will be sent a text message when each module becomes available, and a week later to remind them to login and complete the module. Five days after completing each module, participants will be sent a text message encouraging them to practice the strategies they have learnt and build them into their life. They can also opt to send themselves additional reminder text messages if they wish. Participants can access the intervention anywhere with an internet connection (e.g. laptop, desktop, tablet, mobile). Adherence will be assessed with website usage statistics. Participants will be able to revisit the website and return to modules after completion of the intervention period. Participants will also be able to revisit modules they have previously completed within the intervention period. Individual-tailored content is embedded within the website. Tailored content is delivered throughout the intervention based on participant responses and demographic variables. For example, in doing the baseline assessment, a user may flag that they are having trouble sleeping so they will be provided with a list of practical things to try to improve the quality of their sleep (e.g. sleep hygiene techniques). In addition, other publicly available information is available on the website.