An open trial evaluation of the benzodiazepine (information and reduction) digital health program (BDZ digital health) for people using benzodiazepines.

An open trial (pre-intervention through to a 3-month follow-up assessment) will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the benzodiazepine digital health program (BDZ digital health) that provides psycho-education and gradual reduction information. BDZ digital health was specifically designed to provide people with information and strategies to address their benzodiazepine use via five ‘core’ modules, plus an Introduction module. BDZ digital health (and its revisions over the years) has been developed in collaboration with Reconnexion: a service of EACH. The Introduction module focuses on orientating the participant to the program, as well as the change process. The five BDZ digital health core modules are: 1. Benzodiazepines and Dependence: This module provides psycho-education around what BDZs are, dependency on BDZ, BDZ effectiveness and appropriate and inappropriate uses of BDZ. 2. Pathway to Reduction: This module provides psycho-education on BDZ reduction and withdrawal processes, involving the 3 main steps in the BDZ reduction process 3. Gradual Reduction: Examples. This third module provides two illustrative case examples of ‘Sarah’ and ‘John’ outlining their respective gradual benzodiazepine reduction programs over time. 4. Withdrawal Symptoms. This module provides information around what BDZ related withdrawal symptoms are, common and uncommon withdrawal symptoms, and the issues with going ‘cold turkey’. 5. Managing Withdrawal Symptoms: This module contains information and helpful strategies to help manage the reduction/withdrawal symptoms (e.g., controlled breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, compassionate meditation, problem-solving, goal-setting, increasing physical exercise, gratitude, better sleep habits). All modules are open from the first log in and each module will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. Participants are encouraged to first read the Introduction module and then work through the other modules at their own pace, over the five weeks. Given the open access nature of the program modules, participants are free to choose whether they work through the modules sequentially or not. Participants will receive weekly automated emails (e.g., to log on) and when to complete the ‘during’, post intervention and follow-up scheduled assessment questionnaires. Modules make use of text, graphics, audio, video, gif animations, editable forms, interactive games, quizzes and downloads. There is also an automated digital conversational agent (ALEX), whose goal is to try and increase motivation levels in those participants who are finding it difficult to complete any BDZ digital health module. ALEX will automatically pop-up once per module and is also accessible by pressing a floating icon on the BDZ digital health module pages (after being introduced in the Introduction module). Modules can be accessible via web, mobile or tablet devices. We also encourage participants to make use of the Reconnexion Benzodiazepine telephone support service while undertaking the BDZ digital health program, as well as work in conjunction with their doctor should they wish to commence benzodiazepine reduction. The BDZ digital health program is housed within the participant's ‘HealthZone’ dashboard. HealthZone is the parent platform that houses a variety of digital health programs. Via the participant’s dashboard, they are able to access several resources. This includes: My Dashboard, My Inbox, My Daily Monitoring, My Progress Graphs, My Timeline, and My Profile. Participants will complete a pre-intervention assessment (Week 0), ‘during’ intervention (Week 3) assessment, a post-intervention assessment (Week 6) and a 6-month follow-up assessment (Week 18). While the ‘during’, post-intervention and follow up assessments are scheduled, participants will not be able to access the BDZ digital health program until they have completed the scheduled assessments (or after the expiry time to complete the scheduled assessment has lapsed). Participants will retain access to the program until Week 26 (8 weeks past the 3-month follow-up assessment). Participant engagement with the program will be obtained through by passive analytic data (e.g., what pages / modules they visited / used and when), as well as reviewing the module review questions submitted, completion of daily mood and lifestyle survey and scheduled intervention assessments.