Readiness for Change in Digital and Synchronous Psychological Therapy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Role of Readiness for Change in Predicting Engagement and Clinical Outcomes in Digital versus Synchronous Psychological Therapy
IRAS ID
343490
Contact name
Ying-Heng Hua
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 16 days
Research summary
Research indicates that digital therapy (therapy for mental health done using online materials instead of sitting with a therapist) is an effective intervention for mental health, but some users benefit more than others. This study aims to understand what it is about a user that helps them benefit more. This is important so that digital therapies can be directed at the people who benefit most, which would help more people get recommended the most appropriate therapy for them. Previous studies on synchronous (i.e., in real-time with a therapist) face-to-face therapies find that the more motivated someone is (called readiness for change (RfC)) the better their engagement and outcomes with therapy. However, few studies have compared this in digital therapies. Additionally, for digital therapies, the extent that the user is comfortable using web-based technologies (called digital fluency), may be important too. Therefore. this study aims to answer: “Is RfC related to better engagement and outcomes in digital therapies compared to synchronous therapies, and does digital fluency affect this association?”. Using an observational, longitudinal design, we predict that more RfC will lead to more improvements with clinical outcomes and engagement for digital therapy compared to synchronous therapy and this will be especially so when digital fluency is high. To investigate this, we will work with NHS Talking Therapies services and recruit participants receiving either digital therapy or synchronous therapy. Participants will complete a short questionnaire to record their RfC and digital fluency when they begin therapy. Additionally, their changes to anxiety/depression levels at the end of therapy, as well as how many sessions they had, will be recorded as part of normal service operations. We will use statistical analyses to see if associations exist between these factors. Project is funded by Oxford Institute of Clinical Psychology Research and Training.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/YH/0279
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jan 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion