Rural support for psychosis and the potential use of Smartphone apps.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Service user experience of accessing support for psychosis in rural Highland and the potential use of Smartphone technology: an interpretive phenomenological analysis.
IRAS ID
248816
Contact name
Thomas Gilpin
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Highland
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 27 days
Research summary
Background: Individuals experiencing psychosis in rural locations potentially face a number of additional difficulties, such as lack of public transportation, sparse support services, social isolation and increased stigma (Parr, Philo & Burns, 2004). The isolation associated with living in rural locations can lead to later detection of symptom changes (Kelly, 2003). This may result in individuals having more severe symptoms by the time they access support. Smartphone technology has the potential ability to increase access and detection of symptom change for people unable to easily access traditional support services (Ben-Zeev et al 2014).
Aims: The study aims to explore the lived experiences of service users accessing support for psychosis in rural Highland and their perspective on the use of a Smartphone application as a tool to monitor symptoms and increase access to support.
Method: Individuals who live in rural locations (population under 3,000) and have experienced psychosis will be recruited. They will be recruited from local community mental health teams. Semi-structured interviews with individual participants will be utilised with open ended questions that focus on the above aims. Interviews will be conducted in NHS or social care setting and work around the need of the participants. Home visits may take place if no alternative is available following a thorough health and safety assessments. Interviews will last approximately 1 hour. Transcripts will then be analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to identify themes within the transcripts.
Applications: A deeper understanding of individuals experiences could inform potential service adaptations and the possible use of smartphone technology in improving access to support for rural service users.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 4
REC reference
18/WS/0196
Date of REC Opinion
7 Nov 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion