Optimizing Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for public safety personnel: Qualitative insights from clients and stakeholders to guide program improvements
type: CreativeWork
description: Public Safety Personnel (PSP) (e.g., EMS/paramedics, police officers) experience high rates of clinically significant symptoms of mental health disorders. The high rates have been explained by the extraordinary occupational stressors that PSP experience. There is a need for accessible treatment options to overcome common barriers to care in PSP populations. Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) has the potential to provide effective treatment while overcoming barriers to care. PSPNET is a clinical research unit that has adapted an ICBT program to meet the needs of PSP. The current dissertation is designed to explore the extent to which PSPNET has been optimized and can be further enhanced to meet the needs of PSP. The dissertation consists of three studies assessing stakeholder perceptions of PSPNET from both the client-level and the organizational level (i.e., PSP leaders). The studies are guided by a micro-learning health system framework that emphasizes integrating research and clinical practice to make continuous improvements to interventions. Qualitative data are used because of the substantial potential to develop specific recommendations for iterative improvements to PSPNET. The studies were conducted sequentially. In Study 1, Beahm et al. (2021) examined client communication data (i.e., client emails and feedback surveys) from 82 clients enrolled in the PSP Wellbeing Course, a core transdiagnostic ICBT course offered by PSPNET. The study shows that most clients reported benefits from the program. Results also evidenced that clients identified more aspects of the program as helpful, than they identified areas for improvement. The study results were used to make several of the proposed changes to the course (e.g., inclusion of audio and video content, inclusion of new additional resources). In study 2, Beahm et al. (2022) examined client communication data (i.e., client emails, feedback surveys, and intake screening notes) from 126 Saskatchew…
abstract: Public Safety Personnel (PSP) (e.g., EMS/paramedics, police officers) experience high rates of clinically significant symptoms of mental health disorders. The high rates have been explained by the extraordinary occupational stressors that PSP experience. There is a need for accessible treatment options to overcome common barriers to care in PSP populations. Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) has the potential to provide effective treatment while overcoming barriers to care. PSPNET is a clinical research unit that has adapted an ICBT program to meet the needs of PSP. The current dissertation is designed to explore the extent to which PSPNET has been optimized and can be further enhanced to meet the needs of PSP. The dissertation consists of three studies assessing stakeholder perceptions of PSPNET from both the client-level and the organizational level (i.e., PSP leaders). The studies are guided by a micro-learning health system framework that emphasizes integrating research and clinical practice to make continuous improvements to interventions. Qualitative data are used because of the substantial potential to develop specific recommendations for iterative improvements to PSPNET. The studies were conducted sequentially. In Study 1, Beahm et al. (2021) examined client communication data (i.e., client emails and feedback surveys) from 82 clients enrolled in the PSP Wellbeing Course, a core transdiagnostic ICBT course offered by PSPNET. The study shows that most clients reported benefits from the program. Results also evidenced that clients identified more aspects of the program as helpful, than they identified areas for improvement. The study results were used to make several of the proposed changes to the course (e.g., inclusion of audio and video content, inclusion of new additional resources). In study 2, Beahm et al. (2022) examined client communication data (i.e., client emails, feedback surveys, and intake screening notes) from 126 Saskatchew…
author: Beahm, Janine Danielle
language: en
date published: 2023-06
date modified: 2026-07-24T04:03:45Z
provider: University of Regina
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: https://hdl.handle.net/10294/16169

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.82465/4793