Internet-Based Psychological Interventions during SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An Experience in South of Italy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022;
19:ijerph19095425. [PMID:
35564820 PMCID:
PMC9102592 DOI:
10.3390/ijerph19095425]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to an increasing demand for online psychological intervention. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of received support in internet-based psychological intervention group (I-IG) patients, compared with a wait-list control group (CG). The Impact of Event Scale—Revised, Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item and Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale 7-item were administered. After participants had used the internet-based solution, the System Usability Scale was administered. In total, 221 patients (194 patients supported by internet-based interventions and 27 patients supported onsite) were included in intervention group, and 194 patients were included in CG. In a 6-month follow-up, participants in the I-IG demonstrated significant improvements in terms of PTSD risk (p < 0.0001, d = 0.64), depression (p < 0.0001, d = 0.68), and anxiety (p < 0.0001, d = 1.33), compared to the CG. Significant improvements in onsite intervention group patients with a large to very large effect size of PTSD risk (p < 0.0001, d = 0.91), depression (p < 0.0001, d = 0.81), and anxiety (p < 0.0001, d = 1.62) were found. After internet-based solution use, I-IG patients reported a very high usability and functionality (72.87 ± 13.11) of online intervention. In conclusion, SARS-CoV-2-related mental health problems can be improved by internet-based psychological intervention. The usability and functionality evaluation of online solutions by technological tools showed very positive results for the I-IG patients.
Collapse