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Thapar S, Nguyen M, Khan BN, Fanaieyan R, Kishimoto V, Liu R, Bolea-Alamañac B, Leon-Carlyle M, O'Riordan A, Keresteci M, Bhattacharyya O. Patient and Therapist Perceptions of a Publicly Funded Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (iCBT) Program for Ontario Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Qualitative Study. JMIR Form Res 2024; 8:e50113. [PMID: 38373027 PMCID: PMC10912991 DOI: 10.2196/50113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To address the anticipated rise in mental health symptoms experienced at the population level during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ontario government provided 2 therapist-assisted internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) programs to adults free of charge at the point of service. OBJECTIVE The study aims to explore the facilitators of and barriers to implementing iCBT at the population level in Ontario, Canada, from the perspective of patients and therapists to better understand how therapist-assisted iCBT programs can be effectively implemented at the population level and inform strategies for enhancing service delivery and integration into the health care system. METHODS Using a convenience sampling methodology, semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 therapists who delivered iCBT and 20 patients who received iCBT through either of the publicly funded programs to explore their perspectives of the program. Interview data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis to generate themes. RESULTS Six salient themes were identified. Facilitators included the therapist-assisted nature of the program; the ease of registration and the lack of cost; and the feasibility of completing the psychoeducational modules given the online and self-paced nature of the program. Barriers included challenges with the online remote modality for developing the therapeutic alliance; the program's generalized nature, which limited customization to individual needs; and a lack of formal integration between the iCBT program and the health care system. CONCLUSIONS Although the program was generally well-received by patients and therapists due to its accessibility and feasibility, the digital format of the program presented both benefits and unique challenges. Strategies for improving the quality of service delivery include opportunities for synchronous communication between therapists and patients, options for increased customization, and the formal integration of iCBT into a broader stepped-care model that centralizes patient referrals between care providers and promotes continuity of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Thapar
- Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Megan Nguyen
- Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Bilal Noreen Khan
- Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Roz Fanaieyan
- Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Vanessa Kishimoto
- Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rebecca Liu
- Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Blanca Bolea-Alamañac
- Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Marisa Leon-Carlyle
- Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Anne O'Riordan
- Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Patient Advisors Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Maggie Keresteci
- Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Patient Advisors Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Onil Bhattacharyya
- Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Fancott C, MacDonald T, Neudorf K, Keresteci M. Caregivers at the Heart of Reimagined Long-Term Care Delivery in Canada: Beyond the Pandemic. Healthc Pap 2021; 20:66-77. [PMID: 34792463 DOI: 10.12927/hcpap.2021.26638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The dominant narrative through the pandemic focused on the perils associated with the transmission of COVID-19. This led to restrictive policies in long-term care that prevented family caregivers from being physically present to participate in their loved ones' care. There is growing evidence that such policies resulted in harm to residents, family members and staff. The path forward highlights the need for balanced policies and practices to ensure that compassionate, person-centred and partnered care is not lost, whether in times of calm or crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol Fancott
- Director, Patient Engagement and Partnerships, Healthcare Excellence Canada, Toronto, ON
| | - Tanya MacDonald
- Director, Innovation and Strategic Development, Healthcare Excellence Canada, Ottawa, ON
| | - Kim Neudorf
- Family Caregiver, Member, Patients for Patient Safety Canada, Prince Albert, SK
| | - Maggie Keresteci
- Family Caregiver Executive Director, Canadian Association for Health Services & Policy Research, Toronto, ON
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Abstract
Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2-specific inhibitors were developed to circumvent the gastrointestinal toxicity of non-specific non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs while maintaining efficacy. However, the higher acquisition cost of COX-2-specific inhibitors has resulted in the implementation of a programme for cost containment in the Ontario public drug program. This programme consists of limited use (LU) criteria that need to be met for drug reimbursement of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Determining the proportion of patients eligible for reimbursement for celecoxib according to the LU criteria (based on prior treatment failure and the presence or history of serious ulcer-related gastrointestinal complications) can provide an indication of the extent of adherence to suggested guidelines. Using a patient-based survey and an analysis of the Ontario Drug Benefit Program database, the proportion of patients prescribed celecoxib who met rigorous or pragmatic definitions of the LU criteria was determined. The extent of coprescription of gastroprotective agents among patients taking celecoxib was also determined. Using the pragmatic definition, the majority of patients in the patient-based survey (53% for OA and 81% for RA) met the LU criteria. Similarly, in the database analysis, the majority of patients (76% for OA and 78% for RA) met the LU criteria. These data suggest that physician prescribing of celecoxib is consistent with the LU criteria. Concomitant prescription of gastroprotective agents in patients taking celecoxib was approximately 40%. It is recommended that further investigations be performed to determine the long-term impact of LU criteria on clinical and economic outcomes, since these criteria may also serve to restrict use in patients who may benefit from taking COX-2-specific inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- J LeLorier
- Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Research Unit, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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