This project will determine what the key facilitators and barriers impacting optimal implementation of an evidenced based online intervention for isolated women living in regional, rural and remote areas of NSW.
The MumMoodBooster program, an internet cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) program which has been established as clinically effective, will be used to bring treatment to isolated new mothers experiencing mild to moderate depression and anxiety. The impact of depression can be compounded by isolation, stigma and women not recognising they are depressed or not wanting to seek professional help. The use of an online treatment has the potential to reduce barriers to treatment uptake resulting in enhanced patient care, service delivery and outcomes for depressed women and infant development. However, despite the widespread agreement of the benefits and importance of e-health strategies, difficulties with implementation has slowed their implementation. Various factors can influence implementation – system complexity, internet reliability, costs, planning, policy concerns, clinician and women’s attitudes towards the technology. This study will aim to identify the key barriers and facilitators to accessing the online MumMoodBooster for isolated and hard to reach women in areas of regional, rural and remote NSW.
The study type is informed by an implementation research methodology and framework. An implementation framework facilitates the enactment of scientifically proven health interventions (MumMoodBooster ) into the real world in a wide variety of contexts (isolated rural women). An essential component of this approach is the establishment of strong relationships with diverse partners. The project will use surveys, focus groups, interviews and collect quantitative data to initiate, implement and evaluate the uptake and effectiveness of the program for the target group. Built in to the study will be strategies for scalability and sustainability of the approach.
Collaborators: Western NSW Local Health District, Charles Sturt University, Parent-Infant Research Institute, Northern Sydney Local Health District, Tresillian