Stakeholder perspectives on implementation of e-mental health interventions for caregivers of adults with kidney conditions

• Background: E-mental health interventions for caregivers can be effective, but implementation challenges often prevent implementation into real-world practice. To understand these challenges, this study aimed to explore stakeholders’ views on the implementation and design of e-mental health interventions for caregivers of adults with kidney conditions to inform initial intervention development and future implementation planning.Methods: Semi-structured interviews with 18 professional stakeholders working with caregivers and/or people with kidney conditions in healthcare and community settings in the United Kingdom were conducted. Interviews explored topics including the implementation setting, barriers and facilitators to implementation, and intervention design. Interview transcripts were analysed using content analysis with deductive coding using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, and inductive coding.Findings: Stakeholders acknowledged the importance of providing mental health support to caregivers, however, at a societal level (e.g. policy) caregivers tend to be undervalued and are a low priority. Stakeholders expressed equity and safeguarding concerns regarding e-mental health interventions, desiring an intervention accessible to people with different health and digital literacy levels at no cost. Building awareness and knowledge about the intervention among many professionals and having simple intervention referral pathways were important implementation facilitators. Discussion: Provision of mental health support for caregivers is endorsed by stakeholders, however involving stakeholders in implementation beyond promoting and referral of caregivers to the intervention would be challenging without additional resources. Intervention design and implementation factors identified by stakeholders must be considered during intervention development to design e-mental health interventions optimized for implementation into real-world practice. 

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Urologi och njurmedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Urology and Nephrology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

e-mental health

informal caregiver

chronic kidney disease

healthcare professional

implementation

consolidated framework for implementation research

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)