R03 – Improving Usability of a Comprehensive Self-Management Intervention to Address Anxiety and Depression Among Persons with Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Kendra Kamp, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Division of Gastroenterology
- Rona Levy, PhD, Professor, School of Social Work
Many interventions shown to be effective in clinical trials are never adopted in clinical settings. This study seeks to explore and address the reasons for non-adoption of an evidence-based psychosocial intervention (EBPI) that addresses anxiety, depression, and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms among individuals with a common GI problem, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Approximately 30-50% of individuals with IBS report anxiety and depression, which is greater than the general population. IBS patients with anxiety and depression also report more severe IBS symptoms and lower quality of life than those without. However, an effective EBPI developed by our group has not been implemented outside of the experimental setting. Using the Discover, Design, and Build framework, the purpose of this proposal is to 1) discover the barriers to clinical implementation from the perspective of both providers and patients and 2) iteratively develop a prototype to improve usability using a design-focused solution. Beginning with the original EBPI, which was designed and tested for in-person or telephone interactions, we will use focus groups with providers and patients to guide the re-design process and inform modifications to improve acceptability and usability. The purpose of this project is to tailor existing interventions with the goal of improving the mental health of patients with a chronic medical condition. The current EBPI also has the potential to address adaptation of tested mental health treatments in other comorbid chronic conditions.
The problem we’re trying to solve is the lack of accessible and usable self-management interventions for individuals with IBS and comorbid anxiety/depression.
