Co‐Designing the iCanBlend Model: A Blended Psychological Therapy Intervention for Treating Anxiety and Depression in the Context of Cancer
Kelly Ferrao Nunes‐Zlotkowski, Heather Shepherd, Lisa Beatty, Phyllis Butow, Joanne ShawABSTRACT
Background
Treatment uptake for depression and anxiety in psycho‐oncology is low. Blended psychological therapy (BT), which combines self‐guided digital content with clinician‐delivered sessions, may improve treatment access and engagement. In Australia, no BT program exists in routine cancer care.
Objective
To co‐design a BT intervention clinically appropriate for anxiety/depression treatment in cancer patients and investigate its potential acceptability and feasibility for implementation in psycho‐oncology in Australia.
Method
Qualitative, co‐design focus groups were conducted via videoconference with psycho‐oncology psychologists in two stages: co‐design of a cancer‐specific BT model prototype (stage I) and confirmation of prototype content and structure acceptability (stage II). Participants provided iterative feedback on cancer‐specific CBT elements to include in the BT intervention. Data were analyzed using an Interpretive Description approach.
Results
Fourteen clinicians participated across five co‐design workshops. In stage I, identified themes were: (i) importance of the intake interview and orientation to the program; (ii) the prominent role of face‐to‐face contact in the BT model; and (iii) suitability of content for digital delivery. Stage II themes were: (i) feasibility of BT in psycho‐oncology; and (ii) perceived importance of face‐to‐face for improved content delivery. The resulting BT intervention model (“iCanBlend”) had a higher dose of face‐to‐face over digital sessions to promote treatment engagement and enhance duty‐of‐care online.
Conclusion
Overall, iCanBlend was acceptable and clinically appropriate for the cancer context in Australia, although feasibility was not confirmed, given participants' preference for face‐to‐face support for digital content. Future research is required with clinicians and patients to determine usability.