BACKGROUND
Emergency service workers (ESWs) are at greater risk of stressor-related psychopathology than the general population. Barriers to help-seeking are widespread across the sector and appropriate interventions need to be tailored to this population. Build Back Better is a smartphone app–based intervention designed to provide evidence-based prevention strategies for anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for high-risk professionals, such as ESWs.
OBJECTIVE
This paper presents the development and pilot testing of the app’s usability, acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary effectiveness.
METHODS
A single group (N = 67), 1-month pilot study was undertaken with ESWs, to assess their use of a smartphone-based mental health (MH) intervention, the Build Back Better app. Demographic data, acceptability and utility questionnaires, general distress (Kessler Psychological Distress) other MH and well-being measures were collected at baseline and 1-month follow-up.
RESULTS
The majority of respondents rated the app quality as very high (79%), felt that the app was easy to use (61%), easily understood (55%), improved their mental fitness (80%), and would recommend the app to others (61%). Encouraging trends toward improvement were found across symptom and wellbeing outcomes. These trends were not statistically significant, which may be attributed to smaller than expected sample size.
CONCLUSIONS
The Build Back Better app was found to have satisfactory levels of usability and acceptability. Favorable trends toward better clinical outcomes over time suggest progression to a larger efficacy trial is justified. Participants furthermore highlighted the importance of clarity in both their user journey and presentation of app content to further enhance the in-app user experience.
CLINICALTRIAL
New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12621001006831p)