@Article{info:doi/10.2196/36174,
author="Akinsulore, Adesanmi
and Aloba, Olutayo
and Oginni, Olakunle
and Oloniniyi, Ibidunni
and Ibigbami, Olanrewaju
and Seun-Fadipe, Champion Tobi
and Opakunle, Tolulope
and Owojuyigbe, Afolabi Muyiwa
and Olibamoyo, Olushola
and Mapayi, Boladale
and Okorie, Victor Ogbonnaya
and Adewuya, Abiodun Olugbenga",
title="Developing an mHealth Intervention to Reduce COVID-19--Associated Psychological Distress Among Health Care Workers in Nigeria: Protocol for a Design and Feasibility Study",
journal="JMIR Res Protoc",
year="2022",
month="Nov",
day="16",
volume="11",
number="11",
pages="e36174",
keywords="COVID-19; psychological distress; Nigeria; health care workers; mental health; well-being; pandemic; mHealth; mobile health; digital health intervention; health intervention; health care; smartphone; mobile phone",
abstract="Background: Globally, COVID-19--related psychological distress is seriously eroding health care workers' mental health and well-being, especially in low-income countries like Nigeria. The use of mobile health (mHealth) interventions is now increasingly recognized as an innovative approach that may improve mental health and well-being. This project aims to develop an mHealth psychological intervention (mPsyI) to reduce COVID-19--related psychological distress among health care workers in Nigeria. Objective: Our objective is to present a study protocol to determine the level of COVID-19--related psychological distress among health care workers in Nigeria; explore health care workers' experience of COVID-19--related psychological distress; develop and pilot test mPsyI to reduce this distress; and assess the feasibility of this intervention (such as usability, engagement, and satisfaction). Methods: A mixed (quantitative and qualitative) methods approach is used in which health care workers will be recruited from 2 tertiary health care facilities in southwest Nigeria. The study is divided into 4 phases based on the study objectives. Phase 1 involves a quantitative survey to assess the type and levels of psychosocial distress. Phase 2 collects qualitative data on psychosocial distress among health care workers. Phase 3 involves development of the mHealth-based psychological intervention, and phase 4 is a mixed methods study to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. Results: This study was funded in November 2020 by the Global Effort on COVID-19 Health Research, and collection of preliminary baseline data started in July 2021. Conclusions: This is the first study to report the development of an mHealth-based intervention to reduce COVID-19--related psychological distress among health care workers in Nigeria. Using a mixed methods design in this study can potentially facilitate the adaptation of an evidence-based treatment method that is culturally sensitive and cost-effective for the management of COVID-19--related psychological distress among health care workers in Nigeria. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/36174 ",
issn="1929-0748",
doi="10.2196/36174",
url="https://www.researchprotocols.org/2022/11/e36174",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/36174",
url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36318638"
}