Evaluating the Evidence-Base for Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (iCBT) for Substance Use Treatment in Canada

Amanda L. Joseph

Impact

  • Many internet-based products available on the market have not been tested, or evaluated for effectiveness, and thus their ability to assist citizens in self-managing their mental health needs safely are unclear.

  • The research outputs from this project series aimed to provide clarity into these unknown factors.

  • Further, this research aimed to identify the iCBT technologies currently used in industry to treat substance use disorders (SUDs) and understand the lived experiences of Canadian citizens using or implementing iCBT products.

  • Thus, the project's findings could advance mental health research in assisting clinicians, organizations, and the public procure, and select evidence-based iCBT technologies to treat SUDs.

  • This investigative series can assist in validating the promise that iCBT technologies hold in increasing the accessibility of mental health and substance services  across Canada and worldwide.

  • As this study will produce two open access, peer-reviewed scientific journal articles, the findings will be publicly available; thus, this research will not only positively impacted and inform the Canadian market but the global collective as well.

  • British Columbia

  • Studentship

  • University of Victoria

    Harvard Medical School

  • Homewood Research Institute (HRI)

    Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

  • Mitacs

  • 2022-2023

  • Health Systems Evaluation

  • People experiencing substance use disorders

About the Project

The objective of this investigative series was to make Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (iCBT) technologies safer, and evidence-based for the Canadian population. Specifically, this research aimed to identify the iCBT tools currently used in industry to treat substance use disorders and understand the lived and living experiences of Canadian citizens using or implementing iCBT technologies. Further, the content source in iCBTs was evaluated for currency, scientific evidence, language, and cultural appropriateness for the Canadian context. The outcomes of this project will advance mental health research by creating an evidence-base to assist clinicians, healthcare organizations and the public to select safe, and effective substance-use technologies to address their unique needs.

Methodology

This study utilized a three-phased approach comprised of:

1) Comprehensive literature review (i.e., Scoping Review) executed in the following nine scientific databases:

  • PubMed

  • CINAHL

  • Web of Science

  • Scopus

  • Academic Search Complete

  • Embase

  • Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

  • PsycINFO

  • IEEE Xplore

2) Interview series with healthcare stakeholders including but not limited to:

  • Chief Information officers

  • Chief Medical Information Officers

  • Medical Doctors

  • Social workers

  • People with Lived and Living Experience (PWLE)

  • Clinical Informatics specialists and analysts

  • Project Managers

  • Procurement Officers

 3) Qualitative Analysis of the Interview data and manuscript creation.

Findings

  • Broadly, this project aimed to assess the problem areas and challenges facing the adoption of iCBT technologies.

  • Phase 1: the literature review produced 3,254 peer-reviewed published articles eligible for inclusion in the study and is currently in progress.

  • Phase 2: the recruitment of healthcare stakeholders for the interview series has commenced and is underway.

  • Phase 3: the qualitative analysis of the interview data, and manuscript creation will commence after the interview series is complete.

Project Outreach

  • This project was executed in BC, yet recruitment adopted a pan-Canadian approach targeting relevant participants across Canada.

  • Further the literature review included all articles which satisfied the research questions, providing they were in the English language.

  • Thus, the included literature sample set was diversified, spanning various countries and geographies globally.

Resources Created

  • Two - open access and peer reviewed scientific journal publications.

  • Both manuscripts are in progress and will be published in 2024, and be available in open access and peer reviewed scientific journals.