Evaluation of the Acceptability and Feasibility of Stress Mitigation Education and Support Delivered via Telehealth for People After Road Traffic Musculoskeletal/Orthopedic Injury.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of a consumer co-designed telehealth intervention which aimed to reduce claimant distress by providing pain management strategies, informational and social support to people who had made a compensation claim following road traffic musculoskeletal injury.

Methods: Eleven claimant participants who were at risk of a poor outcome completed the intervention in a one-on-one setting with the same clinician delivering the program across all sessions.They were interviewed about their experience (acceptability and feasibility including the use of telehealth). Clinicians who delivered the intervention also completed an anonymous feedback survey exploring their experiences delivering the intervention. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was conducted.

Results: There were four themes which broadly related to the acceptability and feasibility of the intervention as well as the perceived benefits: (1) knowledge is power, (2) healing with social connection, (3) further along than I would have been, and (4) telehealth was acceptable and feasible.

Conclusion: The delivery of a co-designed telehealth-delivered stress mitigation intervention to support people with a road traffic musculoskeletal injury was feasible to deliver and acceptable to people who were at risk of a poor outcome. Further research to evaluate the efficacy of the intervention on outcomes such as pain, self-efficacy, and claims costs are needed.