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Text4PTSI: A Promising Supportive Text Messaging Program to Mitigate Psychological Symptoms in Public Safety Personnel

Author

Listed:
  • Gloria Obuobi-Donkor

    (Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada)

  • Reham Shalaby

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada)

  • Ejemai Eboreime

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada)

  • Belinda Agyapong

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada)

  • Natalie Phung

    (Operational Stress Injury Clinic, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada)

  • Scarlett Eyben

    (Operational Stress Injury Clinic, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada)

  • Kristopher Wells

    (Department of Child and Youth Care, Faculty of Health and Community Studies, MacEwan University, Edmonton, AB T5J 4S2, Canada)

  • Carla Hilario

    (School of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Social Development, The University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada)

  • Raquel da Luz Dias

    (Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada)

  • Chelsea Jones

    (Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada)

  • Suzette Brémault-Phillips

    (Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada)

  • Yanbo Zhang

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada)

  • Andrew J. Greenshaw

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada)

  • Vincent Israel Opoku Agyapong

    (Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
    Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada)

Abstract

Background: Public safety personnel experience various mental health conditions due to their work’s complex and demanding nature. There are barriers to seeking support and treatment; hence, providing innovative and cost-effective interventions can help improve mental health symptoms in public safety personnel. Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the impact of Text4PTSI on depression, anxiety, trauma, and stress-related symptoms, and the resilience of public safety personnel after six months of providing supportive text message intervention. Methods: Public safety personnel subscribed to Text4PTSI and received daily supportive and psychoeducational SMS text messages for six months. Participants were invited to complete standardized self-rated web-based questionnaires to assess depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and resilience symptoms measured on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C), and the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), respectively. The assessment of mental health conditions was conducted at baseline (enrolment) and six weeks, three months, and six months after enrollment. Results: One hundred and thirty-one subscribers participated in the Text4PTSI program, and eighteen completed both the baseline and any follow-up survey. A total of 31 participants completed the baseline survey and 107 total surveys were recorded at all follow-up time points. The baseline prevalence of psychological problems among public safety personnel were as follows: likely major depressive disorder (MDD) was 47.1%, likely generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) was 37.5%, low resilience was 22.2%, and likely PTSD was 13.3%. At six months post-intervention, the prevalence of likely MDD, likely GAD, and likely PTSD among respondents reduced; however, a statistically significant reduction was reported only for likely MDD (−35.3%, X 2 (1) = 2.55, p = 0.03). There was no significant change in the prevalence of low resilience between baseline and post-intervention. There was a decrease in the mean scores on the PHQ-9, GAD-7, PCL-C, and the BRS from baseline to post-intervention by 25.8%, 24.7%, 9.5%, and 0.3%, respectively. However, the decrease was only statistically significant for the mean change in GAD-7 scores with a low effect size (t (15) = 2.73, p = 0.02). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest a significant reduction in the prevalence of likely MDD as well as the severity of anxiety symptoms from baseline to post-intervention for subscribers of the Text4PTSI program. Text4PTSI is a cost-effective, convenient, and easily scalable program that can augment other services for managing the mental health burdens of public safety personnel.

Suggested Citation

  • Gloria Obuobi-Donkor & Reham Shalaby & Ejemai Eboreime & Belinda Agyapong & Natalie Phung & Scarlett Eyben & Kristopher Wells & Carla Hilario & Raquel da Luz Dias & Chelsea Jones & Suzette Brémault-Ph, 2023. "Text4PTSI: A Promising Supportive Text Messaging Program to Mitigate Psychological Symptoms in Public Safety Personnel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-15, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:4215-:d:1081840
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yuan-yuan Ye & Yuan-feng Zhang & Jia Chen & Juan Liu & Xun-jun Li & Ya-zhen Liu & Ying Lang & Ling Lin & Xin-Ju Yang & Xiao-Jiang Jiang, 2015. "Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (ICBT-i) Improves Comorbid Anxiety and Depression—A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(11), pages 1-11, November.
    2. Gregory S. Anderson & Paula M. Di Nota & Dianne Groll & R. Nicholas Carleton, 2020. "Peer Support and Crisis-Focused Psychological Interventions Designed to Mitigate Post-Traumatic Stress Injuries among Public Safety and Frontline Healthcare Personnel: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-16, October.
    3. Gloria Obuobi-Donkor & Folajinmi Oluwasina & Nnamdi Nkire & Vincent I.O. Agyapong, 2022. "A Scoping Review on the Prevalence and Determinants of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among Military Personnel and Firefighters: Implications for Public Policy and Practice," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-19, January.
    4. Wanying Mao & Medard Adu & Ejemai Eboreime & Reham Shalaby & Nnamdi Nkire & Belinda Agyapong & Hannah Pazderka & Gloria Obuobi-Donkor & Ernest Owusu & Folajinmi Oluwasina & Yanbo Zhang & Vincent I. O., 2022. "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and Wildfires: A Fifth-Year Postdisaster Evaluation among Residents of Fort McMurray," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-21, August.
    5. Hugh C. McCall & Caeleigh A. Landry & Adeyemi Ogunade & R. Nicholas Carleton & Heather D. Hadjistavropoulos, 2021. "Why Do Public Safety Personnel Seek Tailored Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy? An Observational Study of Treatment-Seekers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-14, November.
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