Jacqueline Sin*, King's College London, London, United Kingdom Track: Research Presentation Topic: Building virtual communities and social networking applications for patients and consumers Presentation Type: Poster presentation Submission Type: Single Presentation Last modified: 2013-09-25

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Background: First episode psychosis (FEP) often is a life-changing event for the young people as well as their whole family. It is well-established that siblings are often the only age-appropriate peers and the most natural agent to promote recovery in the young people with FEP. Meanwhile, current research consistently highlights siblings’ needs for for dynamic and robust information and peer support resources, utilising modern information and communication technology. However, little is known about the optimal design of such an intervention considering the pre-existing research on family-based interventions commonly used a face-to-face delivery mode and targeted mainly mothers as the key carers. A focus group study with siblings was devised with an aim to explore siblings’ views and receptiveness of an interactive intervention dedicated to themselves.

Objectives: The aim of this paper is to report the findings from a focus group study with siblings so to describe their views on the design and content of a web-based information and peer support intervention.

Methods: Focus group methodology was used to explore a range of perspectives gained through discussion among siblings to determine the optimal design and implementation considerations for an innovative intervention. 3 groups involving 14 siblings of people with psychosis, were conducted. The qualitative data collected via the focus group discussion was transcribed and analysed using Ritchie et al’s thematic analysis framework assisted by NVivo version 9.2.

Results: Siblings of individuals affected by psychosis unanimously supported the development of a focused intervention to address their specific needs using interactive health communication application. Siblings suggested a number of content items for information-giving, some similar to those identified from the wider literature on conventional educational intervention for family carers whilst others are unique to siblings’ needs, like worries about genetic risks; dealing with adjustment and grief. They also highly valued an interactive peer discussion and support forum where siblings could exchange experiences in commonly encountered issues despite some concerns over its security and moderation. Siblings emphasised the needs for professional inputs and moderation across the intervention to enhance its credibility and security. A number of strategies to promote engagement with end-users were proposed by siblings. These include: regular reminders sent from the intervention website to end-users’ email addresses; weekly updates of the website; incentives like discounts on recommended resources.

Conclusion: Siblings identified that any intervention targeting them needs to be delivered online for flexible access and robust provision to meet their busy lifestyles and technological advances nowadays. The findings from this focus group study informed the development of such an intervention entitled “The E Sibling Project” (www.siblingpsychosis.org). This intervention aims to enhance siblings’ knowledge, coping and caring experiences and ultimately impact on their wellbeing. A randomised controlled trial is currently underway to test out the efficacy of this innovative intervention.