Are JITAIs acceptable for use in suicide prevention?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Are Just-in-Time-Adaptive-Interventions (JITAIs) acceptable for use in suicide prevention? Developing a framework to inform the advancement of a JITAI for suicide prevention in a UK male population
IRAS ID
320430
Contact name
Michael Baliousis
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Lincoln
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 21 days
Research summary
Primary aim: To evaluate male participants attitudes towards a hypothetical suicide prevention app, using the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability.
The hypothetical suicide prevention app is based on a Just-in-time-adaptive-intervention (JITAI). A JITAI app aims to provide an individual with the right support at the right time, and only when needed, based on dynamic assessments of an individual's internal state and context.
Males in the UK are at the highest risk of ending their lives by suicide, and there is a gap in knowledge regarding effective suicide prevention and the effective use of a JITAI as an intervention methodology.
The study will use two main stakeholders; males who have previously been at risk of suicide and mental health professionals who would be offering the use of the intervention in individuals at risk of suicide. Males with lived experience will be recruited from Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (LPFT) and Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS trust (RDaSH). Individuals must be supported by a mental health team to manage risk to self and must not have any active suicidal ideation or intent prior to engaging in the study, this will be assessed using a self-report risk assessment questionnaire during the consenting process. Professional stakeholders will be recruited from LPFT and RDaSH.
An acceptability study is one of the early stages of the development of a complex intervention as per the the UK Medical Research Council guidance, to guide the decision on whether to proceed with the development of a complex intervention. A qualitative methodology will be utilised to understand the acceptability of the intervention, via one-to-one interviews. One-to-one interviews are expected to last no more than 90 minutes, however, given the semi-structured interview methodology there is no set time frame in order to provide participants with time to fully answer questions and provide their opinion.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/NW/0395
Date of REC Opinion
14 Mar 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion