Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science (JCBS)
Volume 25, July 2022, Pages 136-144
Authors
Amanda M. Muñoz-Martínez, Clara S. Otto-Scheiber, Shadia Zuluaga-Jassir, Angie Medina-Díaz, Jessica Pulido-Rozo, Margarita Venegas-Ramírez, Alexander Igua-Jojoa
Abstract
The burden of the COVID-19 pandemic has been mainly carried by health care providers. Technology-Mediated Interventions (TMI) seem to be a feasible alternative to increase access to behavioral health resources in this population. However, scaling-up treatments into TMI requires developing user-friendly, accepted, and accessible formats. A two-stage study was conducted to assess scalability of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) based strategy (named FACE COVID) delivered using technology. First, a mix-method design connected qualitative and quantitative data from health providers and ACT experts by which changes were performed to enhance scalability. Second, a pretest-posttest study was conducted to preliminary evaluate the efficacy of FACE COVID intervention on well-being, psychological distress, and psychological flexibility. Results showed a positive impact on well-being, but not distress and psychological flexibility. While this intervention has promising results, changes in dose intensity, social support, and mental health literacy could improve retention as well as increase opportunities to target distress and psychological flexibility in future studies.