The impact of web-based approaches on psychosocial health in chronic physical and mental health conditions

Abstract

Chronic conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and mental illness are increasingly prevalent and associated with considerable psychosocial burden. There is a need to consider population health approaches to reducing this burden. Web-based interventions offer an alternative to traditional face-to-face interventions with several potential advantages. This systematic review explores the effectiveness, reach and adoption of web-based approaches for improving psychosocial outcomes in patients with common chronic conditions. A systematic review of published work examining web-based psychosocial interventions for patients with chronic conditions from 2001 to 2011. Seventy-four publications were identified. Thirty-six studies met the criteria for robust research design. A consistent significant effect in favour of the web-based intervention was identified in 20 studies, particularly those using cognitive behavioural therapy for depression. No positive effect was found in 11 studies, and mixed effects were found in 5 studies. The role of sociodemographic characteristics in relation to outcomes or issues of reach and adoption was explored in very few studies. Although it is possible to achieve positive effects on psychosocial outcomes using web-based approaches, effects are not consistent across conditions. Robust comparisons of the reach, adoption and cost-effectiveness of web-based support compared with other options such as face-to-face and print-based approaches are needed.

Do Web-Based Interventions Improve Well-Being in Type 2 Diabetes? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Evidence indicates that such interventions are cost-effective, able to reach a wide range of audiences, especially those with a more restrictive lifestyle [37,38]. Recent reviews of Web-based interventions in type 2 diabetes have suggested positive impacts for outcomes of depression and anxiety [35,39].…”

Towards a public health approach for palliative care: an action-research study focused on engaging a local community and educating teenagers

“…Second, as this is a single-centre study, some caution is needed in the interpretation and generalization of the findings. Further research (including the replication of this study on other contexts) and other education-program specifically focused on teenagers and local communities, and using other educational approaches (e.g., web-based ones) [54] need therefore to be promoted. For instance, health education programs about pressing issues, such as palliative and end-of-life care, and using multi-centred designed interventions could be designed as part of high school education, requiring further attention and study.…”

Effectiveness and User Acceptance of Online Chronic Disease Management Interventions in Rural and Remote Settings: Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis

“…One additional record was found by searching reference lists of relevant articles, and by accessing systematic reviews of web-based interventions for CDM in broader settings (ie, notspecifically rural settings). [17][18][19]33 Figure 1 shows the process For the purpose of this review, chronic physical disease was defined as those illnesses or health conditions that have a biological underpinning, prolonged course of illness, result in functional impairment, or disability, typically do not resolve spontaneously and cannot be completely cured. 34,35 While interventions targeting patients with comorbid chronic physical disease and mental illness were included, those focusing solely on web-based psychotherapy for patients with mental illness were excluded.…”