%0 Journal Article
%@ 2292-9495
%I JMIR Publications
%V 9
%N 1
%P e27631
%T Combining Farmers’ Preferences With Evidence-Based Strategies to Prevent and Lower Farmers’ Distress: Co-design and Acceptability Testing of ifarmwell
%A Gunn,Kate M
%A Skaczkowski,Gemma
%A Dollman,James
%A Vincent,Andrew D
%A Short,Camille E
%A Brumby,Susan
%A Barrett,Alison
%A Harrison,Nathan
%A Turnbull,Deborah
%+ Department of Rural Health, Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, City East Campus BJ2-03, North Terrace, Adelaide, 5001, Australia, 61 417852537, kate.gunn@unisa.edu.au
%K farm
%K agriculture
%K rural
%K drought
%K mental health
%K stress
%K coping
%K online intervention
%K acceptance and commitment therapy
%D 2022
%7 11.1.2022
%9 Original Paper
%J JMIR Hum Factors
%G English
%X Background: Farming is physically and psychologically hazardous. Farmers face many barriers to help seeking from traditional physical and mental health services; however, improved internet access now provides promising avenues for offering support. Objective: This study aims to co-design with farmers the content and functionality of a website that helps them adopt transferable coping strategies and test its acceptability in the broader farming population. Methods: Research evidence and expert opinions were synthesized to inform key design principles. A total of 18 farmers detailed what they would like from this type of website. Intervention logic and relevant evidence-based strategies were mapped. Website content was drafted and reviewed by 2 independent mental health professionals. A total of 9 farmers provided detailed qualitative feedback on the face validity of the draft content. Subsequently, 9 farmers provided feedback on the website prototype. Following amendments and internal prototype testing and optimization, prototype usability (ie, completion rate) was examined with 157 registered website users who were (105/157, 66.9%) female, aged 21-73 years; 95.5% (149/156) residing in inner regional to very remote Australia, and 68.2% (107/157) “sheep, cattle and/or grain farmers.” Acceptability was examined with a subset of 114 users who rated at least module 1. Interviews with 108 farmers who did not complete all 5 modules helped determine why, and detailed interviews were conducted with 18 purposively sampled users. Updates were then made according to adaptive trial design methodology. Results: This systematic co-design process resulted in a web-based resource based on acceptance and commitment therapy and designed to overcome barriers to engagement with traditional mental health and well-being strategies—ifarmwell. It was considered an accessible and confidential source of practical and relevant farmer-focused self-help strategies. These strategies were delivered via 5 interactive modules that include written, drawn, and audio- and video-based psychoeducation and exercises, as well as farming-related jokes, metaphors, examples, and imagery. Module 1 included distress screening and information on how to speak to general practitioners about mental health–related concerns (including a personalized conversation script). Modules were completed fortnightly. SMS text messages offered personalized support and reminders. Qualitative interviews and star ratings demonstrated high module acceptability (average 4.06/5 rating) and suggested that additional reminders, higher quality audio recordings, and shorter modules would be useful. Approximately 37.1% (52/140) of users who started module 1 completed all modules, with too busy or not got to it yet being the main reason for non-completion, and previous module acceptability not predicting subsequent module completion. Conclusions: Sequential integration of research evidence, expert knowledge, and farmers’ preferences in the co-design process allowed for the development of a self-help intervention that focused on important intervention targets and was acceptable to this difficult-to-engage group. Trial Registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12617000506392; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=372526 
%M 35014963
%R 10.2196/27631
%U https://humanfactors.jmir.org/2022/1/e27631
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/27631
%U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35014963