Stakeholder informants: patients and professionals
depression, anxiety
Patients receiving guided-self-help for anxiety and/or depression by telephone at the services participating in the study were invited to take part in a research interview. Information packs containing an invitation letter, participant information sheet, and a consent to contact form were distributed by the service administration team. Following expressions of interest (return of consent to contact form or direct contact with the research team by email or phone), participants were contacted to confirm willingness to participate, complete the consent form and to schedule a telephone interview. Examples of interview questions for patients included: What did you know about IAPT when you were first referred? What was the information you received at the point of referral and what can you tell me about that information? What did you think about the EQUITy patient resources? How did the EQUITy resources influence (or not) your views about the effectiveness of the treatment you were referred to? How did the EQUITy resources change (or not) your beliefs about how you will be able to successfully engage in your treatment? Thinking about your experience of treatment, how did you find communicating with you practitioner without being able to see her/him? What can you tell me about the therapeutic relationship with your practitioner?Professionals, including practitioners and service leads from each of the three services, were invited to take part in a research interview/focus group. Practitioners delivering guided-self-help by telephone who had attended the EQUITy telephone skills training were invited to take part in the study. All eligible professionals received an invitation letter, a participant information sheet, and a consent to contact form by email, distributed by the service lead/manager or research team. Participants expressing interest to take part were contacted by the research team to confirm willingness to participate and an interview/focus group date was arranged. Examples of interview questions for professionals included: What were your initial thoughts about the EQUITy intervention and taking part in the feasibility study when you heard about it? What aspects of the EQUITy intervention were most helpful for patients, practitioners and for services? What aspects of the EQUITy intervention would you change? How did you feel about delivering telephone treatment following receipt of the EQUITy intervention? What were the challenges you face to implementing the EQUITy intervention? What has been the most significant change in your practice following the reception of the EQUITy intervention?