Exploring primary care patients’ experience of an internet intervention ‘Healthy Paths’ for emotional distress

Websites providing online support may help increase access to psychological help for difficult emotional experiences in primary care. Although there is evidence that these websites can be helpful, the research conducted with primary care patients is less clear. Involving users in the development of computerised/internet support packages may increase their effectiveness. In this project we will recruit 25 people who have consulted their GP due to emotional distress, and provide them with access to an online support package over 4-weeks. Participants will take part in interviews after week 1 and at the end of the 4-week study period. In the interviews we will explore participants’ views of using the website, including what they think about the suggested techniques, and how they feel it applies to their life. The findings will be used to improve the online support package and prepare for a future randomised controlled trial (‘fair test’), as well as learning more about how to provide psychological help through the internet.