Adapting a Mental Health Intervention for Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Web-Based Synchronous Focus Group Study.
Adapting a Mental Health Intervention for Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Web-Based Synchronous Focus Group Study.
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DOI：
10.2196/30293
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发表时间：
2021-11-03
影响因子：
2.2
通讯作者：
Gómez-Restrepo C
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Calvo-Valderrama MG;Marroquín-Rivera A;Burn E;Ospina-Pinillos L;Bird V;Gómez-Restrepo C
虽然焦点小组是一种有价值的定性研究工具，但面对面的会议可能很难安排，而且耗时。全球COVID-19大流行以及随后实施的封锁和保持距离措施进一步加剧了这一挑战，这些措施对人类活动造成了异常挑战。在线焦点小组（ofg）是另一种策略的一个例子，需要进一步研究。目前，ofg主要在高收入国家进行研究和使用，而在低收入和中等收入国家（LMICs）实施的相关信息很少。本研究的目的是分享我们透过网络会议服务进行ofg的经验，并为未来的研究提供建议。作为一项更广泛研究的一部分，在2019冠状病毒病大流行期间，与哥伦比亚的成年人和青少年一起开发了ofg。通过方便的抽样方法，我们通过电子邮件邀请哥伦比亚两个不同城市的符合条件的参与者参加通过Microsoft Teams进行的ofg。研究者的笔记和讨论被用来捕捉参与者和推动者的经验，以及实际的考虑。虽然遇到了技术问题，但我们采取了各种措施将问题降至最低，例如使用参与者熟悉的网络会议服务，发送书面指示，以及在OFG之前举行一次试用会议。与成年人不同，青少年参与者能够熟练使用网络会议平台，并且没有遇到技术挑战。ofg在研究环境中具有巨大潜力，特别是在当前和未来任何突发公共卫生事件期间。重要的是要记住，即使它们提供了优势，技术问题（即互联网速度和获取技术）也是中低收入国家的主要障碍。需要进一步的研究，并应仔细考虑ofg在不同环境中的适用性。
Although focus groups are a valuable qualitative research tool, face-to-face meetings may be difficult to arrange and time consuming. This challenge has been further compounded by the global COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown and physical distancing measures implemented, which caused exceptional challenges to human activities. Online focus groups (OFGs) are an example of an alternative strategy and require further study. At present, OFGs have mostly been studied and used in high-income countries, with little information relating to their implementation in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The aim of this study is to share our experiences of conducting OFGs through a web conferencing service and provide recommendations for future research. As part of a broader study, OFGs were developed with adults and adolescents in Colombia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a convenience sampling method, we invited eligible participants via email in two different cities of Colombia to participate in OFGs conducted via Microsoft Teams. Researcher notes and discussion were used to capture participant and facilitator experiences, as well as practical considerations. Technical issues were encountered, but various measures were taken to minimize them, such as using a web conferencing service that was familiar to participants, sending written instructions, and performing a trial meeting prior to the OFG. Adolescent participants, unlike their adult counterparts, were fluent in using web conferencing platforms and did not encounter technical challenges. OFGs have great potential in research settings, especially during the current and any future public health emergencies. It is important to keep in mind that even with the advantages that they offer, technical issues (ie, internet speed and access to technology) are major obstacles in LMICs. Further research is required and should carefully consider the appropriateness of OFGs in different settings.