STUDENT THESIS PROPOSALS

LEENA W. CHAU

Fidelity versus adaptation is a major tension in implementation science. Fidelity is “the degree to which an intervention or programme is delivered as intended.” Conversely, “adaptation is the process of implementers or users bringing changes to the original design of an intervention. Our Vietnam mental health research team is currently developing a smartphone depression app (VMood) from an evidence-based in-person intervention (SSM) grounded in principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy that uses a skills workbook and remote supporting coaching by a non-specialist provider. SSM was initialy developed in Canada and has subsequently been shown to be effective in the Vietnamese context.

 

Leena's proposed PhD research will establish key elements of fidelity - in this context the degree to which the digital intervention is consistent with the conceptual and practical aspects of the in-person intervention, in Vietnam. Her research will also contribute to VMood feasibility and usability to form the foundation for the scale-up of this promising low-barrier depression intervention through a randomized controlled trial. With the global increase in health services adapted from in-person to digital delivery, understanding how to assess implementation fidelity to ensure feasibility and usability is important both theoretically and practically. 

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HAYAMI LOU

"Factors influencing user experience with a community-based intervention for depression in Vietnam".  Using interviews with users and providers of the MAC-FI (Mental Health in Adults and Children – Frugal Innovations) intervention, this thesis examines user experiences and feedback on the self-supported management intervention for adults with depression in community-based settings in Vietnam.