Are Just-in-Time-Adaptive-Interventions (JITAIs) acceptable for use in suicide prevention? Developing a framework to inform the advancement of a JITAI for suicide prevention in a UK male population.
The largest proportion of suicide deaths occur in the male population. Suicide prevention interventions have conflicting results regarding efficacy and males have low rates of help-seeking. A Just-in-Time-Adaptive-Intervention (JITAI) is a proactive intervention aimed at providing an individual with the right support, at the right time, and only when needed. JITAI’s have been found to provide effective support for a variety of presenting problems. A protocol for the development of a JITAI for suicide prevention has been described in the literature (Coppersmith et al., 2022). Acceptability of healthcare interventions by professionals has been found to improve clinical outcomes and is an imperative step in the development of complex interventions. The current qualitative study aimed to explore professionals’ views of the acceptability of a prospective JITAI for suicide prevention utilising the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA; Sekhon et al., 2017). The study highlighted a consensus that the JITAI would be acceptable for use in suicide prevention. Participants described several concerns and recommendations to ensure safe implementation. The current study adds to the evidence base regarding suicide prevention interventions and the use of technological-driven interventions in the National Health Service. Further research needs to be conducted to consider service user views.