Lesley Berk|Michael Berk|Seetal Dodd|Claire Kelly|Stefan Cvetkovski|Anthony F. Jorm
Evaluation of the acceptability and usefulness of an information website for caregivers of people with bipolar disorder
Deakin University|Deakin University|Deakin University|Orygen Youth Health|University of Melbourne|Orygen Youth Health|University of Melbourne|Orygen Youth Health|University of Melbourne
bipolar disorder associated extreme mood symptoms disability suicide risk close family friends often primary role supporting adult bipolar disorder however support helpful little publicly accessible evidencebased information guide caregivers caregiver burden increases risk caregiver depression health problems help fill information gap expert clinicians caregivers consumers contributed development guidelines caregivers adults bipolar disorder using delphi consensus method paper reports evaluation acceptability usefulness online version guidelines httpwwwbipolarcaregiversorgvisitors website responded initial online survey usefulness information n536 detailed followup feedback survey emailed web users adult caregivers adults bipolar disorder month later n121 feedback analyzed quantitatively qualitatively establish user appraisals online information whether caregivers applied information ways could improvedthe majority users 864 974 found various sections website useful followup nearly 93 caregivers reported information relevant 96 thought would help others respondents said information supportive encouraged adaptive control appraisals however respondents experiencing complex family problems cared person severe chronic bipolar disorder appraise positively nevertheless twothirds caregivers reported using information optional interactive features recommended maximize benefitsoverall httpwwwbipolarcaregiversorg appraised positively used appears useful close family friends seeking basic information reassurance may inexpensive way disseminate guidelines caregivers care people severe chronic bipolar disorder complex family problems might benefit specialized interventions suggesting importance steppedcare approach supporting caregivers potential evidencebased collaboratively developed information websites enhance caregiver consumer outcomes merits investigation