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Barriers and facilitators in the usability of an integrated blended care program in patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms from the healthcare professionals’ perspective; a qualitative study


 Background: Increasingly, healthcare policies have changed focus from cure and care to behaviour and health. Prevention is becoming more important, which requires a change in the role of healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals’ role is changing from being a therapist to taking on the role of a coach. To prevent chronicity in Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms (MUPS), an integrated blended care program was developed. To apply this new program in daily practice, it is important to gain insight into the usability. From the healthcare professionals’ point of view the concept of usability consists of performance, satisfaction and acceptability. Methods: Data were collected from semi-structured interviews, which were recorded and transcribed. Data were analysed manually and independently by two researchers. Results: Ten healthcare professionals (six physical therapists and four mental health nurses) were interviewed. Six core themes on usability were identified: (1) selection and motivation of patients, (2) training and doing, (3) program procedure, (4) maturity of the e-Coaching application, 5) interprofessional collaboration and (6) expectations and experiences. Conclusion: An integrated blended care program offers the possibility to personalize treatment. This study gathered healthcare professionals’ experiences with and attitudes towards integrating healthcare and offering blended care programs. Findings show attention should be given to the new responsibilities of healthcare professionals, and their role in integrated and blended care. This new approach of delivering healthcare can facilitate interprofessional collaboration. Achieving sustainable change in patients however still requires instruction and support for healthcare professionals implementing behavioural change techniques. Trail registration: The study was approved by the Medical Ethical Committee Utrecht, by number 17/391. Registered 14 June 2017, https://www.metc-utrecht.nl/