Emergency medical personnel perspectives on value and use of tailored discussion forum for mental health support. A qualitative longitudinal study

Background
Emergency medical personnel experience high job-related strain elevating their risk for mental ill-health and depressive symptoms. This study explored emergency medical personnel user-perspectives in terms of added value of the anonymous online discussion forum RUPERT dedicated to rescue and emergency workers mental health support.
Methods
Using a survey as a qualitative longitudinal tool, we explored emergency medical personnel perceptions, experiences, and expectations in terms of support needs, information and knowledge sought, perceived benefits of RUPERT, interests expressed, as well as perceived value and advantages of RUPERT.
Results
A total of 37 participants joined the qualitative survey in time-point 1 (T1), 17 in time-point 2 (T2), and four in time-point 3 (T3). The thematic analysis generated 34 dominant subthemes within seven a priori domains and six overarching themes across domains. The overarching themes showed present concepts in the context of the discussion forum and emergency medical personnel, including Shared experiences and mutual understanding, Support networks and Social connection, Access to Information and Practical tools, Barriers to Participation and Usability, Mental health and Work-related challenges, and Curiosity and Passive participation.
Conclusion
The current findings have an important role for enhancing forums as an online tool for supporting rescue workers and emergency medical personnel. The overarching themes can support the future user-centered design principles in terms of functionality, usability, accessibility and more importantly serve as a guideline for practitioners who work on the content development via online tools for this population.