PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Jo Middlemass AU - Zowie Davy AU - Kate Cavanagh AU - Conor Linehan AU - Kevin Morgan AU - Shaun Lawson AU - A Niroshan Siriwardena TI - Integrating online communities and social networks with computerised treatment for insomnia: a qualitative study AID - 10.3399/bjgp12X659321 DP - 2012 Dec 01 TA - British Journal of General Practice PG - e840--e850 VI - 62 IP - 605 4099 - http://bjgp.org/content/62/605/e840.short 4100 - http://bjgp.org/content/62/605/e840.full SO - Br J Gen Pract2012 Dec 01; 62 AB - Background Insomnia is a common psychological complaint. Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), although effective, is little used because of lack of trained providers. Computerised CBT-I (CCBT-I) may be a solution to this shortfall in access.Aim To explore patient and health professional perspectives and the role of social networking, to develop a novel CCBT-I programme to increase access to this form of intervention.Design and setting Qualitative methods underpinned by the theory of planned behaviour in primary care in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.Method Semi-structured interviews and focus groups with a purposive sample of health professionals and adults with insomnia.Results A total of 23 health professionals and 28 patients were interviewed. Features designed to engender trust and improve functionality were perceived to improve uptake and adherence to CCBT-I. Trust lay in programme accreditation; for professionals, trust derived from evidence of effectiveness; for patients, trust depended on the doctor–patient relationship, professional support, the quality of online peer support, and perceptions of risk. Patients wanted mobile applications; access in short periods; self-assessment; interactive, personalised information on sleep; and moderated contact with other users. Patients and practitioners differed over whether useful information could be distinguished from less useful or potentially incorrect information.Conclusion Improving uptake and adherence to online programmes for insomnia requires design features focusing on trust and functionality. Enabling greater patient control and interaction with other users and professionals may stimulate positive experiences of online therapy. CCBT-I would enable greater access to treatment but is limited by lack of online access or poor computer literacy.