Lived Experience
Lived Experience Input
It is really important that those who experience life with any kind of difficulty provide input into what will ultimately help.
The ACT Vet Research
When the idea of ACTVet was first conceived the research team asked a group of veterans, with a range of lived experiences, questions such as:
Do you think an app is a good idea, based on your experience of gambling support?
Would an app trigger gambling if, say, you gambled on your phone?
Do you think an app would work, as a support tool for veterans?
What would you like to see included?
Veteran's Comments
When the idea of ACTVet was first conceived the research team asked a group of veterans, with a range of lived experiences, questions such as:
When asked what sort of app they wanted:
“I went to GA for gambling support specifically…the app has to treat gambling [versus PTSD that may drive gambling]”
When asked what features they wanted in the app:
“…if you’ve got 10 veterans doing this together, it’s giving them the option to have that [virtual] group where they can connect with each other to discuss. I know you said people might be working on different things but I think having these people to be able to connect with each other is hugely powerful…”
When asked about their opinions of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) as a support tool, embedded within an app:
“…[ACT as a therapy ought to be delivered by] guided, self-help programme… if you just give people an app, they probably wouldn’t do very well, without any guidance…”.
“The first time I went to therapy acceptance wasn’t there. I was forced by my wife…but the second time I came to terms with what I had done. Acceptance was really powerful”
These are just some of the points the veterans in our focus group made, but they are key pieces of information we needed to create a support tool. Based on this information we have created an app, that is marketed as a gambling support app, it contains structured therapy, the therapy is underpinned by acceptance, and the app also has a community section.
Once we had created our manual, which provides a step-by-step structure to the therapy, veterans provided more feedback as to whether each step of the manual was resonating and easy to follow. We also received feedback on whether the graphics that brought the therapy to life were eye-catching and brought the therapy to life.
As we move forward, we will be asking for feedback on things such as:
The experience of using the app in real-time
The quality of the visuals
The usability of the app
The efficiency of the app
Whether the app is engaging
Whether you would recommend the app to someone else
Is there anything you think we ought to remove?
Your reflections on using the app once you have completed the programme.
Lived Experience Panel
We will collect some of this feedback via a telephone or through an in-person discussion, so we can assess what you think while you are using it or after you have used it.
Any feedback you provide will be anonymous and fed into future versions of the app. It is vital that the app is tailored towards veterans, therefore, it needs input from veterans to make it tailored. Additionally, feedback will assist us when we seek NHS endorsement, and future investment to keep the app in circulation as a free tool.
Please consider joining our lived experience panel. The research team are happy to answer any question about being part of our lived experience panel, in terms of what that consists of and what we require of you. It is completely optional, and if you decide you do not have time to provide feedback on ACTVet then you are under no obligation to do so. Please be assured that all data received by the research team will be kept in a manner that strictly adheres to data protection and GDPR.