Social workers, addictionologists, psychologists, doctors and special educators together with IT experts have developed a new mobile app to help people in addiction treatment. The app is aimed at both clients and therapists. It was developed with the support of the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic within the framework of the ÉTA Programme at the Faculty of Education of Palacký University.
For several years, a group of experts working with people suffering from addictions has been working on the idea of creating a mobile application in the Czech Republic that would be a functional assistant in the treatment program. After several years of work, the app is reaching the target group of people.
"There are a number of experts among addictionologists who meet regularly, and years ago everyone found it useful to have the known findings so far summarized in one application. In addition to the experts, we invited former substance abusers who have been abstinent for a long time, as well as those in treatment, to participate in its development. We consulted with all of them about what is and is not useful in treatment. We met in focus groups to collect themes, then we also met with the IT group to evaluate what was possible in developing an app from their point of view. Behind the creation of the app, there are many people who are trying to help people in the treatment phase," said Michal Růžička, a psychotherapist and educator from the Institute of Special Pedagogical Studies at the Faculty of Education of the Palacky University and the principal investigator of the project, which was supported by the Technical Agency of the Czech Republic.
The mobile application is now intended for clients of the alcohol and other addictions treatment programme and the Counselling Centre in Olomouc. It is still being tested at other workplaces. It is used by both the therapist and the client, but it is primarily intended for clients. It is based on mindfulness, so the client is educated through it and at the same time monitors a certain daily programme in order to minimise the risk of cravings.
"It is actually a kind of interactive diary that reminds the client every day of everything that is important for abstinence. For example, the app asks about sleep, and the client fills in the app's questionnaire to see if they got enough sleep or what prevented them from getting enough sleep. At the same time, in the educational chapter, the client learns why sleep is important for abstinence. Similarly, topics such as diet, physical activity, stress, which is also a common trigger for binge eating, are also covered. The app also provides information about relationships and building them, asking about the client's health, how the client feels, and how much he or she perceives temptation to the substance, how well the client is doing in abstinence, how he or she spends his or her free time, asking about rest, which is just as important for living in balance, and generally how satisfied he or she is with the day. The client answers all the questions every day in the app's scales and can also comment on his answers. After he saves and submits the information in the app, his therapist can track how the client is doing in the aftercare program over a period of days, weeks. Also, thanks to the education, the client has a clearer perception of whether he is able to meet certain criteria or whether he has a greater craving for the addictive substance," described Michal Růžička.
He added that the therapist had dealt with clients in this way before, but only through paper questionnaires. Thus, each of the professionals in the addiction group only kept track of their own data.
"The mobile app is a big shift in interaction. A client who does not like to read can listen to a lot of the materials even in the educational part," added Michal Růžička. Certain chapters of the app are also available in audio form, with words contributed by Czech theatre and film actor, presenter and reciter Alfred Strejček. In the finishing phase, quizzes or links to podcasts are also offered through the app. It also includes SOS contacts or the so-called last rescue box, which serves those who have trouble maintaining abstinence.
"In this mobile app inbox, clients usually have personal suggestive passwords, such as a link to a song that can kick them out of trouble, so to speak. They may also have photos from various trips there, so memories of when they were abstinent, when they were well. Parents can have pictures of their children that they are abstinent for and things like that. In fact, it is a kind of motivational bulletin board," added Michal Růžička, stressing that even with all the offer, the new app may not be suitable for everyone. The client has to be willing to fill in a lot of data on a daily basis, which he then evaluates with the therapist.
There have been similar applications abroad for several years. "We also thought about it at the time when mobile phones and the internet started to be used here. But even five years ago, not all clients in our country had them. Today the situation is completely different. Every day we meet people who don't have a home, a job, a phone, but hopefully everyone has internet. They can be on the app for different lengths of time. It should be motivating for them, not burdensome," he added.
The application was created thanks to the project Application for the development of social competences of people with addiction in the context of indications for special educational and therapeutic intervention. It is currently being used free of charge by clients and there are already first outcomes resulting from its use. These will also be discussed by experts at the upcoming conference. The development of the application was funded by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic under the ÉTA Programme.
Doc. Michal Růžička has long been involved in psychotherapy and counselling for people with addiction, in theory, practice and research. His work is primarily based on cognitive behavioural therapy, expressive therapies, mindfulness and other approaches. He works as an associate professor at the Faculty of Education at Palacký University and as a therapist at the Olomouc P-centre, an association that provides services in the field of prevention, family and child care, counselling, treatment and recovery from addictions.