Advisor(s)
Larry Hearld
Robin Lanzi
Committee Member(s)
Hui Young
James Rimmer
Nataliya Ivankova
School
School of Health Professions
Document Type
Dissertation
Department (new version)
Administration/Health Services
Date of Award
9-11-2025
Abstract
People with mobility limitations face higher levels of mental health challenges and often face barriers to accessing mental health resources to overcome them. Raising mental health awareness and providing accessible resources are essential for improving the quality of life in this population. The NCHPAD’s (National Center on Health, Physical Activity, and Disability) GROWTH (Growing Resilience Out of Wellness and Thoughtful Habits) program is a telehealth mental health wellness program developed for individuals with mobility limitations. The primary objective of this dissertation is to conduct an process evaluation of the GROWTH pilot program using a mixed methods approach to assess its implementation, preliminary effectiveness, and offer recommendations for future implementation of telehealth mental health programs for people with disabilities. We employed a concurrent mixed methods design, guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), to evaluate the program. Twenty-nine participants participated in the six-week pilot program. The quantitative data included pre- and post-surveys for effectiveness (mental health status, mental health knowledge, and mental health self-efficacy) and implementation (system usability, program content, processes, program acceptability, program appropriateness, program feasibility, and participant adherence). In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with the program participants and facilitators. Fourteen participants (12 female, 2 male; age range, 29–68) from nine states completed the pre- and post-surveys, while sixteen participants and five facilitators participated in qualitative interviews. The findings from the quantitative and qualitative analyses were integrated using a joint display based on the CFIR framework. The integrated results demonstrated preliminary effectiveness of the program in reducing depression, anxiety, and psychological distress; however, outcomes related to mental health knowledge and self-efficacy were mixed. Implementation outcomes, including acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, and fidelity, were consistently positive. Additionally, the study identified several recommendations to enhance future implementation of the program. The study’s findings provide critical insights into implementing telehealth mental health awareness programs for underserved populations, thereby contributing to the development of more inclusive and effective mental health interventions.
ProQuest ID
Recommended Citation
Mohanraj, Sangeetha, "A Concurrent Mixed Methods Formative Process Evaluation Of A Telehealth Mental Health Awareness Program For People With Mobility Limitations" (2025). All ETDs from UAB. 7430.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/7430
