First responders are personnel with specialized training to render care to patients who experience traumatic events (eg, acute illness, accidents, natural disasters, and terrorism) as the first point of contact. These personnel typically include firefighters, police officers, paramedics, corrections officers, and emergency health care workers, who often attend to persons in critical situations or conditions [1-3].

Posttraumatic stress injury (PTSI) is a mental health condition that first responders may experience at some point in their careers [2]. Some potentially traumatic events include motor vehicle accidents, fires, sexual assault, floods, and situations involving unexpected death, among others. These events can bring about injury and stress-related traumas that influence emotional well-being and prosperity [4]. Most first responders report experiencing multiple traumatic events in their lives [2,4,5]. Approximately 6.8% of people develop PTSI over their lifetime [6]. PTSI symptoms may affect the general well-being of the individuals; alter mood; and contribute to insomnia, irritability, and traumatic flashbacks [2].

PTSI is closely related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Both share similar symptoms and are sometimes used interchangeably across the literature. Differences are subject to debate among various schools of thought. Whereas PTSD refers to a psychiatric disorder, PTSI, as defined by the Global PTSI Foundation, refers to biological injury associated with physical changes in the nervous system [7]. Psychiatrists and military officers have suggested that relinquishing the word “disorder” in favor of “injury” will minimize the stigma that prevents troops from seeking treatment. Thus, changing the name from PTSD to PTSI would change people’s perception of the condition [8].

PTSI rates are high among first responders ranging from one-third to more than half of those exposed to potentially traumatic events [9]. Globally, it is estimated that 10% to 35% of first responders experience psychological conditions, including PTSI [3,10]. A meta-analysis examining mental disorders among ambulance personnel estimated prevalence rates of 11% for PTSD, 15% for depression, 15% for anxiety, and 27% for general psychological distress [11,12]. Another study revealed that 80% of rescue, firefighter, medical, and police personnel who cared for victims of an apartment building explosion reported at least a symptom of PTSD [13]. Surprisingly, the prevalence rate of PTSD in these groups were found to widely range from 0% to 46% [14,15]. First responders experiencing PTSI may decrease productivity, increase risk of suicide, and show poor social interaction [16].

The most common co-occurring diagnosis with PTSI is depression, with about 36% to 55% of patients with PTSI experiencing concurrent depression [4,17]. A study conducted among first responders showed an increased risk of PTSI of 25.6% and 16.7% at 7 and 13 months, respectively, with a depression rate of 16%, after exposure to a traumatic event [18]. A proportion of first responders who are exposed to traumatic events seek psychological support or treatment [6,19]. There is no doubt that PTSI is a substantial mental health concern, especially among first responders, and contributes to a substantial overall cost for mental health. It is estimated that there are 69,000 police personnel; 110,000 firefighters; 30,000 paramedics; 17,000 correctional services personnel; over 7000 border services personnel; and 18,000 volunteer search and rescue personnel who serve as first responders in Canada [18]. About 2.5 million Canadian adults and 70,000 first responders have experienced PTSI in their lifetimes [9].

Psychological treatment to address PTSI may be unavailable due to access considerations such as location or lengthy waitlist, among others [1]. This informs the need for a service that will improve access and prevent and manage PTSI digitally. Narrative synthesis indicates that the digital delivery of these therapies might be as powerful as in-person delivery [20,21]. Additionally, these means may also lessen stigma and price while providing a remedy [22,23]. Evidence has shown that about one-third of persons with PTSI never recover due to inadequate and high-cost care; hence, cost-effective management is required [22]. Because of PTSI and its impact on first responders and their families, governments and other policy-making bodies, including the Canadian Workers’ Compensation Boards, initiated a guide for the rehabilitation of PTSI with a structured legislature to accept PTSI claims [23-25].

Mobile/smartphone technology can support and improve patient outcomes in psychological care [26,27]. An acceptable way to provide psychological interventions to the public and to those with mental health conditions is supportive SMS text messaging. Considering it is comparatively affordable, available, and efficient, text-based messaging can be delivered to many users at the same time, which may reduce the mental health treatment gap [26]. Mobile/smartphone messaging can prevent and manage health conditions and provide individuals with supportive and customized messages pertaining to their unique health conditions [26,28,29]. Supportive SMS text messaging can reduce hospitalizations and improve health behavior [30,31]. Research has demonstrated that, overall, an individual’s mental health improves upon receiving supportive SMS text messages [32-34]. Early provision of psychoeducation is effective in the prevention and management of PTSI [35]. About 80% of subscribers reported high satisfaction with the service and improved mental health status in studies conducted in Alberta [36]. A global survey conducted in 2015 revealed the median of access to the internet, with 87% having access to the internet and 68% of people own a smartphone. Among western countries, Canada is in a high-use group, with 90% of Canadians using the internet and 67% owning a smartphone [37]. These messages will effectively support patients who are attending individual or group treatment at Alberta Mental Health Centres.

Adjunct supportive text message therapy for psychological conditions has been tested on mood disorders among other psychological conditions [26]. However, to our knowledge, this innovation has not yet been conducted with PTSI and with first responders specifically. To address this gap, we propose an innovative program for first responders that seek to prevent and manage PTSI among this cohort with an evidence-based supportive SMS text messaging program developed using the concept of cognitive behavioral therapy.

This project will implement a structured daily SMS text messaging service known as Text4PTSI and Text4Wellbeing, which aims to prevent and reduce the occurrence of PTSI and to manage PTSI symptoms among first responders. We will evaluate posttraumatic symptoms; correspondent’s demography; and Text4PTSI’s and Text4Wellbeing’s impact on stress, anxiety, and depression.

We propose the following research questions:

The mixed methods study design will engage both quantitative and qualitative approaches [38]. Both approaches will be used independently as well as together and triangulated using the theoretical framework.

Outcomes have been defined as the change in health status directly attributable to the efforts or success of the health care experience [39-41]. Thus, successful treatment is associated with the efficacy of the provided care [42-45]. However, this study, as with many mental health impact evaluations, is subjective [46], given that it applies self-reported assessments by the participants. However, as suggested by the desire-fulfillment theory, outcomes possess a predominately positive association with satisfaction [47,48]. This is because the underlying rationale for seeking care is often to alleviate some form of functional impairment [49]. Comparing evidence on the difference (and similarities) between the need for health as perceived by the patient and the need for health care (as defined by the physician through scientific means) provides an opportunity for research. Consequently, this study will contribute to closing this gap by triangulating evidence from standardized psychological evaluation with evidence of patient satisfaction. Batbaatar and colleagues [50] identified nine determinants of variations in satisfaction with health care services: technical care, interpersonal care, physical environment, access (accessibility, availability, and finances), organizational characteristics, continuity of care, and outcome of care (Table 1). Our study will be guided by this framework and adapted for our e–mental health intervention (Table 2).

First responders who are 18 years or older who can provide informed consent will be eligible for the study. The Text4PTSI and Text4Wellbeing programs will be promoted to all first responders, including those who are healthy and may be seeking prophylactic psychological support to avert the onset of PTSI symptoms, those who might be experiencing PTSI symptoms but have not sought face-to-face psychological care, and those who are already accessing psychological care. First responders will also need to possess a mobile phone with an active line and have access to SMS text messages.

First responders will be ineligible if they do not meet the aforementioned inclusion criteria or reside outside of regular cell phone connection areas.

The first responders in Alberta (eg, firefighters, police officers, paramedics, corrections officers, and emergency health care workers) who regularly encounter difficult, risky, and traumatic events, and are willing to consent to the program will be targeted for recruitment. We will work with all first responder organizations to reach out to all first responders with information about the program. In addition, Text4PTSI and Text4Wellbeing would be the subject of a wide-exposure communications campaign (TV, radio, internet, and print media). First responders at risk of PTSI and those experiencing PTSI symptoms and on a waitlist to obtain care through the Alberta Health Services centralized Addiction and Mental Health intake service and the Operational Stress Injury Clinic with extra passageways such as private psychologists and counsellors will be included as the project evolves.

First responders will participate in the Text4PTSI and Text4Wellbeing programs by simply texting “PTSI” and “Wellbeing,” respectively, to a designated phone number. Text4PTSI and Text4Wellbeing will offer quick support to first responders encountering PTSI symptoms, including individuals who are on a waitlist for services or may experience issues getting to support because of geographic boundaries or other access considerations. Beginning on the first day of enrollment, first responders will receive daily unidirectional computer-programmed supportive SMS text messages, which will be specifically designed to alleviate PTSI symptoms. The messages will be written by cognitive behavior therapists and psychologists who have experience in treating PTSI in partnership with a cross section of first responders receiving treatment at the Operational Stress Injury and Addiction and Mental Health clinics in Edmonton and Calgary. The messages will be preprogrammed into a software program that will deliver the messages to subscribers automatically. The content of the SMS text message will focus on two dimensions. The first dimension includes general content that is indicated regardless of symptom presented, including messages of self-care, social support, hope, affirmation, and recovery. In the second dimension, specific content will be provided that focuses on the management of PTSI-related symptoms and conditions, including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, major depressive disorder, and suicidal ideation (eg, activity scheduling in depression). The ultimate goal will be to have SMS text message content customized based on end user characteristics. To this end, over time, we will appraise the individual needs of participants based on occupational category, age group, cultural identity, sex, gender identity and gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, culture, religious perspective, income, and non-English language communication. This will be in accordance with the user identified needs and may enhance access for numerous groups, many of whom may be marginalized or underserved. For the program under study, the SMS text messages will target specific PTSI risk factors and symptoms with consideration for occupational and sociocultural context. An example [51] is:

With Alberta’s first responder population of about 33,000 [52], a 95% CI, and a 3% margin of error, the sample size needed for prevalence estimates for likely PTSI will be 1034. Based on baseline survey response rates of 20% achieved with both Text4Mood and Text4Hope programs [26,53,54], to achieve our sample size target, we plan to enroll 5170 first responders in the Text4PTSI and Text4Wellbeing programs.

At the beginning of the first message, respondents will be introduced to the program by completing an online mental health assessment, which will be repeated at 6 weeks, 3 months, and upon completion of the program at 6 months. A similar approach was successfully used to collect cross-sectional and longitudinal data from thousands of Text4Hope subscribers during the COVID-19 pandemic [53-65]. In-depth interviews on participant satisfaction with Text4PTSI and Text4Wellbeing will be conducted involving a cross-section of 10 to 15 participants selected randomly using an interview guide informed by the theoretical framework.

Key outcomes of interest in this study include change in scores measured by comparing pre- vs posttreatment responses to the following surveys: PTSD Checklist 5 [66], Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale [67], Perceived Stress Scale [68], and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [69]. Secondary outcomes will include quality of life, as measured with the Well-being Index [70], and program satisfaction measured with the Text4PTSI and Text4Wellbeing exit questionnaire.

A patient satisfaction questionnaire will be programmed to measure the applicability of the technology as a valuable modality for delivering psychological therapies to large numbers of first responders experiencing PTSI symptoms. It is also designed to assess the benefits of the program to service users. A patient satisfaction questionnaire previously used to evaluate the Text4Mood program and Text4Hope program [26,55] will be adapted to evaluate the Text4PTSI and Text4Wellbeing Programs. As part of the sociodemographic variables, the satisfaction questionnaire will address multiple measures of satisfaction, including subscriber-reported effects of the program on symptoms and quality of life, and the usability of the technology. Table 3 illustrates an overview of the Text4PTSI and Text4Wellbeing outcome measures.

A quantitative evaluation will be used with a descriptive and inferential analytical approach. The analysis will demonstrate the distribution of likely PTSI with respect to sociodemographic characteristics of participants, as well as identify determinants of likely PTSI symptoms and outcomes across various predictor variables. Using subscriber data from the overall study, an additional benefit will be the application of machine learning to develop an artificial intelligence approach to predict characteristics and risk factors of first responders who commonly experience PTSI symptoms. This would allow us to generate predictive tools to differentially support first responders at risk of PTSI. This activity will be achieved through collaboration with the computational psychiatry group. This approach is well within the expertise of the computational psychiatry group members and in line with PTSI/PTSD trauma-related care [71,72].

Qualitative data will be analyzed to explore respondents’ preferences, satisfaction, and other characteristics that will help improve outcome, program design, preventive strategies, and workplace and government policies as they relate to PTSI. Qualitative data analysis will involve inductive and deductive thematic analytic approaches using the study’s theoretical framework. Qualitative descriptive methodology is an appropriate approach for qualitative research geared toward generating information to refine interventions in everyday terms [73]. In accordance with qualitative descriptive methods [73], qualitative content analysis will be conducted to summarize the content of the data [74].

What is also unique about this study is the demographic data collected from users. Collecting this information will also allow us to engage in comparative analysis, which may reveal new patterns or trends in the mental health of first responders based upon how they identify. This will allow the research team to further customize text-based supportive messages based on characteristics including age, gender, race, sexual orientation, etc.

The study received ethics approval from the Health Research Ethics Board (HREB) of the University of Alberta (Pro00108966). Informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Confidentiality and data security measures will be adhered to as approved by the HREB.