“This is a lifesaver”: co-designing a novel cyberscam psychosocial recovery intervention framework for people with acquired brain injury
Creators: name: Chew, Kimberly Ann
name: Ponsford, Jennie Louise
name: Gould, Kate Rachel
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2025
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Neuroscience
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Science Policy
subject: Mental Health
subject: Computational Biology

description: Despite devastating financial and psychosocial consequences, no tailored cyberscam psychosocial recovery treatments for people with acquired brain injury (ABI) exist. We aimed to 1) co-design a cyberscam psychosocial intervention framework with and for people with ABI, and 2) explore co-design process experiences of people with ABI, close others and clinicians. Using co-design frameworks, fifteen adults (n<sub>ABI</sub>=5, n<sub>close others</sub>= 3, n<sub>clinicians/service providers</sub>=7) participated in 20 hours of hybrid focus groups (2.5h x 8 meetings) to develop content, measures, and sustainability plans. Of these, five were part of the project team (n<sub>ABI</sub>=1, n<sub>clinicians/service providers</sub>=4). Clinicians participated in eight additional meetings. Fourteen semi-structured qualitative interviews and reflexive thematic analysis explored the co-design process. The co-designed cyberscam psychosocial adjustment intervention framework addresses cybersafety and adjustment to scam-related impacts on finances, emotions, relationships and lifestyle. Five themes were identified: “Overwhelming number of ideas”; “Value of skilled facilitation”; “Respectful and inclusive”; “Power of sharing scam experiences”; “Creating a practical scam intervention framework.” A world-first co-designed cyberscam adjustment intervention framework was developed and will be piloted for feasibility and preliminary efficacy. Although co-designing interventions is complex and time-intensive, it is achievable with appropriate structure and facilitation. Future co-design projects can replicate this model. Whilst scams can affect anyone, people with acquired brain injury may be more vulnerable and experience disproportionate financial and psychosocial consequences.A flexible cyberscam psychosocial adjustment intervention framework for people with acquired brain injury, covering cybersafety and adjustment to scam impacts on finances, emotions, relationships and lifestyle, was co-designed.Using co-design ensures the relevance and practicality of the intervention developed.Co-designing interventions with various stakeholders including people with severe acquired brain injury can be complex and time-consuming; however, it is achievable with appropriate structure and skilled facilitation. Whilst scams can affect anyone, people with acquired brain injury may be more vulnerable and experience disproportionate financial and psychosocial consequences. A flexible cyberscam psychosocial adjustment intervention framework for people with acquired brain injury, covering cybersafety and adjustment to scam impacts on finances, emotions, relationships and lifestyle, was co-designed. Using co-design ensures the relevance and practicality of the intervention developed. Co-designing interventions with various stakeholders including people with severe acquired brain injury can be complex and time-consuming; however, it is achievable with appropriate structure and skilled facilitation.