Engaging Turkish Immigrants in Psychotherapy: Development and Proof-of-Concept Study of a Culture-Tailored, Web-Based Intervention

Background. Culturally tailored interventions can increase the engagement and the success rate of psychotherapy in immigrant and ethnic minority patients. In this regard, the integration of the patients’ illness beliefs is a key element. Applying principles of Motivational and Ethnographic Interviewing, we developed a culture-tailored, web-based intervention to facilitate engagement of Turkish immigrant inpatients in psychotherapy. Method. The different aspects of the engagement intervention development are described and its acceptance and usefulness were tested in a proof-of-concept trial with an experimental control group design (active control condition: progressive muscle relaxation) in a sample of Turkish immigrant inpatients in Germany (N = 26). Illness perception, illness-related locus of control, and self-efficacy were assessed pre and post intervention. Results. The engagement intervention was rated better than the control condition (p=.002) and in particular, participants felt better prepared for therapy after working with it (p=.013). By working with the engagement intervention, self-efficacy increased (p=.034) and external-fatalistic control beliefs diminished (p=.021). However, half of the participants needed assistance in using the computer and web-based interventions. Conclusion. The developed intervention provides a first step towards feasible culture-tailored psychotherapeutic elements that can be integrated into routine clinical care. The first results regarding acceptance and usefulness are promising. reviewed acceptedVersion