“This is a lifesaver”: co-designing a novel cyberscam psychosocial recovery intervention framework for people with acquired brain injury

Purpose: 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. Methods: Using co-design frameworks, fifteen adults (n_ABI=5, n_{close others}= 3, n_{clinicians/service providers}=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_ABI=1, n_{clinicians/service providers}=4). Clinicians participated in eight additional meetings. Fourteen semi-structured qualitative interviews and reflexive thematic analysis explored the co-design process. Results: 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.” Conclusions: 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.