Acceptability and feasibility of an internet-based intervention for bereaved Chinese with prolonged grief: a mixed methods study

<b>Background:</b> In China, professional resources for the bereaved are scarce. Internet-based interventions could offer a promising solution for providing mental health services to those experiencing prolonged grief. However, the acceptability and feasibility of such interventions for this group are not well understood. <b>Objective:</b> This study aims to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of a newly developed prolonged grief intervention protocol and the way how the intervention is delivered. <b>Methods:</b> Thirty-eight Chinese bereaved individuals with prolonged grief were recruited online to use a WeChat mini programme named <i>Healing Grief</i>, which was developed on the basis of the Dual Process Model (DPM) of coping with bereavement, for six weeks. Participants were asked to complete pre – and post – intervention questionnaires to capture their demographic information, bereavement-related characteristics, related mental health variables and user experience of the intervention. Semi-structured interviews focused on user experience were conducted after the intervention. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and difference tests, while thematic analysis was applied to the interview transcripts. <b>Results:</b> Thirty participants (78.9%) completed the whole intervention, and 25 participants (65.8%) attended the interview. Overall, participants had high acceptability of the intervention form and the intervention protocol. Regression analysis suggested goal achievement in the <i>Searching for meaning</i> module (<i>β </i>= −0.501, <i>p </i>= .005) predicted 22.4% improvement in prolonged grief. Goal achievement in the <i>Saying goodbye</i> module (<i>β </i>= 0.554, <i>p </i>= .001) and the quality of the intervention (<i>β </i>= 0.328, <i>p </i>= .028) predicted 48.0% improvement in post-traumatic growth. Thematic analysis showed that most participants agreed that the intervention helped them cope with grief, embrace positive changes, and change their previous cognitions about psychological intervention and grief. <b>Conclusions:</b> The DPM-based intervention delivered via WeChat mini programme demonstrated high acceptability and feasibility among Chinese individuals with prolonged grief. Further randomized controlled trials are recommended to assess its effectiveness. The self-guided internet-based intervention <i>Healing Grief</i> was implemented for the first time among Chinese adults with prolonged grief.The acceptance and feasibility of <i>Healing Grief</i> was supported by both quantitative data and qualitative narratives.Potential improvements in prolonged grief and posttraumatic stress symptoms were observed.Self-guided internet-based intervention is promising to address the lack of bereavement care resources in China. The self-guided internet-based intervention <i>Healing Grief</i> was implemented for the first time among Chinese adults with prolonged grief. The acceptance and feasibility of <i>Healing Grief</i> was supported by both quantitative data and qualitative narratives. Potential improvements in prolonged grief and posttraumatic stress symptoms were observed. Self-guided internet-based intervention is promising to address the lack of bereavement care resources in China.