ArticleJournal of medical Internet research2018
Mobile App Use by Primary Care Patients to Manage Their Depressive Symptoms: Qualitative Study.
Article in Journal of medical Internet research, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
19 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of digital technologies in mental health systems: a qualitative systematic review to inform a policy framework.BMC health services research · 2024Pooled it
- Barriers to and Facilitators of User Engagement With Digital Mental Health Interventions: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2021Pooled it
- Influences on the Uptake of and Engagement With Health and Well-Being Smartphone Apps: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2020Pooled it
- Patient and Care Team Perspectives of Barriers to and Facilitators for the Implementation of a Digital Health Program for Depression in Primary Care: Qualitative Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
- A Brief Video-Based Intervention to Improve Digital Health Literacy for Individuals With Bipolar Disorder: Intervention Development and Results of a Single-Arm Quantitative Pilot Study.Journal of participatory medicine · 2025Article
- Beyond the medical file: A scoping review on patients' perspectives on depression treatment in primary care.PloS one · 2025Article
- Intention to Use a Mental Health App for Menopause: Health Belief Model Approach.JMIR formative research · 2024Article
- Perception of Apps for Mental Health Assessment With Recommendations for Future Design: United Kingdom Semistructured Interview Study.JMIR formative research · 2024Article
- Mental Health Professionals' Attitudes Toward Digital Mental Health Apps and Implications for Adoption in Portugal: Mixed Methods Study.JMIR human factors · 2023Article
- Clinical Perspectives on Using Remote Measurement Technology in Assessing Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, and Depression: Delphi Study.JMIR neurotechnology · 2023Article
- Characterizing Use of a Multicomponent Digital Intervention to Predict Treatment Outcomes in First-Episode Psychosis: Cluster Analysis.JMIR mental health · 2022Article
- Accessibility of mental health support in China and preferences on web-based services for mood disorders: A qualitative study.Internet interventions · 2021Article
- Patient and physician perspectives of a smartphone application for depression: a qualitative study.BMC psychiatry · 2021Article
- Engaging With a Web-Based Psychosocial Intervention for Psychosis: Qualitative Study of User Experiences.JMIR mental health · 2020Article
- Actionable health app evaluation: translating expert frameworks into objective metrics.NPJ digital medicine · 2020Review
- Acceptance and Expectations of Medical Experts, Students, and Patients Toward Electronic Mental Health Apps: Cross-Sectional Quantitative and Qualitative Survey Study.JMIR mental health · 2019Article
- Development and Testing of a Mobile Phone App for Risk Estimation of Gas Volume Expansion and Intraocular Pressure Elevation in Patients With Intravitreous Gas or Air Tamponade: Interobserver Assessment Study.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2019Article
- The Digital Psychiatrist: In Search of Evidence-Based Apps for Anxiety and Depression.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2019Review
- Acceptability and usability of a WeChat-based intervention for depression in China: A mixed-methods study.Digital healthArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMobile apps are emerging as tools with the potential to revolutionize the treatment of mental health conditions such as depression. At the forefront of the community health sector, general practitioners are in a unique position to guide the integration of technology and depression management; however, little is currently known about how primary care patients with depressive symptoms are currently using apps.
objectiveThe objective of our study was to explore the natural patterns of mobile app use among patients with depressive symptoms to facilitate the understanding of the potential role for mobile apps in managing depressive symptoms in the community.
methodsSemistructured phone interviews were conducted with primary care patients in Victoria, Australia, who reported symptoms of depression and were enrolled in a larger randomized controlled trial of depression care. Interviews explored current depression management strategies and the use of mobile apps (if any). Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Inductive thematic analysis was iteratively conducted using QSR NVivo 11 Pro to identify emergent themes.
resultsA total of 16 participants, aged between 20 to 58 years, took part in the interviews with 11 reporting the use of at least one mobile app to manage depressive symptoms and 5 reporting no app use. A variety of apps were described including relaxation, mindfulness, cognitive, exercise, gaming, social media, and well-being apps to aid with depressive symptoms. Among users, there were the following 4 main patterns of app use: skill acquisition, social connectedness, inquisitive trial, and safety netting. Factors that influenced app use included accessibility, perceptions of technology, and personal compatibility. Health care providers also had a role in initiating app use.
conclusionsMobile apps are being utilized for self-management of depressive symptoms by primary care patients. This study provided insight into the natural patterns and perspectives of app use, which enhanced the understanding of how this technology may be integrated into the toolbox for the management of depression.
trial registrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12616000537459; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=367152 (Archived at WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/71Vf06X2T).
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