Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38728684›Full record

ArticleJMIR mental health2024

Veteran Experiences With an mHealth App to Support Measurement-Based Mental Health Care: Results From a Mixed Methods Evaluation.

Robin T Higashi, Bella Etingen, Eric Richardson, Jennifer Palmer, Mark S Zocchi, Felicia R Bixler, Bridget Smith, Nicholas McMahon, Kathleen L Frisbee, John C Fortney and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR mental health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Robin T HigashiPeter O'Donnell Jr School of Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States.ORCID 0000-0001-5232-6852
Bella EtingenPeter O'Donnell Jr School of Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States.ORCID 0000-0003-1325-9073
Eric RichardsoneHealth Partnered Evaluation Initiative, Veterans Affairs Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-0855-3350
Jennifer PalmereHealth Partnered Evaluation Initiative, Veterans Affairs Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-6573-6268
Mark S ZocchieHealth Partnered Evaluation Initiative, Veterans Affairs Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, United States.ORCID 0000-0001-9464-9561
Felicia R BixlereHealth Partnered Evaluation Initiative, Veterans Affairs Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, United States.ORCID 0000-0001-9304-4085
Bridget SmitheHealth Partnered Evaluation Initiative, Veterans Affairs Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-3301-8843
Nicholas McMahoneHealth Partnered Evaluation Initiative, Veterans Affairs Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-9322-0883
Kathleen L FrisbeeeHealth Partnered Evaluation Initiative, Veterans Affairs Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-0194-4009
John C FortneyCenter of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States.ORCID 0000-0001-9409-8894
Carolyn TurveyCenter for Access & Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Iowa City, IA, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-8219-8676
Jennifer EvansOffice of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, United States.ORCID 0009-0001-3156-4373
Timothy P HoganPeter O'Donnell Jr School of Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-6888-0927

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMental health conditions are highly prevalent among US veterans. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is committed to enhancing mental health care through the integration of measurement-based care (MBC) practices, guided by its Collect-Share-Act model. Incorporating the use of remote mobile apps may further support the implementation of MBC for mental health care.

objectiveThis study aims to evaluate veteran experiences with Mental Health Checkup (MHC), a VHA mobile app to support remote MBC for mental health.

methodsOur mixed methods sequential explanatory evaluation encompassed mailed surveys with veterans who used MHC and follow-up semistructured interviews with a subset of survey respondents. We analyzed survey data using descriptive statistics. We then compared responses between veterans who indicated having used MHC for ≥3 versus <3 months using χ

resultsWe received 533 surveys (533/2631, for a 20% response rate) and completed 20 interviews. Findings from these data supported one another and highlighted 4 key themes. (1) The MHC app had positive impacts on care processes for veterans: a majority of MHC users overall, and a greater proportion who had used MHC for ≥3 months (versus <3 months), agreed or strongly agreed that using MHC helped them be more engaged in their health and health care (169/262, 65%), make decisions about their treatment (157/262, 60%), and set goals related to their health and health care (156/262, 60%). Similarly, interviewees described that visualizing progress through graphs of their assessment data over time motivated them to continue therapy and increased self-awareness. (2) A majority of respondents overall, and a greater proportion who had used MHC for ≥3 months (versus <3 months), agreed/strongly agreed that using MHC enhanced their communication (112/164, 68% versus 51/98, 52%; P=.009) and rapport (95/164, 58% versus 42/98, 43%; P=.02) with their VHA providers. Likewise, interviewees described how MHC helped focus therapy time and facilitated trust. (3) However, veterans also endorsed some challenges using MHC. Among respondents overall, these included difficulty understanding graphs of their assessment data (102/245, 42%), not receiving enough training on the app (73/259, 28%), and not being able to change responses to assessment questions (72/256, 28%). (4) Interviewees offered suggestions for improving the app (eg, facilitating ease of log-in, offering additional reminder features) and for increasing adoption (eg, marketing the app and its potential advantages for veterans receiving mental health care).

conclusionsAlthough experiences with the MHC app varied, veterans were positive overall about its use. Veterans described associations between the use of MHC and engagement in their own care, self-management, and interactions with their VHA mental health providers. Findings support the potential of MHC as a technology capable of supporting the VHA's Collect-Share-Act model of MBC.

Indexed as

Mental Health ServicesMobile ApplicationsTelemedicineUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsVeteransAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchSurveys and QuestionnairesUnited Statesdigital healthmeasurement-based caremental healthmHealthmixed-methods evaluationmobile health appsupportveteran

Identifiers

PMID38728684
PMCPMC11127133

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.