Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40681167›Full record

ArticleJMIR research protocols2025

A Human-Centered Approach for a Student Mental Health and Well-Being Mobile App: Protocol for Development, Implementation, and Evaluation.

Maryam Gholami, David Wing, Manas Satish Bedmutha, Job Godino, Anahi Ibarra, Byron Fergerson, Nicole May, Christopher A Longhurst, Nadir Weibel, Anne Duffy and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR research protocols, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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.

Maryam GholamiAltman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, University of California San Diego Health, La Jolla, CA, United States.ORCID 0000-0001-8848-6444
David WingHerbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.ORCID 0000-0003-1883-9448
Manas Satish BedmuthaComputer Science and Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.ORCID 0000-0003-3427-2226
Job GodinoHerbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-4852-6277
Anahi IbarraSchool of Medicine, University of California San Diego Health, La Jolla, CA, United States.ORCID 0000-0001-5634-9883
Byron FergersonSchool of Medicine, University of California San Diego Health, La Jolla, CA, United States.ORCID 0000-0001-5521-6202
Nicole MayJoan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Health Innovation, University of California San Diego Health, La Jolla, CA, United States.ORCID 0009-0007-4547-8066
Christopher A LonghurstJoan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Health Innovation, University of California San Diego Health, La Jolla, CA, United States.ORCID 0000-0003-4908-6856
Nadir WeibelComputer Science and Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-3457-4227
Anne DuffyDepartment of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-5895-075X
Heidi RatajJoan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Health Innovation, University of California San Diego Health, La Jolla, CA, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-5427-4408
Karandeep SinghJoan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Health Innovation, University of California San Diego Health, La Jolla, CA, United States.ORCID 0000-0001-8980-2330
Kevin PatrickHerbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-7334-3042

Funding

UC San Diego Clinical and Translational Research InstituteUL1TR001442 · NCATS · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · PI FIRESTEIN, GARY S, HOGARTH, MICHAEL · 2015 to 2024
$88.3M
NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR001442
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe rising prevalence of mental health concerns among students is prompting universities to explore innovative solutions to support student well-being. This paper describes the protocol for the development, implementation, and evaluation of a mobile app designed to address the mental health and wellness needs of students. This project employs a student-centered approach, partnering with students from the initial needs analysis through to the final design and implementation stages.

objectiveThe app aims to increase the use of campus resources that address student mental health and wellness by improving the awareness of these resources through user-designated preferences that are established on the initial use of the app and then iteratively refined as it is used. The app is linked to the campus student's electronic health record so that health and wellness services can be coordinated and enhanced and the student journey to and through care become more seamless. The long-term objective is to leverage data from both the app and electronic health record to improve individual and population health for the entire campus.

methodsAt the beginning of the project, a comprehensive logic model was created to outline the core inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and long-term impacts that were desired for the app. The model emphasized the integration of the app within existing campus mental health and wellness services and its potential to foster a culture of well-being across the university community. An evaluation plan was developed that incorporates both quantitative and qualitative methods through biannual assessments to track trends and app impact across campus in addition to feasibility, acceptability, and usability as well as its reach, effectiveness, and sustainability. Validated measures such as the Patient Health Questionnaire and Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale were selected to track changes in mental health and wellness, while custom surveys and analytics will gauge user engagement and satisfaction. New students, including freshmen, transfers, and first-year medical students, are invited to participate after giving informed consent. They receive compensation for their involvement in both quantitative and qualitative assessments.

resultsAs of March 2025, we have collected over 600 survey responses from freshmen, transfer, and medical students. A second survey round and additional focus groups are planned for April to May 2025. No analyses have been conducted yet. The findings from this project have the potential to inform similar efforts at other institutions and contribute to the broader field of digital mental health innovation and the development of well-being interventions tailored for young people.

conclusionsBy leveraging digital technology and actively engaging students in supporting their well-being, this initiative represents an innovative user-centered approach to improve mental health and wellness support on university campuses. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/68368.

Indexed as

Mental HealthMobile ApplicationsStudentsElectronic Health RecordsHumansUniversitiesstudent-centeredstudent mental healthstudent wellnessuniversity well-beingwell-being application

Identifiers

PMID40681167
PMCPMC12317289

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.