Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41029253›Full record

ArticleBMC psychiatry2025

Older adults' perceptions and needs regarding mental health WeChat applet: a qualitative study.

Yu-Fei Qiu, Jia-Li Liu, Li-Juan Zeng, Yi-Qing Yu, Ya-Ke Yue, Juan Gu, Meng-Jie Tong, Fen Yang, Gang Chen, Yang-Yang Han

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC psychiatry, 2025. 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
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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

10 authors.

Yu-Fei QiuSchool of NuChinese medicine, Affiliated Hospitalrsing, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China.
Jia-Li LiuSchool of NuChinese medicine, Affiliated Hospitalrsing, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China.
Li-Juan ZengSchool of NuChinese medicine, Affiliated Hospitalrsing, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China.
Yi-Qing YuSchool of NuChinese medicine, Affiliated Hospitalrsing, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China.
Ya-Ke YueSchool of NuChinese medicine, Affiliated Hospitalrsing, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China.
Juan GuSchool of NuChinese medicine, Affiliated Hospitalrsing, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China.
Meng-Jie TongSchool of NuChinese medicine, Affiliated Hospitalrsing, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China.
Fen YangHubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430061, China. fenyang@hbucm.edu.cn.
Gang ChenSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430061, China. chengang12@hbucm.edu.cn.
Yang-Yang HanSchool of Nursing, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 271016, Taian, China. dream0805@126.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMental health issues among older adults represent a major burden of disease worldwide. In China, WeChat applets have emerged as a promising tool for delivering mental health support, offering a solution to the accessibility and personalization limitations of conventional psychotherapy. However, the perceptions and needs of older adults regarding mental health WeChat applets remain unclear.

objectiveTo explore older adults' perceptions and needs for mental health WeChat applets.

methodsWe carried out a qualitative descriptive design. Sixteen participants were recruited from four communities in Wuhan, Hubei Province, using purposive sampling and snowball sampling. Face to face semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with them from January 15 to 25, 2025. Data were analysed using inductive content analysis.

resultsThree main themes were identified in this study: (1) Attitudes and perceptions, (2) Functional needs, and (3) Preferences for design and usability. Nine sub-themes were also identified.

conclusionThis study explored older adults' attitudes and needs regarding mental health WeChat applets. The findings highlighted the importance of user-centered design, transparent data protection, and digital literacy support. Additionally, policy efforts should integrate mental health awareness into public health strategies and engage multiple stakeholders, including healthcare providers, community workers, policymakers, technology developers, and family members, to enhance the acceptance and effectiveness of digital mental health tools for older adults.

Indexed as

Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHealth Services Needs and DemandMental HealthMental Health ServicesAgedChinaFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchMental healthNeedsOlder adultsPerceptionsQualitative studyWeChat applet

Identifiers

PMID41029253
PMCPMC12486623

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.