Implementing a mental health app library in primary care: A feasibility study.

Journal: Evaluation and program planning

Volume: 103

Issue: 

Year of Publication: 2024

Affiliated Institutions:  Centre RBC d'expertise universitaire en santé mentale, Faculty of Education, Université de Sherbrooke, Boulevard de l'Université, Sherbrooke, QC JK R, Canada. Electronic address: julie.lane@usherbrooke.ca. Centre RBC d'expertise universitaire en santé mentale, Faculty of Education, Université de Sherbrooke, Boulevard de l'Université, Sherbrooke, QC JK R, Canada. Department of Psychology, Faculty of human sciences, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC HC P, Canada. TherAppX, Rue Cowie #, Granby, QC JG V, Canada; Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Laval, , rue de l'Université, Québec, QC GV A, Canada. TherAppX, Rue Cowie #, Granby, QC JG V, Canada; Public Health School, Université de Montréal, , Bd Édouard-Montpetit, Montréal, QC HT J, Canada.

Abstract summary 

Confronted with a wide range of digital health tools (DHT), professionals and patients need guidance to use these tools correctly and optimize health management. In the fall of 2020, a DHT library developed by Quebec-based company TherAppX was implemented in 22 institutions. The library was designed to enable healthcare professionals to use DHT in clinical care. The purpose of the current study was to assess the feasibility of implementing the library, including user experience, changes in DHT recommendation habits, and factors that helped or hindered the implementation process. A multi-methods design focusing on secondary use of quantitative data collected by TherAppX and semi-structured interviews with users was employed. While the quantitative analyses indicated infrequent use of the library, qualitative analyses highlighted several factors that hindered its implementation, including certain library and user characteristics and the unprecedented context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the quantitative analyses confirmed interest in DHT and their usefulness during follow-ups. The results revealed a marginally significant pre-post changes in the frequency with which DHT were recommended. This study helped identify areas for improvements and indicates that further evaluation is needed. Future implementations would benefit from ensuring optimal conditions for a successful implementation.

Authors & Co-authors:  Lane Manceau de Chantal Chagnon Cardinal Lauzier-Jobin Lanoue

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations : 
Authors :  7
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2024.102413
SSN : 1873-7870
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Humans
Other Terms
Digital health;Feasibility study;Implementation;Intervention tools;Mental health;Multi-methods design
Study Design
Study Approach
Quantitative,Qualitative
Country of Study
Publication Country
England