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A qualitative assessment on the acceptability of a mobile application to improve management of mental health care for adolescent and young adult primary care patients
Purpose: This systematic needs assessment comprises 3 phases. Here we examine phase 1, where our objective is to assess the nature of unmet needs for communication and management of mental health concerns.
Methods: We conducted four focus groups (two urban and two rural) as well as interviews with primary care physicians (n=25) in Alachua County, Florida. Focus group consisted of young adult patients ages 18-24, and caregivers of adolescent patients aged 12-17 recruited from participating PCP offices. Consecutive sampling approach was used. Data were thematically analyzed in order to identify patterns of meaning. At time of submission, study is still ongoing, thus more subjects are likely to be included in final analyses.
Results: Physicians reported interest in a mobile application to improve management of mental disorders in primary care settings. Patients and caregivers of adolescent patients also reported interest for a mobile application to (1) self-monitor mental health symptoms, (2) facilitate patient provider communication about mental health symptoms, and (3) provide medication reminders, individualized behavioral recommendations. Among main concerns focus group participants reported loss of privacy while PCPs mentioned security of stored information.
Discussion: This project represents a first step to ensure community involvement in both research prioritization and the design of a mobile health application. A needs assessment will ensure the application best meets the needs of patients and providers in managing mental health concerns and facilitating more effective patient-provider communication.
Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health educationCommunication and informatics
Other professions or practice related to public health
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Describe attitudes of the young adults and adolescents' care givers toward the use of mHealth to assess mental health and communicate with physicians
Identify preferences of primary care providers toward a mobile application that helps to manage their adolescent and young adult patients with mental health concerns
Compare attitudes and preferences of the community to those of primary care providers regarding the use of mobile applications
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the principal investigator for an internally funded, larger project at the University of Florida that will develop a prototype of a mobile application to manage mental health concerns in primary care settings. Among my scientific interests are mHealth, mental health, HIV, and mental health services.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.