Previously submitted to: Interactive Journal of Medical Research (no longer under consideration since Jul 31, 2025)
Date Submitted: Sep 30, 2024
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
A Systematic review on the role, utilization, and effectiveness of mobile applications for screening, monitoring, and management of mental health disorders in the Middle East
ABSTRACT
Background:
Background:
This systematic review synthesized evidence on the utilization and effectiveness of mobile applications for managing mental health disorders in the Middle East. Given the diverse demographic and mental health conditions in this region, it is imperative to understand how mobile health interventions are being adopted and perceived.
Objective:
Objective:
To systematically review and evaluate the utilization and effectiveness of mobile health applications for the management of mental health disorders in the Middle East.
Methods:
Methods:
The review adhered to PRISMA guidelines and employed a PECO protocol, and databases of PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and PsycINFO were scoured for assessment of populations from Middle Eastern countries as defined by the United Nations Security Council were examined. Bias was systematically assessed using the AXIS tool, and the certainty of evidence was evaluated using the GRADE approach.
Results:
Results:
The four studies revealed a generally favorable disposition towards mobile health applications, with 63.8% of participants expressing a willingness to use them for health monitoring. However, skepticism about their effectiveness remained, with only 16% reporting health improvements. While a high percentage (88.2%) of Syrian refugees believed in the benefits of such apps, actual usage could have been higher due to barriers like associated cost and lack of awareness. Overall, while there was interest in adopting mobile health technology, significant challenges hindered effective utilization and perceived benefits.
Conclusions:
Conclusion: The review found that while there is a recognized potential for mobile applications in managing mental health in the Middle East, their effective adoption is impeded by barriers such as cost, skepticism about efficacy, and low awareness. Addressing these challenges could enhance the impact of mobile health interventions in this culturally and politically diverse region. Clinical Trial: Not Applicable.
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