Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Jul 15, 2019
Open Peer Review Period: Jul 18, 2019 - Sep 12, 2019
Date Accepted: May 13, 2020
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Acceptability and Feasibility of a Mental Health Mobile Application to Facilitate Monitoring and Clinical Outreach among Veterans: an Uncontrolled Trial
ABSTRACT
Background:
Advances in mobile health (mHealth) technology have made it possible for patients and providers to monitor and track symptoms in real-time. Ideally, mHealth application (apps) would include both passive and interactive aspects of symptom monitoring.
Objective:
Researchers at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Cogito Corporation sought to explore the acceptability and feasibility of such a mHealth app, the Companion System, among Veterans.
Methods:
A mixed methodological approach was used to investigate acceptability and feasibility. Veterans completed clinical interviews and self-report measures at baseline and a three-month follow-up. Veterans were able to use the Companion System app for three months. Passive data monitoring and outreach also occurred during this time period.
Results:
Results suggested that use of the Companion System was feasible and acceptable. Veterans were interested in, and used, the app; however, use of the app declined over time. Nonetheless, data was passively collected, and outreach occurred throughout. On the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire, 79% of the sample reported satisfaction (M = 26.2, SD = 4.3) demonstrating acceptability. Many Veterans reported liking the app features and the sense of connection they felt with the study clinicians who monitored their symptoms. Lack of privacy was a relatively minor concern.
Conclusions:
Feasibility and acceptability of a smartphone app to monitor mental health symptoms and follow-up in a Veteran sample was supported. Clinically, the Companion System app may serve as a useful method to promote symptom monitoring and facilitate early identification of risk and mitigation of negative psychiatric outcomes such as suicide.
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