JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Mobile health (mHealth) is efficacious for the management and prevention of mental health problems. It is particularly helpful for the young-adult population, who appreciate the autonomy mHealth provides, and in low-income countries where the prevalence of MH problems is high, but the supply of professionals trained in MH is low.

Objective:

This study used a cross-sectional survey to examine the likeliness that university students in Bangladesh (n=311) would use different forms of digital health platforms for MH promotion

Methods:

This study used a cross-sectional survey to examine the likeliness that university students in Bangladesh (n=311) would use different forms of digital health platforms for MH promotion and assessed drivers of intention to use and actual use of mHealth generally and mHealth for MH, through the lens of the Technology Acceptance Model.

Results:

Results provide evidence that the university student population of Bangladesh is likely to use mHealth to promote their MH. Social influence, ease of use, and perceived usefulness of mHealth were found to be significant drivers of the intention to use general mHealth, and having an intention to use mHealth was the greatest influence of actual use of mHealth. Social influence, perceived usefulness, and use of general mHealth are associated with higher intention to use mHealth for MH. The use of general mHealth is associated with actual use of mHealth for MH, as are greater non-stigma related barriers to utilize traditional clinical MH services.

Conclusions:

Overall, we see that mHealth for MH use is acceptable in this population and can be helpful for students who perceive barriers to receiving traditional care. We also gain insight on how to promote intention to use mHealth, which in turn promotes actual use of mHealth.