JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Internet use disorder (IUD) is a new type of behavioural addiction of the digital age. At the same time, internet applications and eHealth can also provide useful support in medical treatment.

Objective:

The current study examines if an internet-based eHealth service can reach individuals suffering from IUD. In particular, it should be investigated whether both male and female individuals with more severe IUDs can be reached.

Methods:

Data was retrieved from the OMPRIS project (DRKS00019925), an online-based motivational intervention to reduce problematic internet use and promote treatment motivation in internet gaming disorder and internet use disorder. In course of the recruitment process (August 2020 - March 2022), a total of n=3,007 individuals filled out the standardized scale for the assessment of internet and computer game addiction (AICA-S) via the study homepage. The offer was explicitly targeted to people suffering from hazardous internet use and IUD. The online assessment was at no charge and could be found via search engines, but attention was also drawn to the service via newspaper articles, radio reports and podcasts.

Results:

A total of n = 1,033 female (34.4%), n = 1,740 male (57.9%) and n = 67 diverse individuals (2.2%) participated in the online self-assessment. The IUD symptom severity score showed a wide range between the AICA-S extreme values of 0 and 27 points. On average, the total sample (M = 8.19, SD = 5.47) was in the range of hazardous IUD behavior (AICA-S cutoff > 7.0). Furthermore, 514 individuals (18.5% of the total sample; M = 17.42, SD = 3.35) showed severe IUD (AICA-S cutoff > 13.5). Focusing on female and male participants, 20.9% of the men and 14.6% of the women scored above 13.5 points, which can be considered as pathological IUD behavior (X2 (2, N = 2773) = 16.73, p < .001, V = .078). Unemployment, being in vocational training/studying at a university, and male gender were significant risk factors for high IUD symptoms.

Conclusions:

Using a large sample, the study showed that both mildly and severely IUD-affected individuals can be reached via the internet. An online-based eHealth offer can thus be a good way to reach affected IUD patients where they are addicted - on the internet. In addition, eHealth services increase the likelihood of reaching female patients who hardly ever come to specialized outpatient clinics and hospitals. Since social problems, especially unemployment, have a strong effect on disease severity, the integration of social counselling into treatment seems advisable in terms of a multidisciplinary approach. Clinical Trial: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS), ID: DRKS00019925, Date of registration: 13.03.2020.