JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Mental health issues like occupational stress and burnout, compounded with the after-effects of COVID-19, have affected healthcare professionals (HCPs) around the world. Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) can be accessible and effective to support well-being among HCPs. However, low engagement rates of DMHIs are frequently reported, limiting the potential effectiveness. More evidence is needed to reveal the factors that impact HCPs’ decision to adopt and engage with DMHIs.

Objective:

This study aims to explore HCPs’ motivation to engage with DMHIs and identify key factors affecting their engagement. Amongst these, we include cultural factors impacting DMHI perception and engagement among HCPs.

Methods:

We used a mixed-method approach, with a cross-sectional survey (N=438) and semi-structured interviews (N=25) with HCPs from the UK and China. Participants were recruited from one major public hospital in each country.

Results:

Our results demonstrated a generally low engagement rate with DMHIs among HCPs from the two countries. Several key factors that affect DMHI engagement were identified, including belonging to underrepresented cultural and ethnic groups, limited mental health knowledge, low perceived need, lack of time, needs for relevance and personal-based support, and cultural elements like self-stigma. The results support recommendations for DMHIs for HCPs.

Conclusions:

Although DMHIs can be an ideal alternative mental health support for HCPs, engagement rates among HCPs in China and the UK are still low due to multiple factors and barriers. More research is needed to develop and evaluate tailored DMHIs with unique designs and content that HCPs can engage from various cultural backgrounds.