Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Human Factors
Date Submitted: Dec 1, 2024
Date Accepted: Apr 17, 2025
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited.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.
Needs and expectations for the myNewWayTM blended digital and face-to-face psychotherapy model of care for depression and anxiety (Part 1): People with lived and living experience co-design study.
ABSTRACT
Background:
Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) are effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Low user engagement and uptake of DMHIs observed in previous research may be addressed by involving the intended target audience in the design of the DMHI from the outset.
Objective:
The present study is phase 1 of a multi-phase project to design, develop, and evaluate a blended DMHI for depression and anxiety in Australia. Our objective was to partner with adults with lived and living experiences of depression and anxiety on their needs and expectations of a new transdiagnostic DMHI for depression and anxiety. This included identifying strategies that would help increase their engagement with the DMHI and their preferences for integrating the DMHI with psychotherapy.
Methods:
A mixed-method co-design approach was used to collect quantitative and qualitative data via an online survey and semi-structured interviews. Feedback on participants’ needs and expectations for the DMHI, including accessibility, content, features, functionality, format, data sharing, preferred clinical support pathways, and barriers and facilitators of user engagement, was collected. Qualitative interview data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Results:
Most participants preferred a DMHI that was a mobile app (190/257; 74%) that could be used at any time of the day. Ease of use and a well-designed interface was important, as was a positive, encouraging and uplifting DMHI look and feel. Other preferences included symptom tracking, diverse therapeutic content and features that facilitate social connection and peer support (e.g., online community, stories of lived and living experience). Participants also suggested several strategies to enhance engagement with the DMHI, including personalization, reminders, short and achievable activities and goal setting. Participants reported strong interest in sharing information from their DMHI with mental health professionals (to facilitate therapy), especially changes to their emotions.
Conclusions:
Transdiagnostic DMHIs for depression and anxiety have great potential to improve access to affordable, evidence-based mental health support. Involving people with lived and living experiences of depression and anxiety in the design, development and conceptualization of DMHIs may improve uptake, acceptance, engagement, usability, and ultimately, treatment outcomes.
Citation
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