Digital mental health apps for self-management of depression: a scoping exploration on awareness, attitude, and user experience among professional course students

Authors

  • Sree T. Sucharitha Department of Community Medicine, Tagore Medical College and Hospital, Rattinamangalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Aravind Manoharan Department of Community Medicine, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2540-7432
  • Velusamy Dhanuraja Department of Community Medicine, Tagore Medical College and Hospital, Rattinamangalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Arunadevi Kasi Department of Community Medicine, Madha Medical College and Research Institute, Kovur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Suganya Ezhilarasan Department of Community Medicine, Tagore Medical College and Hospital, Rattinamangalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20203928

Keywords:

Depression, Mental health apps, Mixed-methods, Web-based survey, In-depth interviews

Abstract

Background: Globally, depressive disorders are ranked as the single largest contributor to non-fatal health loss (7.5% of all years lost due to disability-YLD). In India, provision of quality mental health care services remains a challenge due to severe deficiency of qualified care givers. Harnessing the potential of digital technologies and smart phone apps need to be explored to address the existing gaps in mental health care services. This study aims to describe the awareness, attitudes and user experiences of mental health apps among professional course students.

Methods: A mixed-methods study methodology was adapted involving medical professional students of a tertiary teaching hospital in South India. A web-based survey assessed the awareness, attitudes and usage of mental health apps. Further, in-depth interviews (30) were conducted among selective app users (20) and non-users (10) to gain insights about the user experiences.  

Results: Among 898 respondents for the web-based survey, majority were female (513,57.1%), aged between 18-25 years (801,89.2%) undergraduates (673,74.9%), undertaking professional courses in medicine and allied health sciences (633,70.6%). 273 (30.4%) respondents were aware of apps and 86 (9.6%) were ever users. Novel interactive platforms, privacy and agency for self-care are the major factors for using the apps however data confidentiality and authenticity of the app-based information were identified as major concerns limiting app usage.

Conclusions: The study found the utilization of mental health apps as self-management tool for depression gaining slow traction among professional course students.

Author Biographies

Sree T. Sucharitha, Department of Community Medicine, Tagore Medical College and Hospital, Rattinamangalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Professor,Department of Community Medicine, Tagore Medical College and Hospital, Rattinamangalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Aravind Manoharan, Department of Community Medicine, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India

Assistant Professor,

Department of Community Medicine

Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute

Chettinad Academy of Research and Education.

Velusamy Dhanuraja, Department of Community Medicine, Tagore Medical College and Hospital, Rattinamangalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Department of Community Medicine, Tagore Medical College and Hospital, Rattinamangalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Arunadevi Kasi, Department of Community Medicine, Madha Medical College and Research Institute, Kovur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Assistant Professor, Department of  Community Medicine, Madha Medical College and Research Institute, Kovur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Suganya Ezhilarasan, Department of Community Medicine, Tagore Medical College and Hospital, Rattinamangalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Tagore Medical College and Hospital, Rattinamangalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

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Published

2020-08-28

How to Cite

Sucharitha, S. T., Manoharan, A., Dhanuraja, V., Kasi, A., & Ezhilarasan, S. (2020). Digital mental health apps for self-management of depression: a scoping exploration on awareness, attitude, and user experience among professional course students. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 7(9), 3594–3599. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20203928

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Original Research Articles