Abstract
BackgroundMobile apps are emerging as tools with the potential to revolutionize the treatment of mental health conditions such as depression. At the forefront of the community health sector, general practitioners are in a unique position to guide the integration of technology and depression management; however, little is currently known about how primary care patients with depressive symptoms are currently using apps.ObjectiveThe objective of our study was to explore the natural patterns of mobile app use among patients with depressive symptoms to facilitate the understanding of the potential role for mobile apps in managing depressive symptoms in the community.MethodsSemistructured phone interviews were conducted with primary care patients in Victoria, Australia, who reported symptoms of depression and were enrolled in a larger randomized controlled trial of depression care. Interviews explored current depression management strategies and the use of mobile apps (if any). Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Inductive thematic analysis was iteratively conducted using QSR NVivo 11 Pro to identify emergent themes.ResultsA total of 16 participants, aged between 20 to 58 years, took part in the interviews with 11 reporting the use of at least one mobile app to manage depressive symptoms and 5 reporting no app use. A variety of apps were described including relaxation, mindfulness, cognitive, exercise, gaming, social media, and well-being apps to aid with depressive symptoms. Among users, there were the following 4 main patterns of app use: skill acquisition, social connectedness, inquisitive trial, and safety netting. Factors that influenced app use included accessibility, perceptions of technology, and personal compatibility. Health care providers also had a role in initiating app use.ConclusionsMobile apps are being utilized for self-management of depressive symptoms by primary care patients. This study provided insight into the natural patterns and perspectives of app use, which enhanced the understanding of how this technology may be integrated into the toolbox for the management of depression.Trial RegistrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12616000537459; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=367152 (Archived at WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/71Vf06X2T)
Highlights
We are interested in hearing about your experiences and the ways you manage your mental well-being that you’ve been involved in this study for a little while
Participants who agree to recording will be asked to provide recorded verbal consent as follows: “This is a Target-D interview with participant [ID]
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Summary
We are interested in hearing about your experiences and the ways you manage your mental well-being that you’ve been involved in this study for a little while. This will take around 10-20 minutes and you can stop at any time. Before I go any further, we would like to record this conversation just so we have an accurate record. You can ask me to stop the recording at any time, is this okay? Once I start recording I’ll state your study ID number and ask for your permission to continue.
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