Abstract
BackgroundMilitary personnel have an elevated risk of sustaining mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) and postconcussion symptoms (PCS). Smartphone apps that provide psychoeducation may assist those with mTBI or PCS to overcome unique barriers that military personnel experience with stigma and access to health care resources.ObjectiveThis study aims to (1) use the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) to evaluate smartphone apps purporting to provide psychoeducation for those who have sustained an mTBI or a PCS; (2) explore the relevance, utility, and effectiveness of these apps in facilitating symptom management and overall recovery from mTBI and PCS among military personnel; and (3) discuss considerations pertinent to health care professionals and patients with mTBI when considering the use of mobile health (mHealth), including apps for mTBI psychoeducation.MethodsA five-step systematic search for smartphone apps for military members with mTBI or PCS was conducted on January 31, 2020. Cost-free apps meeting the inclusion criteria were evaluated using the MARS and compared with evidence-based best practice management protocols for mTBI and PCS.ResultsThe search yielded a total of 347 smartphone apps. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 13 apps were subjected to evaluation. Two apps were endorsed by the US Department of Veterans Affairs and the US Department of Defense; all the others (n=11) were developed for civilians. When compared with evidence-based best practice resources, the apps provided various levels of psychoeducational content. There are multiple considerations that health care professionals and those who sustain an mTBI or a PCS have to consider when choosing to use mHealth and selecting a specific app for mTBI psychoeducation. These may include factors such as the app platform, developer, internet requirement, cost, frequency of updates, language, additional features, acknowledgment of mental health, accessibility, military specificity, and privacy and security of data.ConclusionsPsychoeducational interventions have a good evidence base as a treatment for mTBI and PCS. The use of apps for this purpose may be clinically effective, cost-effective, confidential, user friendly, and accessible. However, more research is needed to explore the effectiveness, usability, safety, security, and accessibility of apps designed for mTBI management.
Highlights
BackgroundMobile health is an emerging field, with health care professionals increasingly using apps as part of clinical practice [1]
Most of the available literature surrounding the use of mobile health (mHealth) and smartphone apps for mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) focuses on diagnostic assessment or concussion recognition, and few studies have been published regarding app quality for psychoeducation and mTBI management
As a component of mHealth, smartphone apps have become widely available in recent years as app technology rapidly improves
Summary
BackgroundMobile health (mHealth) is an emerging field, with health care professionals increasingly using apps as part of clinical practice [1]. Military service commonly involves high-risk activities during physical training, daily trade-related tasks, overseas deployment, and responses to natural disasters among others Their involvement in such activities can increase their likelihood of sustaining physical and mental health injuries, including mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) [5,6]. There are multiple considerations that health care professionals and those who sustain an mTBI or a PCS have to consider when choosing to use mHealth and selecting a specific app for mTBI psychoeducation. These may include factors such as the app platform, developer, internet requirement, cost, frequency of updates, language, additional features, acknowledgment of mental health, accessibility, military specificity, and privacy and security of data. More research is needed to explore the effectiveness, usability, safety, security, and accessibility of apps designed for mTBI management
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