Workshop on Implementation Science and Digital Therapeutics for Behavioral Health.

Sarah E Lord,Edward V Nunes,Sophia M Bartels,William C Torrey,Daniel Polsky,John A Batsis,Lisa A Marsch,Ardis L Olson,Leonardo Cubillos,Steven H Chapman,Mary F Brunette,Aimee N C Campbell,Katherine M Seavey

doi:10.2196/17662

Abstract

Digital therapeutics can overcome many of the barriers to translation of evidence-based treatment for substance use, mental health, and other behavioral health conditions. Delivered via nearly ubiquitous platforms such as the web, smartphone applications, text messaging, and videoconferencing, digital therapeutics can transcend the time and geographic boundaries of traditional clinical settings so that individuals can access care when and where they need it. There is strong empirical support for digital therapeutic approaches for behavioral health, yet implementation science with regard to scaling use of digital therapeutics for behavioral health is still in its early stages. In this paper, we summarize the proceedings of a day-long workshop, “Implementation Science and Digital Therapeutics,” sponsored and hosted by the Center for Technology and Behavioral Health at Dartmouth College. The Center for Technology and Behavioral Health is an interdisciplinary P30 Center of Excellence funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, with the mission of promoting state-of-the-technology and state-of-the-science for the development, evaluation, and sustainable implementation of digital therapeutic approaches for substance use and related conditions. Workshop presentations were grounded in current models of implementation science. Directions and opportunities for collaborative implementation science research to promote broad adoption of digital therapeutics for behavioral health are offered.

Highlights

The research-to-practice gap is a significant challenge to the health care field, and translation of evidence-based practices for substance use and mental health conditions is no exception [1,2,3]
We summarize a workshop hosted by the Dissemination & Implementation (D&I) Core focused on implementation science as related to digital therapeutics for behavioral health
We summarize the proceedings of the workshop and offer directions for collaborative research to propel implementation science and promote broad adoption of digital therapeutics for behavioral health

Summary

Introduction

The research-to-practice gap is a significant challenge to the health care field, and translation of evidence-based practices for substance use and mental health conditions is no exception [1,2,3]. Digital behavioral health therapeutics, delivered by way of familiar and nearly ubiquitous platforms such as the web, smartphone mobile applications, text messaging, video conferencing, and remote monitoring, can transcend the time and geographic boundaries of traditional settings so that broad audiences can access evidence-based care when and where they need it. The flexibility of technology and incorporation of mixed media (eg, text, audio, video, animation, avatars, virtual reality) allow for tailoring of content to meet individual needs across a range of learning styles to promote engagement, a key marker of intervention success [5]. The broad accessibility of digital devices can be used to empower individuals to be more actively self-directed in their care

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