Gaps In Health Care Research Articles

PC20. Health Disparities in Pediatric Facial Trauma

PURPOSE: Pediatric facial fractures are a common cause of emergency department visits and hospital admissions. However, little has been published on the social determinants of health for pediatric facial fractures. This study aims to investigate the contribution socioeconomic status, race, education, household structure, English-language proficiency, and insurance status has on the management and outcomes in pediatric facial fracture patients. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of patients under age 18 who were evaluated for facial fractures at a pediatric level I trauma center between 2006-2021. Variables studied included demographic information, CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), injury characteristics, management, and outcomes. RESULTS: Facial fractures were diagnosed in 3334 patients; 2691 patients met inclusion criteria. A total of 18.3% were non-white, of whom 14.5% were Black. Black patients were 1.62 times more likely than white patients to present with mandibular fractures (p<0.001). Most fracture subtypes were associated with an increased SVI, unemployment, and a single parent household (p<0.0001). When controlling for fracture type, Black patients were 2.4 times more likely to receive imaging (p<0.0001) than white patients, but 0.52 times as likely to receive surgery (p<0.0001). Furthermore, Black patients were 2.2 times as likely to be uninsured as white patients (p=0.00021) and 1.5 times as likely to be lost to follow-up (p=0.00019). CONCLUSION: Our results show that race and socioeconomic status influence treatment and outcomes in pediatric facial fractures. Identifying systemic barriers that impact management and outcomes in vulnerable patients is necessary to overcome healthcare gaps and optimize clinical outcomes.

A Multicenter Assessment of Patient- and Provider-Reported Outcomes to Inform Healthcare Disparities in Epilepsy Care (P6-9.012)

A Multicenter Assessment of Patient- and Provider-Reported Outcomes to Inform Healthcare Disparities in Epilepsy Care (P6-9.012)

Assessing the Efficacy of Mental Health Assessment Training for Accredited Social Health Activists Workers in Rural India: A Pilot Study.

Background Mental health issues are a major concern in rural India, but the lack of trained professionals limits access to care. In this pilot study, we evaluated the efficacy of a mental health assessment training program for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) in rural Maharashtra, India. Aim and objective To conduct a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility and potential efficacy of Mental Health Assessment Training by using the Global Mental Health Assessment Tool-Primary Care Marathi Android version (GMHAT/PC-M) on ASHA workers in the Wardha district to identify mental health problems. Methods The study enrolled 12 ASHA workers from two rural health centers in Maharashtra. The workers completed a pretest and then received training in mental health assessment using the GMHAT/PC Marathi Android version. Mental health knowledge and global mental health assessment tool checklist scale scores were assessed on day seven, month one, and month three after training. Results The ASHA workers had a mean age of 42.2 years and a mean experience of 9.6 years. The majority were Hindus (50%), with the remaining workers being Buddhist. Of the 12 workers, only four had prior mental health training. Mental health knowledge and global mental health assessment tool checklist scale score significantly improved from the pretest to day seven (p<0.001), and the scores continued to improve at month one and month three with a 0.001 level of significance. At the end of the study, the mean mental health knowledge score was 15.2 (out of 20), and the mean global mental health assessment tool checklist scale score was 55.5 (out of 60). Conclusion Our pilot study demonstrated the effectiveness of a mental health assessment training program for ASHA workers in rural Maharashtra, India, using the GMHAT/PC Marathi Android version. The training program improved the mental health knowledge and GMHAT checklist scale of the ASHA workers, suggesting that such programs can help bridge the gap in mental health care in rural areas. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm the effectiveness of this training program.

Remembering Ruth Milligan Ballweg, MPA, PA-C Emeritus.

Remembering Ruth Milligan Ballweg, MPA, PA-C Emeritus.

A step in the right direction: the potential role of smartwatches in supporting chronic disease prevention in health care.

A step in the right direction: the potential role of smartwatches in supporting chronic disease prevention in health care.

Commentary: Addressing Health Disparities in Hospital-Based Interventions for Adolescents and Their Caregivers.

Adolescent obesity is a complex and significant public health concern affecting over 340 million children and adolescents aged 5–19 worldwide in 2016 (WHO, 2021). To mitigate such risks, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommended behavioral weight management (WM) interventions for children >6 years of age (Grossman et al., 2017). However, the prevalence of income disparities in structured WM programs amongst adolescents from lower-income backgrounds exhibits fewer positive outcomes (e.g., reduction in weight, body fat, blood pressure) than peers from middle-class backgrounds (Demeule-Hayes et al., 2016; Kalarchian et al., 2009). Concerningly, adolescents from low-income backgrounds have higher attrition and less engagement in structured WM programs suggesting a need to identify the specific mechanisms influencing the lack of engagement with this population (Hawkins et al., 2018; Rhodes et al., 2017). Kilbourne and colleagues’ (2006) framework highlights the necessity to identify existing health disparities (phase 1), specific mechanisms driving health disparities (phase 2), and action on interventions and policy change (phase 3) to understand, reduce, and eliminate gaps in healthcare. (Darling et al., this issue)’ qualitative study (this issue) goes beyond describing existing differences in access to care, expanding our understanding of specific factors influencing WM program initiation, engagement, and attrition amongst adolescents and their caregivers from low-income backgrounds. Overall, findings highlight a clear gap concerning participants’ comprehension of program goals, misconceptions, and the importance of engaging caregivers to enhance adolescent program engagement and positive outcomes. There is no doubt that this study fills a significant gap in the literature; however, it is important to consider (a) strengths and (b) future directions to inform research in the broader context of pediatric psychology.

408 Racial Disparities in Long-Term Functional Outcome After Traumatic Brain Injury: An Update

INTRODUCTION: Racial disparities in outcomes have been reported in various medical conditions and in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Despite equal access to acute rehabilitation, blacks had significantly worse long-term functional outcomes after TBI than non-Hispanic whites (NHWs). Much effort has been placed on raising awareness, improving access to care, expanding research, and on closing racial disparity gaps in healthcare. METHODS: Patients followed and tracked in the Southeastern Michigan Traumatic Brain Injury System (SEMTBIS) database were inquired, including 95 non-Hispanic whites (NHWs) and 97 blacks. Severe TBI was defined as Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS] score of 3–5. Patients from February 2010 to December 2019 were included. Long-term outcomes were measured by 1) the percentage of patients discharged to home, and 2) the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOSE) score after 1 year. Student’s T-test was used for numeric data analysis. Chi-square was used for categorical data comparison. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in initial TBI severity between non-Hispanic whites (NHWs) and blacks, measured by the admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), the percentage of people who had midline shift &gt;5 mm on brain CT, the number of days from injury to date out of posttraumatic amnesia, and of days from injury to following commands. More NHWs were discharged to low acuity facilities (80% versus 58.8%, P = 0.0014). A higher percentage of NHWs had an upper good recovery score, which is a GOSE score of 8 (23.1% versus 9.3%, P = 0.074) after 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Despite efforts to mitigate racial disparities in medical outcomes after TBI, the blacks in Southeastern Michigan continue to score lower than NHWs on their long-term functional outcomes at one-year follow-up.

Treatment Delays in Nonsyndromic Craniosynostosis: A 30-Year Retrospective Case-Control Analysis of the Impact of Socioeconomic and Family Status on Access to Care.

Patients with nonsyndromic craniosynostosis (NSC) generally undergo corrective surgery before 1 year of age to the mitigate morbidities and risks of delayed repair. The cohort of patients who receive primary corrective surgery after 1 year and factors associated with their gaps to care is poorly characterized in literature. A nested case-control study was conducted for NSC patients who underwent primary corrective surgery at our institution and affiliates between 1992 and 2022. Patients whose surgery occurred after 1 year of age were identified and matched 1:1 by surgical date to standard-care control subjects. Chart review was conducted to gather patient data regarding care timeline and sociodemographic characteristics. Odds of surgery after 1 year of age were increased in Black patients (odds ratio, 3.94; P < 0.001) and those insured by Medicaid (2.57, P = 0.018), with single caregivers (4.96, P = 0.002), and from lower-income areas (+1% per $1000 income decrease, P = 0.001). Delays associated with socioeconomic status primarily impacted timely access to a craniofacial provider, whereas caregiver status was associated with subspecialty level delays. These disparities were exacerbated in patients with sagittal and metopic synostosis, respectively. Patients with multisuture synostosis were susceptible to significant delays related to familial strain (foster status, insurer, and English proficiency). Patients from socioeconomically strained households face systemic barriers to accessing optimal NSC care; disparities may be exacerbated by the diagnostic/treatment complexities of specific types of craniosynostosis. Interventions at primary care and craniofacial specialist levels can decrease health care gaps and optimize outcomes for vulnerable patients.

Geographic accessibility and hospital competition for emergency blood transfusion services in Bungoma, Western Kenya

BackgroundEstimating accessibility gaps to essential health interventions helps to allocate and prioritize health resources. Access to blood transfusion represents an important emergency health requirement. Here, we develop geo-spatial models of accessibility and competition to blood transfusion services in Bungoma County, Western Kenya.MethodsHospitals providing blood transfusion services in Bungoma were identified from an up-dated geo-coded facility database. AccessMod was used to define care-seeker’s travel times to the nearest blood transfusion service. A spatial accessibility index for each enumeration area (EA) was defined using modelled travel time, population demand, and supply available at the hospital, assuming a uniform risk of emergency occurrence in the county. To identify populations marginalized from transfusion services, the number of people outside 1-h travel time and those residing in EAs with low accessibility indexes were computed at the sub-county level. Competition between the transfusing hospitals was estimated using a spatial competition index which provided a measure of the level of attractiveness of each hospital. To understand whether highly competitive facilities had better capacity for blood transfusion services, a correlation test between the computed competition metric and the blood units received and transfused at the hospital was done.Results15 hospitals in Bungoma county provide transfusion services, however these are unevenly distributed across the sub-counties. Average travel time to a blood transfusion centre in the county was 33 min and 5% of the population resided outside 1-h travel time. Based on the accessibility index, 38% of the EAs were classified to have low accessibility, representing 34% of the population, with one sub-county having the highest marginalized population. The computed competition index showed that hospitals in the urban areas had a spatial competitive advantage over those in rural areas.ConclusionThe modelled spatial accessibility has provided an improved understanding of health care gaps essential for health planning. Hospital competition has been illustrated to have some degree of influence in provision of health services hence should be considered as a significant external factor impacting the delivery, and re-design of available services.

Constitutional foundations of cross-border digital healthcare

The purpose of the research is to look at the issues of legal regulation of information healthcare, consider the positive experience of international legal regulation to overcome legal gaps in digital healthcare, improve the quality of life of the population and the systemic functioning of information biomedicine based on the principles of mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and foreign countries. It examines the historical aspects and modern trends of cross-border digital healthcare in accordance with international standards, positive and negative consequences of the information biomedicine impact on basic constitutional human rights and freedoms. The research analyzes national and international legislation, the main directions of constitutional regulation of digital biomedicine and proposes to create an effective mechanism for implementing national legislation on digital healthcare, based on the positive experience of international legal regulation and protection of basic constitutional human rights in order to prevent the use of ethically unacceptable methods. The following scientific methods have been applied in the research: theoretical, historical, empirical, classification and comparative legal analysis. The study identified the urgent need for holistic approach to transnational digital healthcare, characterized by integration of law and biomedicine, and constitutional regulation of the biomedical research approbation. It is worth mentioning that the practical research activities of medical professionals and lawyers are interrelated and require constant interaction and analysis of biomedical results and their legal justification. Therefore, the function of law is to regulate the limits of human intervention in information biotechnologies, identify and exclude all possible risks of approbation of scientific research and their results in the sphere of digital healthcare. The author believes that development of information biomedicine involves interplay of various spheres of knowledge based on scientific synergy of medical, legal, and ethical aspects, integration of interrelated legal and non-legal sciences. Given the importance of integrating the constitutional foundations of cross-border digital healthcare, the author proposes to create a single extraterritorial Concept of Transnational eHealth. It is essential to consider international experience in order to ensure proper protection of human rights in the sphere of information healthcare.

The Assessment and Comparison of the Knowledge of Breast Self-Examination and Breast Carcinoma Among Health Care Workers and the General Population in an Urban Setting.

Background Breast cancer is one of the common causes of cancer related mortality in women. Early detection and treatment can combat the morbidity and mortality of breast cancer. Most first-world countries have a screening program to facilitate early detection of breast malignancy. A lack of similar programs in developing countries, compounded with ignorance and financial crunch, often leaves women vulnerable due to late detection and complications. Identification of early physical changes in breasts through regular breast self-examination (BSE) can potentially aid in the early detection of breast lumps. Ideally, all women should have access to screening programs, although, practically, it is difficult to achieve mass screening in resource-poor areas. BSE cannot completely bridge this gap in health care; however, it can undoubtedly aid in increased awareness, identification of danger signs, and timely approach to the health care center for intervention. Materials and method A cross-sectional study was conducted at Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College, Pune, India. The participants were administered a pretested questionnaire to collect information about their understanding of BSE. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) statistical software, Version 25. Mean and frequencies were used to compare participants from various backgrounds. Results The total sample consisted of 1,649 women from various educational backgrounds. Every doctor had heard about BSE compared to 81% of women from the general population; 84% of doctors and less than 40% of women representing the general population were taught to perform BSE; however, only around 34% of all women perform BSE. Women from the general population were largely unaware of the correct age to begin BSE, the frequency of performance, its correlation with the menstrual cycle, and the steps necessary to perform it. Women employed in the health care industry were better informed than the general population but still needed to be aware of BSE's details. Conclusion The study highlighted the lack of information regarding breast malignancy and self-examination among women from all educational and professional backgrounds. Women in the health care sector are better informed about the topic than the general population but still lack adequate information. There is a dire need to train women about the procedure, frequency, and correct time of conducting BSE and the telltale signs of breast carcinoma. Women in the health care industry can be educated and trained as educators on the topic, who can further disseminate the information to the general population to promote early detection of breast malignancy.

A review of leg ulcerations coverage in the United Kingdom print media: A growing problem for the vulnerable adult

It is estimated that venous leg ulcers affect 1–1.5% of the industrialised world's population. These can be painful, malodorous and debilitating to the person affected. In this paper we explore, through an analysis of the print media, how journalists translate medical knowledge into lay language and how they represent new directions in treatment. We also show how the term ‘leg ulcer’ is used as part of the description of vulnerable people at the edge of society, some whom are to be seen as needing our compassion, others as (morally) problematic. Finally, we show how stories around ‘leg ulcers’ are also used in relation to narratives around austerity in the UK and to show gaps in health and social care. We conclude that journalists, wound care researchers and health professionals should work together to inform the public and persons affected that leg ulceration can be successfully treated.

Student-led clinic in the Windsor-Essex region can help close healthcare gaps in vulnerable populations

Student-led clinic in the Windsor-Essex region can help close healthcare gaps in vulnerable populations

Examining the gaps in perinatal mental health care: A qualitative study of the perceptions of perinatal service providers in Canada.

In Canada, access to perinatal mental health services is disparate across districts, regions, provinces, and territories. Questions remain as to how gaps in service are being experienced by Canadian service providers and clinicians. This paper examines three key questions: 1) What are the experiences of care providers with respect to the screening, identifying, and managing perinatal mental health disorders? 2) What gaps in perinatal mental health care have been identified? and 3) What approaches have been taken by providers, communities, and regions in addressing the needs of their populations? To address these questions, 435 participants from across Canada were surveyed using an online survey constructed by the research members of the CPMHC. A qualitative analysis of the data revealed three key themes: groups marginalized by the current perinatal mental health system, gaps and supports identified by communities; and systemic and policy issues. From these three themes we have identified the key components of changes required in the national approach to perinatal mental health disorders. We identify key resources that could be utilized to create policy change and provide recommendations for change.

Evaluating Algorithmic Bias in 30-Day Hospital Readmission Models: Retrospective Analysis.

The adoption of predictive algorithms in health care comes with the potential for algorithmic bias, which could exacerbate existing disparities. Fairness metrics have been proposed to measure algorithmic bias, but their application to real-world tasks is limited. This study aims to evaluate the algorithmic bias associated with the application of common 30-day hospital readmission models and assess the usefulness and interpretability of selected fairness metrics. We used 10.6 million adult inpatient discharges from Maryland and Florida from 2016 to 2019 in this retrospective study. Models predicting 30-day hospital readmissions were evaluated: LACE Index, modified HOSPITAL score, and modified Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) readmission measure, which were applied as-is (using existing coefficients) and retrained (recalibrated with 50% of the data). Predictive performances and bias measures were evaluated for all, between Black and White populations, and between low- and other-income groups. Bias measures included the parity of false negative rate (FNR), false positive rate (FPR), 0-1 loss, and generalized entropy index. Racial bias represented by FNR and FPR differences was stratified to explore shifts in algorithmic bias in different populations. The retrained CMS model demonstrated the best predictive performance (area under the curve: 0.74 in Maryland and 0.68-0.70 in Florida), and the modified HOSPITAL score demonstrated the best calibration (Brier score: 0.16-0.19 in Maryland and 0.19-0.21 in Florida). Calibration was better in White (compared to Black) populations and other-income (compared to low-income) groups, and the area under the curve was higher or similar in the Black (compared to White) populations. The retrained CMS and modified HOSPITAL score had the lowest racial and income bias in Maryland. In Florida, both of these models overall had the lowest income bias and the modified HOSPITAL score showed the lowest racial bias. In both states, the White and higher-income populations showed a higher FNR, while the Black and low-income populations resulted in a higher FPR and a higher 0-1 loss. When stratified by hospital and population composition, these models demonstrated heterogeneous algorithmic bias in different contexts and populations. Caution must be taken when interpreting fairness measures' face value. A higher FNR or FPR could potentially reflect missed opportunities or wasted resources, but these measures could also reflect health care use patterns and gaps in care. Simply relying on the statistical notions of bias could obscure or underplay the causes of health disparity. The imperfect health data, analytic frameworks, and the underlying health systems must be carefully considered. Fairness measures can serve as a useful routine assessment to detect disparate model performances but are insufficient to inform mechanisms or policy changes. However, such an assessment is an important first step toward data-driven improvement to address existing health disparities.

APNA report a call to action to involve PMH nurses in solving mental health crisis

Calling attention to the nationwide shortage of mental health professionals and the urgent need to provide adequate and equitable treatment amid a growing mental health crisis, the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) last week released a new report calling for psychiatric mental health (PMH)‐registered nurses to fill the growing gaps in mental health care.

A Cross-Sectional Study Comparing Traumatic Alopecia Among B-Boys and B-Girls to Other Dance Styles and Its Impact on Dance Performance and Health.

Breaking, often mislabeled as breakdancing in the media, is a dance style originating from the Bronx of New York in the early 1970s. A unique condition in this population is a form of alopecia known as "headspin hole," or "breakdancer overuse syndrome" of the scalp. This form of hair loss may show a variety of patterns based on the activities of the dancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between alopecia and breaking, the level of concern dancers have regarding hair loss, barriers to medical treatment, and how it affects their dancing. This was a cross-sectional study using an online survey. The survey addressed participants' demographics, hair, dancing styles, training, and health history. Questions about the effects of hair loss on the participants were also asked. This study found that there was a significant difference in hair loss among breakers compared to non-breakers. This was not seen after controlling for age and sex. However, the concern for hair loss was significant even after controlling for these variables. Similarly, hair loss was significantly associated with the frequency of headspins. Despite these concerns, breakers were less likely to seek medical attention. This study showed that there are significant disparities in hair loss between breaking and other dance styles. Hair loss due to breaking has been shown to have significant effects on an individual's concerns, which may be compounded by the fact that this population is less likely to seek out medical care and have significantly greater substance use compared to the other dancers surveyed. Further research is necessary to investigate interventions to prevent and treat hair loss in this population and the means to decrease the gap in health care in the dance population.

Pathways to care in first-episode psychosis in low-resource settings: Implications for policy and practice.

Developing countries such as India face a major mental health care gap. Delayed or inadequate care can have a profound impact on treatment outcomes. We compared pathways to care in first episode psychosis (FEP) between North and South India to inform solutions to bridge the treatment gap. Cross-sectional observation study of 'untreated' FEP patients (n=177) visiting a psychiatry department in two sites in India (AIIMS, New Delhi and SCARF, Chennai). We compared duration of untreated psychosis (DUP), first service encounters, illness attributions and socio-demographic factors between patients from North and South India. Correlates of DUP were explored using logistic regression analysis (DUP ≥ 6 months) and generalised linear models (DUP in weeks). Patients in North India had experienced longer DUP than patients in South India (β=17.68, p<0.05). The most common first encounter in North India was with a faith healer (45.7%), however, this contact was not significantly associated with longer DUP. Visiting a faith healer was the second most common first contact in South India (23.6%) and was significantly associated with longer DUP (Odds Ratio: 6.84; 95% Confidence Interval: 1.77, 26.49). Being in paid employment was significantly associated with shorter DUP across both sites. Implementing early intervention strategies in a diverse country like India requires careful attention to local population demographics; one size may not fit all. A collaborative relationship between faith healers and mental health professionals could help with educational initiatives and to provide more accessible care.

Abstract P6-05-52: Addressing Healthcare Gaps and Disparities in Electronic Medical Record Messages: A Quality Improvement Project Among Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract Introduction: Despite evidence that utilization of Electronic Medical Record (EMR) messaging positively impacts patients with cancer, there is little research on who uses EMR messaging and for what purpose. Methods: Sociodemographic and MyChart usage data was collected from Epic to identify patterns of EMR messaging by patients at an academic breast center. Study eligibility included breast cancer patients who completed a visit and sent at least one message to a provider during the study period (May 2021- May 2022). Chi-square and t-tests were used to describe differences between users and non-users of EMR messaging. ANOVA and chi-square were used to describe differences between race/ethnicity. Analyses were performed in R version 4.2 and p&amp;lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 4069 patients who had MyChart account activated were included in the analysis sample. Of those, 3575 (87.9%) were messaging users and 494 (12.1%) were non-users. The mean age of users was significantly lower compared to the non-users (57.7 vs 61.2, p&amp;lt; .001). There were statistically significant racial/ethnic differences (p&amp;lt; 0.001) by user status with 83.9% and 9.5% of users being non-Hispanic White (NHW) and non-Hispanic Black (NHB) respectively. Among non-users 69.6% were NHW and 21.1% were NHB. There were also significant differences in preferred language (p&amp;lt; 0.001) and payor (p&amp;lt; 0.001) by user status. 99.2% of users were English speaking and 96.8% of non-users were non-English speaking. 54% and 38%, and 6.5% of users had Managed care, Medicare, and Medicaid respectively as their payor. Whereas 36.9%, 51%, and 10.5% of non-users had Managed care, Medicare, and Medicaid respectively. Lastly, there were statistically significant racial/ethnic differences in the types of messages sent among EMR users. Conclusions: There are significant differences in race/ethnicity among EMR users and non-users, and racial/ethnic differences in the types of messages sent among EMR messaging users. We believe that these differences may be in part due to disparities in access or comfort in using EMR. Future directions include conducting interviews with minority patients who are users and non-users of EMR messaging to identify barriers and gaps in use. Table 1. Patient Characteristics. Characteristics of users and non-users of EMR messaging. Chi-square and T-test for significance were performed to assess the difference between groups. P&amp;lt; .05 was considered significant. Table 2. Message Type by Race/Ethnicity. Types of message sent by race/ethnicity. ANOVA and chi-square were used to describe differences between race/ethnicity and type of message sent. P&amp;lt; .05 was considered significant. Citation Format: Meghan Conroy, Miracle Powell, Sneha Nagavally, Aprill Dawson, Anna Beckius, Heun Min, Maressa Sweeney, Elizabeth Weil, Angela Hallbach, Lubna N. Chaudhary, Yee Chung Cheng, Jutta Deiinger, John Burfeind, Janet Retseck, Tamiah Wright, John Charlson, Sailaja Kamaraju. Addressing Healthcare Gaps and Disparities in Electronic Medical Record Messages: A Quality Improvement Project Among Breast Cancer Patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-05-52.

Digital technologies for mental health improvements in the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review

Digital technologies have been used to support mental health services for two decades, but the COVID-19 pandemic created a particular opportunity for greater utilization and more data-driven assessment of these digital technologies. This research aims to offer a scoping review of the characteristics and effectiveness of digital interventions that were employed to improve mental health in the real context of COVID-19 pandemic. A combination of search terms was applied for automatic search of publications in the relevant databases. The key features of included studies were extracted, including the intervention, participant, and study details. A total of 20 eligible studies were included in the final review, which were conducted across different geographic regions and among diverse cultural groups. Among them, fourteen studies mainly reported the impact of digital technologies on general population, while only one published study developed specific interventions for the isolated COVID-19 depressed patients in hospitals. Digital technologies identified in this review were mainly developed via web-based and mobile-based platforms, such as social networking and video conferencing applications. But less than half of them were aligned with theoretical approaches from standardized psychological treatments. Most of the studies have reported positive effects of digital technologies, either on improving general mental and emotional well-being or addressing specific conditions (e.g., depression, stress, and anxiety). This scoping review suggests that digital technologies hold promise in bridging the mental health-care gap during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and calls for more rigorous studies to identify pertinent features that are likely to achieve more effective mental health outcomes.