Digital health tools in psychosis: A survey study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Staff and service user views on digital health tools in psychosis: A survey study
IRAS ID
312430
Contact name
Sandra Bucci
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
222875/Z/21/Z, 300794
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Research summary:
Conventional methods of monitoring and treating psychosis rely on patients recalling symptoms over the preceding week(s) or month(s) at a scheduled appointment time. Appointments are typically clinic based and often infrequent in over-stretched mental health services, resulting in imprecise retrospective recall of symptoms. This is problematic in a condition that requires precise, time-sensitive treatment, particularly in response to signs of emerging relapse. The challenge is to improve outcomes by delivering personalised intervention strategies when/where someone needs them most (and is most receptive to them) without adding to the workload of over-stretched mental health services or over-burdening patients themselves. Advancements in technology can help address this challenge and widespread development of digital mental health systems is underway.The current survey study forms part of the larger NIHR Research Professorship body of work in which we aim to provide up-to-date data on digital inclusion rates to explore whether SMI patients are being left behind as a result of digital adoption. Closing the ‘digital divide’ is key to digital strategies, and it is unclear whether this divide continues in people with SMI. We also aim to identify the strengths and challenges of deploying digital health tools from both perspectives.
We aim to recruit at least 300 service users (and up to approx. 500 service users) and at least 300 staff members (and up to approx. 500 staff members) to ensure a broad range of perspectives are captured.
The survey will be predominantly conducted online, via a UoM approved online survey platform. Participants will be able to contact the researchers who will provide them with a paper copy of the questionnaires.
The survey will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete.
Lay summary of study results:
What is the problem?
Psychosis is a severe mental health problem that affects how people think, feel, and perceive reality. It is a public health issue, and mental health services are struggling to meet the growing demand for care. Barriers such as long waiting times, stigma, and delayed treatment make it hard for people to recover and increase the risk of relapse.How can technology help?
Digital health tools, like apps and wearable devices, offer new ways for people to manage their mental health. These tools can monitor symptoms in real-time and provide timely support. While some studies have shown promising results, there are challenges in successfully implementing these tools in real-world healthcare settings. Involving both service users and mental health professionals in designing these tools is critical for their success.What did we do?
From November 2022 to March 2024, we conducted a survey study involving 352 mental health staff and 309 service users with psychosis from 31 NHS trusts and health boards. The aim was to understand how digital tools could be used to improve mental health care.What did we find?
Staff perspectives: Over 74% of mental health staff supported using digital health tools. They were more comfortable with tools designed to monitor feelings and general health than those that track behaviours or locations.Service user perspectives: Most service users (91.6%) owned a smartphone, though fewer (30.1%) owned wearable devices. Many expressed a willingness to use apps (59.9%) or wearables (65%) to monitor their mental health. Most participants preferred a combination of face-to-face and digital care.
Why is this study important?
This study highlights the potential of digital tools to improve mental health care for people with psychosis. It also highlights the importance of addressing challenges like building trust, ensuring safety, and improving digital skills and confidence. By addressing these barriers, technology can play a crucial role in transforming mental health services.Acknowledgements
We thank all the NHS staff and service users who took part in this study. Their insights are essential in shaping the future of mental health care.REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/NW/0246
Date of REC Opinion
17 Oct 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion