Text Messaging Versus Email Messaging to Support Patients With Major Depressive Disorder: Protocol for a Randomized Hybrid Type II Effectiveness-Implementation Trial

Medard Kofi Adu, Reham Shalaby, Ejemai Eboreime, Adegboyega Sapara, Nnamdi Nkire, Rajan Chawla, Chidi Chima, Michael Achor, Felix Osiogo, Pierre Chue, Andrew J Greenshaw, Vincent Israel Agyapong, Medard Kofi Adu, Reham Shalaby, Ejemai Eboreime, Adegboyega Sapara, Nnamdi Nkire, Rajan Chawla, Chidi Chima, Michael Achor, Felix Osiogo, Pierre Chue, Andrew J Greenshaw, Vincent Israel Agyapong

Abstract

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) accounts for 40.5% of disability-adjusted life years caused by mental and substance use disorders. Barriers such as stigma and financial and physical access to care have been reported, highlighting the need for innovative, accessible, and cost-effective psychological interventions. The effectiveness of supportive SMS text messaging in alleviating depression symptoms has been proven in clinical trials, but this approach can only help those with mobile phones.

Objective: This paper presents the protocol for a study that will aim to evaluate the feasibility, comparative effectiveness, and user satisfaction of daily supportive email messaging as an effective strategy compared to daily supportive text messaging as part of the treatment of patients with MDD.

Methods: This trial will be carried out using a hybrid type II implementation-effectiveness design. This design evaluates the effectiveness of an implementation strategy or intervention, while also evaluating the implementation context associated with the intervention. Patients with MDD receiving usual care will be randomized to receive either daily supportive email messaging or daily supportive text messaging of the same content for 6 months. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and the 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of both strategies. The implementation evaluation will be guided by the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) framework, as well as the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. All outcome measures will be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data will be analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results: Data collection for this trial began in April 2021. We expect the study results to be available within 18 months of study commencement. The results will shed light on the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of using automated emails as a strategy for delivering supportive messages to patients with MDD in comparison to text messaging.

Conclusions: The outcome of this trial will have translational impact on routine patient care and access to mental health, as well as potentially support mental health policy decision-making for health care resource allocation.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04638231; https://ichgcp.net/clinical-trials-registry/NCT04638231.

International registered report identifier (irrid): DERR1-10.2196/29495.

Keywords: decision-making; digital health; email messaging; health care resources; health policy; mHealth; major depressive disorder; mental health; mobile health; patient care; randomized trial; supportive; text messaging.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

©Medard Kofi Adu, Reham Shalaby, Ejemai Eboreime, Adegboyega Sapara, Nnamdi Nkire, Rajan Chawla, Chidi Chima, Michael Achor, Felix Osiogo, Pierre Chue, Andrew J Greenshaw, Vincent Israel Agyapong. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (https://www.researchprotocols.org), 13.10.2021.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Conceptual framework of the Supportive Text vs Email Messaging (STEM) trial informed by the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) and Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research frameworks. PHQ-9: Patient Health Questionnaire-9, WHO-5: 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index, GAD-7: Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7.

References

    1. Wang PS, Lane M, Olfson M, Pincus HA, Wells KB, Kessler RC. Twelve-month use of mental health services in the United States: results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005 Jun;62(6):629–40. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.62.6.629.62/6/629
    1. Pratt LA, Brody DJ. Depression in the United States household population, 2005-2006. NCHS Data Brief. 2008 Sep;(7):1–8.
    1. Wells KB. The Functioning and Well-being of Depressed Patients. JAMA. 1989 Aug 18;262(7):914. doi: 10.1001/jama.1989.03430070062031.
    1. Whiteford HA, Degenhardt L, Rehm J, Baxter AJ, Ferrari AJ, Erskine HE, Charlson FJ, Norman RE, Flaxman AD, Johns N, Burstein R, Murray CJ, Vos T. Global burden of disease attributable to mental and substance use disorders: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. The Lancet. 2013 Nov;382(9904):1575–1586. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(13)61611-6.
    1. Lopez AD, Murray CC. The global burden of disease, 1990-2020. Nat Med. 1998 Nov;4(11):1241–3. doi: 10.1038/3218.
    1. Murray CJL, Lopez AD, World Health Organization. World Bank. Harvard School of Public Health The global burden of disease: a comprehensive assessment of mortality and disability from diseases, injuries, and risk factors in 1990 and projected to 2020. World Health Organization. 1996. [2021-09-10]. .
    1. Depression: A global crisis. World Federation for Mental Health. 2012. Oct 12, [2021-09-10]. .
    1. Lal S, Malla A. Service Engagement in First-Episode Psychosis: Current Issues and Future Directions. Can J Psychiatry. 2015 Aug 01;60(8):341–5. doi: 10.1177/070674371506000802.
    1. Cuijpers P. Personalized treatment for functional outcome in depression. Medicographia. 2014;36(4):476–481.
    1. Chisholm D, Sweeny K, Sheehan P, Rasmussen B, Smit F, Cuijpers P, Saxena S. Scaling-up treatment of depression and anxiety: a global return on investment analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry. 2016 May;3(5):415–424. doi: 10.1016/s2215-0366(16)30024-4.
    1. Singla DR, Raviola G, Patel V. Scaling up psychological treatments for common mental disorders: a call to action. World Psychiatry. 2018 Jun 24;17(2):226–227. doi: 10.1002/wps.20532. doi: 10.1002/wps.20532.
    1. Iyer S, Jordan Gerald, MacDonald Kathleen, Joober Ridha, Malla Ashok. Early intervention for psychosis: a Canadian perspective. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2015 May;203(5):356–64. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000288.
    1. Agyapong VI, Ahern S, McLoughlin DM, Farren CK. Supportive text messaging for depression and comorbid alcohol use disorder: single-blind randomised trial. J Affect Disord. 2012 Dec 10;141(2-3):168–76. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2012.02.040.S0165-0327(12)00189-9
    1. Nolin M, Malla A, Tibbo P, Norman R, Abdel-Baki A. Early Intervention for Psychosis in Canada: What Is the State of Affairs? Can J Psychiatry. 2016 Mar 03;61(3):186–94. doi: 10.1177/0706743716632516. 61/3/186
    1. Wu Z, Penning MJ, Schimmele CM. Immigrant Status and Unmet Health Care Needs. Can J Public Health. 2005 Sep 1;96(5):369–373. doi: 10.1007/bf03404035.
    1. Sunderland A, Findlay LC. Perceived need for mental health care in Canada: Results from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey–Mental Health. Statistics Canada. 2012. [2021-09-09]. .
    1. Mohr DC, Tomasino KN, Lattie EG, Palac HL, Kwasny MJ, Weingardt K, Karr CJ, Kaiser SM, Rossom RC, Bardsley LR, Caccamo L, Stiles-Shields C, Schueller SM. IntelliCare: An Eclectic, Skills-Based App Suite for the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety. J Med Internet Res. 2017 Jan 05;19(1):e10. doi: 10.2196/jmir.6645. v19i1e10
    1. Klein JP, Gerlinger G, Knaevelsrud C, Bohus M, Meisenzahl E, Kersting A, Röhr S, Riedel-Heller SG, Sprick U, Dirmaier J, Härter M, Hegerl U, Hohagen F, Hauth I. Internet-based interventions in the treatment of mental disorders : Overview, quality criteria, perspectives. Nervenarzt. 2016 Nov 20;87(11):1185–1193. doi: 10.1007/s00115-016-0217-7.10.1007/s00115-016-0217-7
    1. Versluis A, Verkuil B, Spinhoven P, van der Ploeg MM, Brosschot JF. Changing Mental Health and Positive Psychological Well-Being Using Ecological Momentary Interventions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Med Internet Res. 2016 Jun 27;18(6):e152. doi: 10.2196/jmir.5642. v18i6e152
    1. Kerst A, Zielasek J, Gaebel W. Smartphone applications for depression: a systematic literature review and a survey of health care professionals' attitudes towards their use in clinical practice. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2020 Mar 3;270(2):139–152. doi: 10.1007/s00406-018-0974-3.10.1007/s00406-018-0974-3
    1. Zhou L, Zhang Y, Tian Y, Fu X, Wang L, Xie C. Effect of music intervention on mental health in patients with diabetes mellitus: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomizsed controlled trials. BMJ Open. 2020 Aug 20;10(8):e036268. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-036268. bmjopen-2019-036268
    1. Hilty DM, Chan S, Torous J, Luo J, Boland RJ. Mobile Health, Smartphone/Device, and Apps for Psychiatry and Medicine: Competencies, Training, and Faculty Development Issues. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2019 Sep;42(3):513–534. doi: 10.1016/j.psc.2019.05.007.S0193-953X(19)30048-6
    1. Beard C, Silverman AL, Forgeard M, Wilmer MT, Torous J, Björgvinsson Thröstur. Smartphone, Social Media, and Mental Health App Use in an Acute Transdiagnostic Psychiatric Sample. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2019 Jun 07;7(6):e13364. doi: 10.2196/13364. v7i6e13364
    1. Bodenheimer T, Grumbach K. Electronic technology: a spark to revitalize primary care? JAMA. 2003 Jul 09;290(2):259–64. doi: 10.1001/jama.290.2.259.290/2/259
    1. Sucala M, Schnur JB, Constantino MJ, Miller SJ, Brackman EH, Montgomery GH. The therapeutic relationship in e-therapy for mental health: a systematic review. J Med Internet Res. 2012 Aug 02;14(4):e110. doi: 10.2196/jmir.2084. v14i4e110
    1. Hall AK, Cole-Lewis H, Bernhardt JM. Mobile text messaging for health: a systematic review of reviews. Annu Rev Public Health. 2015 Mar 18;36(1):393–415. doi: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-031914-122855.
    1. Johnson D. SMS open rates exceed 99% Tatango. 2020. [2021-09-09].
    1. Agyapong V, Mrklas K, Juhás Michal, Omeje J, Ohinmaa A, Dursun Sm, Greenshaw Aj. Cross-sectional survey evaluating Text4Mood: mobile health program to reduce psychological treatment gap in mental healthcare in Alberta through daily supportive text messages. BMC Psychiatry. 2016 Nov 08;16(1):378–12. doi: 10.1186/s12888-016-1104-2. 10.1186/s12888-016-1104-2
    1. O'Reilly Helen, Hagerty Aisling, O'Donnell Seamus, Farrell Aoife, Hartnett Dan, Murphy Edel, Kehoe Elizabeth, Agyapong Vincent, McLoughlin Declan M, Farren Conor. Alcohol Use Disorder and Comorbid Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating the Effectiveness of Supportive Text Messages in Aiding Recovery. Alcohol Alcohol. 2019 Jan 09;54(5):551–558. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agz060.5541097
    1. Agyapong V, Juhás Michal, Ohinmaa A, Omeje J, Mrklas K, Suen Vym, Dursun Sm, Greenshaw Aj. Randomized controlled pilot trial of supportive text messages for patients with depression. BMC Psychiatry. 2017 Aug 02;17(1):286. doi: 10.1186/s12888-017-1448-2.10.1186/s12888-017-1448-2
    1. Berrouiguet S, Baca-García Enrique, Brandt S, Walter M, Courtet P. Fundamentals for Future Mobile-Health (mHealth): A Systematic Review of Mobile Phone and Web-Based Text Messaging in Mental Health. J Med Internet Res. 2016 Jun 10;18(6):e135. doi: 10.2196/jmir.5066. v18i6e135
    1. Broom MA, Ladley AS, Rhyne EA, Halloran DR. Feasibility and Perception of Using Text Messages as an Adjunct Therapy for Low-Income, Minority Mothers With Postpartum Depression. JMIR Ment Health. 2015 Mar 16;2(1):e4. doi: 10.2196/mental.4074. v2i1e4
    1. Agyapong VIO, Milnes J, McLoughlin DM, Farren CK. Perception of patients with alcohol use disorder and comorbid depression about the usefulness of supportive text messages. THC. 2013 Jan 01;21(1):31–39. doi: 10.3233/thc-120707.
    1. Bradley L, Hendricks B, Lock R, Whiting P, Parr G. Email communication: Issues for mental health counselors. Journal of Mental Health Counseling. 2011;33(1):67–79. doi: 10.17744/mehc.33.1.05208025375v03r7.
    1. Löwe B, Kroenke K, Herzog W, Gräfe K. Measuring depression outcome with a brief self-report instrument: sensitivity to change of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) Journal of Affective Disorders. 2004 Jul;81(1):61–66. doi: 10.1016/s0165-0327(03)00198-8.
    1. Allgaier A, Kramer D, Mergl R, Fejtkova S, Hegerl U. Validity of the geriatric depression scale in nursing home residents: comparison of GDS-15, GDS-8, and GDS-4. Psychiatr Prax. 2011 Aug 19;38(6):280–6. doi: 10.1055/s-0030-1266105.
    1. Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JBW, Löwe Bernd. A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Arch Intern Med. 2006 May 22;166(10):1092–7. doi: 10.1001/archinte.166.10.1092.166/10/1092
    1. Curran GM. Effectiveness-implementation Hybrid Designs. Medical Care. 2012;50(3):217–226. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0b013e3182408812.
    1. Landes SJ, McBain SA, Curran GM. Reprint of: An introduction to effectiveness-implementation hybrid designs. Psychiatry Res. 2020 Jan;283:112630. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.112630. S0165-1781(19)32168-7
    1. Groves T. Enhancing the quality and transparency of health research. BMJ. 2008 Jul 08;337(jul08 1):a718–a718. doi: 10.1136/bmj.a718.
    1. Chan A, Tetzlaff JM, Gøtzsche Peter C, Altman DG, Mann H, Berlin JA, Dickersin K, Hróbjartsson Asbjørn, Schulz KF, Parulekar WR, Krleza-Jeric K, Laupacis A, Moher D. SPIRIT 2013 explanation and elaboration: guidance for protocols of clinical trials. BMJ. 2013 Jan 08;346(jan08 15):e7586–e7586. doi: 10.1136/bmj.e7586.
    1. Antes G. The new CONSORT statement. BMJ. 2010 Mar 23;340(mar23 1):c1432–c1432. doi: 10.1136/bmj.c1432.
    1. Damschroder LJ, Aron DC, Keith RE, Kirsh SR, Alexander JA, Lowery JC. Fostering implementation of health services research findings into practice: a consolidated framework for advancing implementation science. Implement Sci. 2009 Aug 07;4(1):50. doi: 10.1186/1748-5908-4-50. 1748-5908-4-50
    1. Glasgow RE, Vogt TM, Boles SM. Evaluating the public health impact of health promotion interventions: the RE-AIM framework. Am J Public Health. 1999 Sep;89(9):1322–7. doi: 10.2105/ajph.89.9.1322.
    1. Kim YE, Lee B. The Psychometric Properties of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 in a Sample of Korean University Students. Psychiatry Investig. 2019 Dec;16(12):904–910. doi: 10.30773/pi.2019.0226. pi.2019.0226
    1. Heun R, Bonsignore M, Barkow K, Jessen F. Validity of the five-item WHO Well-Being Index (WHO-5) in an elderly population. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Nuerosci. 2001 Jun;251(S2):27–31. doi: 10.1007/bf03035123.
    1. Topp CW, Østergaard Søren Dinesen, Søndergaard Susan, Bech P. The WHO-5 Well-Being Index: a systematic review of the literature. Psychother Psychosom. 2015;84(3):167–76. doi: 10.1159/000376585. 000376585
    1. Kang H. The prevention and handling of the missing data. Korean J Anesthesiol. 2013 May;64(5):402–6. doi: 10.4097/kjae.2013.64.5.402.
    1. Agyapong VIO. Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: Health System and Community Response to a Text Message (Text4Hope) Program Supporting Mental Health in Alberta. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2020 Oct 22;14(5):e5–e6. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2020.114. S1935789320001147
    1. Li X, Liu Q. Social Media Use, eHealth Literacy, Disease Knowledge, and Preventive Behaviors in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Study on Chinese Netizens. J Med Internet Res. 2020 Oct 09;22(10):e19684. doi: 10.2196/19684. v22i10e19684
    1. Resilience N Hope. [2021-09-16].

Source: PubMed

Sponsoren und Mitarbeiter

Krankheiten

Drogeninterventionen

3
Abonnieren