Cross cultural and global uses of a digital mental health app: results of focus groups with clinicians, patients and family members in India and the United States

Elena Rodriguez-Villa, Abhijit R Rozatkar, Mohit Kumar, Vikram Patel, Ameya Bondre, Shalini S Naik, Siddharth Dutt, Urvakhsh M Mehta, Srilakshmi Nagendra, Deepak Tugnawat, Ritu Shrivastava, Harikeerthan Raghuram, Azaz Khan, John A Naslund, Snehil Gupta, Anant Bhan, Jagadisha Thirthall, Prabhat K Chand, Tanvi Lakhtakia, Matcheri Keshavan, John Torous, Elena Rodriguez-Villa, Abhijit R Rozatkar, Mohit Kumar, Vikram Patel, Ameya Bondre, Shalini S Naik, Siddharth Dutt, Urvakhsh M Mehta, Srilakshmi Nagendra, Deepak Tugnawat, Ritu Shrivastava, Harikeerthan Raghuram, Azaz Khan, John A Naslund, Snehil Gupta, Anant Bhan, Jagadisha Thirthall, Prabhat K Chand, Tanvi Lakhtakia, Matcheri Keshavan, John Torous

Abstract

Background: Despite significant advancements in healthcare technology, digital health solutions - especially those for serious mental illnesses - continue to fall short of their potential across both clinical practice and efficacy. The utility and impact of medicine, including digital medicine, hinges on relationships, trust, and engagement, particularly in the field of mental health. This paper details results from Phase 1 of a two-part study that seeks to engage people with schizophrenia, their family members, and clinicians in co-designing a digital mental health platform for use across different cultures and contexts in the United States and India.

Methods: Each site interviewed a mix of clinicians, patients, and their family members in focus groups (n = 20) of two to six participants. Open-ended questions and discussions inquired about their own smartphone use and, after a demonstration of the mindLAMP platform, specific feedback on the app's utility, design, and functionality.

Results: Our results based on thematic analysis indicate three common themes: increased use and interest in technology during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), concerns over how data are used and shared, and a desire for concurrent human interaction to support app engagement.

Conclusion: People with schizophrenia, their family members, and clinicians are open to integrating technology into treatment to better understand their condition and help inform treatment. However, app engagement is dependent on technology that is complementary - not substitutive - of therapeutic care from a clinician.

Keywords: digital health; global health; informatics; mental health; mhealth; smartphone apps.

Conflict of interest statement

None.

© The Author(s) 2021.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
A visual overview of select portions of the mindLAMP app; (a) the Feed displays upcoming tasks and reminders; (b) the app is divided into Learn, Assess, Manage, and Prevent sections, each containing a different set of activities; (c) the Prevent section displays a simplified visual overview of data; (d) when a data tile is tapped, a detailed view of each data point is presented, along with a simplified textual interpretation of the chart; (e–h) the Assess section presents surveys of varying length, such as the Social survey in this example, with modifiable questions and answer choices.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
A total of 25 individuals with mental illness and 20 mental health care providers participated in interviews and focus groups at the BIDMC. All participants completed their interview or focus group. They were not contacted for follow-up.

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Source: PubMed

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