Hatch A, Hoffman JE, Ross R, Docherty JP. (2018). Expert consensus survey on digital health tools for patients with serious mental illness: Optimizing user characteristics and user support. JMIR Mental Health. 5(2): e46. doi: 10.2196/mental.9777
Researchers recruited 52 clinicians with publication histories demonstrating expertise in digital psychiatric interventions to complete a survey to assess use of digital health interventions for patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depressive disorder (severe mental illness; SMI). This paper focused on user (i.e. patient and clinician) characteristics, perceived advantages and disadvantages, and resources that facilitate adoption of digital health by patients with SMI and health care providers (HCPs). Patient interest in using technology, access to digital resources, positive expectations for digital health, ownership and use of technology, and social support were rated most likely to facilitate adoption of digital health. Good occupational functioning was the only mental illness-related indicator rated highly likely to affect patient engagement with digital health. HCP enthusiasm about digital health, willingness to use digital health resources with patients, and access to staff and equipment were rated most likely to facilitate HCP adoption of digital health. Reduction in number of hospitalizations and increased social engagement were potential advantages of digital health rated as most likely to motivate patients to adopt digital health. Reimbursement for working with digital health was rated most likely to motivate HCPs to adopt digital health. Initial training to use digital health tools was the resource rated most likely to facilitate patient use of digital health. Clear information about how digital health could improve patient outcomes was the resource rated most likely to facilitate adoption of digital health by HCPs.