Factors Influencing Community Participation in Internet Interventions Compared With Research Trials: Observational Study in a Nationally Representative Adult Cohort
BackgroundDigital mental health (DMH) programs can be effective in treating and preventing mental health problems. However, community engagement with these programs can be poor. Understanding the barriers and enablers of DMH program use may assist in identifying ways to incre...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| Online Access: | https://www.jmir.org/2023/1/e41663 |
| _version_ | 1797734420735590400 |
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| author | Philip Batterham Amelia Gulliver Matthew Sunderland Louise Farrer Frances Kay-Lambkin Angelica Trias Alison Calear |
| author_facet | Philip Batterham Amelia Gulliver Matthew Sunderland Louise Farrer Frances Kay-Lambkin Angelica Trias Alison Calear |
| author_sort | Philip Batterham |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundDigital mental health (DMH) programs can be effective in treating and preventing mental health problems. However, community engagement with these programs can be poor. Understanding the barriers and enablers of DMH program use may assist in identifying ways to increase the uptake of these programs, which have the potential to provide broad-scale prevention and treatment in the community.
ObjectiveIn this study, we aimed to identify and compare factors that may influence participation in DMH programs in practice and research trials, identify any respondent characteristics that are associated with these factors, and assess the relationship between intentions to use DMH programs and actual uptake.
MethodsAustralian adults aged ≥18 years were recruited from market research panels to participate in the study. The sample was representative of the Australian adult population based on age, gender, and location. Participants completed a cross-sectional web-based survey assessing demographic characteristics, mental health symptom measures, attitudes and use of DMH programs in practice and in research studies, and the factors influencing their use in both settings.
ResultsAcross both research and practice, trust in the organization delivering the service or trial was the top-ranked factor influencing participation, followed by anonymity or privacy and adequate information. There was little variation in rankings across demographic groups, including intentions to use DMH programs or mental health status. Intentions to use DMH programs were a strong predictor of both current (odds ratio 2.50, 99% CI 1.41-4.43; P<.001) and past (odds ratio 2.98, 99% CI 1.71-5.19; P<.001) use behaviors.
ConclusionsEfforts to increase the uptake of DMH programs or participation in research trials should focus on clearly communicating the following to users: the legitimacy of the organization delivering the program, security and use of participant data, and effectiveness of DMH programs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:43:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2fbfd71324374757991910c3e76d92cb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1438-8871 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:43:08Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-2fbfd71324374757991910c3e76d92cb2023-08-28T23:34:47ZengJMIR PublicationsJournal of Medical Internet Research1438-88712023-02-0125e4166310.2196/41663Factors Influencing Community Participation in Internet Interventions Compared With Research Trials: Observational Study in a Nationally Representative Adult CohortPhilip Batterhamhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4547-6876Amelia Gulliverhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6351-9844Matthew Sunderlandhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8452-364XLouise Farrerhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5694-4631Frances Kay-Lambkinhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4252-5572Angelica Triashttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9646-0647Alison Calearhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7028-725X BackgroundDigital mental health (DMH) programs can be effective in treating and preventing mental health problems. However, community engagement with these programs can be poor. Understanding the barriers and enablers of DMH program use may assist in identifying ways to increase the uptake of these programs, which have the potential to provide broad-scale prevention and treatment in the community. ObjectiveIn this study, we aimed to identify and compare factors that may influence participation in DMH programs in practice and research trials, identify any respondent characteristics that are associated with these factors, and assess the relationship between intentions to use DMH programs and actual uptake. MethodsAustralian adults aged ≥18 years were recruited from market research panels to participate in the study. The sample was representative of the Australian adult population based on age, gender, and location. Participants completed a cross-sectional web-based survey assessing demographic characteristics, mental health symptom measures, attitudes and use of DMH programs in practice and in research studies, and the factors influencing their use in both settings. ResultsAcross both research and practice, trust in the organization delivering the service or trial was the top-ranked factor influencing participation, followed by anonymity or privacy and adequate information. There was little variation in rankings across demographic groups, including intentions to use DMH programs or mental health status. Intentions to use DMH programs were a strong predictor of both current (odds ratio 2.50, 99% CI 1.41-4.43; P<.001) and past (odds ratio 2.98, 99% CI 1.71-5.19; P<.001) use behaviors. ConclusionsEfforts to increase the uptake of DMH programs or participation in research trials should focus on clearly communicating the following to users: the legitimacy of the organization delivering the program, security and use of participant data, and effectiveness of DMH programs.https://www.jmir.org/2023/1/e41663 |
| spellingShingle | Philip Batterham Amelia Gulliver Matthew Sunderland Louise Farrer Frances Kay-Lambkin Angelica Trias Alison Calear Factors Influencing Community Participation in Internet Interventions Compared With Research Trials: Observational Study in a Nationally Representative Adult Cohort Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| title | Factors Influencing Community Participation in Internet Interventions Compared With Research Trials: Observational Study in a Nationally Representative Adult Cohort |
| title_full | Factors Influencing Community Participation in Internet Interventions Compared With Research Trials: Observational Study in a Nationally Representative Adult Cohort |
| title_fullStr | Factors Influencing Community Participation in Internet Interventions Compared With Research Trials: Observational Study in a Nationally Representative Adult Cohort |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors Influencing Community Participation in Internet Interventions Compared With Research Trials: Observational Study in a Nationally Representative Adult Cohort |
| title_short | Factors Influencing Community Participation in Internet Interventions Compared With Research Trials: Observational Study in a Nationally Representative Adult Cohort |
| title_sort | factors influencing community participation in internet interventions compared with research trials observational study in a nationally representative adult cohort |
| url | https://www.jmir.org/2023/1/e41663 |
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