Assessing Professionals’ Adoption Readiness for eMental Health: Development and Validation of the eMental Health Adoption Readiness Scale
BackgroundThe last few decades have witnessed significant advances in the development of digital tools and applications for mental health care. Despite growing evidence for their effectiveness, acceptance and use of these tools in clinical practice remain low. Hence, a valida...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| Online Access: | https://www.jmir.org/2021/9/e28518 |
| _version_ | 1797735774013095936 |
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| author | Milou A Feijt Yvonne A W de Kort Joyce H D M Westerink Joyce J P A Bierbooms Inge M B Bongers Wijnand A IJsselsteijn |
| author_facet | Milou A Feijt Yvonne A W de Kort Joyce H D M Westerink Joyce J P A Bierbooms Inge M B Bongers Wijnand A IJsselsteijn |
| author_sort | Milou A Feijt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundThe last few decades have witnessed significant advances in the development of digital tools and applications for mental health care. Despite growing evidence for their effectiveness, acceptance and use of these tools in clinical practice remain low. Hence, a validated and easy-to-use instrument for assessing professionals’ readiness to adopt eMental health (EMH) is necessary to gain further insights into the process of EMH adoption and facilitate future research on this topic.
ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to develop and validate an instrument for assessing mental health care professionals’ readiness to adopt EMH.
MethodsItem generation was guided by literature and inputs from mental health care professionals and experts in survey development. Exploratory factor analyses were conducted on an initial set of 29 items completed by a sample of mental health care professionals (N=432); thereafter, the scale was reduced to 15 items in an iterative process. The factor structure thus obtained was subsequently tested using a confirmatory factor analysis with a second sample of mental health care professionals (N=363). The internal consistency, convergent validity, and predictive validity of the eMental Health Adoption Readiness (eMHAR) Scale were assessed.
ResultsExploratory factor analysis resulted in a 3-factor solution with 15 items. The factors were analyzed and labeled as perceived benefits and applicability of EMH, EMH proactive innovation, and EMH self-efficacy. These factors were confirmed through a confirmatory factor analysis. The total scale and subscales showed a good internal consistency (Cronbach α=.73-.88) along with acceptable convergent and predictive relationships with related constructs.
ConclusionsThe constructed eMHAR Scale showed a conceptually interpretable 3-factor structure having satisfactory characteristics and relationships with relevant concepts. Its ease of use allows for quick acquisition of data that can contribute to understanding and facilitating the process of adoption of EMH by clinical professionals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:03:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f326c35b7e4e441790baa260749ea6b0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1438-8871 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:03:00Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-f326c35b7e4e441790baa260749ea6b02023-08-28T19:05:55ZengJMIR PublicationsJournal of Medical Internet Research1438-88712021-09-01239e2851810.2196/28518Assessing Professionals’ Adoption Readiness for eMental Health: Development and Validation of the eMental Health Adoption Readiness ScaleMilou A Feijthttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9781-5681Yvonne A W de Korthttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8127-397XJoyce H D M Westerinkhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2391-0387Joyce J P A Bierboomshttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2624-1673Inge M B Bongershttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2885-3537Wijnand A IJsselsteijnhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6856-9269 BackgroundThe last few decades have witnessed significant advances in the development of digital tools and applications for mental health care. Despite growing evidence for their effectiveness, acceptance and use of these tools in clinical practice remain low. Hence, a validated and easy-to-use instrument for assessing professionals’ readiness to adopt eMental health (EMH) is necessary to gain further insights into the process of EMH adoption and facilitate future research on this topic. ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to develop and validate an instrument for assessing mental health care professionals’ readiness to adopt EMH. MethodsItem generation was guided by literature and inputs from mental health care professionals and experts in survey development. Exploratory factor analyses were conducted on an initial set of 29 items completed by a sample of mental health care professionals (N=432); thereafter, the scale was reduced to 15 items in an iterative process. The factor structure thus obtained was subsequently tested using a confirmatory factor analysis with a second sample of mental health care professionals (N=363). The internal consistency, convergent validity, and predictive validity of the eMental Health Adoption Readiness (eMHAR) Scale were assessed. ResultsExploratory factor analysis resulted in a 3-factor solution with 15 items. The factors were analyzed and labeled as perceived benefits and applicability of EMH, EMH proactive innovation, and EMH self-efficacy. These factors were confirmed through a confirmatory factor analysis. The total scale and subscales showed a good internal consistency (Cronbach α=.73-.88) along with acceptable convergent and predictive relationships with related constructs. ConclusionsThe constructed eMHAR Scale showed a conceptually interpretable 3-factor structure having satisfactory characteristics and relationships with relevant concepts. Its ease of use allows for quick acquisition of data that can contribute to understanding and facilitating the process of adoption of EMH by clinical professionals.https://www.jmir.org/2021/9/e28518 |
| spellingShingle | Milou A Feijt Yvonne A W de Kort Joyce H D M Westerink Joyce J P A Bierbooms Inge M B Bongers Wijnand A IJsselsteijn Assessing Professionals’ Adoption Readiness for eMental Health: Development and Validation of the eMental Health Adoption Readiness Scale Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| title | Assessing Professionals’ Adoption Readiness for eMental Health: Development and Validation of the eMental Health Adoption Readiness Scale |
| title_full | Assessing Professionals’ Adoption Readiness for eMental Health: Development and Validation of the eMental Health Adoption Readiness Scale |
| title_fullStr | Assessing Professionals’ Adoption Readiness for eMental Health: Development and Validation of the eMental Health Adoption Readiness Scale |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing Professionals’ Adoption Readiness for eMental Health: Development and Validation of the eMental Health Adoption Readiness Scale |
| title_short | Assessing Professionals’ Adoption Readiness for eMental Health: Development and Validation of the eMental Health Adoption Readiness Scale |
| title_sort | assessing professionals adoption readiness for emental health development and validation of the emental health adoption readiness scale |
| url | https://www.jmir.org/2021/9/e28518 |
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