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Tag: digital health
04/03/2023

I-CARE: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Appropriateness of a Digital Health Intervention for Youth Experiencing Mental Health Boarding

Leyenaar JK, Arakelyan M, Acquilano SC, Gilbert TL, Craig JT, Lee CN, Kodak SG, Ignatova E, Mudge LA, House SA, Brady RE. I-CARE: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Appropriateness of a Digital Health Intervention for Youth Experiencing Mental Health Boarding. J Adolesc Health. 2023 Mar 2:S1054-139X(23)00062-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.01.015. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36870901.

A modular digital intervention was developed to facilitate delivery of evidence-based psychosocial skills by non-mental health clinicians for youth with expressed suicidality. The paper describes pilot mixed method findings on the intervention’s effectiveness, feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness. The intervention, I-CARE, consisted of seven modules grounded in cognitive behavior therapy and were delivered via a table computer with videos and practice activities. Licensed nursing assistants provided one-on-one supervision and facilitated the intervention. I-CARE was implemented in a pediatric hospital with 24 patients aged 12-17 years hospitalized due to suicidal ideation or attempt. Clinical outcomes were assessed by self-reported surveys at hospital admission and 24 hours before hospital discharge. Emotional distress significantly decreased after participation (6.3 points on 63-point scale). There were no significant changes in engagement readiness and illness severity. Majority of youth, caregivers and clinicians rated I-CARE as feasible (98%, N=39), acceptable (90%, N=36), and appropriate (78%, N=31). Overall, I-CARE was feasible to implement and acceptable to end-users and demonstrated preliminary positive impact on emotional distress for suicidal young people in psychiatric hospitalization.

 

Posted in: Cutting Edge Literature // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ;
03/22/2023

Digital Health Tech: A Solution to Substance Use Disorders?

Article Excerpt: Healthcare is turning towards tech to develop effective therapies for substance use disorders
While there are several well-established pharmaceutical treatment options available for smoking cessation, and for opioid and alcohol use disorders, there is still a high demand for more effective therapies. According to GlobalData’s Medical Device Pipeline Analytics, there are 61 products in development for treating substance abuse disorders classed as healthcare IT.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/3unbwpmh

Article Source: Medical Device Network

Posted in: Emerging Technologies // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
02/14/2023

Gaming My Way to Recovery: A Systematic Scoping Review of Digital Game Interventions for Young People’s Mental Health Treatment and Promotion

Ferrari M, Sabetti J, McIlwaine SV, Fazeli S, Sadati SMH, Shah JL, Archie S, Boydell KM, Lal S, Henderson J, Alvarez-Jimenez M, Andersson N, Nielsen RKL, Reynolds JA and Iyer SN (2022) Gaming My Way to Recovery: A Systematic Scoping Review of Digital Game Interventions for Young People’s Mental Health Treatment and Promotion. Front. Digit. Health 4:814248. doi: 10.3389/fdgth.2022.814248

This review summarized literature on video game interventions for young people (ages 12-29) and mapped the evidence for game use to support mental health and substance use treatment for youth people, how stakeholders were involved in program development, and potential harms or ethical issues. Forty-nine studies testing 32 digital games were identified. An adapted stepped care model based on illness manifestation and severity was used as a conceptual framework for organizing target populations, mental health outcome, video games, and study results. Ten studies (20%) targeted mental health prevention or education for undiagnosed youth (Step 0), 6 studies (12%) targeted at-risk groups or suspected mental health problems (Step 1), 24 studies (49%) targeted mild to moderate conditions (Steps 2-3), and 9 studies (18%) targeted severe and complex conditions (Step 4). The majority (66%) of studies targeted youth (19 years or younger) , as opposed to young adults. 11 of the games made clear efforts to promote equity and inclusiveness in focusing on minority youth and low-resource settings. Eleven studies were mixed method or qualitative studies. Two-thirds of quantitative studies (N=38) reported significant improvement on at least one key mental health outcome. The review also found evidence of high user satisfaction and program adherence. There were a range of identified issues such as limited game elements, storylines, lack of personalization or cultural fit, and lack of therapist support. Most studies included stakeholder feedback in developing and evaluating videogames. Results indicated the need for greater attention to participation of young end-users in game development to improve engagement, and to eliciting participation by service providers and family to promote the integration of games as standard tools for mental health treatment for youth.

Posted in: Cutting Edge Literature // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
02/06/2023

How Technology Can Help Solve Mental Health Care’s Biggest Barrier

Article Excerpt: From telehealth and TikTok to artificial intelligence and virtual reality, the mental health care industry is embracing technology — but it’s making many clinicians uneasy. From concerns about the ethics of mental health influencers to the inaccuracy of mental health advice on TikTok and to complaints about teens misdiagnosing themselves, many experts are uncomfortable about the role technology is playing in mental health support. But technology can also help solve what’s arguably the industry’s biggest issue: access. Given the ongoing mental health crisis and the fact that many people lack adequate access to quality mental health care, it’s essential to strike a balance between technological innovation, the pace of clinical validation, and high ethical and safety standards to ensure that rigorous, culturally centered mental health support is widely available at a time when it’s so desperately needed.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/4d4vk7pr

Article Source: STAT News

Posted in: Emerging Technologies // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
01/11/2023

The Use of Technology-Assisted Methods in Therapy and Psychological Treatments

Article Excerpt: Over the last few decades, technology in fields like healthcare and psychology has been advancing rapidly. Wherever one looks, technological advancements can be seen improving both diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of mental health issues. From cognitive behavioral therapy to virtual reality simulations, computer-assisted methods have helped clinicians deliver evidence-based treatments that allow patients to make real changes more quickly and efficiently than ever before. Within this article we will explore some of the most commonly used technology-assisted methods within therapeutic practice today, looking at how they are being implemented into current psychological treatments along with the associated benefits they bring.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/nhh3fb24

Article Source: HealthTechZone

Posted in: Emerging Technologies // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ;
01/09/2023

New mHealth Intervention Aims to Curb Smoking Among Black HIV Patients

Article Excerpt: Following a $1.3 million grant from the National Institute of Drug Abuse, Lorra Garey, a researcher from the University of Houston RESTORE Lab, plans to lead a research project to assess the impact of an mHealth application to mitigate smoking among Black people with HIV. HIV, a virus that attacks the body’s immune system, affects a large portion of the worldwide population. According to the World Health Organization, it has led to 40 million deaths globally. In addition, the US Department of Veterans Affairs noted that about 20 percent of US citizens with HIV are not aware that they have it, according to the press release.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/456cr8fh

Article Source: mHealthIntelligence

Posted in: Emerging Technologies // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
01/05/2023

Leaning In: How eCOA can Help Advance Mental Health Research

Article Excerpt: Electronic Clinical Outcomes Assessment and digital health tools were well-suited to accommodate the rapid rise of virtual and telehealth shifts during the Covid-19 pandemic and there is no going back. The adoption of eCOA technology in mental healthcare research can make pivotal advancements in mental health patient care.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/2wubjsws

Article Source: MedCityNews

Posted in: Methodologies & Analytics // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ;
12/19/2022

Telehealth Remains Key Modality for Behavioral Healthcare Delivery

Article Excerpt: After reaching new heights during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth use is leveling off in several clinical care areas. But there is one prominent exception: behavioral healthcare. Healthcare stakeholders are continuing to flock to telehealth for behavioral health services. An analysis of data from January 2020 to March 2022 shows that mental health conditions were the most common telehealth diagnoses at the national level. In addition, data shows that amid a drop in overall telehealth use since 2020, telemental healthcare has grown. In the first quarter of 2019, 32.4 percent of all telehealth visits were related to behavioral healthcare, according to a market research report. That figure jumped to 59.9 percent by Q1 2022. This data, along with the ongoing mental health crisis in America, signifies the importance of providing virtual care options for behavioral healthcare.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/4pvbdeme

Article Source: mHealth Intelligence

Posted in: Emerging Technologies // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ;
12/15/2022

Telehealth’s Popularity Reaches Beyond Virtual Doctor Visits

Article Excerpt: Patients have made their choice clear: Telehealth is now a key component of medical care. COVID changed nearly every aspect of daily life, including how consumers interact with medical providers. Pre-pandemic visits to the doctor were, for the most part, strictly in person. Then lockdowns occurred, forcing medical professionals to rethink avenues of care and propelling the broad use of telehealth. Restrictions may have lifted, but consumers are reluctant to quit the convenience of digital health – but aren’t entirely forgoing trips to physical offices. As recently as July 2022, 46% of U.S. patients engaged with healthcare using a mix of online and in-person visits.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/y2bksd9d

Article Source: PYMTS

Posted in: Emerging Technologies // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ;