Connolly SL, Miller CJ, Koenig CJ, et al. (2018). Veterans’ attitudes toward smartphone app use for mental health care: Qualitative study of rurality and age differences. JMIR mHealth and uHealth. 6(8): e10748. doi: 10.2196/10748
Researchers interviewed 66 veterans from 9 Veterans’ Administration (VA) clinics in Maine, Arkansas, and California about perceptions of smartphones and mobile applications (apps) for mental health. Veterans lived in rural (42%) and urban (58%) areas and ranged in age from 20-69 years. Interviews were thematically coded for positive and negative perceptions of the effectiveness, ease of use, and personal relevance (i.e. compatibility with individual culture and values) of mobile technology. Researchers descriptively compared sentiments expressed by rural or urban and older (50+) or younger (<50) veterans. Urban veterans were more positive about the effectiveness of mental health apps than rural veterans, noting that mental health apps could support symptom tracking and management as an adjunct to in-person therapy. Veterans did not want apps to replace in-person therapy. Urban and younger veterans were more positive about ease of use of mobile technology than rural and older veterans. Urban veterans were more positive about the personal relevance of mobile technology, noting their knowledge of and interest in using technology. Some veterans reported feeling forced into using mobile technology by society. Experience with, and ownership of, mobile technology facilitate use of mental health apps, but limited financial resources and access to Wi-Fi were identified barriers to use. Younger veterans were more likely to own mobile technology than older veterans and urban veterans were more likely to have experience with apps than rural veterans. Multiple veterans were unaware that several VA-developed apps were publicly available and expressed interest in learning more about these apps.