Development of a Mobile App to Support Self-management of Anxiety and Depression in African American Women: Usability Study

McCall, Terika; Ali, Muhammad; Yu, Fei; Fontelo, Paul; Khairat, Saif

doi:10.2196/24393

Cited by 15 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Out of the 15 publications that met the inclusion criteria for this review [ 40 , 54 - 67 ], 10 (67%) studies were conducted in the United States [ 40 , 54 , 56 , 58 - 61 , 63 , 66 , 67 ], with publication dates ranging from 2016 to 2023. Overall, 13 (87%) of the 15 studies focused on specific MHAs [ 54 - 61 , 63 - 67 ], including 2 MHA prototypes [ 58 , 67 ]. Of the app-specific studies, 4 had a mixed methods design [ 55 , 58 , 60 , 63 ], 7 were quantitative [ 54 , 56 , 57 , 59 , 61 , 65 , 67 ] and 2 were qualitative studies [ 64 , 66 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-Guided Mental Health Apps Targeting Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups: Scoping Review

Saad,

Eisenstadt,

Liverpool

et al. 2023

JMIR Ment Health

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Background The use of mental health apps (MHAs) is increasing rapidly. However, little is known about the use of MHAs by racial and ethnic minority groups. Objective In this review, we aimed to examine the acceptability and effectiveness of MHAs among racial and ethnic minority groups, describe the purposes of using MHAs, identify the barriers to MHA use in racial and ethnic minority groups, and identify the gaps in the literature. Methods A systematic search was conducted on August 25, 2023, using Web of Science, Embase, PsycINFO, PsycArticles, PsycExtra, and MEDLINE. Articles were quality appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, and data were extracted and summarized to form a narrative synthesis. Results A total of 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. Studies were primarily conducted in the United States, and the MHAs designed for racial and ethnic minority groups included ¡Aptívate!, iBobbly, AIMhi- Y, BRAVE, Build Your Own Theme Song, Mindful You, Sanadak, and 12 more MHAs used in 1 study. The MHAs were predominantly informed by cognitive behavioral therapy and focused on reducing depressive symptoms. MHAs were considered acceptable for racial and ethnic minority groups; however, engagement rates dropped over time. Only 2 studies quantitatively reported the effectiveness of MHAs among racial and ethnic minority groups. Barriers to use included the repetitiveness of the MHAs, stigma, lack of personalization, and technical issues. Conclusions Considering the growing interest in MHAs, the available evidence for MHAs for racial and ethnic minority groups appears limited. Although the acceptability seems consistent, more research is needed to support the effectiveness of MHAs. Future research should also prioritize studies to explore the specific needs of racial and ethnic minority groups if MHAs are to be successfully adopted.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-Guided Mental Health Apps Targeting Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups: Scoping Review

Saad,

Eisenstadt,

Liverpool

et al. 2023

JMIR Ment Health

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“…The preference for having information on people with similar cultural backgrounds on mHealth apps for various health conditions is well established. In a study to develop an app for self-management of anxiety and depression for Black women, participants recommended that the ability to create a list of Black female therapists be included in the app [ 45 ]. Another study that described the development of an mHealth app for the promotion of physical activity in Black men reported that participants preferred that the app contain images of Black men as well as a physical activity plan for health conditions common among Black men [ 46 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Black Smokers’ Preferences for Features of a Smoking Cessation App: Qualitative Study

Enyioha¹,

Loufman²,

Grewe³

et al. 2023

JMIR Form Res

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Background Mobile health (mHealth) interventions for smoking cessation have grown extensively over the last few years. Although these interventions improve cessation rates, studies of these interventions consistently lack sufficient Black smokers; hence knowledge of features that make mHealth interventions attractive to Black smokers is limited. Identifying features of mHealth interventions for smoking cessation preferred by Black smokers is critical to developing an intervention that they are likely to use. This may in turn address smoking cessation challenges and barriers to care, which may reduce smoking-related disparities that currently exist. Objective This study aims to identify features of mHealth interventions that appeal to Black smokers using an evidence-based app developed by the National Cancer Institute, QuitGuide, as a reference. Methods We recruited Black adult smokers from national web-based research panels with a focus on the Southeastern United States. Participants were asked to download and use QuitGuide for at least a week before participation in remote individual interviews. Participants gave their opinions about features of the QuitGuide app and other mHealth apps they may have used in the past and suggestions for future apps. Results Of the 18 participants, 78% (n=14) were women, with age ranging from 32 to 65 years. Themes within five major areas relevant for developing a future mHealth smoking cessation app emerged from the individual interviews: (1) content needs including health and financial benefits of quitting, testimonials from individuals who were successful in quitting, and strategies for quitting; (2) format needs such as images, ability to interact with and respond to elements within the app, and links to other helpful resources; (3) functionality including tracking of smoking behavior and symptoms, provision of tailored feedback and reminders to users, and an app that allows for personalization of functions; (4) social network, such as connecting with friends and family through the app, connecting with other users on social media, and connecting with a smoking cessation coach or therapist; and (5) the need for inclusivity for Black individuals, which may be accomplished through the inclusion of smoking-related information and health statistics specific for Black individuals, the inclusion of testimonials from Black celebrities who successfully quit, and the inclusion of cultural relevance in messages contained in the app. Conclusions Certain features of mHealth interventions for smoking cessation were highly preferred by Black smokers based on their use of a preexisting mHealth app, QuitGuide. Some of these preferences are similar to those already identified by the general population, whereas preferences for increasing the inclusivity of the app are more specific to Black smokers. These findings can serve as the groundwork for a large-scale experiment to evaluate preferences with a larger sample size and can be applied in developing mHealth apps that Black smokers may be more likely to use.

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“…Based on feedback from the focus groups, an initial prototype of an app designed to support management of anxiety and depressive symptoms among Black women was developed and usability testing was conducted (39). The initial prototype included a guided thought journal; information about anxiety and depression (including facts about the prevalence of anxiety and depression among Black women); self-assessments for depression (40) and anxiety (41); mood rating; graphs to track trends in depression and anxiety severity, and mood rating history; culturally-informed resources (e.g., links to the Therapy for Black Girls therapist directory and podcast); and a self-care planner.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recommendations for design of a mobile application to support management of anxiety and depression among Black American women

McCall

Threats

Pillai

et al. 2022

Front. Digit. Health

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Black American women experience adverse health outcomes due to anxiety and depression. They face systemic barriers to accessing culturally appropriate mental health care leading to the underutilization of mental health services and resources. Mobile technology can be leveraged to increase access to culturally relevant resources, however, the specific needs and preferences that Black women feel are useful in an app to support management of anxiety and depression are rarely reflected in existing digital health tools. This study aims to assess what types of content, features, and important considerations should be included in the design of a mobile app tailored to support management of anxiety and depression among Black women. Focus groups were conducted with 20 women (mean age 36.6 years, SD 17.8 years), with 5 participants per group. Focus groups were led by a moderator, with notetaker present, using an interview guide to discuss topics, such as participants' attitudes and perceptions towards mental health and use of mental health services, and content, features, and concerns for design of a mobile app to support management of anxiety and depression. Descriptive qualitative content analysis was conducted. Recommendations for content were either informational (e.g., information to find a Black woman therapist) or inspirational (e.g., encouraging stories about overcoming adversity). Suggested features allow users to monitor their progress, practice healthy coping techniques, and connect with others. The importance of feeling “a sense of community” was emphasized. Transparency about who created and owns the app, and how users' data will be used and protected was recommended to establish trust. The findings from this study were consistent with previous literature which highlighted the need for educational, psychotherapy, and personal development components for mental health apps. There has been exponential growth in the digital mental health space due to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, a one-size-fits-all approach may lead to more options but continued disparity in receiving mental health care. Designing a mental health app for and with Black women may help to advance digital health equity by providing a tool that addresses their specific needs and preferences, and increase engagement.

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Development of a Mobile App to Support Self-management of Anxiety and Depression in African American Women: Usability Study

Cited by 15 publications

References 48 publications

Self-Guided Mental Health Apps Targeting Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups: Scoping Review

Self-Guided Mental Health Apps Targeting Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups: Scoping Review

Black Smokers’ Preferences for Features of a Smoking Cessation App: Qualitative Study

Recommendations for design of a mobile application to support management of anxiety and depression among Black American women

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