Investigating information needs and preferences regarding digital mental health services among medical and psychology students in Germany:  A qualitative study

Braun, Pia; Schwientek, Ann-Kathrin; Guthardt, Lisa; Icks, Andrea; Loerbroks, Adrian; Apolinário-Hagen, Jennifer

doi:10.1177/20552076231173568

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 91 publications

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“…Seventh, due to the relatively old data, preferences and attitudes may have changed over time, as efforts for the digitalization of the health care sector have sharply increased, for example, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a more recent qualitative study on digital mental health services showed that German students only have little experience with this kind of services ( 62 ). Eighth, the 12-month mental disorders were solely based on self-reported DSM-IV criteria which may have led to inflated prevalences due to self-selection and recall bias.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental health services for German university students: acceptance of intervention targets and preference for delivery modes

Kählke,

Hasking,

Küchler

et al. 2024

Front. Digit. Health

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IntroductionMost university students with mental disorders remain untreated. Evaluating the acceptance of intervention targets in mental health treatment, promotion, and prevention, as well as mental health service delivery modes is crucial for reducing potential barriers, increasing healthcare utilization, and efficiently allocating resources in healthcare services.AimThe study aimed to evaluate the acceptance of various intervention targets and delivery modes of mental health care services in German first-year university students.MethodsIn total, 1,376 first-year students from two German universities from the 2017–2018 multi-center cross-sectional cohort of the StudiCare project, the German arm of the World Mental Health International College Student Survey initiative, completed a web-based survey assessing their mental health. Mental disorder status was based on self-reported data fulfilling the DSM-IV criteria. We report frequencies of accepted delivery modes [categories: group or in-person therapy with on or off campus services, self-help internet- or mobile-based intervention (IMI) with or without coaching, or a combination of a in-person and IMI (blended)]. In a multinomial logistic regression, we estimate correlates of the preference for in-person vs. IMI vs. a combination of both modes (blended) modalities. Additionally, we report frequencies of intervention targets (disorder specific: e.g., social phobia, depressive mood; study-related: test anxiety, procrastination; general well-being: sleep quality, resilience) their association with mental disorders and sex, and optimal combinations of treatment targets for each mental illness.ResultsGerman university students' acceptance is high for in-person (71%–76%), moderate for internet- and mobile-based (45%–55%), and low for group delivery modes (31%–36%). In-person treatment (72%) was preferred over IMI (19%) and blended modalities (9%). Having a mental disorder [odds ratio (OR): 1.56], believing that digital treatments are effective (OR: 3.2), and showing no intention to use services (OR: 2.8) were associated with a preference for IMI compared to in-person modes. Students with prior treatment experience preferred in-person modes (OR: 0.46). In general, treatment targets acceptance was higher among female students and students with mental disorders. However, this was not true for targets with the highest (i.e., procrastination) and the lowest (i.e., substance-use disorder) acceptance. If only two intervention targets were offered, a combination of study-related targets (i.e., procrastination, stress, time management) would reach 85%–88% of the students.ConclusionIn-person services are preferred, yet half of the students consider using IMI, preferably aiming for a combination of at least two study-related intervention targets. Student mental health care services should offer a combination of accepted targets in different delivery modes to maximize service utilization.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental health services for German university students: acceptance of intervention targets and preference for delivery modes

Kählke,

Hasking,

Küchler

et al. 2024

Front. Digit. Health

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Preferences regarding information strategies for digital mental health interventions among medical students in Germany: A discrete-choice experiment (Preprint)

Vomhof,

Bau,

Hüter

et al. 2023

JMIR Formative Research

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Background:The impact of digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) in the prevention and therapy of common mental disorders (CMDs) on healthcare has been debated in view of the currently low utilization rates. Potential reasons may include lacking awareness or familiarity with DMHIs as well as concerns about their quality, trusted sources and the evidence base, which calls for context-sensitive information campaigns. Medical students represent a suitable user case to develop information strategies as they were previously shown to have a comparatively high risk for CMDs themselves. Further, in their role as future physicians, they will prescribe DMHIs. Yet, little is known about medical students´ information preferences regarding DMHIs. Objective:The aim of the study was to explore information preferences for DMHIs among medical students in Germany for personal use.Methods: A discrete choice experiment (DCE) was conducted, which was developed using an exploratory sequential mixedmethods research approach. Five attributes (i.e., source, delivery mode, timing, recommendation, and quality criteria) each with 3-4 levels were identified using formative research. Twenty-four choice sets each with two alternatives were divided into three versions of the DCE, each with eight different choice sets, to which participants were randomly assigned. DCE data were analyzed employing logistic regression models to estimate preference weights and relative importance of attributes. To identify subgroups of students varying in information preferences, we additionally performed a latent class analysis (LCA).Results: Out of N=309 eligible participants data, n=231 were included in the main analysis due to reliable data (70.1% women, age: M=24.1 years, SD=4.0 years). Overall, medical students preferred to receive information about DMHIs from the student council and favored being informed via social media early (i.e., during their pre-clinic phase or their freshman week). Recommendations from other students or health professionals were preferred over recommendations from other users or no recommendation at all. Information about the scientific evidence base were the preferred quality criterion. Overall, timing of the provision of information was the most relevant attribute (32.6%). LCA revealed two distinct subgroups. Class 1 preferred to

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Preferences regarding information strategies for digital mental health interventions among medical students in Germany: A discrete choice experiment (Preprint)

Vomhof,

Bau,

Hüter

et al. 2023

Preprint

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BACKGROUND The impact of digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) in the prevention and therapy of common mental disorders (CMDs) on healthcare has been debated in view of the currently low utilization rates. Potential reasons may include lacking awareness or familiarity with DMHIs as well as concerns about their quality, trusted sources and the evidence base, which calls for context-sensitive information campaigns. Medical students represent a suitable user case to develop information strategies as they were previously shown to have a comparatively high risk for CMDs themselves. Further, in their role as future physicians, they will prescribe DMHIs. Yet, little is known about medical students´ information preferences regarding DMHIs. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to explore information preferences for DMHIs among medical students in Germany for personal use. METHODS A discrete choice experiment (DCE) was conducted, which was developed using an exploratory sequential mixed-methods research approach. Five attributes (i.e., source, delivery mode, timing, recommendation, and quality criteria) each with 3-4 levels were identified using formative research. Twenty-four choice sets each with two alternatives were divided into three versions of the DCE, each with eight different choice sets, to which participants were randomly assigned. DCE data were analyzed employing logistic regression models to estimate preference weights and relative importance of attributes. To identify subgroups of students varying in information preferences, we additionally performed a latent class analysis (LCA). RESULTS Out of N=309 eligible participants data, n=231 were included in the main analysis due to reliable data (70.1% women, age: M=24.1 years, SD=4.0 years). Overall, medical students preferred to receive information about DMHIs from the student council and favored being informed via social media early (i.e., during their pre-clinic phase or their freshman week). Recommendations from other students or health professionals were preferred over recommendations from other users or no recommendation at all. Information about the scientific evidence base were the preferred quality criterion. Overall, timing of the provision of information was the most relevant attribute (32.6%). LCA revealed two distinct subgroups. Class 1 preferred to receive extensive information about DMHIs in a seminar, while class 2 wanted to be informed digitally (via e-mail or social media) and as early as possible in their studies. CONCLUSIONS Medical students have specific needs and preferences regarding DMHI information. Timing of information (early in medical education) was considered more important than information source or delivery mode, which should be prioritized by decision makers (e.g., members of faculties of medicine, university, ministry of education). This DCE provides novel insights into what is important when informing medical students about DMHIs and how complex and potentially well-accepted information strategies can be deduced by considering the preferences of the target group. CLINICALTRIAL The DCE was pre-registered at the Open Science Framework (OSF) in October 2022: https://osf.io/2s9u8.

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Investigating information needs and preferences regarding digital mental health services among medical and psychology students in Germany: A qualitative study

Cited by 3 publications

References 91 publications

Mental health services for German university students: acceptance of intervention targets and preference for delivery modes

Mental health services for German university students: acceptance of intervention targets and preference for delivery modes

Preferences regarding information strategies for digital mental health interventions among medical students in Germany: A discrete-choice experiment (Preprint)

Preferences regarding information strategies for digital mental health interventions among medical students in Germany: A discrete choice experiment (Preprint)

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