Quality of Psychoeducational Apps for Military Members With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: An Evaluation Utilizing the Mobile Application Rating Scale (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND Military personnel have an elevated risk of sustaining mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) and post-concussion symptoms (PCS). Smartphone apps that provide psychoeducation may assist those with mTBI or PCS to overcome unique barriers that military personnel experience with stigma and accessing healthcare resources. OBJECTIVE (1) to evaluate smartphone apps advertised to provide psychoeducation for those who have sustained a mTBI or PCS utilizing the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) and; (2) explore the relevance, utility and effectiveness of these apps to facilitate symptom management and overall recovery from mTBIs and PCS among military personnel. METHODS A 5-step systematic search for smartphone apps for military members with mTBI or PCS was conducted on January 31, 2020. Cost-free apps meeting the inclusion criteria were evaluated using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) and compared to evidence-based best-practice management protocols for mTBI and PCS. RESULTS The search yielded a total of 347 smartphone apps. After applying inclusion/exclusion criteria, 13 apps were subjected to evaluation. Two apps were endorsed by Veteran Affairs and the United States Department of Defense; all others (n=11) were developed for civilians. Once compared to evidence-based best-practice resources, the apps provided various levels of psychoeducational content. There are multiple considerations that healthcare professionals and those who sustain a mTBI or PCS should consider when choosing to utilize mobile health and choose a specific app for mTBI psychoeducation. These may include app platform, developer, internet requirement, cost, frequency of updates, language, additional features, acknowledgement of mental health, accessibility, and military specificity, as well as privacy and security of data. CONCLUSIONS Psychoeducational interventions have a good evidence-base as a treatment for mTBIs and PCS. Utilizing apps for this purpose may be clinically effective, confidential, easily accessible, and cost-effective; however, more research is needed to explore the effectiveness, usability, safety, security, and accessibility of apps designed for mTBI management. CLINICALTRIAL N/A