scholarly journals Use of Mental Health Apps by Patients With Breast Cancer in the United States: Pilot Pre-Post Study

JMIR Cancer ◽  
10.2196/16476 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e16476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip I Chow ◽  
Shayna L Showalter ◽  
Matthew Gerber ◽  
Erin M Kennedy ◽  
David Brenin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Measurement Information ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Distress Symptoms ◽  
Patient Reported

Background Nearly half of the patients with breast cancer experience clinically significant mental distress within the first year of receiving their cancer diagnosis. There is an urgent need to identify scalable and cost-efficient ways of delivering empirically supported mental health interventions to patients with breast cancer. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of in-clinic recruitment for a mobile phone app study and to evaluate the usability and preliminary impact of a suite of mental health apps (IntelliCare) with phone coaching on psychosocial distress symptoms in patients recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Methods This pilot study adopted a within-subject, 7-week pre-post study design. A total of 40 patients with breast cancer were recruited at a US National Cancer Institute–designated clinical cancer center. Self-reported distress (Patient Health Questionnaire-4) and mood symptoms (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System depression and anxiety scales) were assessed at baseline and postintervention. App usability was assessed at postintervention. Results The minimum recruitment threshold was met. There was a significant decrease in general distress symptoms, as well as symptoms of depression and anxiety, from baseline to postintervention. Overall, participants reported high levels of ease of app use and learning. Scores for app usefulness and satisfaction were reinforced by some qualitative feedback suggesting that tailoring the apps more for patients with breast cancer could enhance engagement. Conclusions There is a dire need for scalable, supportive interventions in cancer. The results from this study inform how scalable mobile phone–delivered programs with additional phone support can be used to support patients with breast cancer. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.2196/11452

scholarly journals Use of Mental Health Apps by Patients With Breast Cancer in the United States: Pilot Pre-Post Study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip I Chow ◽  
Shayna L Showalter ◽  
Matthew Gerber ◽  
Erin M Kennedy ◽  
David Brenin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Measurement Information ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Distress Symptoms ◽  
Patient Reported

BACKGROUND Nearly half of the patients with breast cancer experience clinically significant mental distress within the first year of receiving their cancer diagnosis. There is an urgent need to identify scalable and cost-efficient ways of delivering empirically supported mental health interventions to patients with breast cancer. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of in-clinic recruitment for a mobile phone app study and to evaluate the usability and preliminary impact of a suite of mental health apps (IntelliCare) with phone coaching on psychosocial distress symptoms in patients recently diagnosed with breast cancer. METHODS This pilot study adopted a within-subject, 7-week pre-post study design. A total of 40 patients with breast cancer were recruited at a US National Cancer Institute–designated clinical cancer center. Self-reported distress (Patient Health Questionnaire-4) and mood symptoms (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System depression and anxiety scales) were assessed at baseline and postintervention. App usability was assessed at postintervention. RESULTS The minimum recruitment threshold was met. There was a significant decrease in general distress symptoms, as well as symptoms of depression and anxiety, from baseline to postintervention. Overall, participants reported high levels of ease of app use and learning. Scores for app usefulness and satisfaction were reinforced by some qualitative feedback suggesting that tailoring the apps more for patients with breast cancer could enhance engagement. CONCLUSIONS There is a dire need for scalable, supportive interventions in cancer. The results from this study inform how scalable mobile phone–delivered programs with additional phone support can be used to support patients with breast cancer. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-10.2196/11452

scholarly journals Use of Mental Health Apps by Breast Cancer Patients and Their Caregivers in the United States: Protocol for a Pilot Pre-Post Study (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip I Chow ◽  
Shayna L Showalter ◽  
Matthew S Gerber ◽  
Erin Kennedy ◽  
David R Brenin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Health Apps

BACKGROUND Over one-third of cancer patients experience clinically significant mental distress, and distress in caregivers can exceed that of the cancer patients for whom they care. There is an urgent need to identify scalable and cost-efficient ways of delivering mental health interventions to cancer patients and their loved ones. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to describe the protocol to pilot a mobile app–based mental health intervention in breast cancer patients and caregivers. METHODS The IntelliCare mental health apps are grounded in evidence-based research in psychology. They have not been examined in cancer populations. This pilot study will adopt a within-subject, pre-post study design to inform a potential phase III randomized controlled trial. A target sample of 50 individuals (with roughly equal numbers of patients and caregivers) at least 18 years of age and fluent in English will be recruited at a US National Cancer Institute designated clinical cancer center. Consent will be obtained in writing and a mobile phone will be provided if needed. Self-report surveys assessing mental health outcomes will be administered at a baseline session and after a 7-week intervention. Before using the apps, participants will receive a 30-min coaching call to explain their purpose and function. A 10-min coaching call 3 weeks later will check on user progress and address questions or barriers to use. Self-report and semistructured interviews with participants at the end of the study period will focus on user experience and suggestions for improving the apps and coaching in future studies. RESULTS This study is ongoing, and recruitment will be completed by the end of 2018. CONCLUSIONS Results from this study will inform how scalable mobile phone-delivered programs can be used to support breast cancer patients and their loved ones. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03488745; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03488745 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPOR DERR1-10.2196/11452

Characteristics of Clients Seeking Yoga Therapy in a University-Based Student Clinic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steffany Moonaz ◽  
Marlysa Sullivan ◽  
Daryl Nault ◽  
Irene Bright-Dumm ◽  
Ryan Bradley
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Patient Reported Outcomes ◽  
The United States ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Measurement Information ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Yoga Therapy ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Clinical Encounters ◽  
Patient Reported

Abstract Yoga therapy is an emerging profession with recent development of educational competencies, training program accreditation, and practitioner certification. In the United States, most yoga therapy training programs are studio-based and data on mentored clinical encounters are lacking. This study aimed to characterize the client population in a university-based mentored student clinic. As part of a larger feasibility study, data were collected at all clinic visits for 70 consenting clients. Data collected included demographic characteristics, reasons for pursuing care, use of other healthcare approaches, and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) for physical and mental health. Participants were mostly middle-aged, White, and highly educated. Common reasons for pursuing care were pain and mental health. Most used multiple healthcare approaches. Average scores for most patient-reported outcomes fell within normal range at baseline. Future studies are needed to better characterize yoga therapy users and to expand access for populations in whom the modality is underutilized despite emerging evidence of relevance.

scholarly journals Use of Mental Health Apps by Breast Cancer Patients and Their Caregivers in the United States: Protocol for a Pilot Pre-Post Study

10.2196/11452 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e11452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip I Chow ◽  
Shayna L Showalter ◽  
Matthew S Gerber ◽  
Erin Kennedy ◽  
David R Brenin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
The United States ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Health Apps

scholarly journals Health App Use Among Individuals With Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety: A Survey Study With Thematic Coding

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. e22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caryn Kseniya Rubanovich ◽  
David C Mohr ◽  
Stephen M Schueller
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
End Users ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
End User ◽  
User Perspective ◽  
Health Apps

Background Researchers have largely turned to commercial app stores, randomized trials, and systematic reviews to make sense of the mHealth landscape. Few studies have approached understanding by collecting information from target end users. The end user perspective is critical as end user interest in and use of mHealth technologies will ultimately drive the efficacy of these tools. Objective The purpose of this study was to obtain information from end users of mHealth technologies to better understand the physical and mental health apps people use and for what purposes. Methods People with depressive or anxious symptoms (N=176) seeking entry into a trial of mental health and well-being apps for Android devices completed online questionnaires assessing depression and anxiety (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), past and current mental health treatment-seeking behavior, overall mobile device use, and use of mobile health apps. Participants reported the physical health and mental health apps on their devices and their reasons for using them. Data were extracted from the participant self-reports and apps and app purposes were coded in order to categorize them. Results Participants were largely white, middle-aged females from the Midwest region of the United States recruited via a health care organization and Web-based advertising (135 female, 41 male, mean age 38.64 years, age range 19-75 years.) Over three-quarters (137/176, 77.8%) of participants indicated having a health app on their device. The top 3 kinds of apps were exercise, fitness, and pedometers or heart rate monitoring apps (93/176, 52.8%); diet, food, or calorie counting apps (65/177, 36.9%); and mental health/wellness apps (46/177, 26.1%). The mean number of mobile physical and mental health apps on a participant’s phone was 2.15 (SD 3.195). Of 176 participants, 107 (60.8%) specifically reported the top 5 health apps that they used and their purposes. Across the 107 participants, a total of 285 apps were reported, with 139 being unique apps. The majority of these apps were free (129/139, 92.8%). Almost two-thirds of participants (67/107, 62.6%) reported using health apps at least on a daily basis. Conclusions Among those seeking support for their well-being via physical and mental health apps, people are using a variety of health apps. These people use health apps on a daily basis, especially free apps. The most common reason for using a health app is to track some health-related data; for mental health apps specifically, training or habit building was the most popular reason. Understanding the end user perspective is important because it allows us to build on the foundation of previously established mHealth research and may help guide future work in mHealth. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02176226; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02176226 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6rGc1MGyM)

HSR19-103: Burden of Self-Reported Mental Health Among Women With Cervical Cancer (CC) in the United States

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (3.5) ◽  
pp. HSR19-103
Author(s):  
Chizoba Nwankwo ◽  
Michael J. Doane
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Propensity Score ◽  
Health Services ◽  
The United States ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
The Past ◽  
Patient Reported

Background: Globally, CC is the fourth most common cancer in women, with 569,847 new cases and 311,365 deaths from CC reported in 2018. Little is known about the burden of living with CC, especially related to mental health. This study examined patient-reported outcomes, including symptoms of depression and anxiety, amongst women with and without a diagnosis of CC. Methods: Data were aggregated from the 2016–2018 U.S. National Health and Wellness Surveys, a nationally representative, self-administered, internet-based survey of adults (N=247,484). Women who reported a physician-diagnosis of CC were matched 1:1 by propensity scores to a sample of women who did not report any cancer diagnoses. Propensity score matching was conducted using the following sociodemographic characteristics: age, race, possession of health insurance, smoking status, comorbidity status, body mass index, income, and year of survey completion. Bivariate analyses (ie, chi-square and t-tests) assessed differences in mental health outcomes between these 2 matched groups of female respondents. Outcomes included the following: (1) depressive severity via the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), (2) suicidal ideation via the PHQ-9 (ie, thoughts of being better off dead on several days or more during the past 2 weeks), (3) anxiety severity via the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7), and (4) healthcare resource use for mental health services (ie, visits to psychologists and psychiatrists during past 6 months). Results: Analyses of the propensity score matched sample of 1,044 women with a CC diagnosis versus 1,044 without a CC diagnosis showed that CC respondents reported significantly more severe scores of both depression (7.3 vs 6.0; P<.001) and anxiety (5.7 vs 4.7; P<.001). Although not statistically significant, a numerically greater proportion of CC respondents reported suicidal ideation during the past 2 weeks (19.0% vs 16.0%; P=.158). Respondents with CC were marginally more likely to visit a psychologist (8.6% vs 6.4%; P=.056) and were significantly more likely to visit a psychiatrist (8.6% vs 6.2%; P=.037) at least once during the prior 6 months than respondents without CC. Conclusions: CC is associated with mental health burden, including more severe symptoms of depression and anxiety as well as greater use of mental health services. This study highlights the likely impact of CC for both patients as well as the healthcare system

scholarly journals The Association Between Increased Levels of Patient Engagement With an Internet Support Group and Improved Mental Health Outcomes at 6-Month Follow-Up: Post-Hoc Analyses From a Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily M Geramita ◽  
Bea Herbeck Belnap ◽  
Kaleab Z Abebe ◽  
Scott D Rothenberger ◽  
Armando J Rotondi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Patient Engagement ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Measurement Information ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Internet Support Group ◽  
Internet Support

BACKGROUND We recently reported that depressed and anxious primary care patients randomized to a moderated internet support group (ISG) plus computerized cognitive behavioral therapy (cCBT) did not experience improvements in depression and anxiety over cCBT alone at 6-month follow-up. OBJECTIVE The 1% rule posits that 1% of participants in online communities generate approximately 90% of new user-created content. The aims of this study were to apply the 1% rule to categorize patient engagement with the ISG and identify whether any patient subgroups benefitted from ISG use. METHODS We categorized the 302 patients randomized to the ISG as: superusers (3/302, 1.0%), top contributors (30/302, 9.9%), contributors (108/302, 35.8%), observers (87/302, 28.8%) and those who never logged in (74/302, 24.5%). We then applied linear mixed models to examine associations between engagement and 6-month changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL; Short Form Health Survey Mental Health Component, SF-12 MCS) and depression and anxiety symptoms (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System, PROMIS). RESULTS At baseline, participant mean age was 42.6 years, 81.1% (245/302) were female, and mean Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), and SF-12 MCS scores were 13.4, 12.6, and 31.7, respectively. Of the 75.5% (228/302) who logged in, 61.8 % (141/228) created ≥1 post (median 1, interquartile range, IQR 0-5); superusers created 42.3 % (630/1488) of posts (median 246, IQR 78-306), top contributors created 34.6% (515/1488; median 11, IQR 10-18), and contributors created 23.1 % (343/1488; median 3, IQR 1-5). Compared to participants who never logged in, the combined superuser + top contributor subgroup (n=33) reported 6-month improvements in anxiety (PROMIS: –11.6 vs –7.8; P=.04) and HRQoL (SF-12 MCS: 16.1 vs 10.1; P=.01) but not in depression. No other subgroup reported significant symptom improvements. CONCLUSIONS Patient engagement with the ISG was more broadly distributed than predicted by the 1% rule. The 11% of participants with the highest engagement levels reported significant improvements in anxiety and HRQoL. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01482806; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01482806 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/708Bjlge9).

scholarly journals An Onsite Fitness Facility and Integrative Wellness Program Positively Impacted Health-Related Outcomes Among Teachers and Staff at an Urban Elementary/Middle School

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 216495611987327
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A Parker ◽  
Patrick F McArdle ◽  
Debbie Gioia ◽  
Ariel Trilling ◽  
Mary Bahr-Robertson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
The United States ◽  
Measurement Information ◽  
Wellness Program ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Fitness Facility ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Improve Health

Background Given the large number of obesity-focused studies conducted in schools, there is a surprising lack of data regarding teacher workplace health behaviors in the United States. Objective To determine the feasibility and effectiveness of an onsite fitness facility with a structured integrative wellness program to improve health-related outcomes among teachers and staff at an urban elementary/middle school. Methods A 2-year mixed-methods analysis using Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measures and qualitative interviews included 39 teachers and staff employed at an urban elementary/middle school in Baltimore, Maryland. The fitness facility was dedicated exclusively to teachers and staff and the integrative wellness program included group exercise classes, yoga, mindfulness, and nutrition competitions. T tests were used to compare quantitative outcomes at baseline, the end of year 1, and the end of year 2. Results Compared to baseline, at year 1, there was a significant improvement in the PROMIS Sleep Disturbance score. From baseline to end of year 2, there were significant increases in the PROMIS Global Physical Health as well as significant decreases in Sleep Disturbances, Fatigue, and Social Isolation. Qualitative interviews conducted at the end of year 1 indicated that teachers who used the facility felt that it improved their mood, increased their energy, motivated them to eat healthily, and gave them opportunities to socialize with their colleagues in new ways. This impact was further enhanced in year 2. Conclusions An onsite fitness facility with an integrative wellness program may improve health-related outcomes among urban elementary school teachers and staff, with the greatest benefits seen after 2 years of implementation.

scholarly journals Police Encounters as Stressors: Associations with Depression and Anxiety across Race

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 237802312199812
Author(s):  
Sirry Alang ◽  
Donna McAlpine ◽  
Malcolm McClain
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Depressed Mood ◽  
Social Stress ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Data ◽  
Police Brutality ◽  
Urban Residents ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Police Encounters ◽  
The Relationship

Stress researchers have emphasized the relationship between social stress and mental health. However, research investigating police brutality as a stressor is scarce. The authors conceptualize police brutality as a stressor, examining racial variation in its effects on mental health. Data came from the Survey of the Health of Urban Residents in the United States ( n = 4,389). Negative encounters with the police were found to be associated with depressed mood and anxiety. The relationship between encounters with the police and depressed mood was stronger among Black respondents and Latinxs compared with Whites. Regardless of personal encounters with the police, the anticipatory stress of police brutality—concern that one might become a victim of police brutality—was associated with depression and anxiety. These findings highlight police brutality as an anticipatory stressor and have implications for whiteness as a resource that protects from the stress of negative police encounters.

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