Current Status of and Future Directions for Assessing Technology Acceptance for Digital (Mental) Health Interventions


Book Description

Recently, digital interventions have proliferated and show promising results in preventing and treating common mental health disorders, such as depression, in different settings (e.g., workplaces). Digital interventions may have advantages over face-to-face interventions (e.g., more accessible; easily customisable; real-time monitoring). However, despite efforts made by healthcare systems worldwide (e.g., apps on prescription in Germany), actual adoption is still rather low in many countries. It is essential to understand innovation acceptance in order to tailor digital interventions and to measure user technology acceptance. In this way, determinants can be identified to derive strategies to promote acceptance. Technology acceptance has been studied extensively, resulting in the development of various theoretical models (e.g., Technology Acceptance Model-TAM; Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology-UTAUT, UTAUT2). Besides several methodological strengths, technology acceptance models also have various limitations, which makes it difficult to investigate causality or to generalize findings across different contexts, populations, and cultures.







Digital Interventions in Mental Health: Current Status and Future Directions


Book Description

The imperative to increase healthcare access, efficiency and effectiveness is nearly impossible to meet without reliance on technology. Telemedicine tools now include video, e-mail, text messaging, apps, and other mobile health modalities, deployed synchronously, asynchronously and in hybrid combinations to offer assessment, consultation, direct treatment, and integrated care. Within telemedicine, mental health is particularly well suited to technology platforms due to several inherent factors: provider shortages that are often more acute than in other specialties; the relatively reduced need for laboratory tests, imaging studies and physical examinations; the stigma still attached to mental illness; and diagnosis-specific obstacles that can complicate in person visits (e.g., pronounced fear in social anxiety disorder). The need to increase access, efficiency and effectiveness, combined with the relative ease of translating mental health interventions to technology-mediated delivery, have led researchers to explore various platforms, including: computerized cognitive behavioral therapy; online psychotherapy and online psychopharmacology; mobile therapy; virtual/augmented reality exposure therapy; serious games; and artificial intelligence. Yet, despite often positive efficacy data and an ever more technology-reliant lifestyle, the reach of telemental health remains relatively limited in comparison with its potential. We aim to capture the current status of digital and telecommunications technologies in mental health and the field's future trends and directions. Recently published data--as well as newly introduced platforms--have put both the promise and challenges of telemental health in sharp focus, making this an opportune time to compile a collection of high-quality, evidence-based and diverse articles that touch on various aspects of this technology revolution. This Research Topic collects articles that examine digital mental health interventions across different platforms and modes of delivery. The scope is broad to reflect the richness of the field and the many questions it raises: standalone vs. supported models; comparisons with "traditional" modalities; psychotherapeutic vs. psychopharmacological interventions; efficacy; patient attrition; cost-effectiveness; ethical issues; and insurer and malpractice coverage.




Digital Therapeutics for Mental Health and Addiction


Book Description

Digital Therapeutics for Mental Health and Addiction: The State of the Science and Vision for the Future presents the foundations of digital therapeutics with a broad audience in mind, ranging from bioengineers and computer scientists to those in psychology, psychiatry and social work. Sections cover cutting-edge advancements in the field, offering advice on how to successfully implement digital therapeutics. Readers will find sections on evidence for direct-to-consumer standalone digital therapeutics, the efficacy of integrating digital treatments within traditional healthcare settings, and recent innovations currently transforming the field of digital therapeutics towards experiences which are more personalized, adaptable and engaging. This book gives a view on current limitations of the technology, ideas for problem-solving the challenges of designing this technology, and a perspective on future research directions. For all readers, the content on cultural, legal and ethical dimensions of digital mental health will be useful. Gives a comprehensive overview of the field of digital therapeutics and research on their efficacy, effectiveness, scalability and cost-effectiveness Introduces novel directions in which digital therapeutics are currently being extended, including personalized interventions delivered in real-time Reviews important considerations surrounding digital therapeutics, including how they can be monetized and scaled, ethical issues, cultural adaptations, privacy and security concerns, and potential pitfalls




Integrating Digital Tools Into Children's Mental Health Care


Book Description

Practitioners need to know the evidence behind using digital mental health approaches and tools, including telemental health visits. This accessible book provides that help, as the authors guide the reader through the rationale, options, and strategies for incorporating digital tools into children's mental health care, drawing on their extensive knowledge of both current research and clinical practice. They outline the leading theoretical approaches that highlight mechanisms involved in digital tools increasing access to, engagement in, and outcomes of evidence-based mental health services for children and families. Through clinical vignettes and hands-on exercises included in this Advances in Psychotherapy series volume, mental health providers will gain insight into how to select a digital tool and identify its various uses. The reader is also given the opportunity to explore their own attitudes and comfort with incorporating digital tools into practice with their young clients and their families. Numerous downloadable handouts and forms for clinical use are provided in the appendix.







eHealth Research Theory and Development


Book Description

This is the first book to provide a comprehensive overview of the multidisciplinary domain of eHealth – one of the most important recent developments in healthcare. It provides an overview of the possibilities of eHealth for different healthcare sectors, an outline of theoretical underpinnings and effectiveness, and key models, frameworks and methods for its development, implementation, and evaluation. This fully revised second edition brings together up-to-date knowledge on eHealth and includes several new chapters and sections on important topics such as implementation, human-centred design, healthcare systems, and evaluation methods. The first part of this book is focused on the underpinnings of eHealth, and consists of chapters on behaviour change, the possibilities of technology for healthcare systems, and the current state of affairs of eHealth for mental and public health. In the second part, chapters on development, implementation, and evaluation of eHealth are provided, presenting methods, theories and frameworks from disciplines such as human-centred design, engineering, psychology, business modelling, and implementation science. By drawing together expertise from different disciplines, the book offers a holistic approach to the use of technology to support health and wellbeing, giving readers an insight into how eHealth can offer multiple solutions for the major challenges with which our healthcare system is faced. Case studies, learning objectives, end of chapter summaries, and a list of key terms, make this accessible book very suitable for students, as well as researchers and healthcare professionals. Due to its multidisciplinary nature, it can be used by readers from a broad range of fields, such as psychology, health sciences, and human-centred design.







Artificial Intelligence Solutions for Global Health and Disaster Response: Challenges and Opportunities


Book Description

Artificial intelligence (AI) has shown promise as an effective tool in disaster preparedness and response, providing a unique perspective on some of the most urgent health challenges. Rapid advances in AI technology can potentially revolutionize the way how we respond to emergencies and disasters that affect the world's health, including early warning systems, resource allocation, and real-time decision-making. This Research Topic aims to explore the latest developments in AI and its applications in global health and disaster response, providing a comprehensive overview of the potential and challenges of AI in improving health outcomes in crises. This Research Topic will bring together leading researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in global health and disaster response to share their experiences and insights on how AI can be leveraged to improve response efforts and enhance healthcare delivery.