1
|
Gerner JL, Tucker RP, Moscardini EH, Bagge CL, Reger MA. The Virtual Hope Box mobile application: A systematic review of the literature. Suicide Life Threat Behav 2024; 54:501-514. [PMID: 38380558 DOI: 10.1111/sltb.13061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Virtual Hope Box (VHB) mobile application is an adapted version of the conventional hope box intervention that is used in several evidence-based treatments for suicide behaviors. The VHB is an award-winning app developed by a collaboration between the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. Multiple studies have assessed the utility and effectiveness of the VHB for use in suicide prevention, but no reviews of the literature have been conducted. METHODS Authors performed a review of the literature using PsycINFO, EBSCOhost, and PubMed. 15 articles were ultimately included. RESULTS Results were categorized into three areas: (1) efficacy and effectiveness, (2) feasibility, awareness, and usage in high-risk populations, and (3) implementation approaches to increase use among patients and providers. Existing evidence for the VHB supports its feasibility and acceptability, especially among military and veteran populations. Only one study investigated effectiveness in a randomized control trial. Although the VHB developers have disseminated the app nationally, low adoption rates among veteran patients and VA providers remain. Studies found that educational implementation strategies can improve utilization rates. CONCLUSIONS Future research should examine suicide behaviors as outcomes, approaches to incorporating the VHB into treatment, and a range of populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Gerner
- Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Raymond P Tucker
- Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Emma H Moscardini
- Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Courtney L Bagge
- Department of Psychiatry, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- VA Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Health Care System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Mark A Reger
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Armstrong CM, Wilck NR, Murphy J, Herout J, Cone WJ, Johnson AK, Zipper K, Britz B, Betancourt-Flores G, LaFleur M, Vetter B, Dameron B, Frizzell N. Results and Lessons Learned when Implementing Virtual Health Resource Centers to Increase Virtual Care Adoption During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JOURNAL OF TECHNOLOGY IN BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE 2022; 7:81-99. [PMID: 34722860 PMCID: PMC8542493 DOI: 10.1007/s41347-021-00227-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Implementation efforts to increase adoption of health technologies (e.g., telehealth, mobile health, electronic health records, patient portals) have commonly focused on increasing the adoption of specific health technologies in specific service lines. To facilitate adoption of multiple health technologies across a hospital setting, four Virtual Health Resource Centers (VHRCs) were established to provide clinical adoption support to healthcare staff and patients in four hospitals in a large healthcare system. This study spanned a 3-year period, with the first half including pre-implementation efforts, and the second half involved in implementation efforts. In order to compare sites to the national population, a binomial regression was used which allowed for adjustment of relevant covariates (e.g., differences in number of enrollees, level of complexity of facility). The pre-implementation phase and the initial year-and-a-half of the implementation phase resulted in an increase in internal facilitators’ knowledge and skills of virtual care technologies, an increase in facilitator and site capacity, and high levels of adherence to implementation strategies were maintained across sites. Virtual care utilization increased across all sites and across the healthcare system during the implementation phase; however, a comparison to the increase in national level virtual care utilization metrics yielded no meaningful difference. While many implementation strategies aim to increase the adoption of a particular health technology product (e.g., a particular app or remote monitoring use case), the establishment of VHRCs may increase efficiencies in delivery of virtual care training and consultation to healthcare staff and patients, which may increase capacity and decrease barriers to adoption. However, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the need for rapid adoption of technology and decreased in person care and services, it is not yet known the longer term impact that the establishment of VHRCs may have on the sustained adoption of health technologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christina M. Armstrong
- Office of Connected Care, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420 USA
| | - Nancy R. Wilck
- Office of Connected Care, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420 USA
| | - John Murphy
- Office of Connected Care, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420 USA
| | - Jennifer Herout
- Office of Connected Care, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420 USA
| | - Whitney J. Cone
- Office of Connected Care, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420 USA
| | - Adama K. Johnson
- Office of Connected Care, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420 USA
| | - Kimberly Zipper
- Office of Connected Care, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420 USA
| | - Bridget Britz
- Office of Connected Care, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420 USA
| | - Gabriella Betancourt-Flores
- Office of Connected Care, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420 USA
| | - Melissa LaFleur
- Office of Connected Care, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420 USA
| | - Brian Vetter
- Office of Connected Care, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420 USA
| | - Betty Dameron
- Office of Connected Care, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420 USA
| | - Noelle Frizzell
- Office of Connected Care, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420 USA
| |
Collapse
|