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McCarthy MJ, Wicker A, Roddy J, Remiker M, Roy I, McCoy M, Cerino ES, Baldwin J. Feasibility and utility of mobile health interventions for depression and anxiety in rural populations: A scoping review. Internet Interv 2024; 35:100724. [PMID: 38352194 PMCID: PMC10863305 DOI: 10.1016/j.invent.2024.100724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the potential of mobile health (mHealth) to address high rates of depression and anxiety in underserved rural communities, most mHealth interventions do not explicitly consider the realities of rural life. The aim of this scoping review is to identify and examine the available literature on mHealth interventions that consider the needs of rural populations in order to gauge their feasibility and utility for addressing depression and anxiety. Additionally, we provide an overview of rural users' perceptions about and preferences for mHealth-delivered mental health screening and intervention systems. Out of 169 articles identified, 16 met inclusion criteria. Studies were conducted across a wide range of countries, age groups, and rural subpopulations including individuals with bipolar disorder, anxiety, perinatal depression, PTSD, and chronic pain, as well as refugees, veterans, and transgender and LGBTQ+ individuals. All interventions were in the feasibility/acceptability testing stage for rural users. Identified strengths included their simplicity, accessibility, convenience, availability of support between sessions with providers, and remote access to a care team. Weaknesses included problems with charging phone batteries and exceeding data limits, privacy concerns, and general lack of comfort with app-based support. Based upon this review, we provide recommendations for future mHealth intervention development including the value of developer-user coproduction methods, the need to consider user variation in access to and comfort with smartphones, and potential data or connectivity limitations, mental health stigma, and confidentiality concerns in rural communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. McCarthy
- Department of Social Work, Northern Arizona University, 19 W McConnell Dr., Flagstaff, AZ 86011, United States of America
| | - Alexandra Wicker
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, 1100 S Beaver St., Flagstaff, AZ 86011, United States of America
| | - Juliette Roddy
- Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice, Northern Arizona University, 5 E McConnell Dr., Flagstaff, AZ 86011, United States of America
| | - Mark Remiker
- Center for Health Equity Research, Northern Arizona University, 1395 Knoles Drive, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, United States of America
| | - Indrakshi Roy
- Center for Health Equity Research, Northern Arizona University, 1395 Knoles Drive, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, United States of America
| | - Megan McCoy
- Department of Social Work, Northern Arizona University, 19 W McConnell Dr., Flagstaff, AZ 86011, United States of America
| | - Eric S. Cerino
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, 1100 S Beaver St., Flagstaff, AZ 86011, United States of America
| | - Julie Baldwin
- Center for Health Equity Research, Northern Arizona University, 1395 Knoles Drive, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, United States of America
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