A Mobile App-Based Intervention Program for Nonprofessional Caregivers to Promote Positive Mental Health: Randomized...

Area of Science:

• Digital Health Interventions
• Caregiver Support
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Nonprofessional caregivers face burnout risks, impacting both themselves and care recipients.
• Traditional in-person interventions face participation barriers for many caregivers.
• Internet-based programs are needed to support nonprofessional caregivers effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a smartphone app intervention's effectiveness in enhancing positive mental health among nonprofessional caregivers.
• To assess the impact of the app on caregiver burden and user satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• A 3-month randomized controlled trial involving 152 nonprofessional caregivers.
• Intervention group used a smartphone app with daily positive mental health activities for 28 days.
• Outcomes measured included positive mental health (PMHQ) and caregiver burden (ZBI-7).

Main Results:

• After 3 months, the app group showed significant improvements in positive mental health scores (PMHQ) (11.43; P<.001).
• Key improvements were noted in personal satisfaction, problem-solving, prosocial attitude, and self-control.
• Caregiver burden (ZBI-7) showed a decrease, though results were inconclusive. User satisfaction was high, with 93.9% recommending the app.

Conclusions:

• Smartphone app interventions can effectively enhance positive mental health and reduce burden in nonprofessional caregivers.
• This study supports mobile health (mHealth) tools as valuable resources for caregiver well-being.
• Clinical trials assessing intervention effectiveness are crucial for advancing internet-based health policies.