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Mobile device use among inpatients on a psychiatric unit: A preliminary study
Kammarauche Asuzu1, M Zachary Rosenthal2
1Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Psychiatry Research
|February 4, 2021
Summary
Mobile phone use for health is common in psychiatric patients, but barriers exist. Those with psychotic disorders face challenges accessing electronic medical records (EMR) and mobile health apps.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Digital Health
- Mental Health Technology
Background:
- Limited research exists on mobile phone health usage barriers for individuals with serious mental illness.
- Mobile health (mHealth) offers potential for patient engagement and care management in mental health settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate mobile phone use patterns and perceptions among adult psychiatric inpatients.
- To examine how psychiatric diagnoses influence mobile phone use for mental health purposes.
Main Methods:
- Adult inpatients in a psychiatric setting completed questionnaires assessing mobile phone use and perceptions.
- A psychometrically validated scale was used to determine capacity for informed consent.
Main Results:
- Most participants owned smartphones (94%) and data plans (94%), with frequent internet access (75%).
- Only 27% used mobile phones daily for health, and 47% accessed their electronic medical record (EMR) via mobile.
- Patients with psychotic disorders showed less EMR mobile access and app usability issues; those with depressive disorders had low interest in mental health monitoring via mobile.
Conclusions:
- Adult psychiatric inpatients possess mobile technology access and potential willingness for health-related use.
- Barriers include infrequent health-related mobile use and limited mobile EMR access, particularly for patients with psychotic disorders.
