Understanding the Subjective Experience of Long-term Remote Measurement Technology Use for Symptom Tracking in People...

Area of Science:

• Digital health
• Mental health technology
• Clinical informatics

Background:

• Remote measurement technologies (RMTs) offer potential for assessing, monitoring, and predicting major depressive disorder (MDD) symptom changes.
• Sustained user engagement over extended periods is critical for realizing the full potential of RMT data in MDD management.
• This study explores the subjective experiences of individuals with MDD using RMTs longitudinally.

Purpose of the Study:

• To understand the subjective experience of long-term engagement with RMTs in MDD monitoring.
• To identify key themes influencing user experience with RMTs.
• To provide recommendations for enhancing RMT system engagement in research and clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal qualitative study involving 124 semistructured interviews with 99 participants diagnosed with MDD.
• Interviews were conducted across the UK, Spain, and the Netherlands at 3, 12, and 24 months.
• Thematic analysis was applied to interview data, which were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded in native languages before translation.

Main Results:

• Five primary themes emerged regarding the subjective experience of long-term RMT use: research-related factors, self-management utility, technology-related factors, clinical factors, and system modifications.
• User experiences were influenced by both how individuals perceived their engagement (experiential factors) and their direct interaction with the technology (system-related factors).

Conclusions:

• Long-term RMT use in MDD management involves both experiential and system-related factors.
• Recommendations are proposed for future research and clinical implementation of RMTs.
• Further investigation into the experiential aspects of RMT engagement is vital for successful clinical integration.