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The Effectiveness of a Cell Phone eHealth App in Changing Knowledge, Stigmatizing Attitudes, and Intention to Seek
Antonio Chaves1, Sandra Arnáez2, Gemma García-Soriano2
1Departamento de Orientación Educativa, IES Cid Campeador, Conselleria d'Educació, Cultura i Esport, Valencia, Spain.
JMIR Mhealth and Uhealth
|March 29, 2024
Summary
This study shows that the esTOCma mobile app is a feasible and acceptable tool for improving knowledge about obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and increasing help-seeking intentions. The app effectively reduced stigma and social distance related to OCD for at least three months.
Area of Science:
- Mental Health Technology
- Digital Therapeutics
- Psychiatric Interventions
Background:
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) significantly impacts individuals' lives, yet help-seeking is often delayed due to poor mental health literacy and stigma.
- Low mental health literacy and societal stigma surrounding OCD contribute to underutilization of available treatments.
- Addressing these barriers is crucial for improving outcomes in individuals with OCD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of esTOCma, a mobile app designed to enhance OCD knowledge.
- To evaluate the app's impact on increasing help-seeking intentions among users.
- To determine the app's effectiveness in reducing stigmatizing attitudes and social distance related to OCD.
Main Methods:
- A single-arm pilot intervention involving 90 community-recruited participants using snowball sampling.
- Participants engaged with the esTOCma app over 10 missions, completing pre-, post-, and 3-month follow-up assessments.
- Measures included sociodemographics, OCD severity, stigma, help-seeking behavior, mental health literacy, and app acceptability.
Main Results:
- Out of 78 allocated participants, 62 completed the intervention and post-assessment, with 69% completing the 3-month follow-up.
- The app was highly rated for usefulness (90%) and learning (90%), with 98% recommending it.
- Significant improvements were observed in mental health knowledge, help-seeking intention, and reductions in stigmatizing attitudes and social distance post-intervention.
Conclusions:
- The esTOCma mobile app is a feasible and acceptable intervention for individuals with OCD.
- The app demonstrates preliminary effectiveness in increasing OCD understanding and help-seeking intention while reducing stigma and social distance.
- Technology-based interventions show promise for improving OCD care by enhancing engagement and reducing societal barriers.
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