Early psychosis service user views on digital remote monitoring: a qualitative study

Current approaches to mental healthcare for people with severe mental health problems are limited by sporadic monitoring and symptom recall bias. Emotional and behavioural markers generated by digital health technologies (DHTs) offer the potential to enhance quality of care and clinical decision-making. This study explored early psychosis service users' views and experiences of using a digital remote monitoring tool (ClinTouch app).

Qualitative framework analysis was undertaken with interview data collected from participants who took part in the Actissist proof-of-concept and subsequent randomised controlled trial studies to understand the experiences of participants using the ClinTouch app (n = 8).

Data were summarised into four key themes. The following three themes were established a priori: (1) awareness of mood and symptoms; (2) acceptability of ClinTouch; and (3) improvements and recommendations. The fourth theme was established a posteriori: (4) integrating ClinTouch into clinical practice. More specifically, participants felt ClinTouch was an acceptable and useful tool for symptom monitoring. ClinTouch facilitated an increased awareness of mood and symptoms, which enabled participants to self-reflect and develop understanding of their own experiences.

This study shed light on early psychosis service users' experiences with using the ClinTouch digital remote monitoring app. ClinTouch was viewed as acceptable for monitoring symptoms, safe and easy to use, showed potential of integration with clinical care, and facilitated increased awareness and understanding of symptoms. Improvements including personalised question items and interactive features were suggested. Future developments of digital remote monitoring apps should include a more refined item set and personalisation features.

ISRCTN34966555, Registration Date: 12/06/2014; ISRCTN76986679, Registration Date: 07/02/2018.