Integrating Patient Choice and Collaborative Care Managers to Implement eHealth Tools in Depression: Self-Report...

Area of Science:

• Digital mental health
• Collaborative care models
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Improving mental health treatment within the collaborative care model (CoCM) necessitates integrating e-mental health (e-MH) tools.
• Addressing challenges to e-MH tool integration is crucial for effective implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To understand patient selection, engagement, and usage patterns of three self-help e-MH tools for depression.
• To explore patient satisfaction with e-MH tools, focusing on the role of care manager interactions.

Main Methods:

• A single-center, nonrandomized study involving cognitive behavioral therapy-based tools and an educational website.
• Participants received low-intensity care manager coaching alongside recommended tool usage for 6 weeks, followed by 4 weeks without coaching.
• Utilized self-report outcome measures at baseline, weekly for 6 weeks, and at week 10.

Main Results:

• Most participants (81%) initially selected a cognitive behavioral therapy-based tool; 22% dropped out, and 12% switched tools early.
• Active users engaged with tools an average of 3.0 times per week, with 52% remaining engaged at week 6.
• Satisfaction increased with tool use; low-intensity coaching (avg. 7.9 min) improved understanding and use, with 49% of the cohort using tools independently at week 10.

Conclusions:

• Uptake of e-MH tools for depression is feasible and linked to significant user satisfaction within CoCM.
• Low-intensity care manager coaching supports the adoption and sustained use of e-MH tools.
• This study highlights the novel use of care manager outreach for engaging patients in self-help digital mental health tools.