[Level of knowledge and intention to use digital health services among people with depression: a survey]

In 2019, the Digital Care Act introduced digital health applications as "apps on prescription" in the statutory health insurance. However, little is known about the knowledge and acceptance of digital care services for the treatment of depression among the affected patients. The aim of the present study was to gather information about knowledge, attitudes and intention to use of such services. An anonymous survey of people diagnosed with depression aged 18-70 was conducted. Patients were invited by their health insurer to participate in the study via mail. Data from 624 people were analysed. About half of the participants had acute depression according to PHQ-9 at the time of the survey. Only 28% of the respondents were already aware of digital possibilities for depression treatment. The picture regarding possible future use was heterogeneous. A third of participants could consider using digital services, around a quarter ruled this out. Possible fields of application were seen as an aftercare model, a digital technology to bridge waiting times or to supplement specialists-guided therapy. Digital offers as a replacement for personal therapies were rejected by the majority of the participants. Quality control and a prescription by the practitioner appear to be particularly important. The study provides relevant findings regarding the premises and the context in which digital care services have the potential to be successfully established in routine care.