Assessment of a Digital Platform for Routine Outcome Monitoring in Psychotherapy: Usability Study and Thematic...

Area of Science:

• Mental Health Technology
• Psychotherapy Research
• Digital Health

Background:

• Digital tools are increasingly explored for psychotherapy, especially for routine outcome monitoring (ROM).
• Limited adoption of these tools stems from usability issues and workflow misalignment.
• Patient-reported data collection via digital platforms can inform treatment decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the usability of the Mindy digital platform for ROM implementation.
• To explore challenges in integrating digital tools into psychotherapeutic practice.
• To identify factors influencing the adoption of digital mental health solutions.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative, two-stage study involving 16 psychotherapists.
• Semistructured interviews with task-based usability testing of the Mindy platform.
• Deductive and inductive thematic analysis of platform functionalities and integration challenges.

Main Results:

• Mindy platform strengths: appointment scheduling, questionnaire delivery, and dashboard.
• Reported limitations: documentation flexibility, interoperability, and patient data sharing control.
• Key challenges: balancing standardized vs. narrative documentation, workflow integration, and confidentiality concerns.

Conclusions:

• Digital mental health platforms require consideration of both technical and contextual factors.
• Tailoring digital tools to psychotherapists' needs can improve adoption.
• Successful integration of digital tools can enhance the quality of mental health care.