Adoption of App-Based Peer Support by Canadian Health Care Providers: Mixed Methods Organizational Implementation...

Area of Science:

• Digital health interventions
• Healthcare provider mental health
• Implementation science

Background:

• Healthcare providers face high rates of stress and burnout, necessitating robust mental health support.
• Digital platforms offer on-demand access to private, customized resources, including peer support, to address these needs.
• The Beyond Silence mobile health platform was co-designed with healthcare workers to improve mental health literacy and reduce stigma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the utilization of the Beyond Silence app by healthcare workers across various settings.
• To identify facilitators and barriers impacting the implementation of this digital mental health tool.

Main Methods:

• A multiple-case study approach using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).
• Implementation was studied across 7 diverse Canadian healthcare organizations over 4 months.
• Data collected via app analytics and interviews with 28 organizational champions.

Main Results:

• Approximately 1066 employees downloaded the app, with adoption rates varying significantly across organizations.
• Strong leadership support was noted, aligning with organizational mental health goals.
• Barriers included workplace culture, lack of awareness, limited time, and insufficient private spaces for app use.

Conclusions:

• Effective implementation is crucial for positive outcomes, requiring optimized strategies.
• Recommendations include assessing organizational readiness, enhancing mental health literacy, and integrating the app into policies.
• Addressing stigma, competing demands, and frontline engagement are key to sustained use of the Beyond Silence platform.