Counseling centers might consider endorsing TMH resources as potential pathways to care. TMH resources might help broaden reach with minimal cost, reduce mental health help-seeking barriers, and provide support to at-risk populations.

Background High rates of mental illness, stress, and suicidality among teens constitute a major public health concern in the United States. However, treatment rates remain low, partially because of barriers that could be mitigated with tech-based telemental health (TMH) resources, separate from or in addition to traditional care. Objective This study aimed to analyze TMH resource usage by high school students to establish current user characteristics and provide a framework for future development. Methods A total of 2789 students were surveyed regarding demographics, recent anxiety and depression symptoms, suicidality, and stress; people with whom they could openly and honestly discuss stress or problems, and prior TMH use. Logistic regression models and a general linear model were used to test relationships between variables. Results Overall, 30.58% (853/2789) and 22.91% (639/2789) of students reported moderate to severe anxiety and depression symptoms, respectively, in the past 2 weeks; 16.24% (414/2550) had seriously considered suicide in the past year, consistent with national averages. Meanwhile, 16.03% (447/2789) of students had previously used at least 1 of 4 types of TMH resources (ie, self-help, anonymous chat, online counselor, or crisis text line). Teens reporting depression symptoms, higher stress, or suicidality were less likely to talk to a parent about stress or problems and more likely to tell no one. Suicidality was related to the use of all 4 types of TMH resources. Depression symptoms were related to the use of anonymous chat and crisis text line, and those with higher stress were more likely to have used an online counselor. Those reporting anxiety symptoms were less likely to have no one to talk to and more likely to have used a self-help resource. Conclusions Youth struggling with mental health symptoms, some of whom lack real-life confidants, are using existing TMH support, with resource preferences related to symptoms. Future research should consider these preferences and assist in the creation of specialized, evidence-based TMH resources.

Aims To identify knowledge gaps and preferences for educational material to improve nurse–patient communication and self‐care. Design Using a mixed‐methods design, we conducted focus groups and quantitative surveys. Methods We conducted three focus groups with atrial fibrillation (AF) patients and support persons (N = 17 participants; 66 ± 16 years) at critical treatment junctures (recent diagnosis or medication switch). Patients and support persons were also surveyed on patient activation (self‐management skills and knowledge), medication adherence, AF knowledge and health literacy. Iterative thematic analysis was performed using focus group transcripts. Results Although most participants had adequate health literacy, most reported gaps in AF knowledge. Participants lacked disease‐related knowledge and were unsure how to manage health behaviours (e.g. diet and exercise). Few felt they received adequate education from their healthcare provider. Results emphasize the need for consistent information from nursing staff, in lay language, via both electronic and printed means.

Background Patients at risk for sudden cardiac death or having suffered cardiac arrest may receive an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). This device provides monitoring and therapy for life-threatening heart rhythms. Remote monitoring of ICDs has decreased the time between abnormal heart rhythm events and clinic follow-up. Currently, the data transmitted from the device are reviewed and stored by the clinic, but patients do not have access to the data. While connecting patients directly with their ICD data has potential to enhance engagement in their care and improve health outcomes, patient attitudes and perceptions about receiving ICD data have not been explored. Objective This research is the first demonstration of delivering ICD data to patients through a personal health record (PHR) using a novel technical framework. The objective of this study was to use a PHR interface as a technology probe to explore patients' experiences with directly receiving their ICD data from remote monitoring. Methods We enrolled 21 patients with an ICD undergoing remote monitoring at a large outpatient cardiology clinic in Indiana, United States. Participants received their ICD data from remote monitoring through a PHR over 3 months. In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted at 3 months and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Participants were 36 to 86 years old, mean age (SD) of 67 (14) years, predominately male (76%), and white (95%). Key themes were ICD questions and concerns, experiences with remote monitoring, PHR use, and feedback about the ICD data summary. The findings showed that overall, patients desired information that provides reassurance, is easy to understand, and is presented in a meaningful way. Conclusion Sharing ICD data from remote monitoring requires adequate context and scaffolding to support patient understanding. Engaging patients with information that is useful and valuable to them through a PHR may require appropriate and individualized tailoring of information.

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) demonstrate persistent knowledge gaps regarding their condition and a substandard adherence to oral anticoagulant (OAC) medication, which contribute to thromboembolic stroke and other clot-related complications. Tailored patient education and medication reminders may help reduce these negative health outcomes. We sought to improve disease knowledge and medication adherence among a sample of AF patients using tailored education and nudges. The intervention leveraged three digital health technologies: a patient portal, an electronic-prescribing data feed, and a smart pill bottle. The content of the educational messaging, nudges, and cadence were tailored according to findings from our user-centered design studies and delivered via a patient portal (MyChart ® ; Epic Systems, Verona, WI, USA), with which participants were familiar. In a six-month randomized controlled trial with parallel groups, we used MyChart ® to send educational messages and medication reminders according to a decision tree that emerged from our prior user-centered design studies. The intervention group demonstrated higher AF knowledge at study completion than the control group and more MyChart ® logins throughout the trial, suggesting intervention uptake. Women were more adherent than men and patients diagnosed more than one year ago were more adherent than those with more recent diagnoses. The intervention and control group adherence rates were 93.1% and 89.5%, respectively; intervention effect was moderated by age, medication type, and prior MyChart ® use. Within the intervention group, younger patients, those taking once-daily rivaroxaban, and those who were less active MyChart ® users prior to the study benefited relative to their control group counterparts. Tailored educational and reminder messages contributed to increased adherence and disease knowledge among AF patients, though certain patient characteristics moderated the intervention's effectiveness. Technology-based health interventions can be useful for older adults with effective tailoring and training.