Assessing Professionals’ Adoption Readiness for eMental Health: Development and Validation of the eMental Health Adoption Readiness Scale

Feijt, Milou A.; Kort, Y.; Westerink, Joyce H. D. M.; Bierbooms, Joyce; Bongers, I.M.B.; IJsselsteijn, Wijnand A.

doi:10.2196/28518

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Adoption readiness was measured through the eMental Health Adoption Readiness (eMHAR) Scale ( 15 ). The eMHAR Scale consists of 15 statements about the practitioner’s readiness to adopt DMH.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A well-known conceptualization has been offered by Rogers ( 14 ), who describes adoption as a staged process that comprises necessary knowledge and skills, acceptance, implementation in daily procedures, actual use, and evaluation. A related term is adoption readiness, i.e., “ the extent to which a professional is ready to use DMH (i.e., has a positive attitude, is motivated, and possesses the necessary skills and knowledge)” ( 15 ). Adoption readiness specifically captures the individual characteristics of professionals’ adoption and so is less dependent on organizational, legal, and other factors external to the practitioner.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Integrating technology in mental healthcare practice: A repeated cross-sectional survey study on professionals’ adoption of Digital Mental Health before and during COVID-19

Feijt

Kort²,

Westerink³

et al. 2023

Front. Psychiatry

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As a consequence of the outbreak of the COVID-19 global pandemic in the spring of 2020, large-scale social distancing measures were implemented, resulting in the forced adoption of online or digital forms of psychological treatment. This sudden transition to digital care offered a unique opportunity to investigate if and how this experience impacted mental healthcare professionals’ perceptions and use of Digital Mental Health tools. The current paper presents findings of a repeated cross-sectional study consisting of three iterations of a national online survey in the Netherlands. This survey contained open and closed questions on professionals’ adoption readiness, frequency of use, perceived competency, and perceived value of Digital Mental Health collected in 2019 (before the pandemic), in 2020 (after the first wave), and in 2021 (after the second wave). The inclusion of data gathered prior to the COVID-19 pandemic offers a unique window to assess how professionals’ adoption has developed through this transition from voluntary to mandatory use of Digital Mental Health tools. Our study also re-assesses the drivers, barriers, and needs of mental healthcare professionals after having gained experience with Digital Mental Health. In total, 1,039 practitioners completed the surveys (Survey 1: n = 432, Survey 2: n = 363, and Survey 3: n = 244). Results indicate that compared to the period before the pandemic, there was a particularly large increase in use, competency, and perceived value regarding videoconferencing. Small differences were also found for some other basic tools that were crucial to ensure the continuation of care, such as e-mail, text messaging, and online screening, but not for more innovative technologies, such as virtual reality and biofeedback. Many practitioners reported to have gained skills regarding Digital Mental Health and experienced several benefits of it. They expressed the intention to continue with a blended approach, using Digital Mental Health tools in combination with face-to-face care, focused on situations in which they found it to have specific added value, such as when clients are unable to travel. Others were less satisfied with the technology-mediated interactions and remained more reluctant to future use of DMH. Implications for broader implementation of Digital Mental Health and future research are discussed.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating technology in mental healthcare practice: A repeated cross-sectional survey study on professionals’ adoption of Digital Mental Health before and during COVID-19

Feijt

Kort²,

Westerink³

et al. 2023

Front. Psychiatry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In both studies, attitudes toward new technologies (and mHealth) as well as perceived proficiency in using those technologies were assessed using self-developed Likert-scale questions. The use of recently developed and validated scales such as the eMental Health Adoption Readiness scale [ 44 ] could have contributed to a more accurate assessment of this highly relevant aspect of eHealth and mHealth implementation. In the study of forensic outpatients, several factors related to the research design (such as the use of a research-owned smartphone and the restricted ability to customize settings) impeded usability, which might have negatively influenced the overall experience with the biocueing app.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forensic Psychiatric Outpatients’ and Therapists’ Perspectives on a Wearable Biocueing App (Sense-IT) as an Addition to Aggression Regulation Therapy: Qualitative Focus Group and Interview Study

Harmsel¹,

Smulders²,

Noordzij³

et al. 2023

JMIR Form Res

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Background Given the increased use of smart devices and the advantages of individual behavioral monitoring and assessment over time, wearable sensor–based mobile health apps are expected to become an important part of future (forensic) mental health care. For successful implementation in clinical practice, consideration of barriers and facilitators is of utmost importance. Objective The aim of this study was to provide insight into the perspectives of both psychiatric outpatients and therapists in a forensic setting on the use and implementation of the Sense-IT biocueing app in aggression regulation therapy. Methods A combination of qualitative methods was used. First, we assessed the perspectives of forensic outpatients on the use of the Sense-IT biocueing app using semistructured interviews. Next, 2 focus groups with forensic therapists were conducted to gain a more in-depth understanding of their perspectives on facilitators of and barriers to implementation. Results Forensic outpatients (n=21) and therapists (n=15) showed a primarily positive attitude toward the addition of the biocueing intervention to therapy, with increased interoceptive and emotional awareness as the most frequently mentioned advantage in both groups. In the semistructured interviews, patients mainly reported barriers related to technical or innovation problems (ie, connection and notification issues, perceived inaccuracy of the feedback, and limitations in the ability to personalize settings). In the focus groups with therapists, 92 facilitator and barrier codes were identified and categorized into technical or innovation level (n=13, 14%), individual therapist level (n=28, 30%), individual patient level (n=33, 36%), and environmental and organizational level (n=18, 20%). The predominant barriers were limitations in usability of the app, patients’ motivation, and both therapists’ and patients’ knowledge and skills. Integration into treatment, expertise within the therapists’ team, and provision of time and materials were identified as facilitators. Conclusions The chances of successful implementation and continued use of sensor-based mobile health interventions such as the Sense-IT biocueing app can be increased by considering the barriers and facilitators from patients’ and therapists’ perspectives. Technical or innovation-related barriers such as usability issues should be addressed first. At the therapist level, increasing integration into daily routines and enhancing affinity with the intervention are highly recommended for successful implementation. Future research is expected to be focused on further development and personalization of biocueing interventions considering what works for whom at what time in line with the trend toward personalizing treatment interventions in mental health care.

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“…This applies, for example, to the 2 items in the Accessibility scale. Feijt et al [ 56 ] came to the same conclusion for these items and removed them from the eMental Health Adoption Readiness scale for this reason. Although Accessibility is substantively related to User-friendliness , it emerged as a separate factor in the factor analysis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To measure these 11 scales (ie, Facilitating conditions and the 10 scales of the factors that relate to behavioral intention), the items of the validated eMental Health Adoption Readiness scale by Feijt et al [ 56 ] were used as a starting point and complemented with items based on the MIDI questionnaire [ 45 ], the UTAUT questionnaire [ 43 ], a digital skill measurement tool, and own insights and literature (eg, related to the COVID-19 pandemic). To refine the items, our own scientific expertise [ 50 , 57 , 58 ] and input from practice were important.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Associated With Intention and Use of e–Mental Health by Mental Health Counselors in General Practices: Web-Based Survey

Veirman¹,

Thewissen²,

Spruijt³

et al. 2022

JMIR Form Res

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Background Mental health care counselors have a high intention to use e–mental health (EMH), whereas actual use is limited. Facilitating future use requires insight into underlying factors as well as eligibility criteria that mental health care counselors use in their decision to apply EMH. Objective The aim of this study was to unfold the intention and underlying reasons for mental health counselors to use EMH and to unveil the criteria they use to estimate patient eligibility for EMH. The theoretical framework was based on the reasoned action approach model, the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, and the Measurement Instrument for Determinants of Innovation model. Methods To empirically validate our theoretical model, a web-based survey was conducted among mental health care counselors (n=132). To unveil the eligibility criteria, participants were asked to rank their reasons for considering EMH suitable or unsuitable for a patient. Results The mean intention to use EMH was positive (mean 4.04, SD 0.64). The mean use of EMH before the COVID-19 pandemic was 38% (mean 0.38, SD 0.22), and it was 49% (mean 0.49, SD 0.25) during the pandemic. In total, 57% of the patient population was considered eligible for EMH. Usefulness and benefits (β=.440; P<.001), Task perception (β=.306; P=.001), and Accessibility (β=.140; P=.02) explained the intention to use EMH (F3,131=54.151; P<.001; R2=0.559). In turn, intention explained patient eligibility (F1,130=34.716; P<.001; R2=0.211), whereas intention and patient eligibility explained EMH use (F2,129=41.047; P<.001; R2=0.389). Patient eligibility partially mediated the relationship between intention to use EMH and EMH use, with a larger direct effect (c′=0.116; P<.001) than indirect effect (c=0.065, 95% CI 0.035-0.099; P<.001). Mental health counselors assessed patients’ eligibility for EMH mainly through the availability of computers and the internet and patient motivation. Conclusions To stimulate the use of EMH, intention and patient eligibility need to be influenced. Intention, in turn, can be enhanced by addressing the perceived usefulness and benefits of EMH, perceived accessibility, and task perception. Access to a computer and patients’ motivation to use EMH are important in facilitating patient eligibility. To cause an impact with EMH in general practice, mental health counselors need to be convinced of the benefits of EMH and transfer this enthusiasm to the patient. It is recommended to involve mental health counselors in the development of EMH to increase the (perceived) added value and use.

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Assessing Professionals’ Adoption Readiness for eMental Health: Development and Validation of the eMental Health Adoption Readiness Scale

Cited by 10 publications

References 55 publications

Integrating technology in mental healthcare practice: A repeated cross-sectional survey study on professionals’ adoption of Digital Mental Health before and during COVID-19

Integrating technology in mental healthcare practice: A repeated cross-sectional survey study on professionals’ adoption of Digital Mental Health before and during COVID-19

Forensic Psychiatric Outpatients’ and Therapists’ Perspectives on a Wearable Biocueing App (Sense-IT) as an Addition to Aggression Regulation Therapy: Qualitative Focus Group and Interview Study

Factors Associated With Intention and Use of e–Mental Health by Mental Health Counselors in General Practices: Web-Based Survey

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