The role of sociodemographic factors on the acceptability of digital mental health care: A scoping review protocol

Abstract

Introduction Many individuals experiencing mental health complications face barriers when attempting to access services. To bridge this care gap, digital mental health innovations (DMHI) have proven to be valuable additions to in-person care by enhancing access to care. An important aspect to consider when evaluating the utility of DMHI is perceived acceptability. However, it is unclear whether diverse sociodemographic groups differ in their degree of perceived acceptability of DMHI. Objective This scoping review aims to synthesize evidence on the role of sociodemographic factors (e.g., age, gender) in the perceived acceptability of DMHI among individuals seeking mental health care. Methods Guided by the JBI Manual of Evidence Synthesis, chapter on Scoping Review, a search strategy developed according to the PCC framework will be implemented in MEDLINE and then adapted to four electronic databases (i.e., CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and EMBASE). The study selection strategy will be piloted by two reviewers on subsets of 30 articles until agreement among reviewers reaches 90%, after which one reviewer will complete the remaining screening of titles and abstracts. The full-text screening, data extraction strategy, and charting tool will be completed by one reviewer and then validated by a second member of the team. Main findings will be presented using tables and figures. Expected contributions This scoping review will examine the extent to which sociodemographic factors have been considered in the digital mental health literature. Also, the proposed review may help determine whether certain populations have been associated with a lower level of acceptability within the context of digital mental health care. This investigation aims to favor equitable access to DMHI among diverse populations.