Preventive digital mental health interventions for children and young people: a review of the design and reporting of research
Year: 2020
Type: review
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: Digital health interventions (DHIs) have frequently been highlighted as one way to respond to increasing levels of mental health problems in children and young people. Whilst many are developed to address existing mental health problems, there is also potential for DHIs to address prevention and early intervention. However, there are currently limitations in the design and reporting of the development, evaluation and implementation of preventive DHIs that can limit their adoption into real-world practice. This scoping review aimed to examine existing evidence-based DHI interventions and review how well the research literature described factors that researchers need to include in their study designs and reports to support real-world implementation. A search was conducted for relevant publications published from 2013 onwards. Twenty-one different interventions were identified from 30 publications, which took a universal ( n = 12), selective ( n = 3) and indicative ( n = 15) approach to preventing poor mental health. Most interventions targeted adolescents, with only two studies including children aged ≤10 years. There was limited reporting of user co-design involvement in intervention development. Barriers and facilitators to implementation varied across the delivery settings, and only a minority reported financial costs involved in delivering the intervention. This review found that while there are continued attempts to design and evaluate DHIs for children and young people, there are several points of concern. More research is needed with younger children and those from poorer and underserved backgrounds. Co-design processes with children and young people should be recognised and reported as a necessary component within DHI research as they are an important factor in the design and development of interventions, and underpin successful adoption and implementation. Reporting the type and level of human support provided as part of the intervention is also important in enabling the sustained use and implementation of DHIs.
Source: npj Digital Medicine
Institutions: University of Nottingham, Institute of Mental Health, NIHR MindTech MedTech Co-operative, Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Trinity College Dublin, Cardiff University, University of Auckland, The University of Melbourne, Orygen, University of Exeter, University of Essex, King's College London, Aarhus University, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard University
Language: English
Subfield: Applied Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,790
Funders: National Institute for Health and Care Research, Department of Health and Social Care, Auckland Medical Research Foundation, Cure Kids, NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, Arts and Humanities Research Council, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council, NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre
Awards: G107326346, G2107246862, What's Up With Alex (WUWA)? Animated Storytelling for Mental Health Literacy Among Young People, The Nurture Network: Promoting Young People's Mental Health in a Digital World, The Nurture Network: Promoting Young People's Mental Health in a Digital World, NIHR Senior Investigator Award, G4434080624, Utilising Adoption-Based Research Designs to Examine the Interplay Between Family Relationship Processes and Child Developmental Outcomes, G5438673687, From Human Data to Personal Experience, G5717844281, NIHR Senior Investigator Award, G6512332463, ReEnTrust: Rebuilding and Enhancing Trust in Algorithms, Creative Practice As Mutual Recovery: Connecting Communities for Mental Health and Well-Being, UnBias: Emancipating Users Against Algorithmic Biases for a Trusted Digital Economy, G713305476, CaSMa: Citizen-centric approaches to Social Media Analysis, Horizon: Digital Economy Hub at the University of Nottingham, G7856825579, G8234037158, G8621435402, NIHR Senior Investigator Award
OpenAlex ID: W3094330626