Factors Affecting Usability and Acceptability of an Online Platform Used by Caregivers in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Mixed Methods Study
Abstract BackgroundYoung people and families endure protracted waits for specialist mental health support in the United Kingdom. Staff shortages and limited resources have led many organizations to develop digital platforms to improve access to support. myHealthE is a digital...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JMIR Publications
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting |
| Online Access: | https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2024/1/e60042 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1846095055707701248 |
|---|---|
| author | Jessica Radley Jessica Penhallow Alice Wickersham Anna Morris Craig Colling Johnny Downs |
| author_facet | Jessica Radley Jessica Penhallow Alice Wickersham Anna Morris Craig Colling Johnny Downs |
| author_sort | Jessica Radley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Abstract
BackgroundYoung people and families endure protracted waits for specialist mental health support in the United Kingdom. Staff shortages and limited resources have led many organizations to develop digital platforms to improve access to support. myHealthE is a digital platform used by families referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in South London. It was initially designed to improve the collection of routine outcome measures and subsequently the “virtual waiting room” module was added, which includes information about child and adolescent mental health as well as signposting to supportive services. However, little is known about the acceptability or use of digital resources, such as myHealthE, or about sociodemographic inequalities affecting access to these resources.
ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the usability and acceptability of myHealthE as well as investigating whether any digital divides existed among its userbase in terms of sociodemographic characteristics.
MethodsA survey was sent to all myHealthE users (N=7337) in May 2023. Caregivers were asked about their usage of myHealthE, their levels of comfort with technology and the internet. They completed the System Usability Scale and gave open-ended feedback on their experiences of using myHealthE.
ResultsA total of 680 caregivers responded, of whom 45% () were from a Black, Asian, or a minority ethnic background. Most (n=, 98%) used a mobile phone to access myHealthE, and many had not accessed the platform’s full functionality, including the new “waiting room” module. Household income was a significant predictor of caregivers’ levels of comfort using technology; caregivers were 13% more likely to be comfortable using technology with each increasing income bracket (adjusted odds ratio 1.13, 95% CI 1.00‐1.29). Themes generated from caregivers’ feedback highlight strengths of digital innovation as well as ideas for improvement, such as making digital platforms more personalized and tailored toward an individual’s needs.
ConclusionsTechnology can bring many benefits to health care; however, sole reliance on technology may result in many individuals being excluded. To enhance engagement, clinical services must ensure that digital platforms are mobile friendly, personalized, that users are alerted and directed to their full functionality, and that efforts are made to bridge digital divides. Enhancing dissemination practices and improving accessibility to informative resources on the internet is critical to provide fair access to all using Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e1968c672c284502883d6dec9bb4442c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2561-6722 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting |
| spelling | doaj-art-e1968c672c284502883d6dec9bb4442c2025-01-02T11:40:26ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Pediatrics and Parenting2561-67222024-12-017e60042e6004210.2196/60042Factors Affecting Usability and Acceptability of an Online Platform Used by Caregivers in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Mixed Methods StudyJessica Radleyhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-1111-5711Jessica Penhallowhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-4951-7874Alice Wickershamhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-7402-7690Anna Morrishttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-8691-9653Craig Collinghttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-5178-0383Johnny Downshttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-8061-295X Abstract BackgroundYoung people and families endure protracted waits for specialist mental health support in the United Kingdom. Staff shortages and limited resources have led many organizations to develop digital platforms to improve access to support. myHealthE is a digital platform used by families referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in South London. It was initially designed to improve the collection of routine outcome measures and subsequently the “virtual waiting room” module was added, which includes information about child and adolescent mental health as well as signposting to supportive services. However, little is known about the acceptability or use of digital resources, such as myHealthE, or about sociodemographic inequalities affecting access to these resources. ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the usability and acceptability of myHealthE as well as investigating whether any digital divides existed among its userbase in terms of sociodemographic characteristics. MethodsA survey was sent to all myHealthE users (N=7337) in May 2023. Caregivers were asked about their usage of myHealthE, their levels of comfort with technology and the internet. They completed the System Usability Scale and gave open-ended feedback on their experiences of using myHealthE. ResultsA total of 680 caregivers responded, of whom 45% () were from a Black, Asian, or a minority ethnic background. Most (n=, 98%) used a mobile phone to access myHealthE, and many had not accessed the platform’s full functionality, including the new “waiting room” module. Household income was a significant predictor of caregivers’ levels of comfort using technology; caregivers were 13% more likely to be comfortable using technology with each increasing income bracket (adjusted odds ratio 1.13, 95% CI 1.00‐1.29). Themes generated from caregivers’ feedback highlight strengths of digital innovation as well as ideas for improvement, such as making digital platforms more personalized and tailored toward an individual’s needs. ConclusionsTechnology can bring many benefits to health care; however, sole reliance on technology may result in many individuals being excluded. To enhance engagement, clinical services must ensure that digital platforms are mobile friendly, personalized, that users are alerted and directed to their full functionality, and that efforts are made to bridge digital divides. Enhancing dissemination practices and improving accessibility to informative resources on the internet is critical to provide fair access to all using Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2024/1/e60042 |
| spellingShingle | Jessica Radley Jessica Penhallow Alice Wickersham Anna Morris Craig Colling Johnny Downs Factors Affecting Usability and Acceptability of an Online Platform Used by Caregivers in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Mixed Methods Study JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting |
| title | Factors Affecting Usability and Acceptability of an Online Platform Used by Caregivers in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Mixed Methods Study |
| title_full | Factors Affecting Usability and Acceptability of an Online Platform Used by Caregivers in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Mixed Methods Study |
| title_fullStr | Factors Affecting Usability and Acceptability of an Online Platform Used by Caregivers in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Mixed Methods Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors Affecting Usability and Acceptability of an Online Platform Used by Caregivers in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Mixed Methods Study |
| title_short | Factors Affecting Usability and Acceptability of an Online Platform Used by Caregivers in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Mixed Methods Study |
| title_sort | factors affecting usability and acceptability of an online platform used by caregivers in child and adolescent mental health services mixed methods study |
| url | https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2024/1/e60042 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jessicaradley factorsaffectingusabilityandacceptabilityofanonlineplatformusedbycaregiversinchildandadolescentmentalhealthservicesmixedmethodsstudy AT jessicapenhallow factorsaffectingusabilityandacceptabilityofanonlineplatformusedbycaregiversinchildandadolescentmentalhealthservicesmixedmethodsstudy AT alicewickersham factorsaffectingusabilityandacceptabilityofanonlineplatformusedbycaregiversinchildandadolescentmentalhealthservicesmixedmethodsstudy AT annamorris factorsaffectingusabilityandacceptabilityofanonlineplatformusedbycaregiversinchildandadolescentmentalhealthservicesmixedmethodsstudy AT craigcolling factorsaffectingusabilityandacceptabilityofanonlineplatformusedbycaregiversinchildandadolescentmentalhealthservicesmixedmethodsstudy AT johnnydowns factorsaffectingusabilityandacceptabilityofanonlineplatformusedbycaregiversinchildandadolescentmentalhealthservicesmixedmethodsstudy |