mHealth Apps in German Outpatient Mental Health Care: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Approach
BackgroundMental disorders are complex diseases that affect 28% (about 17.8 million people) of the adult population in Germany annually. Since 2020, certain mobile health (mHealth) apps, so-called digital health applications (DiGA), are reimbursable in the German statutory he...
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JMIR Publications
2024-12-01
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| Series: | JMIR Research Protocols |
| Online Access: | https://www.researchprotocols.org/2024/1/e56205 |
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| author | Klemens Höfer Felix Plescher Sarah Schlierenkamp Stefanie Solar Silke Neusser Udo Schneider Dieter Best Jürgen Wasem Carina Abels Anna Bußmann |
| author_facet | Klemens Höfer Felix Plescher Sarah Schlierenkamp Stefanie Solar Silke Neusser Udo Schneider Dieter Best Jürgen Wasem Carina Abels Anna Bußmann |
| author_sort | Klemens Höfer |
| collection | DOAJ |
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BackgroundMental disorders are complex diseases that affect 28% (about 17.8 million people) of the adult population in Germany annually. Since 2020, certain mobile health (mHealth) apps, so-called digital health applications (DiGA), are reimbursable in the German statutory health insurance system. A total of 27 of the 56 currently available DiGA are approved for the treatment of mental and behavioral diseases. An indicator of existing problems hindering the use of DiGA is the rather hesitant prescribing behavior.
ObjectiveThis project aims to develop health policy recommendations for the optimal integration of DiGA into outpatient psychotherapeutic care. The project is funded by the Innovation Fund of the Joint Federal Committee (grant 01VSF22029). The current status quo of the use of DiGA will be analyzed. Furthermore, concepts for the integration of mHealth apps, as well as their transfer into the care process will be investigated. In addition, barriers will be identified, and existing expectations of different perspectives captured.
MethodsThe project will be based on a mixed methods approach. A scoping review and a qualitative analysis of focus groups and expert interviews will be carried out. Additionally, an analysis of claims data of the statutory health insurance will be conducted. This will be followed by a written survey of insured persons and health care providers. Finally, health policy recommendations will be derived in cooperation with stakeholders.
ResultsThe scoping reviews and qualitative analyses have been completed, and the quantitative surveys are currently being carried out. The target number of responses in the survey of insured persons has already been achieved. Furthermore, the analysis claims data of the statutory health insurance is currently being conducted.
ConclusionsThere is a need for research on how DiGA can be optimally integrated into the care process of patients with mental disorders as evidence regarding the topic is limited and prescribing behavior low. Although the potential of DiGA in mental health care has not yet fully unfolded, Germany serves as a model for other countries regarding reimbursable mHealth apps. This project aims to explore the potentials of DiGA and to describe the organizational, institutional, and procedural steps necessary for them to best support mental health care.
International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/56205 |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7a1de136e65f4038ae922728aa343561 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1929-0748 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
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| series | JMIR Research Protocols |
| spelling | doaj-art-7a1de136e65f4038ae922728aa3435612024-12-10T18:31:16ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Research Protocols1929-07482024-12-0113e5620510.2196/56205mHealth Apps in German Outpatient Mental Health Care: Protocol for a Mixed Methods ApproachKlemens Höferhttps://orcid.org/0009-0009-5028-9184Felix Plescherhttps://orcid.org/0009-0008-1739-9931Sarah Schlierenkamphttps://orcid.org/0009-0008-9297-9020Stefanie Solarhttps://orcid.org/0009-0003-9551-3115Silke Neusserhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9077-7005Udo Schneiderhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7079-4721Dieter Besthttps://orcid.org/0009-0008-5777-2251Jürgen Wasemhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9653-168XCarina Abelshttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2138-2944Anna Bußmannhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9827-9083 BackgroundMental disorders are complex diseases that affect 28% (about 17.8 million people) of the adult population in Germany annually. Since 2020, certain mobile health (mHealth) apps, so-called digital health applications (DiGA), are reimbursable in the German statutory health insurance system. A total of 27 of the 56 currently available DiGA are approved for the treatment of mental and behavioral diseases. An indicator of existing problems hindering the use of DiGA is the rather hesitant prescribing behavior. ObjectiveThis project aims to develop health policy recommendations for the optimal integration of DiGA into outpatient psychotherapeutic care. The project is funded by the Innovation Fund of the Joint Federal Committee (grant 01VSF22029). The current status quo of the use of DiGA will be analyzed. Furthermore, concepts for the integration of mHealth apps, as well as their transfer into the care process will be investigated. In addition, barriers will be identified, and existing expectations of different perspectives captured. MethodsThe project will be based on a mixed methods approach. A scoping review and a qualitative analysis of focus groups and expert interviews will be carried out. Additionally, an analysis of claims data of the statutory health insurance will be conducted. This will be followed by a written survey of insured persons and health care providers. Finally, health policy recommendations will be derived in cooperation with stakeholders. ResultsThe scoping reviews and qualitative analyses have been completed, and the quantitative surveys are currently being carried out. The target number of responses in the survey of insured persons has already been achieved. Furthermore, the analysis claims data of the statutory health insurance is currently being conducted. ConclusionsThere is a need for research on how DiGA can be optimally integrated into the care process of patients with mental disorders as evidence regarding the topic is limited and prescribing behavior low. Although the potential of DiGA in mental health care has not yet fully unfolded, Germany serves as a model for other countries regarding reimbursable mHealth apps. This project aims to explore the potentials of DiGA and to describe the organizational, institutional, and procedural steps necessary for them to best support mental health care. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/56205https://www.researchprotocols.org/2024/1/e56205 |
| spellingShingle | Klemens Höfer Felix Plescher Sarah Schlierenkamp Stefanie Solar Silke Neusser Udo Schneider Dieter Best Jürgen Wasem Carina Abels Anna Bußmann mHealth Apps in German Outpatient Mental Health Care: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Approach JMIR Research Protocols |
| title | mHealth Apps in German Outpatient Mental Health Care: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Approach |
| title_full | mHealth Apps in German Outpatient Mental Health Care: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Approach |
| title_fullStr | mHealth Apps in German Outpatient Mental Health Care: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | mHealth Apps in German Outpatient Mental Health Care: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Approach |
| title_short | mHealth Apps in German Outpatient Mental Health Care: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Approach |
| title_sort | mhealth apps in german outpatient mental health care protocol for a mixed methods approach |
| url | https://www.researchprotocols.org/2024/1/e56205 |
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