Supporting patients with a mental health diagnosis to use online services in primary care. A qualitative interview study
Supporting patients with a mental health diagnosis to use online services in primary care. A qualitative interview study
Objective: The increase in reliance on online services for general practice has the potential to increase inequalities within some populations. Patients with a mental health condition are one such group. Digital facilitation is defined as a range of processes, procedures, and people, which seek to support NHS patients in using online services. This study aimed to examine the views and experiences of digital facilitation in primary care amongst patients living with a mental health condition. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients living with a mental health condition, recruited from general practices across England participating in the Di-Facto study. Thematic analysis was conducted on interview transcripts. Results: Interviews were conducted with ten participants with a mental health condition, recruited from five general practices. Three themes were identified: (1) familiarity with online services; (2) experiences of those using online services; (3) the need for digital facilitation. The need for digital facilitation was identified in the registration for online services, and in trusting online services. Conclusions: Online services offer convenience for patients, but registration for the use of such services remains a potential area of difficulty. Participants had difficulties with registering for online services and had concerns about trust in using them. Support offered by general practices in using online services needs to be varied and adaptable to meet the needs of individual patients.
Mental health, digital facilitation, general practice, online services, primary care, qualitative study
Parsons, Jo
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Abel, Gary
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Stockwell, Stephanie
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Bryce, Carol
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Campbell, John
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Newbould, Jennifer
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Pitchforth, Emma
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Treadgold, Bethan
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Atherton, Helen
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7 June 2024
Parsons, Jo
a0ecd433-2fc5-45c1-ab3c-58c1cb28f281
Abel, Gary
d14838f4-2a59-4dec-b3ac-527030888e44
Stockwell, Stephanie
8b73a489-8fb4-46cd-bb29-872770d93be2
Bryce, Carol
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Campbell, John
bec3dad6-b3cc-4f89-8875-6b72cc300cbd
Newbould, Jennifer
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Pitchforth, Emma
76c58603-9332-4f10-b439-d3253c3df3be
Treadgold, Bethan
d1a8fe82-8ae5-448c-92af-a6dfcd403923
Atherton, Helen
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Parsons, Jo, Abel, Gary, Stockwell, Stephanie, Bryce, Carol, Campbell, John, Newbould, Jennifer, Pitchforth, Emma, Treadgold, Bethan and Atherton, Helen
(2024)
Supporting patients with a mental health diagnosis to use online services in primary care. A qualitative interview study.
Digital Health, 10.
(doi:10.1177/20552076241255637).
Abstract
Objective: The increase in reliance on online services for general practice has the potential to increase inequalities within some populations. Patients with a mental health condition are one such group. Digital facilitation is defined as a range of processes, procedures, and people, which seek to support NHS patients in using online services. This study aimed to examine the views and experiences of digital facilitation in primary care amongst patients living with a mental health condition. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients living with a mental health condition, recruited from general practices across England participating in the Di-Facto study. Thematic analysis was conducted on interview transcripts. Results: Interviews were conducted with ten participants with a mental health condition, recruited from five general practices. Three themes were identified: (1) familiarity with online services; (2) experiences of those using online services; (3) the need for digital facilitation. The need for digital facilitation was identified in the registration for online services, and in trusting online services. Conclusions: Online services offer convenience for patients, but registration for the use of such services remains a potential area of difficulty. Participants had difficulties with registering for online services and had concerns about trust in using them. Support offered by general practices in using online services needs to be varied and adaptable to meet the needs of individual patients.
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10.1177_20552076241255637
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Accepted/In Press date: 29 April 2024
e-pub ahead of print date: 7 June 2024
Published date: 7 June 2024
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Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.
Keywords:
Mental health, digital facilitation, general practice, online services, primary care, qualitative study
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 490630
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/490630
ISSN: 2055-2076
PURE UUID: bb07f4c8-57f0-49c1-9197-ea515a608443
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Date deposited: 31 May 2024 16:46
Last modified: 13 Jul 2024 02:11
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Contributors
Author:
Jo Parsons
Author:
Gary Abel
Author:
Stephanie Stockwell
Author:
Carol Bryce
Author:
John Campbell
Author:
Jennifer Newbould
Author:
Emma Pitchforth
Author:
Bethan Treadgold
Author:
Helen Atherton
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