Uptake of mental health websites in primary care: Insights from an Australian longitudinal cohort study of depression

作者：Gunn Jane^*; Cameron Jacqui; Densley Konstancja; Davidson Sandra; Fletcher Susie; Palmer Victoria; Chondros Patty; Dowrick Christopher; Pirkis Jane

来源：Patient Education and Counseling, 2018, 101(1): 105-112.

DOI：10.1016/j.pec.2017.07.008

• Primary care
• Mental health websites
• Depression
• Longitudinal data
• Mental health policy
• e-Mental health

Objective: To describe the characteristics of primary care attendees with depressive symptoms who use mental health websites.
Methods: 789 individuals with depressive symptoms recruited and followed up annually for nine years. Self-reported written surveys included mental health, professional and self-help use, e-mental health interventions or therapeutic websites. Marginal logistic regression examined association between mental health website (MHW) use and patient's mental health, health services use, anti-depressant use and self-help strategies.
Results: 36% of participants used an MHW at least once. MHW users were more likely to be female, younger, highly educated and employed. MHW use increased with depressive symptom severity; reported in 16% of assessments when minimal symptoms were present and 28% when severe symptoms were present. MHW use was associated with: GP mental health visits, psychologist and psychiatrist visits and other self-help strategies including self-help books and telephone helplines.
Conclusion(s): Mental health websites were more likely to be used by those with severe depressive symptoms rather than those with mild depression as recommended in current guidelines.
Practice implication(s): Whilst mental health websites offer potential to support the high volume of people with mild depression new strategies may be required to ensure uptake.

• 出版日期2018-1