Development, Satisfaction and Usability of a mobile platform for monitoring the mental health of university students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v11i2.25525Keywords:
Mobile applications; Mental health; Student health; Students, health occupations.Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to develop and assess usability and satisfaction a smartphone application (App) that facilitates the screening and monitoring of emotional symptoms and factors associated with mental health in college students. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study, with the application of questionnaires using Google Forms® among medical students at a University Center, between July 2020 and November 2021. After using the App developed by a multidisciplinary team, the students responded clinical-demographic data, a Portuguese version of the system usability scale (SUS-System Usability Scale) and a questionnaire on satisfaction with the application. Results: The App, available for Android and iOS platforms, contained 32 self-applicable questions from scales validated in Brazil on depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia and sedentary lifestyle (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale -DASS-21, Insomnia Severity Index -ISI and International Physical Activity Questionnaire -IPAQ). At the end of the responses, interpretations were provided based on the scores obtained, including guidance on when to seek professional help and educational content. 31 students answered the usability and satisfaction questionnaires after testing the App. The average age was 25.2 years. 16.1% had a previous or current diagnosis of depressive disorder, and 41.9% of anxiety. The mean score on the SUS scale was 84. All students were satisfied with the application and would recommend it to another classmate. Conclusion: There was good usability and satisfaction, suggesting potential for screening and monitoring the App for mental disorders among medical students.
References
Aquino, D. R. de, Cardoso, R. A., & Pinho, L. de. (2020). Sintomas de depressão em universitários de medicina. Academia Paulista De Psicologia, 39(96), 81–95. https://doi.org/10.5935/2176-3038.20190008
Bangor, A., Staff, T., Kortum, P., Miller, J., & Staff, T. (2009). Determining what individual SUS scores mean: adding an adjective rating scale. Journal of Usability Studies, 4(3), 114–123.
Bastien, C. H., Vallières, A., & Morin, C. M. (2001). Validation of the insomnia severity index as an outcome measure for insomnia research. Sleep Medicine, 2(4), 297–307. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1389-9457(00)00065-4
Batra, K., Sharma, M., Batra, R., Singh, T. P., & Schvaneveldt, N. (2021). Assessing the psychological impact of COVID-19 among college students: An evidence of 15 countries. Healthcare (Switzerland), 9(2), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9020222
Berryman, E. K., Leonard, D. J., Gray, A. R., Pinnock, R., & Taylor, B. (2018). Self-reflected well-being via a smartphone app in clinical medical students: Feasibility study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 20(3), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.2196/mededu.9128
Broglia, E., Millings, A., & Barkham, M. (2019). Counseling With Guided Use of a Mobile Well-Being App for Students Experiencing Anxiety or Depression: Clinical Outcomes of a Feasibility Trial Embedded in a Student Counseling Service. JMIR MHealth and UHealth, 7(8), e14318. https://doi.org/10.2196/14318
Brogly, C., Bauer, M. A., Lizotte, D. J., Press, M. L., MacDougall, A., Speechley, M., Huner, E., Mitchell, M., Anderson, K. K., & Pila, E. (2021). An app-based surveillance system for undergraduate students’ mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: Protocol for a prospective cohort study. JMIR Research Protocols, 10(9), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.2196/30504
Brooke, J. (1996). SUS - A quick and dirty usability scale. In Usability Evaluation in Industry (pp. 189–194).
Castañeda-Babarro, A., Coca, A., Arbillaga-Etxarri, A., & Gutiérrez-Santamaría, B. (2020). Physical activity change during COVID-19 confinement. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(18), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186878
Castro, L. S., Poyares, D., Santos-Silva, R., Conway, S. G., Tufik, S., & Bittencourt, L. R. A. (2009). 072 Validation of the Insomnia Severity Index (Isi) in the Sao Paulo Epidemiologic Sleep Study. Sleep Medicine, 10(2009), S20. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1389-9457(09)70074-7
Chung, K., Park, J. Y., Joung, D., & Jhung, K. (2019). Response Time as an Implicit Self-Schema Indicator for Depression Among Undergraduate Students: Preliminary Findings from a Mobile App–Based Depression Assessment. JMIR MHealth and UHealth, 7(9), e14657. https://doi.org/10.2196/14657
Craig, C. L., Marshall, A. L., Sjöström, M., Bauman, A. E., Booth, M. L., Ainsworth, B. E., Pratt, M., Ekelund, U., Yngve, A., Sallis, J. F., & Oja, P. (2003). International physical activity questionnaire: 12-Country reliability and validity. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 35(8), 1381–1395. https://doi.org/10.1249/01.MSS.0000078924.61453.FB
Graner, K. M., & Cerqueira, A. T. D. A. R. (2019). Integrative review: Psychological distress among university students and correlated factors. Ciencia e Saude Coletiva, 24(4), 1327–1346. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232018244.09692017
Guedes, A. F., Rodrigues, V. R., Pereira, C. D. O., & Sousa, M. N. A. de. (2019). Prevalência e correlatos da depressão com características de saúde e demográficas de universitários de medicina. Arquivos de Ciências Da Saúde, 26(1), 47. https://doi.org/10.17696/2318-3691.26.1.2019.1039
Hetrick, S. E., Robinson, J., Burge, E., Blandon, R., Mobilio, B., Rice, S. M., Simmons, M. B., Alvarez-Jimenez, M., Goodrich, S., & Davey, C. G. (2018). Youth codesign of a mobile phone app to facilitate self-monitoring and management of mood symptoms in young eople with major depression, suicidal ideation, and self-harm. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 20(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.2196/mental.9041
Kajitani, K., Higashijima, I., Kaneko, K., Matsushita, T., Fukumori, H., & Kim, D. (2020). Short-term effect of a smartphone application on the mental health of university students: A pilot study using a user-centered design self-monitoring application for mental health. PLoS ONE, 15(9 September), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239592
Lattie, E., Cohen, K. A., Winquist, N., & Mohr, D. C. (2020). Examining an app-based mental health self-care program, intellicare for college students: Single-arm pilot study. JMIR Mental Health, 7(10), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.2196/21075
Marques, G., Drissi, N., Díez, I. de la T., de Abajo, B. S., & Ouhbi, S. (2021). Impact of COVID-19 on the psychological health of university students in Spain and their attitudes toward Mobile mental health solutions. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 147(December 2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2020.104369
Martins, B. G., Silva, W. R. da, Maroco, J., & Campos, J. A. D. B. (2019). Escala de Depressão, Ansiedade e Estresse: propriedades psicométricas e prevalência das afetividades. Jornal Brasileiro de Psiquiatria, 68(1), 32–41. https://doi.org/10.1590/0047-2085000000222
Matsudo, S., Araujo, T., Matsudo, V., Andrade, D., Andrade, E., Oliveira, L. C., & Braggion, G. (2001). Questionário Internacional de Atividade Física (IPAQ): Estudo de Validade e Reprodutibilidade no Brasil. Atividade Física & Saúde, 6(2), 5–18. https://doi.org/10.12820/rbafs.v.6n2p5-18
McMahon, S., Vankipuram, M., Hekler, E. B., & Fleury, J. (2014). Design and evaluation of theory-informed technology to augment a wellness motivation intervention. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 4(1), 95–107. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13142-013-0221-4
Melia, R., Francis, K., Hickey, E., Bogue, J., Duggan, J., O’Sullivan, M., & Young, K. (2020). Mobile health technology interventions for suicide prevention: Systematic review. JMIR MHealth and UHealth, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.2196/12516
Morin, C. M., Belleville, G., Bélanger, L., & Ivers, H. (2011). The insomnia severity index: Psychometric indicators to detect insomnia cases and evaluate treatment response. Sleep, 34(5), 601–608. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/34.5.601
Moutinho, I. L. D., Lucchetti, A. L. G., Ezequiel, O. da S., & Lucchetti, G. (2019). Mental health and quality of life of Brazilian medical students: Incidence, prevalence, and associated factors within two years of follow-up. Psychiatry Research, 274, 306–312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2019.02.041
Oliveira, A. R. F., & Alencar, M. S. M. (2017). O uso de aplicativos de saúde para dispositivos móveis como fontes de informação e educação em saúde. RDBCI: Revista Digital de Biblioteconomia e Ciência Da Informação, 15(1), 234. https://doi.org/10.20396/rdbci.v0i0.8648137
Ponzo, S., Morelli, D., Kawadler, J. M., Hemmings, N. R., Bird, G., & Plans, D. (2020). Efficacy of the Digital Therapeutic Mobile App “BioBase” to Reduce Stress and Improve Mental Wellbeing Among University Students: a Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint). JMIR MHealth and UHealth, 8(4). https://doi.org/10.2196/17767
Ramos, R. M., Cheng, P. G. F., & Jonas, S. M. (2019). Validation of an mHealth app for depression screening and monitoring (psychologist in a pocket): Correlational study and concurrence analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 21(9), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.2196/12051
Sauro, J. (2011). A practical guide to the system usability scale. Denver, CO: CreateSpace.
Silva, A. P., Barbosa, B. J. P., Hino, P., & Nichiata, L. Y. I. (2021). Usabilidade dos aplicativos móveis para profissionais de saúde: Revisão integrativa. Journal of Health Informatics, 13(3), 100–105.
Stormon, N., Ford, P. J., Kisely, S., Bartle, E., & Eley, D. S. (2019). Depression, anxiety and stress in a cohort of Australian dentistry students. European Journal of Dental Education, 23(4), 507–514. https://doi.org/10.1111/eje.12459
Tenório, J. M., Cohrs, F. M., Sdepanian, V. L., Pisa, I. T., & Marin, H. D. F. (2011). Desenvolvimento e Avaliação de um Protocolo Eletrônico para Atendimento e Monitoramento do Paciente com Doença Celíaca. Revista de Informática Teórica e Aplicada, 17(2), 210. https://doi.org/10.22456/2175-2745.12119
Vasconcelos, T. C. de, Dias, B. R. T., Andrade, L. R., Melo, G. F., Barbosa, L., & Souza, E. (2015). Prevalência de Sintomas de Ansiedade e Depressão em Estudantes de Medicina. Revista Brasileira de Educação Médica, 39(1), 135–142. https://doi.org/10.1590/1981-52712015v39n1e00042014
Vlachogianni, P., & Tselios, N. (2021). Perceived usability evaluation of educational technology using the System Usability Scale (SUS): A systematic review. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/15391523.2020.1867938
Yuan, L.-L., Lu, L., Wang, X.-H., Guo, X.-X., Ren, H., Gao, Y.-Q., & Pan, B.-C. (2021). Prevalence and Predictors of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms Among International Medical Students in China During COVID-19 Pandemic. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12(November), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.761964
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2022 Lucas Fortaleza de Aquino Ferreira; Ana Maria Luna Neri Benevides; Jayanne Antonia Ferreira Rabelo; Melissa Soares Medeiros; Edgar Marçal de Barros Filho; Lia Lira Olivier Sanders; Raquel Autran Coelho Peixoto
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
1) Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
2) Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
3) Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
