What Comes after the Trial? An Observational Study of the Real-World Uptake of an E-Mental Health Intervention by General Practitioners to Reduce Depressive Symptoms in Their Patients

Margrit Löbner, Janine Stein, Melanie Luppa, Markus Bleckwenn, Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf and Steffi G. Riedel-Heller
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Margrit Löbner: Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Janine Stein: Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Melanie Luppa: Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Markus Bleckwenn: Department of General Practice, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Steffi G. Riedel-Heller: Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 10, 1-12

Abstract: Unguided and free e-mental health platforms can offer a viable treatment and self-help option for depression. This study aims to investigate, from a public health perspective, the real-world uptake, benefits, barriers, and implementation support needed by general practitioners (GPs). The study presents data from a spin-off GP survey conducted 2.5 years subsequent to a cluster-randomized trial. A total of N = 68 GPs (intervention group (IG) GPs = 38, control group (CG) GPs = 30) participated in the survey (response rate 62.4%). Data were collected via postal questionnaires. Overall, 66.2% of the GPs were female. The average age was 51.6 years (SD = 9.4), and 48.5% of the GPs indicated that they continued (IG) or started recommending (CG) the e-mental health intervention under real-world conditions beyond the trial. A number of benefits could be identified, such as ease of integration and strengthening patient activation in disease management. Future implementation support should include providing appealing informational materials and including explainer videos. Workshops, conferences, and professional journals were identified as suitable for dissemination. Social media approaches were less appealing. Measures should be taken to make it easier for health care professionals to use an intervention after the trial and to integrate it into everyday practice.

Keywords: depression; mental health; Internet intervention; general practitioner; primary care (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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