A RE-AIM Analysis of a Mental Health App for Undergraduate and Medical Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

Krisdaniel Berreta, Cynthia Nguyen, Alexis M. Stoner, Lindsey Ridgeway, Angela Wilson, Natalie Fadel () and Duke Biber
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Krisdaniel Berreta: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Spartanburg, SC 29303, USA
Cynthia Nguyen: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Spartanburg, SC 29303, USA
Alexis M. Stoner: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Spartanburg, SC 29303, USA
Lindsey Ridgeway: Student Affairs, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Spartanburg, SC 29303, USA
Angela Wilson: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
Natalie Fadel: Department of Psychiatry and Neuro-Behavioral Sciences, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Spartanburg, SC 29303, USA
Duke Biber: Department of Health Promotion and Physical Education, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 13, 1-9

Abstract: Objective: The purpose of this study was to use the RE-AIM framework to evaluate the implementation of a mental health app designed for undergraduate and medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants: Medical ( n = 270) and undergraduate students ( n = 1386) from five universities in the Appalachian region in the United States participated in this study. Methods: Universities from the United States were recruited to deploy the Sharpen app for medical and undergraduate students. The Sharpen app provided psychoeducational modules in mental health literacy, social-emotional learning, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and suicide prevention to promote protective factors for students. The utilization of the Sharpen app was analyzed using the RE-AIM framework using a retrospective, cross-sectional design. Results: Reach: A total of 12.72% of medical students and 6.00% of undergraduate students participated in the study. Efficacy: Medical students viewed significantly more pages, had a significantly higher unique page view average, and a statistically significant exit percentage when compared to undergraduate students. Adoption: A total of 100% of the universities that were recruited participated in the study. Implementation: Five out of six implementation criteria were included, indicating high implementation. Maintenance: All of the universities continued using the Sharpen app following the end of data collection, resulting in a 100% maintenance rate. Conclusions: The RE-AIM framework indicated usability and maintenance by medical and undergraduate students. Future research needs to implement a more rigorous design to determine the impact of the Sharpen app on mental health outcomes in medical and undergraduate students.

Keywords: mental health app; COVID-19; mental health; digital health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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