Utilization, Satisfaction, and Clinical Outcomes of People of Color and White Adults Using an Employer-Sponsored Digital Mental Health Platform

Sara J. Sagui Henson (), Camille E. Welcome Chamberlain, Brooke J. Smith, Jessica L. Jackson, Sharon L. Adusei and Cynthia M. Castro Sweet
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Sara J. Sagui Henson: Modern Health, San Francisco, CA 94108, USA
Camille E. Welcome Chamberlain: Modern Health, San Francisco, CA 94108, USA
Brooke J. Smith: Modern Health, San Francisco, CA 94108, USA
Jessica L. Jackson: Modern Health, San Francisco, CA 94108, USA
Sharon L. Adusei: Modern Health, San Francisco, CA 94108, USA
Cynthia M. Castro Sweet: Modern Health, San Francisco, CA 94108, USA

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 12, 1-19

Abstract: Evaluating digital mental health services across racial and ethnic identities is crucial to ensuring health equity. We examined how People of Color (POC) and White adults were using and benefiting from an employer-sponsored digital mental health platform. A sample of 947 adults (42% POC) consented to an observational study and completed surveys on their identities and mental health outcomes at baseline and three-month follow-up. We examined care preferences, utilization, therapeutic alliance with mental health providers, and changes in outcomes among POC and White adults. At baseline, there were no race or ethnicity differences in preferred topics of focus ( p = 0.36), rates of depression, anxiety, or loneliness ( p s > 0.35), or self-reported well-being or stress ( p s > 0.07). POC adults were more likely to prefer one-on-one care than White adults ( p = 0.02). After 3 months of care utilization, there were no differences in therapeutic alliance ( p = 0.52), use of therapy, coaching, or self-guided digital resources ( p s > 0.47), or in the likelihood of improving, recovering, or maintaining clinical symptoms or psychosocial factors ( p s > 0.07). Utilization, satisfaction, and clinical effectiveness were similar between POC and White adults, indicating the platform may offer comparable experiences. Evaluating utilization and outcomes among POC communities is necessary to inform consumers and help developers assess if innovations are fostering health equity.

Keywords: digital mental health; health equity; race and ethnicity; depression; anxiety (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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