Veterans' Attitudes Toward Smartphone App Use for Mental Health Care: Qualitative Study of Rurality and Age Differences.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Mental health smartphone apps provide support, skills, and symptom tracking on demand and come at minimal to no additional cost to patients. Although the Department of Veterans Affairs has established itself as a national leader in the creation of mental health apps, veterans' attitudes regarding the use of these innovations are largely unknown, particularly among rural and aging populations who may benefit from increased access to care. OBJECTIVE:The objective of our study was to examine veterans' attitudes toward smartphone apps and to assess whether openness toward this technology varies by age or rurality. METHODS:We conducted semistructured qualitative interviews with 66 veterans from rural and urban areas in Maine, Arkansas, and California. Eligible veterans aged 18 to 70

SUBMITTER: Connolly SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6125614 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature