1. Patient Preferences for Mobile Health Applications to Support Recovery.
- Author
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Fleddermann K, Molfenter T, Vjorn O, Horst J, Hulsey J, Kelly B, Zawislak K, Gustafson DH, and Gicquelais RE
- Subjects
- Humans, Female, Adult, Male, Patient Preference, Surveys and Questionnaires, Mobile Applications, Telemedicine, Substance-Related Disorders
- Abstract
Introduction: Smartphone apps to support individuals in recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs) are increasingly available. Although many people with SUDs express interest in recovery support apps, few try them or use them long-term. Strategies like gamification and contingency management are increasingly being considered to sustain engagement. This study sought to describe features of a recovery support app called the Addiction version of the Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System (A-CHESS) that are most used by individuals in SUD recovery and what makes individuals more likely to use these apps., Methods: A total of 202 people with A-CHESS accounts completed an online survey assessing their experiences using A-CHESS between April and June 2021. We described app features reported to be most beneficial for managing anxiety, loneliness, and isolation during COVID-19; reasons for not using A-CHESS; and suggested app features for future recovery support apps., Results: Respondents had a mean age of 41 years, 85% were White, and 61% were female. Respondents reported that app features related to messaging (ie, open discussion boards and private messaging) and informational or motivational resources were the most useful for managing isolation, anxiety, and loneliness. Reasons for not using A-CHESS were not knowing how to use the app and the app not being part of a personalized treatment plan. The most common suggested components for future apps were rewards for meeting goals and a support meeting locator., Conclusions: Ensuring that health apps are intuitive and include features that appeal to patients and educating patients about features apps already include that help them meet goals may enhance engagement with recovery apps., Competing Interests: Dr Molfenter is a faculty member at CHESS. In addition to his academic affiliation, Dr Molfenter has a less than 0.1% ownership with CHESS Health, the organization responsible for making the A-CHESS addiction recovery app commercially available to the public. Dr Molfenter has worked extensively with his institution to manage any conflicts of interest. Dr Gustafson is a part owner of CHESS Health, devoted to marketing information technologies to agencies that deliver addiction treatment. He is also on the board of directors of the not-for-profit NIATx Foundation, as well as a small consulting company doing business as David H. Gustafson and Associates. These relationships do not carry with them any restrictions on publication, and any associated intellectual property will be disclosed and processed according to his institution's policies. The remaining authors for this article have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.)
- Published
- 2023
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