JAMA Netw Open

Can digital engagement improve physicians’ wellbeing?

July 17, 2024

Digital engagement via text messages, mobile mental health assessments, and facilitated access to care modestly improved depression and anxiety over a 6-month period. This improvement persisted through 9 months, suggesting that digital approaches can effectively support health care providers (HCPs) mental well-being.

The study

• In this 9-month randomized clinical trial, 1,275 HCPs (mean age, 38.6 years; 83.4% female) were provided access to a mental health platform via their smartphones. Participants in the intervention group (50.4%) received monthly push notifications about mental health, mental health assessments, and links to care. The control group (49.6%) had open access to the mental health platform.
• Primary outcomes measured were mean change in depression and anxiety scores at 6 months from baseline; secondary outcomes included mean change in well-being, burnout, and self-reported workplace productivity.

Key findings

• Across the groups, the mean difference in depression score was significantly different at 6 months (−0.96) and at 9 months.
• The mean difference in anxiety score from baseline to 6 months was statistically significantly larger for those in the intervention group vs. usual care (−0.71) and held true at 9 months (−1.06).

Source:

Agarwal AK, et al. (2024, May 1). JAMA Netw Open. Digital Engagement Strategy and Health Care Worker Mental Health: A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38787562/