scholarly journals Effectiveness, Acceptability, and Feasibility of Digital Health Interventions for LGBTIQ+ Young People: Systematic Review

10.2196/20158 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. e20158
Author(s):  
Dylan Gilbey ◽  
Helen Morgan ◽  
Ashleigh Lin ◽  
Yael Perry
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Targeted Interventions

Background Young people (aged 12-25 years) with diverse sexuality, gender, or bodily characteristics, such as those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, or queer (LGBTIQ+), are at substantially greater risk of a range of mental, physical, and sexual health difficulties compared with their peers. Digital health interventions have been identified as a potential way to reduce these health disparities. Objective This review aims to summarize the characteristics of existing evidence-based digital health interventions for LGBTIQ+ young people and to describe the evidence for their effectiveness, acceptability, and feasibility. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted using internet databases and gray literature sources, and the results were screened for inclusion. The included studies were synthesized qualitatively. Results The search identified 38 studies of 24 unique interventions seeking to address mental, physical, or sexual health–related concerns in LGBTIQ+ young people. Substantially more evidence-based interventions existed for gay and bisexual men than for any other population group, and there were more interventions related to risk reduction of sexually transmitted infections than to any other health concern. There was some evidence for the effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability of these interventions overall; however, the quality of evidence is often lacking. Conclusions There is sufficient evidence to suggest that targeted digital health interventions are an important focus for future research aimed at addressing health difficulties in LGBTIQ+ young people. Additional digital health interventions are needed for a wider range of health difficulties, particularly in terms of mental and physical health concerns, as well as more targeted interventions for same gender–attracted women, trans and gender-diverse people, and people with intersex variations. Trial Registration PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42020128164; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=128164

scholarly journals Effectiveness, Acceptability, and Feasibility of Digital Health Interventions for LGBTIQ+ Young People: Systematic Review (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dylan Gilbey ◽  
Helen Morgan ◽  
Ashleigh Lin ◽  
Yael Perry
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Targeted Interventions

BACKGROUND Young people (aged 12-25 years) with diverse sexuality, gender, or bodily characteristics, such as those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, or queer (LGBTIQ+), are at substantially greater risk of a range of mental, physical, and sexual health difficulties compared with their peers. Digital health interventions have been identified as a potential way to reduce these health disparities. OBJECTIVE This review aims to summarize the characteristics of existing evidence-based digital health interventions for LGBTIQ+ young people and to describe the evidence for their effectiveness, acceptability, and feasibility. METHODS A systematic literature search was conducted using internet databases and gray literature sources, and the results were screened for inclusion. The included studies were synthesized qualitatively. RESULTS The search identified 38 studies of 24 unique interventions seeking to address mental, physical, or sexual health–related concerns in LGBTIQ+ young people. Substantially more evidence-based interventions existed for gay and bisexual men than for any other population group, and there were more interventions related to risk reduction of sexually transmitted infections than to any other health concern. There was some evidence for the effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability of these interventions overall; however, the quality of evidence is often lacking. CONCLUSIONS There is sufficient evidence to suggest that targeted digital health interventions are an important focus for future research aimed at addressing health difficulties in LGBTIQ+ young people. Additional digital health interventions are needed for a wider range of health difficulties, particularly in terms of mental and physical health concerns, as well as more targeted interventions for same gender–attracted women, trans and gender-diverse people, and people with intersex variations. CLINICALTRIAL PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42020128164; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=128164

Effectiveness of Digital Health Interventions on Unintentional Injury, Violence, and Suicide: Meta-Analysis

2020 ◽  
pp. 152483802096734
Author(s):  
Mengtong Chen ◽  
Ko Ling Chan
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Violence ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Unintentional Injury ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Face To Face

Digital technologies are increasingly used in health-care delivery and are being introduced into work to prevent unintentional injury, violence, and suicide to reduce mortality. To understand the potential of digital health interventions (DHIs) to prevent and reduce these problems, we conduct a meta-analysis and provide an overview of their effectiveness and characteristics related to the effects. We searched electronic databases and reference lists of relevant reviews to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in or before March 2020 evaluating DHIs on injury, violence, or suicide reduction. Based on the 34 RCT studies included in the meta-analysis, the overall random effect size was 0.21, and the effect sizes for reducing suicidal ideation, interpersonal violence, and unintentional injury were 0.17, 0.24, and 0.31, respectively, which can be regarded as comparable to the effect sizes of traditional face-to-face interventions. However, there was considerable heterogeneity between the studies. In conclusion, DHIs have great potential to reduce unintentional injury, violence, and suicide. Future research should explore DHIs’ successful components to facilitate future implementation and wider access.

scholarly journals Translating evidence-based treatment for digital health delivery: a protocol for family-based treatment for anorexia nervosa using telemedicine

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Hambleton ◽  
D. Le Grange ◽  
J. Miskovic-Wheatley ◽  
S. Touyz ◽  
M. Cunich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Young People ◽  
Treatment Effectiveness ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Treatment Needs ◽  
Evidence Based Treatment ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Family Based Treatment ◽  
Family Based

Abstract Background Family-based treatment (FBT) is an efficacious outpatient intervention for young people diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa (AN). To date, treatment to protocol has relied on standard face-to-face delivery. Face-to-face therapy is subject to geographic, temporal and human factors, rendering it particularly susceptible to inequities and disruption. This has resulted in poorer service provision for rural and regional families, and recently a significant challenge to providing face-to-face services during the COVID-19 global pandemic. The present study examines whether FBT for AN can be successfully translated to a digital delivery platform to address these access issues. Method Forty young people aged 12 to 18 years who meet DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for AN, and live in a rural or regional setting, will along with their family be recruited to the study. Trained therapists will provide 18 sessions of FBT over 9 months via telemedicine to the home of the young person and their family. The analysis will examine treatment effectiveness, feasibility, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness. Discussion The study addresses the treatment needs of families not able to attend face-to-face clinical services for evidence-based treatment for eating disorders. This might be due to several barriers, including a lack of local services or long travel distances to services. There has been a recent and unprecedented demand for telemedicine to facilitate the continuity of care during COVID-19 despite geographical circumstances. If delivering treatment in this modality is clinically and economically effective and feasible, it will facilitate access to potentially lifesaving, evidence-based treatments for families formerly unable to access such care and provide evidence for the continuity of services when and where face-to-face treatment is not feasible.

scholarly journals Co-creating a large-scale adolescent health survey integrated with access to digital health interventions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roshini Peiris-John ◽  
Lovely Dizon ◽  
Kylie Sutcliffe ◽  
Kristy Kang ◽  
Theresa Fleming
Keyword(s):  
Adolescent Health ◽  
Health Survey ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
The Impact

Aim This paper describes how we engaged with adolescents and health providers to integrate access to digital health interventions as part of a large-scale secondary school health and wellbeing survey in New Zealand. Methods We conducted nine participatory, iterative co-design sessions involving 29 adolescents, and two workshops with young people (n = 11), digital and health service providers (n = 11) and researchers (n = 9) to gain insights into end-user perspectives on the concept and how best to integrate digital interventions in to the survey. Results Students’ perceived integrating access to digital health interventions into a large-scale youth health survey as acceptable and highly beneficial. They did not want personalized/normative feedback, but thought that every student should be offered all the help options. Participants identified key principles: assurance of confidentiality, usability, participant choice and control, and language. They highlighted wording as important for ease and comfort, and emphasised the importance of user control. Participants expressed that it would be useful and acceptable for survey respondents to receive information about digital help options addressing a range of health and wellbeing topics. Conclusion The methodology of adolescent-practitioner-researcher collaboration and partnership was central to this research and provided useful insights for the development and delivery of adolescent health surveys integrated with digital help options. The results from the ongoing study will provide useful data on the impact of digital health interventions integrated in large-scale surveys, as a novel methodology. Future research on engaging with adolescents once interventions are delivered will be useful to explore benefits over time.

scholarly journals The Acceptability and Usability of Digital Health Interventions for Adults With Depression, Anxiety, and Somatoform Disorders: Qualitative Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis

10.2196/16228 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. e16228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shireen Patel ◽  
Athfah Akhtar ◽  
Sam Malins ◽  
Nicola Wright ◽  
Emma Rowley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Somatoform Disorders ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
World Population ◽  
Personal Support ◽  
The Individual

Background The prevalence of mental health disorders continues to rise, with almost 4% of the world population having an anxiety disorder and almost 3.5% having depression in 2017. Despite the high prevalence, only one-third of people with depression or anxiety receive treatment. Over the last decade, the use of digital health interventions (DHIs) has risen rapidly as a means of accessing mental health care and continues to increase. Although there is evidence supporting the effectiveness of DHIs for the treatment of mental health conditions, little is known about what aspects are valued by users and how they might be improved. Objective This systematic review aimed to identify, appraise, and synthesize the qualitative literature available on service users’ views and experiences regarding the acceptability and usability of DHIs for depression, anxiety, and somatoform disorders. Methods A systematic search strategy was developed, and searches were run in 7 electronic databases. Qualitative and mixed methods studies published in English were included. A meta-synthesis was used to interpret and synthesize the findings from the included studies. Results A total of 24 studies were included in the meta-synthesis, and 3 key themes emerged with descriptive subthemes. The 3 key themes were initial motivations and approaches to DHIs, personalization of treatment, and the value of receiving personal support in DHIs. The meta-synthesis suggests that participants’ initial beliefs about DHIs can have an important effect on their engagement with these types of interventions. Personal support was valued very highly as a major component of the success of DHIs. The main reason for this was the way it enabled individual personalization of care. Conclusions Findings from the systematic review have implications for the design of future DHIs to improve uptake, retention, and outcomes in DHIs for depression, anxiety, and somatoform disorders. DHIs need to be personalized to the specific needs of the individual. Future research should explore whether the findings could be generalized to other health conditions.

Evidence-Based Approaches to HIV-Positive Sexual Minority Men’s Sexual Health

2019 ◽  
pp. 339-358
Author(s):  
Audrey Harkness ◽  
Steven A. Safren
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Health ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Viral Load Suppression ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Minority Men ◽  
State Of Research

This chapter reviews the current state of research and theory regarding evidence-based sexual health interventions for HIV-positive sexual minority men. Among HIV-positive sexual minority men, sexual health promotion includes reducing sexual behavior that could lead to HIV transmission, increasing adherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART) medication to attain viral load suppression, and addressing psychosocial and contextual factors that impact both of these health behaviors. The chapter reviews evidence-based behavioral approaches to promote sexual minority men’s sexual health, including those focused on increasing condom use, reducing sexual risk, and improving communication about HIV status. It also discusses interventions to improve ART adherence, which promote HIV-positive sexual minority men’s personal health and serve as a secondary prevention intervention via reducing transmissibility. The chapter concludes with an illustration of an evidence-based intervention with an HIV-positive client. Overarching clinical implications and areas for future research regarding HIV-positive sexual minority men’s sexual health are also discussed.

scholarly journals Preventive digital mental health interventions for children and young people: a review of the design and reporting of research

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aislinn D. Bergin ◽  
Elvira Perez Vallejos ◽  
E. Bethan Davies ◽  
David Daley ◽  
Tamsin Ford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Real World ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Children And Young People

Abstract Digital health interventions (DHIs) have frequently been highlighted as one way to respond to increasing levels of mental health problems in children and young people. Whilst many are developed to address existing mental health problems, there is also potential for DHIs to address prevention and early intervention. However, there are currently limitations in the design and reporting of the development, evaluation and implementation of preventive DHIs that can limit their adoption into real-world practice. This scoping review aimed to examine existing evidence-based DHI interventions and review how well the research literature described factors that researchers need to include in their study designs and reports to support real-world implementation. A search was conducted for relevant publications published from 2013 onwards. Twenty-one different interventions were identified from 30 publications, which took a universal (n = 12), selective (n = 3) and indicative (n = 15) approach to preventing poor mental health. Most interventions targeted adolescents, with only two studies including children aged ≤10 years. There was limited reporting of user co-design involvement in intervention development. Barriers and facilitators to implementation varied across the delivery settings, and only a minority reported financial costs involved in delivering the intervention. This review found that while there are continued attempts to design and evaluate DHIs for children and young people, there are several points of concern. More research is needed with younger children and those from poorer and underserved backgrounds. Co-design processes with children and young people should be recognised and reported as a necessary component within DHI research as they are an important factor in the design and development of interventions, and underpin successful adoption and implementation. Reporting the type and level of human support provided as part of the intervention is also important in enabling the sustained use and implementation of DHIs.

scholarly journals Sharing solutions for a reasoned and evidence-based response: chemsex/party and play among gay and bisexual men

Sexual Health ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Bourne ◽  
Jason Ong ◽  
Mark Pakianathan
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Health ◽  
Gay And Bisexual Men ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Quality Health Care ◽  
Healthcare Practice ◽  
Quality Health ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
Sex With Men

This Special Issue of Sexual Health examines research and healthcare practice relating to sexualised drug use among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), colloquially known as ‘chemsex’ or ‘party and play’ (PnP). It draws together evidence relating to the epidemiology, sociology and psychology of chemsex, as well as the policy, community and clinical interventions that are required to ensure men have access to high-quality health care that meets their needs and reduces harm. Findings and discussions within the Issue emphasise the need to sensitively, non-judgementally and meaningfully engage with gay men about their engagement in chemsex in order to help improve their sexual health and wider wellbeing.

scholarly journals Seven lessons for interdisciplinary research on interactive digital health interventions

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 205520761877032 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Blandford ◽  
Jo Gibbs ◽  
Nikki Newhouse ◽  
Olga Perski ◽  
Aneesha Singh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Computer Interaction ◽  
Formative Evaluation ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Project Outcomes ◽  
Disciplinary Expertise ◽  
Development Evaluation ◽  
Computer Interaction

Research and development for interactive digital health interventions requires multi-disciplinary expertise in identifying user needs, and developing and evaluating each intervention. Two of the central areas of expertise required are Health (broadly defined) and Human–Computer Interaction. Although these share some research methods and values, they traditionally have deep differences that can catch people unawares, and make interdisciplinary collaborations challenging, resulting in sub-optimal project outcomes. The most widely discussed is the contrast between formative evaluation (emphasised in Human–Computer Interaction) and summative evaluation (emphasised in Health research). However, the differences extend well beyond this, from the nature of accepted evidence to the culture of reporting. In this paper, we present and discuss seven lessons that we have learned about the contrasting cultures, values, assumptions and practices of Health and Human–Computer Interaction. The lessons are structured according to a research lifecycle, from establishing the state of the art for a given digital intervention, moving through the various (iterative) stages of development, evaluation and deployment, through to reporting research results. Although our focus is on enabling people from different disciplinary backgrounds to work together with better mutual understanding, we also highlight ways in which future research in this interdisciplinary space could be better supported.

Summer nights

2007 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Macdowall ◽  
Kaye Wellings ◽  
Judith Stephenson ◽  
Anna Glasier
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Small Samples ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Explanatory Factors

PurposeThis paper aims to examine whether greater consideration should be given to the timing of sexual health interventions within the calendar year.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses a review of the literature.FindingsThe evidence points to seasonality in a number of areas of sexual health among young people, including: the timing of first intercourse and conceptions, both of which peak in the summer and over Christmas; abortions which peak approximately two months later in February and late summer and sexually transmitted infections, which peak over the summer and autumn. In the case of conceptions there is evidence that the seasonal pattern among young people is different from that of adults. Potential explanations fall into four main categories: biological; behavioural; social, and service‐related.Research limitations/implicationsMany of the studies included in this review are from the USA, and some are based on either small samples or specific risk groups, which raises questions of representativeness and generalisability. Further, it is notable how little research there has been regarding seasonal variations in other aspects of sexual behaviour, such as risk reduction practice and other potential explanatory factors such as health‐seeking behaviour and availability of services.Practical implicationsThe findings consistently point to periods of heightened sexual activity among young people in the summer and over Christmas, and suggest that greater consideration should indeed be given to the timing of sexual health interventions within the calendar year.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, no other review of this kind has yet been found.

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