"I was able to share more details": The experiences of using a smartphone application to support shared decision making in young people with psychosis.

Abstract

Objective: This study explores the experiences of young adults with psychosis using a smartphone application to promote patient activation and support shared decision making in their outpatient treatment.

Method: Semistructured interviews were conducted with eight participants who had access to the app while receiving mental health treatment. Qualitative data from the interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis aimed at experiences of interacting with the app.

Results: Four themes were extracted from the interviews: supporting users with memory difficulties, giving symptoms substance, a new source of information to guide conversations, and the challenge of capturing complex experiences digitally. While the majority of the themes highlight the benefits of using the app in ways that may facilitate communication between patient and provider, the participants also described some negative experiences when interacting with the app concerning failure to communicate nuances and emotional states satisfyingly.

Conclusion and implications for practice: Experiences with the app were double sided. On the one hand, the use of the app supports communication, and conversely, interaction with the app can create limitations and new challenges for communication. There is a need for more research to understand the use of mental health smartphone apps and their role in supporting interactive processes such as shared decision making in mental health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).