Effective Adoption of Tablets for Psychodiagnostic Assessments in Rural Burundi

Evidence for the Usability and Validity of Mobile Technology in the Example of Differentiating Symptom Profiles in Amisom Soldiers 1 Year After Deployment

Datos Bibliográficos

ID22085452
AutoresRoland Weierstall (MSH Medical School Hamburg – University of Applied Sciences and Medical University, autor de correspondencia), Anselm Crombach (0000-0001-5586-0356, University of Konstanz), Corina Nandi (0000-0001-8475-9863, University of Konstanz), Manassé Bambonyé (Light University of Bujumbur), Thomas Probst (0000-0002-6113-2133, Universität für Weiterbildung Krems), Rüdiger Pryss (0000-0003-1522-785X, University of Würzburg)
Año2021
Volumen9
Páginas490604-490604
Fecha de publicación2021-04-15
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
EditorialFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2021.490604
PMID33937159
OpenAlexW3156235840
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas38

Research on the use of mobile technology in health sciences has identified several advantages of so-called mHealth (mobile health) applications. Tablet-supported clinical assessments are becoming more and more prominent in clinical applications, even in low-income countries. The present study used tablet computers for assessments of clinical symptom profiles in a sample of Burundian AMISOM soldiers (i.e., African Union Mission to Somalia; a mission approved by the UN). The study aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of mHealth-supported assessments in field research in Burundi. The study was conducted in a resource-poor setting, in which tablet computers are predestined to gather data in an efficient and reliable manner. The overall goal was to prove the validity of the obtained data as well as the feasibility of the chosen study setting. Four hundred sixty-three soldiers of the AMISOM forces were investigated after return from a 1-year military mission in Somalia. Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression were assessed. The used data-driven approach based on a latent profile analysis revealed the following four distinct groups, which are based on the soldiers' PTSD and depression symptom profiles: Class 1: moderate PTSD, Class 2: moderate depression, Class 3: low overall symptoms, and Class 4: high overall symptoms. Overall, the four identified classes of soldiers differed significantly in their PTSD and depression scores. The study clearly demonstrates that tablet-supported assessments can provide a useful application of mobile technology in large-scale studies, especially in resource-poor settings. Based on the data collected for the study at hand, it was possible to differentiate different sub-groups of soldiers with distinct symptom profiles, proving the statistical validity of the gathered data. Finally, advantages and challenges for the application of mobile technology in a resource-poor setting are outlined and discussed

mHealth · Mobile device · Mobile technology · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Usability · World Wide Web · Clinical Psychology · Computer Science · Digital Mental Health Interventions · Medicine · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Migration, Health and Trauma · Psychology