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Clinician Perceptions of Using a Smartphone App with Prolonged Exposure Therapy

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Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Clinician perceptions of clinical innovations affect their adoption and spread. This study investigated mental health clinicians’ (n = 163) perceptions of a patient-facing smartphone application (app) for prolonged exposure (PE) therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder, before its public release. After reading a description of the app, participants rated perceptions of it based on diffusion of innovations theory constructs. Perceptions were generally favorable regarding the app’s relative advantage over existing PE practices, compatibility with their values and needs, and complexity. Age (<40 years), smartphone ownership, and having used apps in care related to more favorable perceptions. Smartphone ownership, relative advantage, and complexity significantly predicted intention to use the app if it were available. These findings suggest that clinicians are receptive to using a PE app and that dissemination efforts should target sub-groups of PE clinicians to maximize adoption.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Sara Landes, Ph.D. for her thoughtful feedback on an early draft of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dissemination and Training Division, National Center for PTSD, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 795 Willow Rd, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, CA, 94025, USA

    Eric Kuhn, Afsoon Eftekhari, Julia E. Hoffman, Jill J. Crowley, Kelly M. Ramsey & Josef I. Ruzek

  2. National Center for Telehealth and Technology, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Tacoma, WA, USA

    Greg M. Reger

Authors
  1. Eric Kuhn
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  2. Afsoon Eftekhari
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  3. Julia E. Hoffman
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  4. Jill J. Crowley
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  5. Kelly M. Ramsey
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  6. Greg M. Reger
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  7. Josef I. Ruzek
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eric Kuhn.

Appendix

Appendix

Objective description of the features and functions of the PE app, PE Coach

  • Recording sessions and playing them back. This includes being able to make multiple recordings in session (e.g., one for the session material and one for imaginal exposure).

  • Completing the PCL assessment and saving and tracking the data.

  • Scheduling PE appointments with reminders

  • Providing psychoeducation about PTSD (e.g., common reactions) and PE (e.g., the rationale), including audio-visual presentations of the content

  • Breathing retraining, including learning about breathing retraining, watching an audio-visual presentation on how to do breathing retraining, and practicing it with the help of an audio-visual material.

  • Recording and reviewing homework, as well as setting homework reminders

  • Creating an in vivo hierarchy and SUDS ratings

  • Selecting and rating in vivo homework items, as well rating imaginal exposure homework assignments

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Kuhn, E., Eftekhari, A., Hoffman, J.E. et al. Clinician Perceptions of Using a Smartphone App with Prolonged Exposure Therapy. Adm Policy Ment Health 41, 800–807 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-013-0532-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-013-0532-2

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