Factors Associated With Intention and Use of e-Mental Health by Mental Health Counselors in General Practices: Web-Based Survey.

BACKGROUND: Mental health care counselors have a high intention to use e-mental health (EMH), whereas actual use is limited. Facilitating future use requires insight into underlying factors as well as eligibility criteria that mental health care counselors use in their decision to apply EMH. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to unfold the intention and underlying reasons for mental health counselors to use EMH and to unveil the criteria they use to estimate patient eligibility for EMH. The theoretical framework was based on the reasoned action approach model, the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, and the Measurement Instrument for Determinants of Innovation model. METHODS: To empirically validate our theoretical model, a web-based survey was conducted among mental health care counselors (n=132). To unveil the eligibility criteria, participants were asked to rank their reasons for considering EMH suitable or unsuitable for a patient. RESULTS: The mean intention to use EMH was positive (mean 4.04, SD 0.64). The mean use of EMH before the COVID-19 pandemic was 38% (mean 0.38, SD 0.22), and it was 49% (mean 0.49, SD 0.25) during the pandemic. In total, 57% of the patient population was considered eligible for EMH. Usefulness and benefits (ß=.440; P<.001), Task perception (ß=.306; P=.001), and Accessibility (ß=.140; P=.02) explained the intention to use EMH (F3,131=54.151; P<.001; R2=0.559). In turn, intention explained patient eligibility (F1,130=34.716; P<.001; R2=0.211), whereas intention and patient eligibility explained EMH use (F2,129=41.047; P<.001; R2=0.389). Patient eligibility partially mediated the relationship between intention to use EMH and EMH use, with a larger direct effect (c'=0.116; P<.001) than indirect effect (c=0.065, 95% CI 0.035-0.099; P<.001). Mental health counselors assessed patients' eligibility for EMH mainly through the availability of computers and the internet and patient motivation. CONCLUSIONS: To stimulate the use of EMH, intention and patient eligibility need to be influenced. Intention, in turn, can be enhanced by addressing the perceived usefulness and benefits of EMH, perceived accessibility, and task perception. Access to a computer and patients' motivation to use EMH are important in facilitating patient eligibility. To cause an impact with EMH in general practice, mental health counselors need to be convinced of the benefits of EMH and transfer this enthusiasm to the patient. It is recommended to involve mental health counselors in the development of EMH to increase the (perceived) added value and use.

Lay HIV counselors' knowledge and attitudes toward depression: A mixed-methods cross-sectional study at primary healthcare centers in Mozambique.

Introduction: Depression is the most common mental disorder among people living with HIV/AIDS and has a negative impact on HIV treatment outcomes. Training lay HIV counselors to identify and manage depression may contribute to improved patient access and adherence to treatment, and reduce stigma and discrimination among lay health workers toward both HIV and depression. The purpose of this study was to assess the current knowledge and attitudes of lay HIV counselors toward managing depression in primary care in Mozambique. Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods cross-sectional study to assess depression-related knowledge and attitudes among lay HIV counselors in 13 primary healthcare facilities in Mozambique. We used the quantitative Depression Attitude Questionnaire (DAQ) scale, followed by open-ended questions to further explore three key DAQ domains: the nature of depression, treatment preferences, and professional attitudes or reactions. Results: The sample included 107 participants (77.6% female, mean age: 32.3 years, sd = 7.4). Most (82.2%) had less than a high/technical school education. Findings suggested that some HIV counselors had knowledge of depression and described it as a cluster of psychological symptoms (e.g., deep sadness, anguish, apathy, isolation, and low self-esteem) sometimes leading to suicidal thoughts, or as a consequence of life stressors such as loss of a loved one, abuse, unemployment or physical illness, including being diagnosed with HIV infection. HIV counselors identified talking to trusted people about their problems, including family and/or counseling with a psychotherapist, as the best way for patients to deal with depression. While acknowledging challenges, counselors found working with patients with depression to be rewarding. Conclusion: Lay health counselors identified HIV and psychosocial issues as key risk factors for depression. They believed that the treatment approach should focus on social support and psychotherapy.

Lay hiv counsellors' knowledge and attitudes toward depression: a mixed-methods cross-sectional study at primary healthcare centers in mozambique

Introduction Depression is the most common mental disorder among people living with HIV/AIDS and has a negative impact on HIV treatment outcomes. Training lay HIV counselors to identify and manage depression may contribute to improved patient access and adherence to treatment, and reduce stigma and discrimination among lay health workers toward both HIV and depression. The purpose of this study was to assess the current knowledge and attitudes of lay HIV counselors toward managing depression in primary care in Mozambique. Methods We conducted a mixed-methods cross-sectional study to assess depression-related knowledge and attitudes among lay HIV counselors in 13 primary healthcare facilities in Mozambique. We used the quantitative Depression Attitude Questionnaire (DAQ) scale, followed by open-ended questions to further explore three key DAQ domains: the nature of depression, treatment preferences, and professional attitudes or reactions. Results The sample included 107 participants (77.6% female, mean age: 32.3 years, sd = 7.4). Most (82.2%) had less than a high/technical school education. Findings suggested that some HIV counselors had knowledge of depression and described it as a cluster of psychological symptoms (e.g., deep sadness, anguish, apathy, isolation, and low self-esteem) sometimes leading to suicidal thoughts, or as a consequence of life stressors such as loss of a loved one, abuse, unemployment or physical illness, including being diagnosed with HIV infection. HIV counselors identified talking to trusted people about their problems, including family and/or counseling with a psychotherapist, as the best way for patients to deal with depression. While acknowledging challenges, counselors found working with patients with depression to be rewarding. Conclusion Lay health counselors identified HIV and psychosocial issues as key risk factors for depression. They believed that the treatment approach should focus on social support and psychotherapy.

Adaptation of problem-solving therapy for primary care to prevent late-life depression in Goa, India: the 'DIL' intervention.

BACKGROUND: Depression in late life is a major, yet unrecognized public health problem in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The dearth of specialist resources, together with the limited ability of current depression treatments to avert years lived with disability, underscores the need for preventive interventions that can be delivered by lay health workers in primary care settings. We describe the development of an intervention for the indicated prevention of depression in older adults at risk due to subsyndromal symptoms, attending rural and urban public primary care clinics in Goa, India. OBJECTIVES: (1) to describe a mixed-methods approach (qualitative and quantitative)to the development of 'DIL,' an intervention for preventing the onset of major depression in older adults living with subsyndromal symptoms in Goa, India; (2) to describe resulting components of the 'DIL' intervention; and (3) to present data on the feasibility, acceptability, and benefit of DIL to participants. METHODS: We followed a mixed-methods design, including in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, a theory of change workshop to develop a logic model, and an open-case series. RESULTS: The mixed-method approach led to the development and adaptation of the DIL (Depression in Later Life) intervention for the indicated prevention of depression in older adults. The intervention was delivered by lay health counselors (LHCs). 'DIL' is a hybrid model of simple behavioral strategies grounded in Problem-solving Therapy for Primary Care, improved self-management of common, co-occurring medical disorders such as diabetes mellitus, and pragmatic assistance in navigating to needed social services. The use of 'DIL' in an open-case series with 19 participants led to a moderate reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety on the General Health Questionnaire. A pictorial flipchart was developed to assist in delivering the intervention to participants with low levels of literacy. High rates of participant retention and satisfaction were achieved. CONCLUSION: The DIL intervention was adapted to the local context for delivery by lay health counselors and was found to be acceptable and feasible among the elderly participants in the study.

Representações sociais dos conselheiros municipais de saúde sobre a vigilância sanitária / Social representations of municipal health counselors on health surveillance

Resumo O objetivo do estudo é descrever e analisar as representações sociais dos Conselheiros de Saúde de Belo Horizonte sobre suas experiências com a vigilância sanitária. A pesquisa utilizou a técnica de entrevista baseada em roteiro semiestruturado. Os dados obtidos foram analisados pela técnica do Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo. Verificou-se que o distanciamento existente entre a vigilância sanitária e o Conselho Municipal de Saúde é compensado pela riqueza das experiências “vividas” dos conselheiros. Essas experiências foram ressignificadas em saber prático, influenciando diretamente o pensamento e o conhecimento desses sujeitos sobre o tema. Por fim, a comprovação da apropriação social sobre a importância da vigilância sanitária como ação de saúde a qualifica como eficaz modelo de atenção à saúde, intervindo sobre os fatores determinantes e condicionantes do processo saúde doença, ao mesmo tempo em que promove ações educativas que contribuem para elevar a consciência sanitária.

Abstract The objective of this study is to describe and analyze the social representations of the Health Counselors of the city of Belo Horizonte regarding their experiences with health surveillance. The research used the interview technique based on a semi-structured script. The data obtained were analyzed using the Collective Subject Discourse technique. It was found that the existing gap between health surveillance and the Municipal Health Council is offset by the broad spectrum of “hands-on” experience acquired by the counselors. This experience assumes greater significance in terms of practical knowledge, directly influencing the thinking and know-how of these individuals on the topic. In practice, proof of the social appropriation of the importance of health surveillance as health action qualifies as an effective model of health care. It effectively influences the determinants and conditioning factors of the health/sickness process, while simultaneously promoting educational initiatives that contribute to raising health awareness.

Capacitação para quê? O que pensam conselheiros de saúde da região Sudeste / Training for what? What health counselors in the Southeastern region think about the topic

Comunidade de prática (CoP) é um termo recente e que se aplica a indivíduos que compartilham um objetivo comum que pode englobar desde uma temática específica, um problema ou uma paixão, sendo o aprendizado em conjunto e o sentimento de pertença os diferenciais dessa teoria que pode refletir, positivamente, na aquisição de conhecimento como um processo participativo. Este artigo procura averiguar a pertinência da construção de uma comunidade de prática para conselheiros de saúde dentro da política do Sistema Único (SUS) de valorizar a participação popular. Nesta direção, investigamos a opinião de 108 conselheiros de saúde da região Sudeste do país e com acesso à Internet. Qual é a visão deles sobre a estruturação e capacitação dentro dos Conselhos de Saúde? E o que acreditam seja importante para melhorar sua atuação dentro dos Conselhos?.

Community of Practice (CoP) is a recent term that applies to individuals who share a common goal that can range from a specific theme, a problem or a passion, whereby learning together and the feeling of belonging to the differentials of this theory can reflect positively on the acquisition of knowledge as a participatory process. This article seeks to ascertain the relevance of building a community of practice for health counselors within the policy of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) to enhance popular participation. In this respect, the opinions of 108 health counselors with Internet access in the Southeast of the country were investigated. What are their views on the structure and training within the Health Councils? And what do they consider to be important in order to enhance their performance within the Councils?.

Inclusão digital e conselheiros de saúde: uma política para a redução da desigualdade social no Brasil / Digital inclusion and health counselors: a policy for the reduction of social inequalities in Brazil

Inequalities in health conditions remain even twenty years after the implementation of Unified Health System (SUS). This condition burdens social movements exerting social control on the health care area with a continuous fight. In this struggle, the accumulation of political power is related to an increase in the capacity to acquire knowledge and information. This study aims at fathoming the inequality surrounding the digital inclusion of Health Counselors (HC) of different regions within the country. We have adopted the qualitative survey method, which employs the Focal Groups technique, with HC representing managers, services providers, workers and users, all from national, state and municipal levels. Four aspects were examined, comprising reading and writing habits; Internet utilization; the use of health indicators; and the role of information in the Council-State-Society relation. Results have evidenced the need to broaden the foundations of digital inclusion initiatives in the health care area, and to overcome the cross-sector challenge of linking them to politics and education. By using benchmarks of educational philosophy, we were able to outline a theoretical-analytical matrix as a contribution to understanding the complexity involved in fostering digital inclusion in the health care area.

Após vinte anos do SUS, a desigualdade nas condições de saúde da população permanece como uma realidade, impondo aos movimentos sociais que exercem o controle social sobre a saúde uma contínua luta. Nesse embate, o acúmulo de força política está relacionado ao aumento da capacidade de apropriação de conhecimento e informação. Conhecer dimensões da desigualdade na inclusão digital de conselheiros de saúde (CS) de diferentes regiões do país é o objetivo desse trabalho. O método adotado foi a pesquisa qualitativa, por meio da técnica de grupos focais com CS representantes dos gestores, dos prestadores, dos trabalhadores e dos usuários, atuantes na esfera nacional, estadual ou municipal. Foram trabalhadas quatro dimensões, abrangendo: o hábito de leitura e de redigir textos; o uso da Internet; o uso de indicadores de saúde e o papel da informação na relação Conselho-Estado-Sociedade. Os resultados indicaram a necessidade de se ampliar a fundamentação das ações de inclusão digital em saúde, articulando-a, então, à política e à educação, enquanto desafio intersetorial. Utilizando referenciais da filosofia da educação, delineia-se matriz teórico-analítica como contribuição ao entendimento da complexidade que envolve promover a inclusão digital na Saúde.