Evaluating the Acceptance of a Resilience-Building App among Youth and Service Providers using the Technology Acceptance Model: Qualitative Content Analysis - Izzy Malik (2022, HBA)

Mobile health (mHealth) apps are a promising adjunct to regular treatment services that can reduce barriers (e.g., longer wait-times, less access) to treatment services that affect youth in Northwestern (NW) Ontario. JoyPop is an app developed to support resilience and emotion regulation in youth and is being evaluated using a multimethod approach. The aims of this study were to 1) evaluate youth acceptance of the JoyPop app; 2) evaluate service providers acceptance of the JoyPop app in a mental health care setting. A qualitative descriptive approach involving one-on-one semi-structured interviews with a subset of youth receiving services from Dilico Anishinabek Family Care (Dilico) and Children’s Centre Thunder Bay (CCTB) who used the app for 4-weeks in a larger evaluation of the JoyPop app and service providers employed at Dilico and CCTB. Youth and provider interviews were guided by the Technology Acceptance Model; with additional elements from the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model added for providers. Data was coded and categorized using a deductive-inductive content analysis approach. Five youth (100% female; Mage = 14.60; SD = 1.63) completed the interview. Findings revealed several general categories and subcategories that emerged under each main category. Perceived Usefulness: 1) Facilitators of Usefulness (routine, accessibility, safe space); 2) Outcomes of Usefulness (relaxation and reduced anxiety and stress, self-expression, self-awareness, sleep, helpful distraction); and 3) Barriers (additions and enhancements, relevance to current needs). Perceived Ease of Use: 1) Facilitators (design layout and simplicity, learning skills and features); and 2) Barriers (difficulties with function, personal challenges). Attitudes Towards Use: 1) Positive Feelings (overall experience, future and ongoing use, feature usefulness, design and ease); and 2) Negative Feelings (no sub-categories emerged). Four service providers (100% female, Mage = 43.75; SD = 8.93) completed interviews; several general categories and subcategories emerged under each main category: Perceived Usefulness: 1) Benefits to Clients (general benefits, specific benefits); 2) Benefits to Services (pre-treatment, active treatment, post-treatment); and 3) Barriers (additions, youth engagement, risks). Perceived Ease of Use: 1) Facilitators (ease for clients, ease for providers and integration); and 2) Barriers (barriers for clients, barriers to integration). Attitudes Towards Use: 1) Positive Feelings (client benefits, integration into services); and 2) Apprehensive Feeling (concerns for youth, concerns with Integration). Facilitating Conditions: 1) Accountability (equitable access, evidence and safety); 2) Compatibility (alignment with values and needs, barriers to compatibility); and Engaging Service Providers (reminders, training and technical support, value and rationale). The results of this study provide important insight into the factors influencing the acceptance of the JoyPop app among clinical samples of youth and mental health service providers. Participants’ overall positive feedback adds to the JoyPop app’s growing multimethod evidence base as an accessible, helpful, and timely intervention to support youth in Canada, especially in underserved areas like NW Ontario.