Mobile Health Technology Interventions for Suicide Prevention: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Overview

Journal JMIR Res Protoc

Publisher JMIR Publications

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2018 Jan 28

PMID 29374003

Citations 11

Authors

Ruth Melia

Kady Francis

Jim Duggan

John Bogue

Mary OSullivan

Derek Chambers

Karen Young

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Previous research has reported that two of the major barriers to help-seeking for individuals at risk of suicide are stigma and geographical isolation. Mobile technology offers a potential means of delivering evidence-based interventions with greater specificity to the individual, and at the time that it is needed. Despite documented motivation by at-risk individuals to use mobile technology to track mental health and to support psychological interventions, there is a shortfall of outcomes data on the efficacy of mobile health (mHealth) technology on suicide-specific outcomes.

Objective: The objective of this study is to develop a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis that aims to evaluate the effectiveness of mobile technology-based interventions for suicide prevention.

Methods: The search includes the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL: The Cochrane Library), MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CRESP and relevant sources of gray literature. Studies that have evaluated psychological or nonpsychological interventions delivered via mobile computing and communication technology, and have suicidality as an outcome measure will be included. Two authors will independently extract data and assess the study suitability in accordance with the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool. Studies will be included if they measure at least one suicide outcome variable (ie, suicidal ideation, suicidal intent, nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior, suicidal behavior). Secondary outcomes will be measures of symptoms of depression. Where studies are sufficiently homogenous and reported outcomes are amenable for pooled synthesis, meta-analysis will be performed. A narrative synthesis will be conducted if the data is unsuitable for a meta-analysis.

Results: The review is in progress, with findings expected by summer 2018.

Conclusions: To date, evaluations of mobile technology-based interventions in suicide prevention have focused on evaluating content as opposed to efficacy. Indeed, previous research has identified mobile applications that appear to present harmful content. The current review will address a gap in the literature by evaluating the efficacy of stand-alone mobile technology tools in suicide prevention. It is imperative that research identifies the evidence base for such tools in suicide prevention in order to inform policy, guide clinical practice, inform users and focus future research.

Trial Registration: PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42017072899; https:// www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.asp?ID=CRD42017072899 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/ 6tZAj0yqJ).

Citing Articles

Using a Safety Planning Mobile App to Address Suicidality in Young People Attending Community Mental Health Services in Ireland: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Melia R, Francis K, Duggan J, Bogue J, OSullivan M, Young K JMIR Res Protoc. 2023; 12:e44205.

PMID: 36809171 PMC: 9993232. DOI: 10.2196/44205.

Effectiveness, acceptability, and feasibility of technology-enabled health interventions for adolescents living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review protocol.

Crowley T, Petinger C, van Wyk B PLoS One. 2023; 18(2):e0281894.

PMID: 36800371 PMC: 9937495. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281894.

Effectiveness, Acceptability and Feasibility of Technology-Enabled Health Interventions for Adolescents Living with HIV in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.

Crowley T, Petinger C, Nchendia A, van Wyk B Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023; 20(3).

PMID: 36767831 PMC: 9916219. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032464.

Exploring the experiences of mental health professionals engaged in the adoption of mobile health technology in Irish mental health services.

Melia R, Monahan L, Duggan J, Bogue J, OSullivan M, Young K BMC Psychiatry. 2021; 21(1):412.

PMID: 34412601 PMC: 8375610. DOI: 10.1186/s12888-021-03426-5.

Stepwise-Hierarchical Pooled Analysis for Synergistic Interpretation of Meta-analyses Involving Randomized and Observational Studies: Methodology Development.

Shin I, Rim C J Med Internet Res. 2021; 23(9):e29642.

PMID: 34315697 PMC: 8446840. DOI: 10.2196/29642.

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