Self-tracking Habits and Technology Use among Mental Healthcare Service Users in Four European Countries – Examining the implementation potential of digital self-monitoring tools in mental healthcare

BACKGROUND: Digital self-monitoring tools, such as the Experience Sampling Methods (ESM), can be used to support mental health delivery and improve individuals’ self-management. However, like many digital health interventions, ESM tools struggle to achieve routine implementation into clinical practice and decision making. Existing habits are major predictors of the adoption of new technologies. Examining individuals’ technology and self-monitoring habits can therefore inform the implementation of digital self-monitoring tools in mental healthcare.OBJECTIVES: This study examines the adoption potential of digital self-monitoring tools among mental healthcare service users across four European countries, by (1) identifying and quantifying user type patterns in self-monitoring behavior and technology usage, and (2) examining whether user types differ in terms of demographic characteristics, attitudes towards technology, and psychiatric diagnosis. METHODS: A latent class analysis was performed on data from 435 mental healthcare service users participating in an anonymous online survey across Belgium, Germany, Scotland, and Slovakia. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine how class membership was associated with different covariates. RESULTS: Findings showed that while only one-fourth of participants had experience with digital self-tracking, the majority of mental healthcare service users were interested in self-tracking. Based on self-tracking and technology use habits, four classes of users were identified; the ‘’digital trackers’’, the ‘’non-digital trackers’’, the ‘’interested non-trackers’’, and the ‘’non-interested non-trackers’’. Covariate analysis suggests that older and less educated individuals might require more support and guidance to utilize digital self-monitoring tools. Furthermore, lower preferences for task-switching and lower positive attitudes toward technology might explain why some individuals do not use digital self-monitoring tools. CONCLUSION: To enable better uptake, implementation approaches should be tailored to meet the needs and preferences of different types of users. Future research should aim to develop a more in-depth understanding of drivers and barriers experienced by members belonging to the different classes.