Sagui Henson Sara J, Welcome Chamberlain Camille E, Smith Brooke J, Jackson Jessica L, Adusei Sharon L, Castro Sweet Cynthia M
Modern Health, San Francisco, CA 94108, USA.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024 Dec 12;21(12):1660. doi: 10.3390/ijerph21121660.
Evaluating digital mental health services across racial and ethnic identities is crucial to ensuring health equity. We examined how People of Color (POC) and White adults were using and benefiting from an employer-sponsored digital mental health platform. A sample of 947 adults (42% POC) consented to an observational study and completed surveys on their identities and mental health outcomes at baseline and three-month follow-up. We examined care preferences, utilization, therapeutic alliance with mental health providers, and changes in outcomes among POC and White adults. At baseline, there were no race or ethnicity differences in preferred topics of focus ( = 0.36), rates of depression, anxiety, or loneliness (s > 0.35), or self-reported well-being or stress (s > 0.07). POC adults were more likely to prefer one-on-one care than White adults ( = 0.02). After 3 months of care utilization, there were no differences in therapeutic alliance ( = 0.52), use of therapy, coaching, or self-guided digital resources (s > 0.47), or in the likelihood of improving, recovering, or maintaining clinical symptoms or psychosocial factors (s > 0.07). Utilization, satisfaction, and clinical effectiveness were similar between POC and White adults, indicating the platform may offer comparable experiences. Evaluating utilization and outcomes among POC communities is necessary to inform consumers and help developers assess if innovations are fostering health equity.
评估不同种族和族裔身份人群的数字心理健康服务对于确保健康公平至关重要。我们研究了有色人种（POC）和白人成年人如何使用雇主赞助的数字心理健康平台并从中受益。947名成年人（42%为有色人种）参与了一项观察性研究，并在基线和三个月随访时完成了关于他们的身份和心理健康结果的调查。我们研究了有色人种和白人成年人在护理偏好、利用率、与心理健康提供者的治疗联盟以及结果变化方面的情况。在基线时，在首选关注主题（F = 0.36）、抑郁、焦虑或孤独发生率（p > 0.35）或自我报告的幸福感或压力（p > 0.07）方面，不存在种族或族裔差异。有色人种成年人比白人成年人更倾向于一对一护理（p = 0.02）。在使用护理3个月后，在治疗联盟（F = 0.52）、治疗、辅导或自我指导数字资源的使用（p > 0.47），或改善、康复或维持临床症状或心理社会因素的可能性（p > 0.07）方面，没有差异。有色人种和白人成年人在利用率、满意度和临床效果方面相似，这表明该平台可能提供类似的体验。评估有色人种社区的利用率和结果对于告知消费者并帮助开发者评估创新是否促进健康公平是必要的。
