A Systematic Analysis on the Effectiveness of Mobile Applications for Suicide Prevention

Abstract

Objective: This descriptive systematic review was evaluated the effectiveness of mobile applications designed to aimed to prevent suicide. Material and Method: Within the scope of the study, open access Turkish and English articles published in online databases (Web of Science, PubMed, WİLEY, Taylor & Francis Online, Science Direct) between 2019 and August 2024 were reviewed. Randomized controlled trials on mobile applications whose role in preventing suicide was clearly stated in the articles were included in the study. Results: As a result of the screening, seven studies that met the inclusion criteria were included in this study. In four of the included studies, a routine intervention (awareness training, psychotherapy or medical treatment) was compared with an additional mobile application; in three studies, a routine intervention was compared with a mobile application. As a result of the evaluation, different results were obtained in terms of the effectiveness, acceptability and usability of mobile applications. It was concluded that mobile applications with psychotherapy content, especially applied together with face-to-face interventions, provided more positive results in reducing the risk of suicide. However, the level of effectiveness may vary depending on the content of the application, the characteristics of the sample, and whether it is a treatment support. All that, it has been determined that mobile applications are usable but that there is strictly limited data on their acceptability. Conclusion: Mobile applications aimed at preventing suicide are potential tools that can be used in preventing suicide. However, there is no definitive result regarding their alone effectiveness. It is important to increase randomized controlled studies with a large sample, long follow-up period, and high level of evidence.

Keywords

• Suicide
• mobile applications
• mental health.

İntiharı Önlemeye Yönelik Geliştirilen Mobil Uygulamaların Etkinliği Üzerine Sistematik Bir Analiz

Abstract

Amaç: Bu tanımlayıcı sistematik derleme, intiharı önlemeye yönelik tasarlanan mobil uygulamaların etkinliğini değerlendirmek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışma kapsamında 2019 - Ağustos 2024 tarihleri arasında çevrimiçi veri tabanlarında (Web of Science, PubMed (MEDLINE), WİLEY, Taylor & Francis Online, Science Direct) sağlık alanındaki dergilerde yayınlanmış, açık erişimi olan, Türkçe ve İngilizce makaleler ele alınmıştır. Makalelerde intiharı önlemedeki rolü açıkça belirtilen mobil uygulamalarla ilgili randomize kontrollü deneysel araştırmalar çalışmaya dahil edilmiştir. Bulgular: Yapılan tarama sonucunda dahil etme kriterlerine uygun yedi araştırma bu çalışmaya dahil edilmiştir. Dahil edilen dört araştırmada rutin bir uygulama (farkındalık eğitimi, psikoterapi veya tıbbi tedavi) ile ek olarak bir mobil uygulama; üç araştırma da ise rutin bir uygulama ile mobil uygulama karşılaştırılmıştır. Değerlendirme sonucunda mobil uygulamaların etkinliği, kabul edilebilirliği ve kullanılabilirliği açısından farklı sonuçlar elde edilmiştir. Özellikle yüz yüze müdahaleler ile birlikte uygulanan psikoterapi içerikli mobil uygulamaların intihar riskini azaltmaya yönelik daha olumlu sonuç verdiği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Ancak etkinlik düzeyinin uygulamanın içeriğine, örneklemin özelliğine, bir tedavi desteği olup olmamasına göre değişebilmektedir. Aynı zamanda mobil uygulamaların kullanılabilir olduğu ancak kabul edilebilirliği ile ilgili kesin verilerin sınırlı olduğu belirlenmiştir. Sonuç: İntiharı önlemeye yönelik mobil uygulamalar potansiyel araç olarak kullanılabilir. Ancak tek başına etkinliği ile ilgili kesin bir sonuç yoktur. Geniş örneklemde, takip süresinin uzun sürdüğü, kanıt düzeyi yüksek olan randomize kontollü çalışmaların artırılması önemlidir.

Keywords

• İntihar
• mobil uygulamalar
• ruh sağlığı

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