Exploring digital exclusion in mental health service users
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring digital exclusion in mental health service users
IRAS ID
211608
Contact name
Keith Brennan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
n/a, n/a
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The internet is becoming important in helping people manage their health. Most people in the UK have access to the internet. However, a minority of people do not have access and/or are not confident in using it.
Some people being treated within mental health services do not have the skills or confidence to use the internet, or to use technology such as smartphones or computers. This means they risk being left behind as health services and therapies become increasingly reliant on the technology. We know from previous research that middle-aged service users with a history of psychosis are less likely to access the internet or be confident in using it. They are therefore more likely to be ‘digitally excluded’. Most digitally excluded people want to learn more about technology and the internet, but lack the opportunities.
We will identify people using mental health services who are at risk of being digitally excluded. We will interview them and explore the reasons why they may not use the internet, and find out how they think they could improve their internet skills. The information we gain from these interviews will feed into a training programme for digitally excluded people using mental health services, to help them improve their internet skills.
REC name
North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NW/0792
Date of REC Opinion
17 Nov 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion