Mobile application (Apps) and Treatment Adherance in Dual Diagnosis

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    The use of information communication technology in the form of mobile phone application/apps to enhance treatment adherence and interventions for service users with a co morbid drug/alcohol and mental health problem.

  • IRAS ID

    182272

  • Contact name

    May Baker

  • Contact email

    m.baker@ljmu.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Liverpool John Moores University

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 6 months, 14 days

  • Research summary

    Dual diagnosis is a complex and debilitating mental health problem which is in need of research to explore the possibilities of enhanced treatment options for service users. The ever growing expansion of computer technology in the form of small devices is now embedded in our day to day lives. More than 89% of 25-30 year olds and 54% of 54-65 year olds own a smartphone (Styles 2013). The use of smartphones and computers is not restricted to mainstream population but is used and encouraged within health settings. The research/study proposal will investigate if such devices can be used to enhance treatment adherence for service users who have a comorbid mental health problems and drug/alcohol use. These participants would be sampled from two existing service user forums and two focus groups would be established. Qualitative measures would be used to elicit data. The aim is for the group to produce ideas for apps which will assist in their care planning and treatment adherence. The research would form part of a wider European study being conducted by inTICgration a body of five countries with different roles in this project. Bridge Research and Development (Bridge) is the English partner in the European project which seeks to develop applications (apps) based on information and communication technology (ICT).
    The other partners are Fundacion Adunare Spain (Coordinator), Fundacion COI Portugal, University of the Third Sector (UniTS) Italy and ZfP, experts in mental health, Germany.
    The project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union and lasts until July 2016. LJMU are working collaboratively with Bridge Research to conduct this study.

  • REC name

    London - City & East Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    15/LO/1172

  • Date of REC Opinion

    23 Jun 2015

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion