A qualitative study exploring the feasibility and acceptability of computerised adaptive testing to assess and monitor children and young people’s mental health in primary care settings in the UK
Background The increasing prevalence of mental health disorders among adolescents highlights the importance of early identification and intervention. Artemis-A is a web-based application of computerised adaptive testing (CAT), originally developed for secondary schools, to quickly and efficiently as...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMJ Publishing Group
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | BMJ Mental Health |
| Online Access: | https://mentalhealth.bmj.com/content/28/1/e301381.full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832575463169458176 |
|---|---|
| author | Peter B Jones Tamsin Ford Anne-Marie Burn Jan Stochl Joanna Anderson William Lan |
| author_facet | Peter B Jones Tamsin Ford Anne-Marie Burn Jan Stochl Joanna Anderson William Lan |
| author_sort | Peter B Jones |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background The increasing prevalence of mental health disorders among adolescents highlights the importance of early identification and intervention. Artemis-A is a web-based application of computerised adaptive testing (CAT), originally developed for secondary schools, to quickly and efficiently assess students’ mental health. Due to its speed, reliability and accessibility, it may be a valuable tool for healthcare practitioners (HCPs) working with children and young people (CYP) in primary, community and potentially secondary care settings in the future.Objective To explore whether Artemis-A would be a useful, feasible and acceptable tool for HCPs working in primary and community care settings to identify CYP’s mental health difficulties.Methods Semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 HCPs: 5 general practitioners, 5 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) staff, 5 school nurses and 5 community paediatricians. Data were analysed using the Framework approach.Findings HCPs reported that Artemis-A has the potential to enhance mental health assessment and aid overburdened services by providing a quick, patient-centred assessment and monitoring mechanism. Benefits of the app include facilitating earlier intervention and appropriate referrals. However, some concerns emerged about safety netting and the way Artemis-A presents its information. Responsibilities for ensuring care continuity also require careful clarification.Conclusions With proper protocols and integration, Artemis-A could prove valuable in supporting HCPs to promptly detect mental health issues in CYP. Further research into optimal implementation is warranted.Clinical implications If paired with effective evidence-based interventions, the implementation of Artemis-A could help manage escalating demands in CAMHS. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-85f9cd49ceed49a2a8ea55b43bb7b87f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2755-9734 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-85f9cd49ceed49a2a8ea55b43bb7b87f2025-02-01T05:25:11ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Mental Health2755-97342025-01-0128110.1136/bmjment-2024-301381A qualitative study exploring the feasibility and acceptability of computerised adaptive testing to assess and monitor children and young people’s mental health in primary care settings in the UKPeter B Jones0Tamsin Ford1Anne-Marie Burn2Jan Stochl3Joanna Anderson4William Lan5Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UKDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UKDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UKDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UKDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UKDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UKBackground The increasing prevalence of mental health disorders among adolescents highlights the importance of early identification and intervention. Artemis-A is a web-based application of computerised adaptive testing (CAT), originally developed for secondary schools, to quickly and efficiently assess students’ mental health. Due to its speed, reliability and accessibility, it may be a valuable tool for healthcare practitioners (HCPs) working with children and young people (CYP) in primary, community and potentially secondary care settings in the future.Objective To explore whether Artemis-A would be a useful, feasible and acceptable tool for HCPs working in primary and community care settings to identify CYP’s mental health difficulties.Methods Semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 HCPs: 5 general practitioners, 5 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) staff, 5 school nurses and 5 community paediatricians. Data were analysed using the Framework approach.Findings HCPs reported that Artemis-A has the potential to enhance mental health assessment and aid overburdened services by providing a quick, patient-centred assessment and monitoring mechanism. Benefits of the app include facilitating earlier intervention and appropriate referrals. However, some concerns emerged about safety netting and the way Artemis-A presents its information. Responsibilities for ensuring care continuity also require careful clarification.Conclusions With proper protocols and integration, Artemis-A could prove valuable in supporting HCPs to promptly detect mental health issues in CYP. Further research into optimal implementation is warranted.Clinical implications If paired with effective evidence-based interventions, the implementation of Artemis-A could help manage escalating demands in CAMHS.https://mentalhealth.bmj.com/content/28/1/e301381.full |
| spellingShingle | Peter B Jones Tamsin Ford Anne-Marie Burn Jan Stochl Joanna Anderson William Lan A qualitative study exploring the feasibility and acceptability of computerised adaptive testing to assess and monitor children and young people’s mental health in primary care settings in the UK BMJ Mental Health |
| title | A qualitative study exploring the feasibility and acceptability of computerised adaptive testing to assess and monitor children and young people’s mental health in primary care settings in the UK |
| title_full | A qualitative study exploring the feasibility and acceptability of computerised adaptive testing to assess and monitor children and young people’s mental health in primary care settings in the UK |
| title_fullStr | A qualitative study exploring the feasibility and acceptability of computerised adaptive testing to assess and monitor children and young people’s mental health in primary care settings in the UK |
| title_full_unstemmed | A qualitative study exploring the feasibility and acceptability of computerised adaptive testing to assess and monitor children and young people’s mental health in primary care settings in the UK |
| title_short | A qualitative study exploring the feasibility and acceptability of computerised adaptive testing to assess and monitor children and young people’s mental health in primary care settings in the UK |
| title_sort | qualitative study exploring the feasibility and acceptability of computerised adaptive testing to assess and monitor children and young people s mental health in primary care settings in the uk |
| url | https://mentalhealth.bmj.com/content/28/1/e301381.full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT peterbjones aqualitativestudyexploringthefeasibilityandacceptabilityofcomputerisedadaptivetestingtoassessandmonitorchildrenandyoungpeoplesmentalhealthinprimarycaresettingsintheuk AT tamsinford aqualitativestudyexploringthefeasibilityandacceptabilityofcomputerisedadaptivetestingtoassessandmonitorchildrenandyoungpeoplesmentalhealthinprimarycaresettingsintheuk AT annemarieburn aqualitativestudyexploringthefeasibilityandacceptabilityofcomputerisedadaptivetestingtoassessandmonitorchildrenandyoungpeoplesmentalhealthinprimarycaresettingsintheuk AT janstochl aqualitativestudyexploringthefeasibilityandacceptabilityofcomputerisedadaptivetestingtoassessandmonitorchildrenandyoungpeoplesmentalhealthinprimarycaresettingsintheuk AT joannaanderson aqualitativestudyexploringthefeasibilityandacceptabilityofcomputerisedadaptivetestingtoassessandmonitorchildrenandyoungpeoplesmentalhealthinprimarycaresettingsintheuk AT williamlan aqualitativestudyexploringthefeasibilityandacceptabilityofcomputerisedadaptivetestingtoassessandmonitorchildrenandyoungpeoplesmentalhealthinprimarycaresettingsintheuk AT peterbjones qualitativestudyexploringthefeasibilityandacceptabilityofcomputerisedadaptivetestingtoassessandmonitorchildrenandyoungpeoplesmentalhealthinprimarycaresettingsintheuk AT tamsinford qualitativestudyexploringthefeasibilityandacceptabilityofcomputerisedadaptivetestingtoassessandmonitorchildrenandyoungpeoplesmentalhealthinprimarycaresettingsintheuk AT annemarieburn qualitativestudyexploringthefeasibilityandacceptabilityofcomputerisedadaptivetestingtoassessandmonitorchildrenandyoungpeoplesmentalhealthinprimarycaresettingsintheuk AT janstochl qualitativestudyexploringthefeasibilityandacceptabilityofcomputerisedadaptivetestingtoassessandmonitorchildrenandyoungpeoplesmentalhealthinprimarycaresettingsintheuk AT joannaanderson qualitativestudyexploringthefeasibilityandacceptabilityofcomputerisedadaptivetestingtoassessandmonitorchildrenandyoungpeoplesmentalhealthinprimarycaresettingsintheuk AT williamlan qualitativestudyexploringthefeasibilityandacceptabilityofcomputerisedadaptivetestingtoassessandmonitorchildrenandyoungpeoplesmentalhealthinprimarycaresettingsintheuk |