title: Utilizing a Mobile Health Application to Examine Racial Disparities in Treatment-Seeking Behavior among Training Physicians with Depression
Creators: name: Kogulan, U.
name: Alphonso, P.
name: Pereira-Lima, K.
name: Fang, Y.
name: Lyons, K.
name: Frank, E.
name: Sen, S.
Publisher: name: University of Michigan
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Mobile App; Smartphone; Smart-phone; Mobile Health; Mobile Tech

description: Presented at the MeTRIC 2024 Symposium
description: Racial-ethnic minority groups face a disproportionate burden of mental health challenges in the U.S., despite comprising a small proportion of the population. These disparities stem from a lack of community-based interventions, unequal access to evidence-based practices, and insufficient resources to fund health services. One study found that racial minorities are 20%-50% less likely to initiate mental health services and 40%-80% more likely to drop out of treatment prematurely. Given that training physicians experience higher rates of depression, burnout, and suicidal ideation, it is imperative to assess how minority residents engage with mental health resources compared to their White peers. This study utilized a mobile health application to investigate how help-seeking behaviors differ among interns experiencing depressive symptoms based on race, particularly focusing on underrepresented minorities in medicine (URiM) and Asian physicians. We utilized survey data collected from medical interns between 2009 and 2022 as part of the Intern Health Study - a longitudinal eCohort study assessing stress and depression during the first year of medical training. Participants provided consent and completed quarterly surveys via the MyDataHelps mobile application. In the baseline and each quarterly mobile health survey, medical interns completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to assess depressive symptoms and indicate whether they sought treatment for their symptoms. Interns reported responses such as: "I have not had any mental health problems," "I have had some mental health problems, but I have not sought help," "I have consulted with my institution's employee assistance program," "I have consulted with a general practitioner," "I have consulted with a therapist (psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker)," or "I have been admitted to a psychiatric hospital." Utilizing data collected through the mobile application, we will conduct a linear mixed model analysis to examine significant differences in the percentage of participants with depression who sought mental health treatment among White, Asian, and URiM sample groups at baseline. The study will account for gender, a known cofactor affecting treatment-seeking behavior, to provide a nuanced understanding of the factors influencing these disparities. Mobile health technologies enable us to study marginalized populations, such as the mental health-seeking behaviors of minority residents. With a new scope of information, residency programs can adapt their support networks and mental health resources for residents of color. Understanding mental health-seeking patterns is crucial for all medical trainees when developing policies and practices regarding mental well-being. Ultimately, this research will contribute to improved patient care and retention within the medical profession.