Digital Self-help Support for Lifestyle Behavior Changes Among Primary Care Outpatients With Mental Health Problems

Overview

All patients, who have booked a first appointment with a psychologist or counselor at two primary care clinics, are asked to fill out a lifestyle screening questionnaire within the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system. Up to 150 patients will be screened. The patients who have filled out the first screening and given informed consent are randomized to either Group A: A digital health check-up, with more questions and brief feedback; or Group B: Treatment as usual. The digital health check-up is based on "Hälsoprofilen", a material that successfully has been used with thousands of patients in Western Sweden. This material generates brief feedback to the patients about the status of their lifestyle behavior and indicates the need for change when necessary for better health. After 10 weeks, the patients fill in the first short screening again. Outcome analyses will compare the two groups.

The study will be carried out at two primary care clinics in Stockholm. All patients, who have booked a first appointment with a psychologist or counselor at two primary care clinics, are asked to fill out a lifestyle screening questionnaire within the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system. Up to 150 patients will be screened. The patients who have filled out the first screening and given informed consent are randomized to either Group A: A digital health check-up, with more questions and brief feedback; or Group B: Treatment as usual. The digital health check-up is based on "Hälsoprofilen", a material that successfully has been used with thousands of patients in Western Sweden. This material generates brief feedback to the patients about the status of their lifestyle behavior and indicates the need for change when necessary for better health. After 10 weeks, the patients fill in the first short screening again. Outcome analyses will compare the two groups.