This project will aim to develop and pilot test, R-Assist, a mobile health application to support individuals with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders (COD) in their recovery, who have recently released from a participating Massachusetts jail.
This Phase I project will develop and test an mHealth app called R-Assist among individuals with COD recently released from a Massachusetts jail. R-Assist will offer four core features, including linkages to community resources via the resource locator, on demand, tailored self-help materials, and self-management/organizational tools. The following two Aims will be tested: Aim 1. R-Assist software and content prototype development. The 4 R-Assist features will include: 1) daily self-reported symptom and medication management monitoring; 2) a 29-session self-help curriculum, with an accompanying library of recovery resources to support COD symptom management and promote prosocial thinking and behavior; 3) social determinants of health (SDOH) resource finder; and 4) a dashboard to track R-Assist engagement. Aim 2. A successive cohort study of the R-Assist prototype with participants who have recently left jail (N = 38). This will include three successive field focus group cohorts with 18 participants, followed by a small open pilot with 20 participants. This project's four milestones will be executed in preparation for a larger Phase II trial. * Milestone 1 (Months 1-5): R-Assist App Development and Interface Designs o No human subjects involvement * Milestone 2 (Months 6-7): Initial Evaluation/Refinement of R-Assist o To recruit N=18 individuals for this Milestone * Milestone 3 (Months 8-10): Open Pilot of R-Assist o To recruit recruit N=20 individuals for this Milestone * Milestone 4 (Months 11-12): Product Refinement Prior to Phase II and Dissemination o No human subjects involvement
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
38
R-Assist features will include: 1) daily self-reported symptom and medication management monitoring; 2) a 29-session MISSION-CJ self-help curriculum, with an accompanying library of recovery resources to support COD symptom management and promote prosocial thinking and behavior; 3) SDOH resource finder; and 4) a dashboard to track R-Assist engagement.
App usage
Total time engaged in app will be tracked daily during open pilot period. Additionally, engagement and time with each feature will be tracked
Time frame: From enrollment for 1.5 months during the open pilot
System Usability Scale (SUS)
Overall score will be computed, indicating overall usability Score ranges from 0-100 (0-64=not acceptable, 65-84=acceptable, and 85, 100=excellent.
Time frame: From enrollment for 1.5 months during the open pilot
Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS)
Overall score will be computed, indicating overall acceptability, as well as score for each of the four dimensions. The rating scale assesses app quality on four dimensions (1. Engagement, 2. Functionality, 3. Aesthetics, and 4. Information). All items are rated on 5-point scale from "1=inadequate" to "5=excellent"
Time frame: From enrollment for 1.5 months during the open pilot
Composite International Diagnostic Instrument for DSM-IV: Social determinants of health (SDOH) linkages
SDOH needs (e.g., housing instability, food insecurity, NA/AA/ other recovery linkages) will be assessed and the App will track all referrals and SDOH linkages made. Percent of linkages made to needed SDOH services will be examined.
Time frame: From enrollment for 1.5 months during the open pilot
Composite International Diagnostic Instrument for DSM-IV: Substance Use Disorder
Substance use disorder symptoms will be tracked daily during the open pilot period.
Time frame: From enrollment for 1.5 months during the open pilot
Composite International Diagnostic Instrument for DSM-IV: Mental Health
Mental health symptoms will be tracked daily during the open pilot period.
Time frame: From enrollment for 1.5 months during the open pilot
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.