Development of a framework for the implementation of synchronous e-mental health: a protocol for a realist synthesis of systematic reviews [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been necessary to deliver mental health care using technologies (e-mental health). But there have been difficulties in its application. Quantitative systematic reviews such as meta-analysis doesn’t allow us to fully identify and properly describe this...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: David Villarreal-Zegarra, Christoper A. Alarcon-Ruiz, G.J. Melendez-Torres, Roberto Torres-Puente, Juan Ambrosio-Melgarejo, Alejandra B. Romero-Cabrera, Alba Navarro-Flores, Leonardo Albitres-Flores, Ana Lindo-Cavero, Jeff Huarcaya-Victoria
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: F1000 Research Ltd 2021-08-01
Series:F1000Research
Online Access:https://f1000research.com/articles/9-1282/v2
Description
Summary:Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been necessary to deliver mental health care using technologies (e-mental health). But there have been difficulties in its application. Quantitative systematic reviews such as meta-analysis doesn’t allow us to fully identify and properly describe this subject. Thus, our study has two main objectives: a) "to determine what evidence is available for synchronous e-mental health implementation"; and b) "to develop a framework informed by a realist analysis for the implementation of synchronous e-mental health". Methods: We will search MEDLINE, EBM Reviews, PsycINFO, EMBASE, SCOPUS, CINAHL Complete, and Web of Science databases from 1st January 2015 to September 2020, with no language restriction. A systematic review with a narrative description and a realist synthesis will be conducted. Primary studies relating to adults with common mental health problems using any type of mobile mental health intervention that includes a synchronic component and communication with a mental health professional will be included. For the analysis, we will make a realist synthesis of the systematic reviews, using a grounded theory approach with an emergent approach to synthesize the information, prioritizing the systematic reviews with a lower risk of bias in the AMSTAR-2 tool. The realist synthesis will be based on the interpretation, integration, and inference of the evaluated elements and the generation of hypotheses to better understand the implementation process of synchronous e-mental health. Finally, we will present the overall assessment in a Summary of Qualitative Findings table. Conclusion: Our results will allow a better understanding of the facilitator and limitations in implementing e-mental health.
ISSN:2046-1402