The Use of Chatbots as Supportive Agents for People Seeking Help with Substance Use Disorder: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: The use of chatbots in healthcare is an area of study receiving increased academic interest. As the knowledge base grows, the granularity in the level of research is being refined. There is now more targeted work in specific areas of healthcare, for example, chatbots for anxiety and depression, cancer care, and pregnancy support.

The Therapeutic Goals Set by University Students in an Anonymous Web-Based Therapy and Support Setting.

The interest in student mental health and wellbeing has increased in recent years. Additionally, there is a rising volume of students seeking support. Numerous online resources have been developed to meet this need, including anonymous web-based therapy.

Loneliness and mental health at the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic in England.

The current researchers carried out a large online survey on 18 March 2020 and unintentionally provided a 'snap shot' of how the British population was responding in the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. This paper aims to investigate the relationship between loneliness and mental health at the early stages of the global crisis. This cross-sectional study was carried out using Prolific, an online participant recruitment platform that allowed 1608 responses in just 2 hr.

Losing a Loved One During the Covid-19 Pandemic: An On-Line Survey Looking at the Effects on Traumatic Stress, Coping and Post-Traumatic Growth.

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect across the world. In the UK alone, the death toll is 132,742, with 207 people dying the previous day and a total of 6,825,074 cases of Covid-19 thus far (September 1st, 2021). The aim of this study was to look at post-traumatic stress, coping skills and post-traumatic growth in relatives, who lost a loved one during the pandemic.

A Theory of Change for Web-Based Therapy and Support Services for Children and Young People: Collaborative Qualitative Exploration.

Background: Web-based counseling and support has become increasingly commonplace for children and young people (CYP). Currently, there is limited research that focuses on the mechanisms of change within complex telepsychology platforms, a factor that makes designing and implementing outcome measures challenging.

Objective: This project aims to articulate a theory of change (ToC) for Kooth, a web-based therapy and support platform for CYP.

Online peer to peer support: Qualitative analysis of UK and US open mental health Facebook groups.

Objective: This research aimed to gain further understanding of how open Facebook groups are used for online peer to peer support and identify any similarities and/or differences between UK and US groups.

Method: A systematic search of mental health related open Facebook groups was conducted using relevant key words. The posts from 14 UK and 11 US groups were acquired over a three month period and content thematically analysed using Nvivo.

"I Feel Like A Neurotic Mother at Times"-a mixed methods study exploring online health information seeking behaviour in new parents.

Background: In contemporary society, due to the exponential growth of technology and the online platform, data acquisition has never been so effortless. Subsequent accessibility to health information has been reported as having many positive and negative effects. Health anxiety is the apprehension of experiencing or developing an ailment due to symptomology misinterpretation.

A systematic review exploring how young people use online forums for support around mental health issues.

Young people increasingly look towards the Internet for support. Online forums have been developed to provide mental health support, but they have received little attention in the research to date. To summarise the existing literature examining how individuals use online forums to obtain support for mental health difficulties.

Implementations of Virtual Reality for Anxiety-Related Disorders: Systematic Review.

Background: Although traditional forms of therapy for anxiety-related disorders (eg, cognitive behavioral therapy, CBT) have been effective, there have been long-standing issues with these therapies that largely center around the costs and risks associated with the components comprising the therapeutic process. To treat certain types of specific phobias, sessions may need to be held in public, therefore risking patient confidentiality and the occurrence of uncontrollable circumstances (eg, weather and bystander behavior) or additional expenses such as travel to reach a destination. To address these issues, past studies have implemented virtual reality (VR) technologies for virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) to provide an immersive, interactive experience that can be conducted privately and inexpensively.

The Use of Mobile Apps and SMS Messaging as Physical and Mental Health Interventions: Systematic Review.

(Reprinted with permission from 2017; 19(8):e295).

Predictors of health anxiety during pregnancy.

Background: The internet has become a quick, easy and accessible source for health-related information. Women are more likely to search for health information online and this likelihood increases further during pregnancy. Searching online for health-related information can have both positive and negative impacts upon levels of health anxiety during pregnancy.

Empirical Evidence for the Outcomes of Therapeutic Video Games for Adolescents With Anxiety Disorders: Systematic Review.

Background: Extant evidence suggests that the proportion of adolescents suffering from anxiety disorders (ADs) has increased by up to 70% since the mid-1980s, with experience of anxiety at this stage associated with significant negative short- and long-term life outcomes. The existing therapeutic interventions (eg, cognitive behavioral therapy, CBT; attention bias modification, ABM) have proven to have clinically measurable benefits in reducing anxiety, but their efficacy is often compromised by social and practical barriers. The growing discrepancy between demand for, and access to, clinical interventions for anxiety has led to the development of a range of eHealth (health care practice supported by electronic processes and communication) and mHealth (versions of eHealth using mobile devices) interventions.

Assessing the Efficacy of Mobile Health Apps Using the Basic Principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Systematic Review.

Background: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in its basic principle has developed itself as a stand-alone, substantial method of therapy. With effective application in therapy for a range of mental health issues, the spread of CBT methods to Web-based therapy sources is evident. The development of mobile phone apps using CBT principles is increasing within the research area.

The Use of Mobile Apps and SMS Messaging as Physical and Mental Health Interventions: Systematic Review.

Background: The initial introduction of the World Wide Web in 1990 brought around the biggest change in information acquisition. Due to the abundance of devices and ease of access they subsequently allow, the utility of mobile health (mHealth) has never been more endemic. A substantial amount of interactive and psychoeducational apps are readily available to download concerning a wide range of health issues.

Peer Communication in Online Mental Health Forums for Young People: Directional and Nondirectional Support.

Background: The Internet has the potential to help young people by reducing the stigma associated with mental health and enabling young people to access services and professionals which they may not otherwise access. Online support can empower young people, help them develop new online friendships, share personal experiences, communicate with others who understand, provide information and emotional support, and most importantly help them feel less alone and normalize their experiences in the world.

Objective: The aim of the research was to gain an understanding of how young people use an online forum for emotional and mental health issues.

Correction: "You Sort of Go Down a Rabbit Hole...You're Just Going to Keep on Searching": A Qualitative Study of Searching Online for Pregnancy-Related Information During Pregnancy.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2196/jmir.6302.

"You Sort of Go Down a Rabbit Hole...You're Just Going to Keep on Searching": A Qualitative Study of Searching Online for Pregnancy-Related Information During Pregnancy.

Background: The Web is becoming increasingly popular for gaining information on medical or health issues; with women in particular likely to search online for this type of information and support. Despite the increased use of the Web for health-related information, we need to question whether the Web and the ease of seeking health information that it provides leads to more (patient) empowerment. As well as being a time of joy and expectations, pregnancy can be a worrying time for women, especially first time mums-to-be, with unfamiliar experiences and symptoms and concerns for the baby as well as the self.

The Role of Pharmacists in Caring for Young People With Chronic Illness.

Purpose: To explore the perceived and potential roles of pharmacists in the care of young people aged 10-24 years with chronic illness, through the exemplar of juvenile arthritis, from the perspectives of UK community and hospital pharmacists, health service commissioners, rheumatology health professionals, and lay advocates.

Methods: A sequential mixed methods study design comprises the following: focus groups with community and hospital pharmacists; telephone interviews with pharmacy and rheumatology stakeholders and commissioners; and multidisciplinary group discussions to prioritize roles generated by the first two qualitative phases.

Results: The high priority roles for pharmacists, identified by pharmacists and rheumatology staff, were developing generic health care skills among young people; transferring information effectively across care interfaces; building trusting relationships with young people; helping young people to find credible online health information; and the need to develop specialist expertise.

Blogging as a viable research methodology for young people with arthritis: a qualitative study.

Background: The development of services that are responsive to the needs of users is a health policy priority. Finding ways of engaging young people in research to gain insights into their particular experiences, perspectives, and needs is vital but challenging. These data are critical to improving services in ways that meet the needs of young people.

Pharmacy students' perceptions of natural science and mathematics subjects.

Objective: To determine the level of importance pharmacy students placed on science and mathematics subjects for pursuing a career in pharmacy.

Method: Two hundred fifty-four students completed a survey instrument developed to investigate students' perceptions of the relevance of science and mathematics subjects to a career in pharmacy. Pharmacy students in all 4 years of a master of pharmacy (MPharm) degree program were invited to complete the survey instrument.

Moral development of first-year pharmacy students in the United Kingdom.

Objective: To investigate the moral development of pharmacy students over their first academic year of study at a university in the United Kingdom.

Methods: Pharmacy students completed Defining Issues Test (DIT) at the start of their first year (phase 1) and again at the end of their first year (phase 2) of the program.

Results: Pharmacy students (N=116) had significantly higher moral reasoning at the beginning of their first year than by the end of it.

Empathy levels in first- and third-year students in health and non-health disciplines.

Objective: To compare empathy scores between health professions students (pharmacy and nursing) and non-health professions (law) students and between first- and third-year students.

Methods: The Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy-Student Version was completed by 282 students.

Results: Nursing and pharmacy students had significantly more empathy than did law students.