The Effects of APP-Based Intervention for Depression Among Community-Dwelling Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To assess the effect of a self-management intervention delivered by mobile application (APP) for depression among community-dwelling individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Settings: General communities in China.

Participants: Community-dwelling individuals with SCI who were diagnosed within 2 years were recruited in this study (N=98). It was a convenience sample with an average age of 41.71, 82.7% participants were men.

Interventions: Participants in the intervention group (n=49) received 5 sessions on self-management training provided by nurse-led multidisciplinary team via APP at the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, and 12th weeks, respectively, after they discharge from hospitals. Participants in the control group (n=49) received routine telephone counselling provided by follow-up nurses at the 12th week after they discharge.

Outcome Measure: The outcome of this study is depression, which is not the primary outcomes in the registration of this program. Depression was measured by version 2 of Beck Depression Inventory at discharge (T), the 12th week after discharge from hospitals (T), and the 24th week after discharge from hospitals (T).

Results: There were 98 participants (49 in the intervention group and 49 in the control group) completing the intervention and data collection. Compared with the control group, the intervention group had lower level of depression at T2 (B=-5.76; 95% CI=-9.97, -1.54; P=.007). Small to moderate effect sizes on depression favoring the intervention were demonstrated at T (Cohen's d=-.178) and T (Cohen's d=-.535).

Conclusions: APP-based self-management support can be a potential intervention to reduce depression among community-dwelling individuals with SCI.