title: Using a mobile phone application in youth mental health - an evaluation study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study evaluates a mobile phone self monitoring tool designed to assist paediatricians in assessing and managing youth mental health.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients from an adolescent outpatient clinic monitored mental health symptoms throughout each day for 2-4 weeks. Paediatricians specialising in adolescent health and participants reviewed the collated data displayed online and completed quantitative and qualitative feedback.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-seven adolescents and six paediatricians participated. Completion was high, with 91% of entries completed in the first week. Paediatricians found the program helpful for 92% of the participants and understood 88% of their patients' functioning better. Participants reported the data reflected their actual experiences (88%) and was accurate (85%), helpful (65%) and assisted their paediatrician to understand them better (77%). Qualitative results supported these findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self monitoring facilitates communication of mental health issues between these paediatricians and patients and is a promising tool for the assessment and management of mental health problems in young people.
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. sophie.reid@mcri.edu.au
authors.forename: Sophie C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Sylvia D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Kauer
authors.forename: Angela S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Khor
authors.forename: Stephen J C
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hearps
authors.forename: Lena A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Sanci
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Patton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001315:Australia; D040421:Cell Phone; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008491:Medical Informatics Applications; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D008603:Mental Health; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult