Can Experience Sampling Self-monitoring tools promote the activation of clients in mental healthcare? A qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Actively engaging clients in managing their health and care is crucial for person-centered mental healthcare. Self-monitoring tools such as the Experience Sampling Method (ESM) can help individuals collect information about their mental health and daily activities on their smartphones and share this with their clinicians.AIMS: This qualitative paper examines whether and how ESM self-monitoring might enhance self-insight, self-management, self-efficacy, therapeutic alliance, and shared decision-making and this way promote the activation of clients in mental healthcare. METHODS: Twelve clinicians and 24 clients participated in the IMPROVE study. After using the IMPROVE ESM self-monitoring tool, seven clinicians and 11 clients were interviewed and a thematic analysis examined participants' experiences of changes in client activation. RESULTS: Clients reported improvements in self-awareness, self-insight, and self-management. Only a few participants experienced enhanced self-efficacy, improved therapeutic alliances, and more client involvement. Self-awareness was mainly boosted via smartphone self-monitoring, while collaborative data interpretation between clients and clinicians was crucial for unlocking insights about clients' mental health and creating actionable therapy goals.CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that using ESM self-monitoring tools can help enhance the activation of clients in mental healthcare. Future research should develop best practice guidelines for integrating these tools into clinical care.