Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40067428›Full record

ArticleDiscover mental health2025

Developing and testing preliminary effectiveness and acceptability of a mental health application in Ethiopia.

Endalamaw Salelew, Mengesha Srahbzu, Tsehay Diges, Habtamu Genet Yeniakal, Gebeyehu Begashaw, Tesfaye Tadele, Tewodiros Hailu, Wondimagegn Degef, Fikirnesh Bazezew, Demeke Demilew and 1 more

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Article in Discover mental health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Endalamaw SalelewDepartment of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, P.O. Box: 196, Gondar, Ethiopia. esalelew@gmail.com.
Mengesha SrahbzuDepartment of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, P.O. Box: 196, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Tsehay DigesDepartment of Information Science, College of Informatics, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Habtamu Genet YeniakalDepartment of Social Psychology, College of Social Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Gebeyehu BegashawDepartment of Social Psychology, College of Social Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Tesfaye TadeleDepartment of Clinical Psychology, College of Social Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Tewodiros HailuDepartment of Clinical Psychology, College of Social Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Wondimagegn DegefDepartment of Clinical Psychology, College of Social Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Fikirnesh BazezewDepartment of Information Science, College of Informatics, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Demeke DemilewDepartment of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, P.O. Box: 196, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Melsew BelachewDepartment of Information Science, College of Informatics, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMental health mobile applications are a cost-effective and scalable answer to the world's psychiatrist shortage and limited access to care in remote areas. However, there is currently no mobile application for providing mental health interventions in Ethiopia. Therefore, this project aimed to develop and test the preliminary effectiveness and acceptability of an Android-based mobile application for mental health information, psychological self-testing, and treatment recommendation during COVID-19 and beyond.

methodsWe conducted a preliminary assessment to review experiences and demands associated with the mental health mobile apps. Object-oriented modeling and the Agile Development software development methodology were employed. Android Studio's layout editor, resource management, palette, and theme editor were used. We utilized Java as the programming language for writing application code, eXtensible Markup Language (XML) to construct the overall structure of the app, and SQLite to save data locally on the user's device. To ensure quality, tests were performed on a regular basis throughout the development process.

resultsThe project developed an Android-based mobile app for mental health information, psychological self-testing, and treatment recommendations for COVID-19. A preliminary assessment found no existing mobile apps for mental health care. Of participants, 94.6% believed mental health apps benefit the public, patients, and healthcare professionals. However, some individuals opposed the app due to concerns about self-treatment and medication misuse.

conclusionThe study indicates a high demand for a mental health mobile app, but few participants fear self-treatment or drug abuse. Apps that support native languages are recommended, and nonpharmacological treatments should be used in conjunction with clinician consultation.

Indexed as

AcceptabilityAndroid-based appsEffectivenessEthiopiaPreliminary testing

Identifiers

PMID40067428
PMCPMC11896947

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.