Patient and Clinician Experiences with Sharing Data Visualizations Integrated into Mental Health Treatment

Abstract

Digital mental health tools can collect vast amounts of data, but little research has been conducted on the impact of visualizing and sharing these data with patients in a clinical setting. In this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted via a HIPAA compliant platform with 10 patients and 5 clinicians in a digital mental health clinic about their experience with the integration of personal data visualizations into care. These interviews, spanning from April 2023 to July 2023, centered around the utility, meaningfulness, and clarity of the visualizations. The qualitative data were subsequently analyzed through an inductive approach for thematic analysis. Themes identified from patient interviews included the ability of visualizations to encourage reflection and action while also providing validation and motivation. Both clinicians and patients noted the importance of having an intermediary (digital navigator) to assist in interpreting the visualizations. The type of visualization preferred by patients varied from patient to patient. Overall, our findings highlight the value of utilizing visualizations in clinical care as a clear and effective way to communicate personal health data to patients and clinicians, suggesting the benefit of continued co-design with all parties.