Table 1.

Summary of study characteristics and main findings.

Study	Design	Aims	Samplea	Method and instrumentsb	Main findings
Klein and Cook [42]c	Cross-sectional online survey	To identify differences between “e-preferers” and “non e-preferers” on the perceived helpfulness and intentions to use e-mental health in comparison to traditional services	Online sample (N=218) of the Australian general population. Age range = 18-80 years; Mean 36.6 (SD 14.5) years Female (75.7%) “e-prefers” (n=50); “non e-prefers” (n=168) 63.9% with mental health service experience	Self-developed online survey “e-preference” (grouping condition) Perceived helpfulness of 11 mental health services (helpful, neither, harmful) Concerns using e-mental health Likelihood of future using mental health services (intentions to use) Four validated measures on self-stigmatization (DDS), locus of control or LOC (MHLC-C), big-five personality traits (TIPI), and learning style (VARK) Response rate (completed survey): 91.3% (n=199)	Preference toward using traditional to e-mental health services (77.1% were “non e-preferers”) “e-preferers” were more willing to use and assess e-mental health services as more helpful Previous experience with mental health services included psychologists (84.2%), information websites (71.2%) “non e-preferers” were more concerned about confidentiality “e-preferers” scored higher on self-stigma and chance LOC; “non e-preferers” scored higher on emotional stability and doctor LOC (for instance)
Casey et al [43]d	Cross-sectional online RCTe (mixed factorial design)	To determine the impact of educational information on attitudes (ie, perceived helpfulness and intentions to use different e-mental health services	Online sample (N=217) of the Australian general population. Age range = 17-60 years; Mean 29.7 (SD 11.9) years Female (78%) groups: text (n=66), film (n=72), control (n=70)	Self-developed online survey, a modified version of another measure [42] Perceived helpfulness of four e-mental health services (online counseling, information websites, and online program with or without therapist contact) Likelihood of future using e-mental health services (intentions to use) Concerns regarding the usage of e-mental health Random assignment of respondents to one of three conditions (text intervention, film intervention (2.5 minutes), or no intervention or control condition)	Preference toward using e-mental health services with therapist assistance The likelihood of using e-mental health services was improved in the text condition group, but not in the film condition group Neither the text- nor video-based information affected the perceived helpfulness of e-mental health in comparison to the control condition
Eichenberg et al [44]f	Cross-sectional survey (panel interviews)	To explore public media use, the perceived impact of health information sources, and the intentions to use e-mental health in comparison to traditional services (for anxiety)	Representative sample (N=2411) of the German general population Age range = 14-90 years; Mean 51.0 (SD 18.6) years Female (53.2%) 41% never used computers	Self-developed survey (pretest for with n=67) Public media use, preferred sources of health information, and their impact on health behavior Use of and willingness to use psychological online counseling, and media-assisted therapy in comparison to traditional face-to-face mental health services in case of emotional distress	Preference toward using traditional to e-mental health services Previous use of the Internet for health information was associated with a higher willingness to use online counseling Sociodemographic data (eg, younger age, female gender, higher education) and Internet usage corresponded with intentions to use e-mental health
Musiat et al [6]g	Cross-sectional Web-based survey	To explore acceptability of e- and m-mental health services in comparison to traditional services (attitudes and expectation, and intentions to use)	Web-based sample (N=490) of the English general population Age range =18-78 years; Mean 26.7 (SD 8.9) years Female (78.2%) 49% with history of mental health problems, 22% with current mental health issues	Self-developed survey (12 important domains were grounded on ratings of a focus group of service users) Previous and current psychological problems, help-seeking behavior, and computer literacy Expectations, attitudes, and acceptability ratings: importance of domains of mental health services Perceived benefits and likelihood of future use of e-mental health and m-mental health in comparison to traditional face-to-face therapy and self-help books	Preference toward using traditional to e-mental health programs and m-mental health apps Face-to-face treatments were most likely to meet respondents’ expectations in most important domains (eg, helpfulness, credibility) Overweight of negative attitudes and expectations about e-mental health and m-mental health self-help services mHealth apps had the lowest acceptability ratings when compared with other mental health services

^aNoteworthy features of the sample are shown in italics. All surveys included in this scoping review reported sociodemographic information and had informed consent as inclusion criteria for participation.

^bMeasures used by [42]: DDS=devaluation discrimination scale; MHLC-C=multidimensional health locus of control scales, form C; VARK=VARK learning styles inventory; TIPI=ten-item big-five personality inventory.

^cConvenience sample from Australia.

^dConvenience sample from Australia.

^eRCT: randomized controlled trial.

^fPanel interviews from Germany.

^gConvenience sample from England.