Table 3.
Frequency of mobile device use and perceived problems of mental health services in China (N=586).
| Characteristic | Patients and family members (n=184), n (%) | Mental health professionals (n=225), n (%) | General population (n=177), n (%) | Chi-square (df) | P value | |
| Frequency of mobile device use |
|
33.8 (8) | <.001 | |||
|
|
Very often | 75 (40.8) | 131 (58.2) | 106 (59.9) |
|
|
|
|
Fairly often | 78 (42.4) | 77 (34.2) | 56 (31.6) |
|
|
|
|
Moderate | 24 (13.0) | 13 (5.8) | 15 (8.5) |
|
|
|
|
Not often | 7 (3.8) | 1 (0.4) | 0 (0.0) |
|
|
|
|
Almost not use | 0 (0.0) | 3 (1.3) | 0 (0.0) |
|
|
| Perceived difficulties of mental health services in China |
|
142.2 (18) | <.001 | |||
|
|
Difficult to find a suitable psychological counselor or institution | 49 (26.6) | 105 (46.7) | 115 (65.0) |
|
|
|
|
Limited visit time with the doctor | 80 (43.5) | 99 (44.0) | 84 (47.5) |
|
|
|
|
Heavy economic burden | 67 (36.4) | 84 (37.3) | 64 (36.2) |
|
|
|
|
Heavy transportation burden for nonlocal patients | 50 (27.2) | 100 (44.4) | 34 (19.2) |
|
|
|
|
Difficult to make an appointment to a fixed doctor | 29 (15.8) | 71 (31.6) | 42 (23.7) |
|
|
|
|
Lack of simpler procedures for regular medicine purchase | 40 (21.7) | 77 (34.2) | 23 (13.0) |
|
|
|
|
Extremely long waiting time | 47 (25.5) | 39 (17.3) | 32 (18.1) |
|
|
|
|
Difficult to make appointments | 46 (25.0) | 35 (15.6) | 28 (15.8) |
|
|
|
|
Other | 8 (4.4) | 16 (7.1) | 4 (2.3) |
|
|
| Preference for platforms |
|
83.0 (12) | <.001 | |||
|
|
Social media (WeChat or QQ) | 134 (72.8) | 123 (54.7) | 123 (69.5) |
|
|
|
|
Smartphone apps | 78 (42.4) | 169 (75.1) | 104 (58.8) |
|
|
|
|
Text message | 25 (13.6) | 19 (8.4) | 9 (5.1) |
|
|
|
|
Phone call | 35 (19.0) | 45 (20.0) | 16 (9.0) |
|
|
|
|
Websites | 21 (11.4) | 36 (16.0) | 30 (16.9) |
|
|
|
|
Other | 5 (2.7) | 6 (2.7) | 5 (2.8) |
|
|