General Practitioners’ Perspectives on Digital Health Applications for Mental Disorders and Their Prescribing Behavior: Mixed Methods Study

Sep 29, 2026

Mental disorders create major pressure on health care systems, and digital health applications (DHAs) for mental disorders were introduced in Germany in 2020 as statutory health insurance–financed tools. The study examines general practitioners’ perspectives on DHA-MD and their prescribing behavior. A mixed methods design combines a Germany-wide online survey and qualitative interviews conducted January–October 2024, integrating descriptive prescribing analyses, regression modeling, and qualitative content analysis.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Background

Objective

Methods

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Introduction

JMIR MENTAL HEALTH Scheibe et al Original Paper General Practitioners’ Perspectives on Digital Health Applications for Mental Disorders and Their Prescribing Behavior: Mixed Methods Study | Sandy Scheibe 1 , MPH; Sandra Salm2,3 , PhD; Karola Mergenthal2 , PhD; Deborah Engesser4 , MSc; Esther Stalujanis4,5,6 , PhD; Susanne Singer4,7 , PhD; Pascal Kemmerer4 , MSc; Lena Dotzauer4 , PhD; Karen Voigt 1 , PhD | | --- | | 1Department of General Practice, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TUD Dresden University of Technology, 01307 Dresden, Germany
2Institute of General Practice, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
3Medical Psychology—Neuropsychology and Gender Studies and Center for Neuropsychological Diagnostics and Intervention (CeNDI), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany
4Division of Epidemiology and Health Services Research, Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
5Department of Consultation-Liaison-Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland 6Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy–Methods and Approaches, Trier University, Trier, Germany
7Department of Quality of Life in Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (CCC-MV), University Medical Centre Rostock, Rostock, Germany
Corresponding Author:
Sandy Scheibe, MPH
Department of General Practice
Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TUD Dresden University of Technology Fetscherstraße 74
01307 Dresden Germany
Phone: 49 351-45889240
Fax: 49 351-4588836
Email: [sandy.scheibe@ukdd.de](sandy.scheibe@ukdd.de)
Abstract | Background: The high number of mental disorders poses challenges for health care systems. In 2020, digital health applications (DHAs) were introduced in Germany as a new form of health care financed by the statutory health insurance. They aim to detect, monitor, treat, or alleviate disease, injury, or disability. DHAs for mental disorders (DHA-MD) intend to improve outpatient care for patients with mental disorders. However, evidence on general practitioners’(GPs’) perspectives on DHA-MD and their prescribing behavior is limited. Objective: This study aimed to analyze GPs’ perspectives on DHA-MD and their prescribing behavior in the care of patients with mental disorders. Methods: A mixed methods study was conducted (January-October 2024), including a Germany-wide online survey and qualitative interviews with GPs and medical assistants (MAs). Sampling was conducted in collaboration with German research practice networks, which distributed the study invitation to their affiliated GPs. The questionnaire as well as the interview guides for GPs and MAs was developed by the study team according to the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Descriptive analyses of prescribing behavior and perceived need (measured on an 11-point scale) for DHA-MD were conducted, followed by multivariate regression analyses to identify predictors of prescribing behavior and perceived need for DHA-MD. The interviews with GPs and MAs were analyzed using qualitative content analysis according to Mayring. Results: A sample of 149 GPs participated, and 12 GPs as well as 5 MAs were interviewed. The median prescription frequency of DHA-MD per quarter was 1, whereas the median estimated need was 3. Working in a half digitized and half paper-based practice (odds ratio 5.133, 95% CI 1.695‐15.542) as well as working in a completely digitized practice (odds ratio 3.006, 95% CI 1.296‐6.969) positively predicted the prescribing behavior. The duration of GPs’ medical practice (b=−0.057; P= .01) negatively predicted the perceived need, while working in a group practice (b=0.980; P= .02) positively predicted [htt

FAQs

What is the study’s main objective?

To analyze general practitioners’ perspectives on digital health applications for mental disorders (DHA-MD) and their prescribing behavior in caring for patients with mental disorders.

How was the study conducted?

It used a mixed methods approach from January to October 2024, combining a Germany-wide online survey with qualitative interviews of general practitioners and medical assistants.

What factors were associated with prescribing DHA-MD?

Working in a half digitized/half paper-based practice and working in a completely digitized practice positively predicted prescribing behavior, while GP practice duration negatively predicted perceived need.

Sep 29, 2026

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