Gender Differences in Satisfaction With a Text Messaging Program (Text4Hope) and Anticipated Receptivity to Technology-Based Health Support During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-sectional Survey Study

• DOI: 10.2196/24184
• Publication Date: 2021-03-08T21:36:40Z
• Authors: Reham Shalaby; Wesley Vuong; Marianne Hrabok; April Gusnowski; Kelly Mrklas; Daniel Li; Mark Snaterse; Shireen Surood; Bo Cao; Xin-Min Li; Russell Greiner; Andrew James Gree...; Vincent Israel Op...
• Keywords: Perceived Stress Scale; Pandemic; Cross-sectional study

In March 2020, Text4Hope-a community health service-was provided to Alberta residents. This free service aims promote psychological resilience and alleviate pandemic-associated stress, anxiety, depression symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.This study aimed evaluate feedback, satisfaction, experience, perceptions of Text4Hope subscribers examine any differences based on gender after received 6 weeks daily supportive text messages. Additionally, this examined subscribers' anticipated receptivity technology-based medical services that could be offered major crises, emergencies, or pandemics.Individuals self-subscribed receive messages for 3 months. Subscribers were invited complete a web-based survey at postintervention provide satisfaction-related information. Overall satisfaction was assessed scale 0-10, scores analyzed using related-measures t test. Likert responses used assess various aspects program. Gender one-way analysis variance (ANOVA) Chi-square analyses.A total 2032 completed baseline 6-week surveys; 1788 (88%) female, 219 (10.8%) male, 25 (1.2%) other gender. The mean age participants 44.58 years (SD 13.45 years). overall score 8.55 1.78), suggesting high with Text4Hope. ANOVA analysis, which conducted Welch test (n=1716), demonstrated females had significantly higher than males (8.65 vs 8.11, respectively; difference=0.546; 95% CI 0.19 0.91; P<.001) nonsignificantly lower respondents (mean difference=-0.938; -0.37 2.25; P=.15). More 70% agreed helped them cope stress (1334/1731, 77.1%) anxiety (1309/1728, 75.8%), feel connected support system (1400/1729, 81%), manage COVID-19-related issues (1279/1728, 74%), improve mental well-being (1308/1731, 75.6%). Similarly, positive, affirmative, succinct. Messages always often read by 97.9% (1681/1716) respondents, more 20% (401/1716, 23.4%) returned majority (1471/1666, 88.3%) either reflected upon took positive action. welcomed almost all as part their care crisis emergency situations. perceived effective many female subscribers, who reported improved coping receiving weeks.Respondents affirmed quality feedback. Technology-based can remotely accessible population-level interventions align recommended physical distancing practices pandemics. subscriber feedback revealed acceptance postintervention.RR2-10.2196/19292.