OBJECTIVES:

Anxiety and depression are prevalent in young people. Web-based mental health interventions (W-MHIs) have potential to reduce anxiety and depression, yet level of engagement remains poor. This study aims to examine the relative importance of different program features in influencing young people’s engagement with W-MHIs.

METHODS:

A discrete choice experiment (DCE) was conducted among young people aged 18-25 years with self-reported anxiety and/or depression in Australia. The DCE design comprised of six attributes identified from the literature and interviews, including (1) program cost, (2) access to trained instructors, (3) total time spent on the program, (4) initial screening, (5) in-program assessments, and (6) communication with users. The DCE design was constructed using a D-efficient approach and consisted of two blocks, each with eight choice tasks. A mixed logit model with main effects only was performed to elicit respondents’ preferences towards W-MHIs.

RESULTS:

A total of 151 participants (mean age: 21.5 years, 65.4% female) completed the survey. We found that participants strongly preferred programs that were low cost, with access to in-program assessments and trained instructors, especially via video calls. No statistical significance was found in terms of communication with users or initial screening test. Participants preferred most to spend 5 hours on the entire program. Significant preference heterogeneity between participants was observed in cost and communication with users.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our preliminary findings suggest a strong preference for accessing trained instructors. Future W-MHIs should integrate health professional contact into the program while maintaining low cost. Preference heterogeneity across individuals highlights the importance of W-MHI versatility to tailor individual needs in using W-MHIs. As data collection is still ongoing, results will be updated once the target sample is reached.