Exploring Student Preferences for Unguided Preventive Interventions for Depression: A Q-Methodology Study
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Background: Depression is prevalent among health professional (HP) students, yet mental health services remain underused because of stigma and limited mental health literacy. Unguided preventive interventions for depression (UPIDs) are effective but often struggle with low engagement. Designing UPIDs based on user preferences will increase their engagement. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the patterns of HPs’ preferences for UPID. Methods: This mixed-methods study employed a Q-methodology to explore preference patterns for UPID among HP students. The qualitative phase identified five themes: privacy, expected effectiveness, expert support, engagement factors, and the unguided nature. The Q-sorting phase was completed by fifty students. The data were analyzed via principal component and Q factor analyses. Findings: The analysis identified five preference patterns among HP students: effectiveness-oriented optimism, practical engagement, maximizing benefit and convenience, prioritizing privacy and caution, and trusting the expert. Novelty: This study offers the first empirically derived typology of HP students’ UPID preferences, identifying unreported patterns. This typology points to two research directions for UPID programs. First, discrete choice experiments or segmentation studies should be used to determine the distribution of preference patterns. Second, examining actual preferences and behaviors in existing UPIDs can guide program modifications to improve engagement and sustainability.
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