Affiliations: [a] University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA | [b] College of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji | [c] College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, TX, USA | [d] Center for Cognitive Studies in Medicine and Public Health, The New York Academy of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: M. Sriram Iyengar, University of Arizona College of Medicine, 475 North 5 th St, #E967C, Phoenix, AZ, USA. Tel.: +1 602 827 2986; E-mail: msiyengar@email.arizona.edu.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: In Fiji and other South Pacific island countries, depression and suicide are of great concern. There is a pressing need to rapidly identify those at risk and provide treatment as soon as possible. OBJECTIVE: Design, develop and test a mobile health tool that enables CHNs to easily and rapidly identify individuals at risk for suicide and depression and provide guidelines for their treatment. METHODS: Using Android Studio, a native app called ASRaDA was developed that encoded two validated scales: Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D), and Suicide Behavior Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R). The usability of the app was measured using the System Usability Scale by community health nurses in Fiji. RESULTS: Out of a maximim possible of 100 on SUS, ASRaDA was scored at 86.79. CONCLUSION: Mobile tools with high usability can be designed to aid community health nurses in Fiji and Pacific island counties rapidly identify those at risk for depression and suicide.
Keywords: Mental health, global health, screening, usability, community health nurses
