A Process Evaluation of a Web-Based Mental Health Portal (WalkAlong) Using Google Analytics

SONG, Michael Jae, John WARD, Fiona CHOI, Mohammadali NIKOO, Anastasia FRANK, Farhud SHAMS, Katarína TABI, Daniel VIGO and Michael KRAUSZ. A Process Evaluation of a Web-Based Mental Health Portal (WalkAlong) Using Google Analytics. JMIR MENTAL HEALTH. TORONTO: JMIR PUBLICATIONS, INC, 2018, vol. 5, No 3, p. 1-10. ISSN 2368-7959. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.2196/mental.8594.

Basic information

Original name

A Process Evaluation of a Web-Based Mental Health Portal (WalkAlong) Using Google Analytics

Authors

SONG, Michael Jae (124 Canada, guarantor), John WARD (124 Canada), Fiona CHOI (124 Canada), Mohammadali NIKOO (124 Canada), Anastasia FRANK (124 Canada), Farhud SHAMS (124 Canada), Katarína TABI (703 Slovakia, belonging to the institution), Daniel VIGO (124 Canada) and Michael KRAUSZ (124 Canada)

Edition

JMIR MENTAL HEALTH, TORONTO, JMIR PUBLICATIONS, INC, 2018, 2368-7959

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Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

30215 Psychiatry

Country of publisher

Canada

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14110/18:00104364

Organization unit

Faculty of Medicine

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/mental.8594

UT WoS

000449378700001

Keywords in English

evaluation; Google Analytics; mental health; website

Tags

14110516, rivok

Tags

International impact, Reviewed

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Abstract

V originále

Background: Despite the increasing amount of research on Web-based mental health interventions with proven efficacy, high attrition rates decrease their effectiveness. Continued process evaluations should be performed to maximize the target population's engagement. Google Analytics has been used to evaluate various health-related Web-based programs and may also be useful for Web-based mental health programs. Objective: The objective of our study was to evaluate WalkAlong.ca , a youth-oriented mental health web-portal, using Google Analytics to inform the improvement strategy for the platform and to demonstrate the use of Google Analytics as a tool for process evaluation of Web-based mental health interventions. Methods: Google Analytics was used to monitor user activity during WalkAlong's first year of operation (Nov 13, 2013-Nov 13, 2014). Selected Google Analytic variables were overall website engagement including pages visited per session, utilization rate of specific features, and user access mode and location. Results: The results included data from 3076 users viewing 29,299 pages. Users spent less average time on Mindsteps (0 minute 35 seconds) and self-exercises (1 minute 08 seconds), which are important self-help tools, compared with that on the Screener tool (3 minutes 4 seconds). Of all visitors, 82.3% (4378/5318) were desktop users, followed by 12.7 % (677/5318) mobile phone and 5.0% (263/5318) tablet users. Both direct traffic (access via URL) and referrals by email had more than 7 pages viewed per session and longer than average time of 6 minutes per session. The majority of users (67%) accessed the platform from Canada. Conclusions: Engagement and feature utilization rates are higher among people who receive personal invitations to visit the site. Low utilization rates with specific features offer a starting place for further exploration of users in order to identify the root cause. The data provided by Google Analytics, although informative, can be supplemented by other evaluation methods (ie, qualitative methods) in order to better determine the modifications required to improve user engagement. Google Analytics can play a vital role in highlighting the preferences of those using Web-based mental health tools.