The Impact of Using Electronic Forms for Mental Health Assessments on Patient Honesty to Provide Mental Health Information

Mental health screening is an important facet of primary care. This study examines the implications of using an electronic form (eForm) in medical offices when completing mental health assessments. A cross-sectional study was conducted using survey data from primary care patients (n = 4,879) regarding their experience using a tablet to complete mental health assessment forms during their appointment. This study investigated patients’ perception of their honesty and preferences when completing forms electronically. Nearly 40% of respondents stated they were able to be more honest when answering the questions digitally compared with a face-to-face interaction with their clinician. This research provides evidence of a potential benefit of digitally enhanced mental health screening.