The Use of Mobile Applications in Preventive Care and health-Related Conditions: A Review of the Literature

The purpose of this review of literature was to understand the role of mobile device applications in health related conditions and to analyze their effects on health outcomes related to the management of chronic illnesses. Implications for future use of applications in client-centered care and interpretation of the data by health care providers was also explored. Peer-reviewed, English-language research articles published from 2008 to present were included for synthesis. Study results revealed positive outcomes when health-related mobile applications were used in practice and support clinicians\u27 use of mobile applications as a tool for monitoring symptoms and communicating with individuals. The literature indicated nurses play a significant role in providing feedback, which reinforces self-care strategies and adherence, with the potential for improving outcomes. Additional research is needed to evaluate the long-term effects of applications on patient outcomes, nurses\u27 perspectives, and feasibility of implementation into practice

Evaluating the impact of physical activity apps and wearables: interdisciplinary review

Background: Although many smartphone apps and wearables have been designed to improve physical activity, their rapidly evolving nature and complexity present challenges for evaluating their impact. Traditional methodologies, such as randomized controlled trials (RCTs), can be slow. To keep pace with rapid technological development, evaluations of mobile health technologies must be efficient. Rapid alternative research designs have been proposed, and efficient in-app data collection methods, including in-device sensors and device-generated logs, are available. Along with effectiveness, it is important to measure engagement (ie, users’ interaction and usage behavior) and acceptability (ie, users’ subjective perceptions and experiences) to help explain how and why apps and wearables work. Objectives: This study aimed to (1) explore the extent to which evaluations of physical activity apps and wearables: employ rapid research designs; assess engagement, acceptability, as well as effectiveness; use efficient data collection methods; and (2) describe which dimensions of engagement and acceptability are assessed. Method: An interdisciplinary scoping review using 8 databases from health and computing sciences. Included studies measured physical activity, and evaluated physical activity apps or wearables that provided sensor-based feedback. Results were analyzed using descriptive numerical summaries, chi-square testing, and qualitative thematic analysis. Results: A total of 1829 abstracts were screened, and 858 articles read in full. Of 111 included studies, 61 (55.0%) were published between 2015 and 2017. Most (55.0%, 61/111) were RCTs, and only 2 studies (1.8%) used rapid research designs: 1 single-case design and 1 multiphase optimization strategy. Other research designs included 23 (22.5%) repeated measures designs, 11 (9.9%) nonrandomized group designs, 10 (9.0%) case studies, and 4 (3.6%) observational studies. Less than one-third of the studies (32.0%, 35/111) investigated effectiveness, engagement, and acceptability together. To measure physical activity, most studies (90.1%, 101/111) employed sensors (either in-device [67.6%, 75/111] or external [23.4%, 26/111]). RCTs were more likely to employ external sensors (accelerometers: P=.005). Studies that assessed engagement (52.3%, 58/111) mostly used device-generated logs (91%, 53/58) to measure the frequency, depth, and length of engagement. Studies that assessed acceptability (57.7%, 64/111) most often used questionnaires (64%, 42/64) and/or qualitative methods (53%, 34/64) to explore appreciation, perceived effectiveness and usefulness, satisfaction, intention to continue use, and social acceptability. Some studies (14.4%, 16/111) assessed dimensions more closely related to usability (ie, burden of sensor wear and use, interface complexity, and perceived technical performance). Conclusions: The rapid increase of research into the impact of physical activity apps and wearables means that evaluation guidelines are urgently needed to promote efficiency through the use of rapid research designs, in-device sensors and user-logs to assess effectiveness, engagement, and acceptability. Screening articles was time-consuming because reporting across health and computing sciences lacked standardization. Reporting guidelines are therefore needed to facilitate the synthesis of evidence across disciplines

Screen Time and Productivity: An Extension of Goal-setting Theory to Explain Optimum Smartphone Use

Over the past several years, much research has examined the negative consequences that can arise from smartphone use. To help reduce these consequences, companies have developed smartphone applications and features to enable self-monitoring behaviors. However, the mechanisms that have caused smartphone-enabled self-monitoring behaviors to emerge and the positive outcomes that might result from such behaviors have received limited scholarly attention. In this study, we ameliorate this gap by proposing a framework that highlights key antecedents and outcomes of screen- time self-monitoring success based on a smartphone-based self-monitoring intervention. Informed by a short-term longitudinal study, our results show how smartphone-based self-monitoring can enhance awareness of smartphone use and, consequently, lead to positive outcomes for users. Our findings reveal that how users perceive smartphone self- monitoring affordances, their outcome expectations, and their smartphone self-monitoring efficacy positively relate to the extent they engage in smartphone-based self-monitoring behavior. In turn, self-monitoring enhances user productivity and leads to an overall sense of contentment with achievement. Nevertheless, our findings suggest that self-monitoring fatigue negatively moderates these relationships. This study offers novel theoretical and practical insights to encourage users to use smartphones in a more regulated manner. More generally, this study contributes to the literature on self-monitoring and self-regulation in digitally enabled environments

Use of m-Health Technology for Preventive Interventions to Tackle Cardiometabolic Conditions and Other Non-Communicable Diseases in Latin America- Challenges and Opportunities

In Latin America, cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality rates will increase by an estimated 145% from 1990 to 2020. Several challenges related to social strains, inadequate public health infrastructure, and underfinanced healthcare systems make cardiometabolic conditions and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) difficult to prevent and control. On the other hand, the region has high mobile phone coverage, making mobile health (mHealth) particularly attractive to complement and improve strategies toward prevention and control of these conditions in low- and middle-income countries. In this article, we describe the experiences of three Centers of Excellence for prevention and control of NCDs sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute with mHealth interventions to address cardiometabolic conditions and other NCDs in Argentina, Guatemala, and Peru. The nine studies described involved the design and implementation of complex interventions targeting providers, patients and the public. The rationale, design of the interventions, and evaluation of processes and outcomes of each of these studies are described, together with barriers and enabling factors associated with their implementation.Fil: Beratarrechea, Andrea Gabriela. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Diez Canseco, Francisco. Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia; PerúFil: Irazola, Vilma. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Miranda, Jaime. Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia; PerúFil: Ramirez Zea, Manuel. Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama; GuatemalaFil: Rubinstein, Adolfo Luis. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

The Use of Mobile Applications in Preventive Care and Health-Related Conditions: A Review of the Literature

The purpose of this review of literature is to understand the role of mobile device applications (apps) in health-related conditions and to analyze their effects on health outcomes related to the management of chronic illnesses. The author also explores implications for the future use of apps in patient-centered care and interpretation of the data by health care providers. Peer-reviewed, English-language research articles published from 2008 to present are included for synthesis. Study results reveal positive outcomes when health-related mobile apps were used in practice and support clinicians\u27 use of mobile apps as a tool for monitoring symptoms and communicating with individuals. The literature indicates nurses play a significant role in providing feedback, which reinforces self-care strategies and adherence with the potential for improving outcomes. Additional research is needed to evaluate the long-term effects of apps on patient outcomes, nurses\u27 perspectives, and feasibility of implementation into practice

AI-Enabled Smartphone-Based Intervention Mental Health Application for University Students

The novel COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in lockdowns and university campus closure which affected the mental health of university students negatively. This was reflected in mental disorders, with emotional, physical fitness, exercise, and studying are the most affected aspects during the pandemic. The design and development of a smartphone application is the objective of this paper. The app\u27s goal is to assist university students in improving their mental health and overall quality of life by answering a structured questionnaire at first then the app uses artificial intelligence for sentiment analysis of a user’s social interaction. Then the app connects the user with random peers who share similar mental sentiments to chat with and if there is no peer available, a chatbot is used. In case of significant loneliness, the app connects the user with caregivers, community volunteers, and health professionals

Self-monitoring Practices, Attitudes, and Needs of Individuals with Bipolar Disorder: Implications for the Design of Technologies to Manage Mental Health

Objective To understand self-monitoring strategies used independently of clinical treatment by individuals with bipolar disorder (BD), in order to recommend technology design principles to support mental health management. Materials and Methods Participants with BD (N = 552) were recruited through the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, the International Bipolar Foundation, and WeSearchTogether.org to complete a survey of closed- and open-ended questions. In this study, we focus on descriptive results and qualitative analyses. Results Individuals reported primarily self-monitoring items related to their bipolar disorder (mood, sleep, finances, exercise, and social interactions), with an increasing trend towards the use of digital tracking methods observed. Most participants reported having positive experiences with technology-based tracking because it enables self-reflection and agency regarding health management and also enhances lines of communication with treatment teams. Reported challenges stem from poor usability or difficulty interpreting self-tracked data. Discussion Two major implications for technology-based self-monitoring emerged from our results. First, technologies can be designed to be more condition-oriented, intuitive, and proactive. Second, more automated forms of digital symptom tracking and intervention are desired, and our results suggest the feasibility of detecting and predicting emotional states from patterns of technology usage. However, we also uncovered tension points, namely that technology designed to support mental health can also be a disruptor. Conclusion This study provides increased understanding of self-monitoring practices, attitudes, and needs of individuals with bipolar disorder. This knowledge bears implications for clinical researchers and practitioners seeking insight into how individuals independently self-manage their condition as well as for researchers designing monitoring technologies to support mental health management

Data, Data Everywhere, and Still Too Hard to Link: Insights from User Interactions with Diabetes Apps

For those with chronic conditions, such as Type 1 diabetes, smartphone apps offer the promise of an affordable, convenient, and personalized disease management tool. How- ever, despite significant academic research and commercial development in this area, diabetes apps still show low adoption rates and underwhelming clinical outcomes. Through user-interaction sessions with 16 people with Type 1 diabetes, we provide evidence that commonly used interfaces for diabetes self-management apps, while providing certain benefits, can fail to explicitly address the cognitive and emotional requirements of users. From analysis of these sessions with eight such user interface designs, we report on user requirements, as well as interface benefits, limitations, and then discuss the implications of these findings. Finally, with the goal of improving these apps, we identify 3 questions for designers, and review for each in turn: current shortcomings, relevant approaches, exposed challenges, and potential solutions

Preference for health information and decision-making autonomy among Chinese patients with T2DM in the mHealth era

This quantitative descriptive study explored preferences for health information and decision-making and for mobile health (mHealth) use in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Specific aims of this study were: to explore (1) individual preferences for the types and amounts of health information and decision-making autonomy among Chinese patients with T2DM; (2) their use of mobile technology in their self-management of the condition; and (3) the relationship between their use of mHealth and their preferences for health information and decision-making autonomy. The sample consisted of 200 Mandarin-speaking Chinese patients from 26 to 90 years of age (mean age 59.91; SD: 12.17) with T2DM and a mean of 7.4 years since diabetes diagnosis. Data were collected via a pen-and-paper survey questionnaire at a general hospital in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, China. The survey questionnaire measured preferences for health information and decision-making autonomy and mHealth use. The study results provided empirical evidence that Chinese patients with T2DM wanted to have a wide range of health information and participation in decision-making. Gender, health status, and knowledge about the condition were associated with differences in information wanted and participation in decision-making, but age was not. Half (50.5%) of the participants used smartphones to access the Internet and look for health or medical information; 71% of participants used smartphones to receive/read health-related posts; and 24% of participants had at least one health-related application downloaded to their smartphones. Smartphone use frequency for health information and participation in decision-making had a statistically significant interaction, the strength of which varied across seven subscales (specific health condition, treatment, laboratory tests, self-management, complementary/alternative medicine, psychosocial aspects, and healthcare providers). The overall health information wanted had a positive relationship with using smartphones to receive health-related posts. This study has implications for research and clinical practice, especially given the shift from disease-centered to patient-centered care.Nursin

The Effects of a Mobile Fitness Application on Weight Management and Physical Acticity Amongst University Students

The prevalence of obesity, and obesity related diseases throughout America, specifically in regard to the college student population has steadily climbed over the course of the last forty years, due largely in part to the increase in sedentary lifestyle behaviors, amongst other factors (Swanson, 2016). Physical activity has been widely recognized as a valid means of combatting obesity and weight gain while promoting health related quality of life (Swanson, 2016). Therefore, implementing strategies aimed at increasing physical fitness in attempt to control weight management is imperative to promoting improved health outcomes. The purpose of this evidence-based project was to examine the effects that the mobile fitness application “My Fitness Pal” had on weight management and prevalence of physical activity amongst university students. Theoretically, the project was designed with aid of the Health Belief Model to promote self-efficacy of participants and motivate them to engage in physical activity to achieve health benefits. A convenience sample of undergraduate students was drawn from a Midwestern Lutheran University. Participants provided baseline information regarding their physical activity and bodyweight measurement and then were presented with an educational intervention that promoted the use of a mobile fitness application, along with customized exercise tips and resources available on the university campus to encourage them to participate and log physical activity. In order to ascertain the effectiveness of the exercise promotion intervention, paired sample t-tests will be utilized to compare participant’s caloric expenditure, BMI, and exercise self-efficacy scores both pre and post intervention. The software program Intellectus Statistics will be utilized to complete all statistical analysis with a statistical significance level set at p \u3c 0.5. Implications for practice will be further discussed