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Ali S, Alizai H, Hagos DJ, Rubio SR, Calabia D, Serrano Jimenez P, Senthil VA, Appel L. mHealth Apps for Dementia, Alzheimer Disease, and Other Neurocognitive Disorders: Systematic Search and Environmental Scan. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2024; 12:e50186. [PMID: 38959029 PMCID: PMC11255539 DOI: 10.2196/50186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lifestyle behaviors including exercise, sleep, diet, stress, mental stimulation, and social interaction significantly impact the likelihood of developing dementia. Mobile health (mHealth) apps have been valuable tools in addressing these lifestyle behaviors for general health and well-being, and there is growing recognition of their potential use for brain health and dementia prevention. Effective apps must be evidence-based and safeguard user data, addressing gaps in the current state of dementia-related mHealth apps. OBJECTIVE This study aims to describe the scope of available apps for dementia prevention and risk factors, highlighting gaps and suggesting a path forward for future development. METHODS A systematic search of mobile app stores, peer-reviewed literature, dementia and Alzheimer association websites, and browser searches was conducted from October 19, 2022, to November 2, 2022. A total of 1044 mHealth apps were retrieved. After screening, 152 apps met the inclusion criteria and were coded by paired, independent reviewers using an extraction framework. The framework was adapted from the Silberg scale, other scoping reviews of mHealth apps for similar populations, and background research on modifiable dementia risk factors. Coded elements included evidence-based and expert credibility, app features, lifestyle elements of focus, and privacy and security. RESULTS Of the 152 apps that met the final selection criteria, 88 (57.9%) addressed modifiable lifestyle behaviors associated with reducing dementia risk. However, many of these apps (59/152, 38.8%) only addressed one lifestyle behavior, with mental stimulation being the most frequently addressed. More than half (84/152, 55.2%) scored 2 points out of 9 on the Silberg scale, with a mean score of 2.4 (SD 1.0) points. Most of the 152 apps did not disclose essential information: 120 (78.9%) did not disclose expert consultation, 125 (82.2%) did not disclose evidence-based information, 146 (96.1%) did not disclose author credentials, and 134 (88.2%) did not disclose their information sources. In addition, 105 (69.2%) apps did not disclose adherence to data privacy and security practices. CONCLUSIONS There is an opportunity for mHealth apps to support individuals in engaging in behaviors linked to reducing dementia risk. While there is a market for these products, there is a lack of dementia-related apps focused on multiple lifestyle behaviors. Gaps in the rigor of app development regarding evidence base, credibility, and adherence to data privacy and security standards must be addressed. Following established and validated guidelines will be necessary for dementia-related apps to be effective and advance successfully.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suad Ali
- Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Knowledge, Innovation, Talent, Everywhere, OpenLab, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Women's Brain Health Initiative, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hira Alizai
- Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | | | - Dale Calabia
- Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | | | - Lora Appel
- Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Knowledge, Innovation, Talent, Everywhere, OpenLab, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Michael Garron Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Pokharel A, Ramalho R, Das BK, Rongmei L, Jatchavala C, Gürcan A, Ransing R. Technology-based Interventions to Reduce the Treatment Gap for Common Perinatal Mental Disorders in Low- and Middle-income Countries (LMICs): Challenges and the Way Forward. Indian J Psychol Med 2024; 46:370-372. [PMID: 39056036 PMCID: PMC11268284 DOI: 10.1177/02537176231225649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Arpana Pokharel
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Clinical Neurosciences, and Addiction Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Guwahati, Assam, India
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Devdaha Medical College, Devdaha, Nepal, India
| | - Rodrigo Ramalho
- Dept. of Social and Community Health, School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Bipul Kumar Das
- Dept. of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Lungan Rongmei
- Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Chonnakarn Jatchavala
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Clinical Neurosciences, and Addiction Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Guwahati, Assam, India
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand
| | - Ahmet Gürcan
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Başkent University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ramdas Ransing
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Clinical Neurosciences, and Addiction Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Guwahati, Assam, India
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand
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Lau Y, Chew HSJ, Ang WHD, Ang WW, Yeo CY, Lim GZQ, Wong SH, Lau ST, Cheng LJ. Effects of digital health interventions on the psychological outcomes of perinatal women: umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Health Psychol Rev 2024; 18:229-254. [PMID: 36919443 DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2023.2185654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Evidence about the effects of digital health interventions (DHIs) on the psychological outcomes of perinatal women is increasing but remains inconsistent. An umbrella review was conducted to (1) assess the effect of DHIs on depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms and (2) compare the effects of DHIs on different digital platforms and population natures. Ten databases were searched from inception until December 23, 2022. The Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman random-effects meta-analyses were utilised. Methodological quality was evaluated using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2). Twenty-four systematic reviews with 41 meta-analyses involving 45,509 perinatal women from 264 primary studies were included. The credibility of the evidence of meta-analyses was rated as highly suggestive (4.88%), suggestive (26.83%), weak (51.22%) or non-significant (17.07%) according to AMSTAR-2. Our findings suggest that DHIs are beneficial for reducing stress symptoms. However, conflicting effects were found on anxiety symptoms. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses suggested that DHIs effectively improve depressive symptoms in postnatal women, and DHIs using the website platform are highly effective in stress reduction. DHIs can be implemented adjuvant to usual obstetric care to improve depressive and stress symptoms. Additional well-designed RCTs with long-term follow-up are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Lau
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Han Shi Jocelyn Chew
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wei How Darryl Ang
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wen Wei Ang
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chin Yi Yeo
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Grace Zhi Qi Lim
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Siew Tiang Lau
- Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ling Jie Cheng
- Health Systems and Behavioural Science Domain, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Ameyaw EK, Amoah PA, Ezezika O. Effectiveness of mHealth Apps for Maternal Health Care Delivery: Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews. J Med Internet Res 2024; 26:e49510. [PMID: 38810250 PMCID: PMC11170050 DOI: 10.2196/49510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Globally, the use of mobile health (mHealth) apps or interventions has increased. Robust synthesis of existing systematic reviews on mHealth apps may offer useful insights to guide maternal health clinicians and policy makers. OBJECTIVE This systematic review aims to assess the effectiveness or impact of mHealth apps on maternal health care delivery globally. METHODS We systematically searched Scopus, Web of Science (Core Collection), MEDLINE or PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews using a predeveloped search strategy. The quality of the reviews was independently assessed by 3 reviewers, while study selection was done by 2 independent raters. We presented a narrative synthesis of the findings, highlighting the specific mHealth apps, where they are implemented, and their effectiveness or outcomes toward various maternal conditions. RESULTS A total of 2527 documents were retrieved, out of which 16 documents were included in the review. Most mHealth apps were implemented by sending SMS text messages with mobile phones. mHealth interventions were most effective in 5 areas: maternal anxiety and depression, diabetes in pregnancy, gestational weight management, maternal health care use, behavioral modification toward smoking cessation, and controlling substance use during pregnancy. We noted that mHealth interventions for maternal health care are skewed toward high-income countries (13/16, 81%). CONCLUSIONS The effectiveness of mHealth apps for maternity health care has drawn attention in research and practice recently. The study showed that research on mHealth apps and their use dominate in high-income countries. As a result, it is imperative that low- and middle-income countries intensify their commitment to these apps for maternal health care, in terms of use and research. TRIAL REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42022365179; https://tinyurl.com/e5yxyx77.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Kwabena Ameyaw
- Institute of Policy Studies, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, China (Hong Kong)
- School of Graduate Studies, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, China (Hong Kong)
| | - Padmore Adusei Amoah
- Institute of Policy Studies, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, China (Hong Kong)
- School of Graduate Studies, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, China (Hong Kong)
- Department of Psychology, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, China (Hong Kong)
| | - Obidimma Ezezika
- Global Health & Innovation Lab, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Health Studies, Western University, London, ON, Canada
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Khosravi M, Azar G. A systematic review of reviews on the advantages of mHealth utilization in mental health services: A viable option for large populations in low-resource settings. Glob Ment Health (Camb) 2024; 11:e43. [PMID: 38690573 PMCID: PMC11058521 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2024.39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Global mental health services face challenges such as stigma and a shortage of trained professionals, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, which hinder access to high-quality care. Mobile health interventions, commonly referred to as mHealth, have shown to have the capacity to confront and solve most of the challenges within mental health services. This paper conducted a comprehensive investigation in 2024 to identify all review studies published between 2000 and 2024 that investigate the advantages of mHealth in mental health services. The databases searched included PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane and ProQuest. The quality of the final papers was assessed and a thematic analysis was performed to categorize the obtained data. 11 papers were selected as final studies. The final studies were considered to be of good quality. The risk of bias within the final studies was shown to be in a convincing level. The main advantages of mHealth interventions were categorized into four major themes: 'accessibility, convenience and adaptability', 'patient-centeredness', 'data insights' and 'efficiency and effectiveness'. The findings of the study suggested that mHealth interventions can be a viable and promising option for delivering mental health services to large and diverse populations, particularly in vulnerable groups and low-resource settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Khosravi
- Department of Healthcare Management, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ghazaleh Azar
- Department of Consultation and Mental Health, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
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Smolinska S, Popescu FD, Izquierdo E, Antolín-Amérigo D, Price OJ, Alvarez-Perea A, Eguíluz Gracia I, Papadopoulos NG, Pfaar O, Fassio F, Hoffmann-Sommergruber K, Dramburg S, Agache I, Jutel M, Brough HA, Fonseca JA, Angier E, Boccabella C, Bonini M, Dunn Galvin A, Gibson PG, Gawlik R, Hannachi F, Kalayci Ö, Klimek L, Knibb R, Matricardi P, Chivato T. Telemedicine with special focus on allergic diseases and asthma-Status 2022: An EAACI position paper. Allergy 2024; 79:777-792. [PMID: 38041429 DOI: 10.1111/all.15964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Efficacious, effective and efficient communication between healthcare professionals (HCP) and patients is essential to achieve a successful therapeutic alliance. Telemedicine (TM) has been used for decades but during the COVID-19 pandemic its use has become widespread. This position paper aims to describe the terminology and most important forms of TM among HCP and patients and review the existing studies on the uses of TM for asthma and allergy. Besides, the advantages and risks of TM are discussed, concluding that TM application reduces costs and time for both, HCP and patients, but cannot completely replace face-to-face visits for physical examinations and certain tests that are critical in asthma and allergy. From an ethical point of view, it is important to identify those involved in the TM process, ensure confidentiality and use communication channels that fully guarantee the security of the information. Unmet needs and directions for the future regarding implementation, data protection, privacy regulations, methodology and efficacy are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylwia Smolinska
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Florin-Dan Popescu
- Department of Allergology, Nicolae Malaxa Clinical Hospital, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Elena Izquierdo
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Facultad de Medicina, Institute of Applied Molecular Medicine Instituto de Medicina Molecular Aplicada Nemesio Díez (IMMA), Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Urbanización Montepríncipe, Madrid, Spain
| | - Darío Antolín-Amérigo
- Servicio de Alergia, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Oliver J Price
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Alberto Alvarez-Perea
- Allergy Service, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- Gregorio Marañón Health Research Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ibon Eguíluz Gracia
- Allergy Department, Hospital Regional Universitario de Malaga and Allergy Research Group, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga (IBIMA-Plataforma BIONAND). RICORS "Inflammatory Diseases", Malaga, Spain
| | - Nikolaos G Papadopoulos
- Allergy Department, 2nd Pediatric Clinic, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Oliver Pfaar
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Section of Rhinology and Allergy, University Hospital Marburg, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Stephanie Dramburg
- Department of Pediatric Respiratory Care, Immunology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ioana Agache
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology at Transylvania University, Brasov, Romania
| | - Marek Jutel
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
- "ALL-MED" Medical Research Institute, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Helen A Brough
- Children's Allergy Service, Evelina Children's Hospital, Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital, London, UK
- Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - João A Fonseca
- CINTESIS@RISE, MEDCIDS, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Elizabeth Angier
- Primary Care, Population Science and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Cristina Boccabella
- Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Bonini
- Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Surgical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI), Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Peter G Gibson
- John Hunter Hospital, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Radoslaw Gawlik
- Department of Internal Medicine, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Farah Hannachi
- Immuno-Allergology Unit, Hospital Centre of Luxembourg, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
| | - Ömer Kalayci
- Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ludger Klimek
- Center for Rhinology and Allergology, Wiesbaden, Germany
| | - Rebecca Knibb
- School of Psychology, College of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK
| | - Paolo Matricardi
- Department of Pediatric Respiratory Care, Immunology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tomás Chivato
- Department of Clinical Medical Sciences, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Urbanización Montepríncipe, Madrid, Spain
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van Kessel R, Roman-Urrestarazu A, Anderson M, Kyriopoulos I, Field S, Monti G, Reed SD, Pavlova M, Wharton G, Mossialos E. Mapping Factors That Affect the Uptake of Digital Therapeutics Within Health Systems: Scoping Review. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e48000. [PMID: 37490322 PMCID: PMC10410406 DOI: 10.2196/48000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Digital therapeutics are patient-facing digital health interventions that can significantly alter the health care landscape. Despite digital therapeutics being used to successfully treat a range of conditions, their uptake in health systems remains limited. Understanding the full spectrum of uptake factors is essential to identify ways in which policy makers and providers can facilitate the adoption of effective digital therapeutics within a health system, as well as the steps developers can take to assist in the deployment of products. OBJECTIVE In this review, we aimed to map the most frequently discussed factors that determine the integration of digital therapeutics into health systems and practical use of digital therapeutics by patients and professionals. METHODS A scoping review was conducted in MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Google Scholar. Relevant data were extracted and synthesized using a thematic analysis. RESULTS We identified 35,541 academic and 221 gray literature reports, with 244 (0.69%) included in the review, covering 35 countries. Overall, 85 factors that can impact the uptake of digital therapeutics were extracted and pooled into 5 categories: policy and system, patient characteristics, properties of digital therapeutics, characteristics of health professionals, and outcomes. The need for a regulatory framework for digital therapeutics was the most stated factor at the policy level. Demographic characteristics formed the most iterated patient-related factor, whereas digital literacy was considered the most important factor for health professionals. Among the properties of digital therapeutics, their interoperability across the broader health system was most emphasized. Finally, the ability to expand access to health care was the most frequently stated outcome measure. CONCLUSIONS The map of factors developed in this review offers a multistakeholder approach to recognizing the uptake factors of digital therapeutics in the health care pathway and provides an analytical tool for policy makers to assess their health system's readiness for digital therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin van Kessel
- LSE Health, Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United Kingdom
- Department of International Health, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Andres Roman-Urrestarazu
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Michael Anderson
- LSE Health, Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ilias Kyriopoulos
- LSE Health, Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United Kingdom
| | - Samantha Field
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Giovanni Monti
- LSE Health, Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shelby D Reed
- Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Milena Pavlova
- Department of Health Services Research, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Science, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - George Wharton
- LSE Health, Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elias Mossialos
- LSE Health, Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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Dunteman AN, Lee Y, Lee SY. A qualitative look at perception and experience of sodium reduction strategies in the food industry through focus groups and individual interviews. J Food Sci 2023; 88:2203-2216. [PMID: 37038305 DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.16564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
The high incidence of sodium overconsumption in the general population has led sodium reduction in commercial food products to become a topic of importance in the food industry. In order to bridge the gap between sodium reduction understanding in the food industry and academia, focus groups and individual interviews of food industry professionals were conducted. Sodium reduction and influence from external entities such as federal regulations and consumer insight were prominent in the nutritional concerns of food industry professionals. A large variety of sodium reduction strategies were introduced with discussion on the many factors that contribute to their potential for success. Flavor modification methods were most prevalent in the discussion, with particular focus on potassium chloride and incorporating umami taste. Factors that frequently positively contributed to a strategy's success include maintaining functionality and/or important sensory attributes, inexpensive to implement, and being perceived as clean label. Conversely, factors that negatively affect success include adversely impacting flavor, being considered not clean label, and high costs of implementation. Foods important for future sodium reduction varied widely, although those were largely products with high sodium density. Future efforts toward reducing sodium overconsumption and sodium content in the food supply fell into three categories: consumer-focused, industry-focused, and research-focused. Of particular importance for future efforts included greater regulatory pressure and more consumer nutritional education. Findings suggest that future efforts to reduce the incidence of sodium overconsumption should be carried out through multiple avenues rather than focusing on the agency of consumers, the food industry, or research alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aubrey N Dunteman
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Youngsoo Lee
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Soo-Yeun Lee
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA
- School of Food Science, Washington State University, Pullman
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Digital mental health for postpartum women: perils, pitfalls, and promise. NPJ Digit Med 2023; 6:11. [PMID: 36702915 PMCID: PMC9879244 DOI: 10.1038/s41746-023-00756-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
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Qin X, Liu C, Zhu W, Chen Y, Wang Y. Preventing Postpartum Depression in the Early Postpartum Period Using an App-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:16824. [PMID: 36554704 PMCID: PMC9779776 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192416824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
A large proportion of women experience depression during the postpartum period. Few studies have investigated the use of mobile technology to prevent postpartum depression in women. This study investigated the preliminary effectiveness of the CareMom program, a new app-based cognitive behavioral therapy program, on reducing the depressive symptoms of mothers during the very early postpartum period via a pilot randomized controlled study. The participants were recruited during birth hospitalization (within 3 days after giving birth) and randomized to the waiting-list control and CareMom groups. Over the four-week intervention period, the CareMom group was required to complete 28 daily challenges via CareMom. The depressive (via EPDS) and anxiety (via GAD-7) levels of participants were measured at baseline and every 7 days postbaseline for 4 weeks. A total of 112 eligible participants were randomly allocated to the two groups (CareMom: n = 57; control: n = 55). At week 4, the CareMom group achieved a significantly lower EPDS score than the control group at week 4 (p = 0.037). In addition, the EPDS (p < 0.001) scores of the CareMom group were significantly lower than the baseline values. However, the control group did not show any significant reduction in this measure. No significant reduction of GAD-7 scores was observed for CareMom and control groups at week 4. This study provides preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of CareMom in reducing depressive symptoms in the general postpartum population during the very early postpartum period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Qin
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Chunfeng Liu
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
| | - Wei Zhu
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Yan Chen
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Yudong Wang
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai 200030, China
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The Efficacy of Digital Cognitive–Behavioral Interventions in Supporting the Psychological Adjustment and Sleep Quality of Pregnant Women with Sub-Clinical Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19159549. [PMID: 35954901 PMCID: PMC9368246 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19159549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
The present meta-analysis investigated the overall and differential efficacy of digital cognitive–behavioral therapies (CBTs) vs. third-generation CBTs deployed to pregnant women in reducing sub-clinical depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms while fostering sleep quality and quality of life. A PRISMA-guided systematic search was used, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the above-mentioned interventions. Data were pooled using either the mean difference (MD) or standardized MD (SMD). Sub-group analyses were carried out when appropriate. The primary outcomes were depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms, as well as sleep quality and quality of life. The interventions’ acceptability was evaluated through the odds ratio (OR) of drop-out rates. Seven RCTs were included, comprising 1873 pregnant women. The results showed the interventions’ efficacy in terms of reducing depression symptoms (SMD = −0.36, CI = 0.61, −0.11, k = 9) at the endpoint, although it was not maintained at follow-up during the postpartum period. The interventions’ efficacy in terms of reducing anxiety symptoms (SMD = 1.96, CI = −2.72, −1.21, k = 3) at the endpoint was also significant, while having no effect on sleep quality. The interventions were well accepted (OR = 1.68; 95% CI = 0.84, 3.35; k = 7). Although no sound conclusions can be drawn concerning the joint or differential efficacy of the considered interventions, this study was useful in highlighting the need to develop evidence-based digital prevention programs for pregnant women with sub-clinical symptoms.
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Day S, Shah V, Kaganoff S, Powelson S, Mathews SC. Assessing the Clinical Robustness of Digital Health Startups: Cross-sectional Observational Analysis. J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e37677. [PMID: 35723914 PMCID: PMC9253972 DOI: 10.2196/37677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The digital health sector has experienced rapid growth over the past decade. However, health care technology stakeholders lack a comprehensive understanding of clinical robustness and claims across the industry. OBJECTIVE This analysis aimed to examine the clinical robustness and public claims made by digital health companies. METHODS A cross-sectional observational analysis was conducted using company data from the Rock Health Digital Health Venture Funding Database, the US Food and Drug Administration, and the US National Library of Medicine. Companies were included if they sell products targeting the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment phases of the care continuum. Clinical robustness was defined using regulatory filings and clinical trials completed by each company. Public claims data included clinical, economic, and engagement claims regarding product outcomes made by each company on its website. RESULTS A total of 224 digital health companies with an average age of 7.7 years were included in our cohort. Average clinical robustness was 2.5 (1.8 clinical trials and 0.8 regulatory filings) with a median score of 1. Ninety-eight (44%) companies had a clinical robustness score of 0, while 45 (20%) companies had a clinical robustness score of 5 or more. The average number of public claims was 1.3 (0.5 clinical, 0.4 economic, and 0.4 engagement); the median number of claims was 1. No correlation was observed between clinical robustness and number of clinical claims (r2=0.02), clinical robustness and total funding (r2=0.08), or clinical robustness and company age (r2=0.18). CONCLUSIONS Many digital health companies have a low level of clinical robustness and do not make many claims as measured by regulatory filings, clinical trials, and public data shared online. Companies and customers may benefit from investing in greater clinical validation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Day
- Rock Health Inc, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Veeraj Shah
- Rock Health Inc, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Shannon Powelson
- Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Simon C Mathews
- Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Jurin T, Šoštarić M, Jokić-Begić N, Lauri Korajlija A. mSexHealth: An Overview of Mobile Sexual Health Applications. JOURNAL OF SEX & MARITAL THERAPY 2022; 49:129-140. [PMID: 35652779 DOI: 10.1080/0092623x.2022.2079576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the existing mobile applications focused on sexual health and analyze the included content and therapeutic techniques. Three databases with mobile applications were searched and 47 applications met the criteria. More applications have been developed for men, most of them included content for erectile dysfunction, and only one for vaginismus. Most apps included sexuality tips and Kegel exercises, and only one technique for working on thoughts and emotions. In conclusion, a number of mobile applications have been developed to enhance sexual functioning, but scientific verification of their effectiveness has been completely lacking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Jurin
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Matea Šoštarić
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nataša Jokić-Begić
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Anita Lauri Korajlija
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
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Eis S, Solà-Morales O, Duarte-Díaz A, Vidal-Alaball J, Perestelo-Pérez L, Robles N, Carrion C. Mobile Applications in Mood Disorders and Mental Health: Systematic Search in Apple App Store and Google Play Store and Review of the Literature. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19042186. [PMID: 35206373 PMCID: PMC8871536 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19042186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The main objective of this work was to explore and characterize the current landscape of mobile applications available to treat mood disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, and dysthymia. METHODS We developed a tool that makes both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store searchable using keywords and that facilitates the extraction of basic app information of the search results. All app results were filtered using various inclusion and exclusion criteria. We characterized all resultant applications according to their technical details. Furthermore, we searched for scientific publications on each app's website and PubMed, to understand whether any of the apps were supported by any type of scientific evidence on their acceptability, validation, use, effectiveness, etc. Results: Thirty apps were identified that fit the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The literature search yielded 27 publications related to the apps. However, these did not exclusively concern mood disorders. 6 were randomized studies and the rest included a protocol, pilot-, feasibility, case-, or qualitative studies, among others. The majority of studies were conducted on relatively small scales and 9 of the 27 studies did not explicitly study the effects of mobile application use on mental wellbeing. CONCLUSION While there exists a wealth of mobile applications aimed at the treatment of mental health disorders, including mood disorders, this study showed that only a handful of these are backed by robust scientific evidence. This result uncovers a need for further clinically oriented and systematic validation and testing of such apps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Eis
- Fundació HiTT (Health Innovation Technology Transfer), 08015 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Oriol Solà-Morales
- Fundació HiTT (Health Innovation Technology Transfer), 08015 Barcelona, Spain;
- Correspondence:
| | - Andrea Duarte-Díaz
- Canary Islands Health Research Institute Foundation (FIISC), 38109 Tenerife, Spain;
| | - Josep Vidal-Alaball
- Health Promotion in Rural Areas Research Group, Gerència Territorial de la Catalunya Central, Institut Català de la Salut, 08272 Barcelona, Spain;
- Unitat de Suport a la Recerca de la Catalunya Central, Fundació Institut Universitari per a la Recerca a l’Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVIC-UCC), 08500 Vic, Spain
| | | | - Noemí Robles
- eHealth Lab Research Group, School of Health Sciences and eHealth Centre, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (N.R.); (C.C.)
| | - Carme Carrion
- eHealth Lab Research Group, School of Health Sciences and eHealth Centre, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (N.R.); (C.C.)
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Dol J, Aston M, McMillan D, Tomblin Murphy G, Campbell-Yeo M. Participants perceptions of Essential Coaching for Every Mother, a Canadian text-message postpartum program: Process evaluation of a randomized controlled trial (Preprint). JMIR Form Res 2022; 6:e36821. [PMID: 35559855 PMCID: PMC9143775 DOI: 10.2196/36821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background “Essential Coaching for Every Mother” is a Canadian text message–based program that sends daily messages to mothers for 6 weeks after they give birth. There is a need to explore the program’s effectiveness in terms of the participants’ experience to guide refinement and modification. Objective This study aimed to describe the process evaluation of the Essential Coaching for Every Mother randomized controlled trial through an evaluation of the research implementation extent and quality. Methods Participants were recruited from Nova Scotia, Canada, between January 5 and August 1, 2021. Enrolled participants were randomized into the intervention or control group. Participants randomized to the intervention group received standard care along with the Essential Coaching for Every Mother program’s text messages related to newborn and maternal care for the first 6 weeks after giving birth, while the control group received standard care. Usage data were collected from the SMS text message program used, and participants completed web-based questionnaires at 6 weeks after birth. Quantitative data and qualitative responses to open-ended questions were used to triangulate findings. Quantitative data were summarized using means, SDs, and percentages, as appropriate, while qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Of the 295 unique initial contacts, 150 mothers were eligible and completed the baseline survey to be enrolled in the study (intervention, n=78; control, n=72). Of those randomized into the intervention group, 75 (96%) completed the 6-week follow-up survey to provide feedback on the program. In total, 48 (62%) intervention participants received all messages as designed in the Essential Coaching for Every Mother program, with participants who enrolled late missing on average 4.7 (range 1-12) messages. Intervention participants reported an 89% satisfaction rate with the program, and 100% of participants would recommend the program to other new mothers. Participants liked how the program made them feel, the format, appropriate timing of messages, and content while disliking the frequency of messages and gaps in content. Participants also provided suggestions for future improvement. Conclusions Our process evaluation has provided a comprehensive understanding of interest in the program as well as identified preference for program components. The findings of this study will be used to update future iterations of the Essential Coaching for Every Mother program. Trial Registration ClincalTrials.gov NCT04730570; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04730570
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine Dol
- Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Megan Aston
- School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Douglas McMillan
- Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | - Marsha Campbell-Yeo
- School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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Spadaro B, Martin-Key NA, Funnell E, Bahn S. mHealth Solutions for Perinatal Mental Health: Scoping Review and Appraisal Following the mHealth Index and Navigation Database Framework. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2022; 10:e30724. [PMID: 35037894 PMCID: PMC8804959 DOI: 10.2196/30724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The ever-increasing pressure on health care systems has resulted in the underrecognition of perinatal mental disorders. Digital mental health tools such as apps could provide an option for accessible perinatal mental health screening and assessment. However, there is a lack of information regarding the availability and features of perinatal app options. Objective This study aims to evaluate the current state of diagnostic and screening apps for perinatal mental health available on the Google Play Store (Android) and Apple App Store (iOS) and to review their features following the mHealth Index and Navigation Database framework. Methods Following a scoping review approach, the Apple App Store and Google Play Store were systematically searched to identify perinatal mental health assessment apps. A total of 14 apps that met the inclusion criteria were downloaded and reviewed in a standardized manner using the mHealth Index and Navigation Database framework. The framework comprised 107 questions, allowing for a comprehensive assessment of app origin, functionality, engagement features, security, and clinical use. Results Most apps were developed by for-profit companies (n=10), followed by private individuals (n=2) and trusted health care companies (n=2). Out of the 14 apps, 3 were available only on Android devices, 4 were available only on iOS devices, and 7 were available on both platforms. Approximately one-third of the apps (n=5) had been updated within the last 180 days. A total of 12 apps offered the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in its original version or in rephrased versions. Engagement, input, and output features included reminder notifications, connections to therapists, and free writing features. A total of 6 apps offered psychoeducational information and references. Privacy policies were available for 11 of the 14 apps, with a median Flesch-Kincaid reading grade level of 12.3. One app claimed to be compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act standards and 2 apps claimed to be compliant with General Data Protection Regulation. Of the apps that could be accessed in full (n=10), all appeared to fulfill the claims stated in their description. Only 1 app referenced a relevant peer-reviewed study. All the apps provided a warning for use, highlighting that the mental health assessment result should not be interpreted as a diagnosis or as a substitute for medical care. Only 3 apps allowed users to export or email their mental health test results. Conclusions These results indicate that there are opportunities to improve perinatal mental health assessment apps. To this end, we recommend focusing on the development and validation of more comprehensive assessment tools, ensuring data protection and safety features are adequate for the intended app use, and improving data sharing features between users and health care professionals for timely support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetta Spadaro
- Cambridge Centre for Neuropsychiatric Research, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Nayra A Martin-Key
- Cambridge Centre for Neuropsychiatric Research, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Erin Funnell
- Cambridge Centre for Neuropsychiatric Research, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sabine Bahn
- Cambridge Centre for Neuropsychiatric Research, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Psyomics Ltd, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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