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Schläpfer S, Schneider F, Santhanam P, Eicher M, Kowatsch T, Witt CM, Barth J. Engagement With a Relaxation and Mindfulness Mobile App Among People With Cancer: Exploratory Analysis of Use Data and Self-Reports From a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Cancer 2024; 10:e52386. [PMID: 38819907 PMCID: PMC11179041 DOI: 10.2196/52386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mobile health (mHealth) apps offer unique opportunities to support self-care and behavior change, but poor user engagement limits their effectiveness. This is particularly true for fully automated mHealth apps without any human support. Human support in mHealth apps is associated with better engagement but at the cost of reduced scalability. OBJECTIVE This work aimed to (1) describe the theory-informed development of a fully automated relaxation and mindfulness app to reduce distress in people with cancer (CanRelax app 2.0), (2) describe engagement with the app on multiple levels within a fully automated randomized controlled trial over 10 weeks, and (3) examine whether engagement was related to user characteristics. METHODS The CanRelax app 2.0 was developed in iterative processes involving input from people with cancer and relevant experts. The app includes evidence-based relaxation exercises, personalized weekly coaching sessions with a rule-based conversational agent, 39 self-enactable behavior change techniques, a self-monitoring dashboard with gamification elements, highly tailored reminder notifications, an educational video clip, and personalized in-app letters. For the larger study, German-speaking adults diagnosed with cancer within the last 5 years were recruited via the web in Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. Engagement was analyzed in a sample of 100 study participants with multiple measures on a micro level (completed coaching sessions, relaxation exercises practiced with the app, and feedback on the app) and a macro level (relaxation exercises practiced without the app and self-efficacy toward self-set weekly relaxation goals). RESULTS In week 10, a total of 62% (62/100) of the participants were actively using the CanRelax app 2.0. No associations were identified between engagement and level of distress at baseline, sex assigned at birth, educational attainment, or age. At the micro level, 71.88% (3520/4897) of all relaxation exercises and 714 coaching sessions were completed in the app, and all participants who provided feedback (52/100, 52%) expressed positive app experiences. At the macro level, 28.12% (1377/4897) of relaxation exercises were completed without the app, and participants' self-efficacy remained stable at a high level. At the same time, participants raised their weekly relaxation goals, which indicates a potential relative increase in self-efficacy. CONCLUSIONS The CanRelax app 2.0 achieved promising engagement even though it provided no human support. Fully automated social components might have compensated for the lack of human involvement and should be investigated further. More than one-quarter (1377/4897, 28.12%) of all relaxation exercises were practiced without the app, highlighting the importance of assessing engagement on multiple levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Schläpfer
- Institute for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Fabian Schneider
- Centre for Digital Health Interventions, Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Prabhakaran Santhanam
- Centre for Digital Health Interventions, Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Manuela Eicher
- Institute of Higher Education and Research in Healthcare, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne and Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Kowatsch
- Centre for Digital Health Interventions, Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute for Implementation Science in Health Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- School of Medicine, University of St.Gallen, St.Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Claudia M Witt
- Institute for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jürgen Barth
- Institute for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Frid S, Amat-Fernández C, Fuentes-Expósito MÁ, Muñoz-Mateu M, Valachis A, Sisó-Almirall A, Grau-Corral I. Mapping the Evidence on the Impact of mHealth Interventions on Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients With Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review. JCO Clin Cancer Inform 2024; 8:e2400014. [PMID: 38710001 PMCID: PMC11161246 DOI: 10.1200/cci.24.00014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To comprehensively synthesize the existing evidence concerning mHealth interventions for patients with breast cancer (BC). DESIGN On July 30, 2023, we searched PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar for articles using the following inclusion criteria: evaluation of mHealth interventions in patients with cancer, at least 30 participants with BC, randomized control trials or prospective pre-post studies, determinants of health (patient-reported outcomes [PROs] and quality of life [QoL]) as primary outcomes, interventions lasting at least 8 weeks, publication after January 2015. Publications were excluded if they evaluated telehealth or used web-based software for desktop devices only. The quality of the included studies was analyzed with the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool and the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies. RESULTS We included 30 studies (20 focused on BC), encompassing 5,691 patients with cancer (median 113, IQR, 135.5). Among these, 3,606 had BC (median 99, IQR, 75). All studies contained multiple interventions, including physical activity, tailored information for self-management of the disease, and symptom tracker. Interventions showed better results on self-efficacy (3/3), QoL (10/14), and physical activity (5/7). Lifestyle programs (3/3), expert consulting (4/4), and tailored information (10/11) yielded the best results. Apps with interactive support had a higher rate of positive findings, while interventions targeted to survivors showed worse results. mHealth tools were not available to the public in most of the studies (17/30). CONCLUSION mHealth interventions yielded heterogeneous results on different outcomes. Identifying lack of evidence on clinical scenarios (eg, patients undergoing systemic therapy other than chemotherapy) could aid in refining strategic planning for forthcoming research endeavors within this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Frid
- Clinical Informatics Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Clara Amat-Fernández
- Health Services Research Group, Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Antonis Valachis
- Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | | | - Immaculada Grau-Corral
- Fundación iSYS, Barcelona, Spain
- mHealth and digital Health Observatory, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Hjorth-Johansen E, Børøsund E, Martinsen Østen I, Holmstrøm H, Moen A. Acceptability and Initial Adoption of the Heart Observation App for Infants with Congenital Heart Disease: A Qualitative Study (Preprint). JMIR Form Res 2023; 7:e45920. [PMID: 37018028 PMCID: PMC10131881 DOI: 10.2196/45920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Approximately 1% of all infants are born with a congenital heart disease (CHD). Internationally CHD remains a major cause of infant death, some of which occur unexpectedly after a gradual deterioration at home. Many parents find it difficult to recognize worsening of symptoms. OBJECTIVE This study aims to report the acceptability and initial adoption of a mobile app, the Heart Observation app (HOBS), aiming to support parents' understanding and management of their child's condition and to increase quality in follow-up from health care professionals in complex health care services in Norway. METHODS A total of 9 families were interviewed on discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit and after 1 month at home. The infant's primary nurse, community nurse, and cardiologist were also interviewed regarding their experiences about collaboration with the family. The interviews were analyzed inductively with thematic content analysis. RESULTS The analysis generated 4 main themes related to acceptability and adoption: (1) Individualize Initial Support, (2) Developing Confidence and Coping, (3) Normalize When Appropriate, and (4) Implementation in a Complex Service Pathway. The receptivity of parents to learn and attend in the intervention differs according to their present situation. Health care professionals emphasized the importance of adapting the introduction and guidance to parents' receptivity to ensure comprehension, self-efficacy, and thereby acceptance before discharge (Individualize Initial Support). Parents perceived that HOBS served them well and nurtured confidence by teaching them what to be aware of. Health care professionals reported most parents as confident and informed. This potential effect increased the possibility of adoption (Developing Confidence and Coping). Parents expressed that HOBS was not an "everyday app" and wanted to normalize everyday life when appropriate. Health care professionals suggested differentiating use according to severity and reducing assessments after recovery to adapt the burden of assessments when appropriate (Normalize When Appropriate). Health care professionals' attitude to implement HOBS in their services was positive. They perceived HOBS as useful to systemize guidance, to enhance communication regarding an infant's condition, and to increase understanding of heart defects in health care professionals with sparse experience (Implementation in a Complex Service Pathway). CONCLUSIONS This feasibility study shows that both parents and health care professionals found HOBS as a positive addition to the health care system and follow-up. HOBS was accepted and potentially useful, but health care professionals should guide parents initially to ensure comprehension and adapt timing to parents' receptivity. By doing so, parents may be confident to know what to look for regarding their child's health and cope at home. Differentiating between various diagnoses and severity is important to support normalization when appropriate. Further controlled studies are needed to assess adoption, usefulness, and benefits in the health care system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elin Hjorth-Johansen
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Division of Children and Adolescent Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Elin Børøsund
- Department of Digital Health Research, Division of Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Nursing and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of South-Eastern Norway, Drammen, Norway
| | - Ingeborg Martinsen Østen
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Division of Children and Adolescent Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Henrik Holmstrøm
- Department of Cardiology, Division of Children and Adolescent Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anne Moen
- Department of Public Health Science, Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Austin J, Schroevers MJ, Van Dijk J, Sanderman R, Børøsund E, Wymenga AMN, Bohlmeijer ET, Drossaert CH. Compas-Y: A mixed methods pilot evaluation of a mobile self-compassion training for people with newly diagnosed cancer. Digit Health 2023; 9:20552076231205272. [PMID: 37868157 PMCID: PMC10588427 DOI: 10.1177/20552076231205272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Compas-Y is a compassionate mind training app that was co-designed to be fully adapted to mobile technology and to people with newly diagnosed cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the use, appreciation and impact of the app. Methods Seventy-one people with cancer who created an app account were included (38% breast cancer, 72% diagnosed <4 months ago, 76% received chemotherapy). Participants had very high baseline scores of self-compassion. In a convergent mixed methods design, back-end log-data (n = 71), pre-post surveys (n = 34) and semi-structured interviews (n = 23) collected for >8 weeks and were concurrently analysed using joint displays. Results About half of the participants (45%) used 4 of the 6 modules. Compas-Y was highly appreciated, with all content considered relevant and a source of support. Experienced benefits related to improved mental health. Particularly, we found significant changes in anxiety, but not in depression or well-being. In the interviews, people reported experiencing more rest and more positive emotions due to using the app. Process benefits included significant reductions in self-criticism (inadequate self and self-blame), but not self-compassion. In the interviews, people reported improved self-compassion and less self-criticism, more self-awareness, recognition and support, and improved emotion regulation and coping. The surveys did not capture the full range of outcomes that participants reported in the interviews. Conclusions Compas-Y is a highly appreciated mobile intervention that supported users in aspects of their mental health. Findings are discussed in terms of reach and adherence, app functionalities, co-design and tailoring of cancer-related and compassion-based eHealth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Austin
- Section of Psychology, Health and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Maya J Schroevers
- Department of Health Psychology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jelle Van Dijk
- Faculty of Engineering Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Robbert Sanderman
- Department of Health Psychology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Elin Børøsund
- Department of Digital Health Research, Division of Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - A Machteld N Wymenga
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medisch Spectrum Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Ernst T Bohlmeijer
- Section of Psychology, Health and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
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Jacob C, Sezgin E, Sanchez-Vazquez A, Ivory C. Sociotechnical Factors Affecting Patients' Adoption of Mobile Health Tools: Systematic Literature Review and Narrative Synthesis. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2022; 10:e36284. [PMID: 35318189 PMCID: PMC9121221 DOI: 10.2196/36284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mobile health (mHealth) tools have emerged as a promising health care technology that may contribute to cost savings, better access to care, and enhanced clinical outcomes; however, it is important to ensure their acceptance and adoption to harness this potential. Patient adoption has been recognized as a key challenge that requires further exploration. Objective The aim of this review was to systematically investigate the literature to understand the factors affecting patients’ adoption of mHealth tools by considering sociotechnical factors (from technical, social, and health perspectives). Methods A structured search was completed following the participants, intervention, comparators, and outcomes framework. We searched the MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and SAGE databases for studies published between January 2011 and July 2021 in the English language, yielding 5873 results, of which 147 studies met the inclusion criteria. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook were followed to ensure a systematic process. Extracted data were analyzed using NVivo (QSR International), with thematic analysis and narrative synthesis of emergent themes. Results The technical factors affecting patients’ adoption of mHealth tools were categorized into six key themes, which in turn were divided into 20 subthemes: usefulness, ease of use, data-related, monetary factors, technical issues, and user experience. Health-related factors were categorized into six key themes: the disease or health condition, the care team’s role, health consciousness and literacy, health behavior, relation to other therapies, integration into patient journey, and the patients’ insurance status. Social and personal factors were divided into three key clusters: demographic factors, personal characteristics, and social and cultural aspects; these were divided into 19 subthemes, highlighting the importance of considering these factors when addressing potential barriers to mHealth adoption and how to overcome them. Conclusions This review builds on the growing body of research that investigates patients’ adoption of mHealth services and highlights the complexity of the factors affecting adoption, including personal, social, technical, organizational, and health care aspects. We recommend a more patient-centered approach by ensuring the tools’ fit into the overall patient journey and treatment plan, emphasizing inclusive design, and warranting comprehensive patient education and support. Moreover, empowering and mobilizing clinicians and care teams, addressing ethical data management issues, and focusing on health care policies may facilitate adoption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Jacob
- University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, Olten, Switzerland
| | - Emre Sezgin
- The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States.,NORC at the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Antonio Sanchez-Vazquez
- Innovative Management Practice Research Centre, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Ivory
- Innovative Management Practice Research Centre, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Kang D, Lee JK, Kim N, Kim S, Lee SK, Lee JE, Nam SJ, Cho J. Effect of mind and body education on quality of life among young breast cancer patients: a randomized controlled trial. Support Care Cancer 2021; 30:721-729. [PMID: 34368886 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-021-06459-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aim was to evaluate efficacy of the combination with cosmetic and psychosocial education program on body image, sexual function, and emotional function among young-onset breast cancer (YBC). METHODS An unblended, randomized, controlled trial design was conducted in patients newly diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancer from 2014 to 2015. The intervention group received a structured education program including appearance management and mind control for 4 weeks. The outcome of this study shows effect on body image and sexual functioning and a distress due to altered appearance and anxiety after the intervention and 6 months after intervention. RESULTS Among 228 eligible patients, 109 (47.8%) agreed to participate in the present study and were randomized to intervention (n = 54) or control (n = 55) groups. After intervention, the intervention group reported significantly better body image compared to the control group (mean score of 75.0 vs. 59.3, respectively; P < 0.01). The intervention group also reported significantly lower levels of distress due to altered appearance and higher levels of sexual functioning compared to the control group after the intervention. The effects were maintained even 6 months after intervention. CONCLUSION(S) Body image intervention for YBC had effect on improving body image and sexual functioning and a reduction in distress due to altered appearance and anxiety. Trial registration number and date of registration: The study was registered at the Clinical Research Information Service (no. KCT0001191, https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris ) on 23 July 2014.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danbee Kang
- Department of Clinical Research Design and Evaluation, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Center for Clinical Epidemiology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Cancer Education Center, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Kyung Lee
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Nayeon Kim
- Department of Clinical Research Design and Evaluation, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Cancer Education Center, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sooyeon Kim
- Department of Clinical Research Design and Evaluation, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Center for Clinical Epidemiology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Se Kyung Lee
- Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Eon Lee
- Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok Jin Nam
- Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Juhee Cho
- Department of Clinical Research Design and Evaluation, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. .,Center for Clinical Epidemiology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. .,Cancer Education Center, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Baglione AN, Cai L, Bahrini A, Posey I, Boukhechba M, Chow PI. Understanding the Relationship between Mood Symptoms and Mobile App Engagement Among Breast Cancer Patients: A Machine Learning Process (Preprint). JMIR Med Inform 2021; 10:e30712. [PMID: 35653183 PMCID: PMC9204571 DOI: 10.2196/30712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Health interventions delivered via smart devices are increasingly being used to address mental health challenges associated with cancer treatment. Engagement with mobile interventions has been associated with treatment success; however, the relationship between mood and engagement among patients with cancer remains poorly understood. A reason for this is the lack of a data-driven process for analyzing mood and app engagement data for patients with cancer. Objective This study aimed to provide a step-by-step process for using app engagement metrics to predict continuously assessed mood outcomes in patients with breast cancer. Methods We described the steps involved in data preprocessing, feature extraction, and data modeling and prediction. We applied this process as a case study to data collected from patients with breast cancer who engaged with a mobile mental health app intervention (IntelliCare) over 7 weeks. We compared engagement patterns over time (eg, frequency and days of use) between participants with high and low anxiety and between participants with high and low depression. We then used a linear mixed model to identify significant effects and evaluate the performance of the random forest and XGBoost classifiers in predicting weekly mood from baseline affect and engagement features. Results We observed differences in engagement patterns between the participants with high and low levels of anxiety and depression. The linear mixed model results varied by the feature set; these results revealed weak effects for several features of engagement, including duration-based metrics and frequency. The accuracy of predicting depressed mood varied according to the feature set and classifier. The feature set containing survey features and overall app engagement features achieved the best performance (accuracy: 84.6%; precision: 82.5%; recall: 64.4%; F1 score: 67.8%) when used with a random forest classifier. Conclusions The results from the case study support the feasibility and potential of our analytic process for understanding the relationship between app engagement and mood outcomes in patients with breast cancer. The ability to leverage both self-report and engagement features to analyze and predict mood during an intervention could be used to enhance decision-making for researchers and clinicians and assist in developing more personalized interventions for patients with breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna N Baglione
- Department of Engineering Systems and Environment, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Lihua Cai
- Department of Engineering Systems and Environment, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Aram Bahrini
- Department of Engineering Systems and Environment, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Isabella Posey
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Mehdi Boukhechba
- Department of Engineering Systems and Environment, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Philip I Chow
- Center for Behavioral Health & Technology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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