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Nishant N, Gupta A, Shrivastava R, Rai A, Das D, Goyal A. Systematic content analysis of self-help smokeless tobacco cessation smartphone applications available in India. J Oral Biol Craniofac Res 2024; 14:390-394. [PMID: 38832297 PMCID: PMC11144735 DOI: 10.1016/j.jobcr.2024.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The content of smartphone applications (apps) that offer smoking cessation interventions has been appraised in the past. Considering the high prevalence of smokeless tobacco (SLT) use in Southeast Asia, identifying high-quality and credible apps for SLT cessation would be more helpful. Objective This study evaluated the technical quality of apps for SLT cessation and their content adherence with the standard tobacco cessation guidelines. Materials and methods A systematic search of SLT cessation smartphone apps freely available in the Google PlayStore was conducted using nine relevant search terms, and the first fifty apps under each search term were identified. The technical quality of the apps was rated using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS). Adherence of the app content to the standard tobacco cessation guidelines was also determined. Results Three apps were found to be relevant for SLT cessation. However, none of the apps was high-quality or incorporated existing evidence on SLT cessation. Conclusion Adherence of these apps to the tobacco cessation guidelines by the National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP), India and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), U.K., was limited only to a few checklist parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nishant Nishant
- Unit of Public Health Dentistry, Oral Health Sciences Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Arpit Gupta
- Unit of Public Health Dentistry, Oral Health Sciences Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Richa Shrivastava
- Unit of Public Health Dentistry, Oral Health Sciences Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Arpita Rai
- Dental Institute, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
| | - Diptajit Das
- Unit of Public Health Dentistry, Oral Health Sciences Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
- Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, India
| | - Ashima Goyal
- Oral Health Sciences Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
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Bendotti H, Ireland D, Lawler S, Oates D, Gartner C, Marshall HM. Introducing Quin: The Design and Development of a Prototype Chatbot to Support Smoking Cessation. Nicotine Tob Res 2024; 26:612-620. [PMID: 37936253 PMCID: PMC11033568 DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntad217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chatbots emulate human-like interactions and may usefully provide on-demand access to tailored smoking cessation support. We have developed a prototype smartphone application-based smoking cessation chatbot, named Quin, grounded in real-world, evidence-, and theory-based smoking cessation counseling sessions. METHODS Conversation topics and interactions in Quitline counseling sessions (N = 30; 18 h) were characterized using thematic, content, and proponent analyses of transcripts. Quin was created by programming this content using a chatbot framework which interacts with users via speech to text. Reiterative changes and additions were made to the conversation structure and dialogue following regular consultation with a multidisciplinary team from relevant fields, and from evidence-based resources. RESULTS Chatbot conversations were encoded into initial and scheduled follow-up "appointments." Collection of demographic information, and smoking and quit history, informed tailored discussion about pharmacotherapy preferences, behavioral strategies, and social and professional support to form a quit plan. Follow-up appointments were programmed to check in on user progress, review elements of the quit plan, answer questions, and solve issues. Quin was programmed to include teachable moments and educational content to enhance health literacy and informed decision-making. Personal agency is encouraged through exploration and self-reflection of users' personal behaviors, experiences, preferences, and ideas. CONCLUSIONS Quin's successful development represents a movement toward improving access to personalized smoking cessation support. Qualitative foundations of Quin provide greater insight into the smoking cessation counseling relationship and enhances the conversational ability of the technology. The prototype chatbot will be refined through beta-testing with end users and stakeholders prior to evaluation in a clinical trial. IMPLICATIONS Our novel study provides transparent description of the translation of qualitative evidence of real-world smoking cessation counseling sessions into the design and development of a prototype smoking cessation chatbot. The successful iterative development of Quin not only embodies the science and art of health promotion, but also a step forward in expanding the reach of tailored, evidence based, in-pocket support for people who want to quit smoking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hollie Bendotti
- Thoracic Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Chermside, Queensland, Australia
- The Australian e-Health Research Centre, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - David Ireland
- The Australian e-Health Research Centre, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sheleigh Lawler
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - David Oates
- The Australian e-Health Research Centre, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Coral Gartner
- NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence on Achieving the Tobacco Endgame, School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Henry M Marshall
- Thoracic Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Chermside, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Thoracic Medicine, The Prince Charles Hospital, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Chermside, Queensland, Australia
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Naughton F, Hope A, Siegele-Brown C, Grant K, Notley C, Colles A, West C, Mascolo C, Coleman T, Barton G, Shepstone L, Prevost T, Sutton S, Crane D, Greaves F, High J. A smoking cessation smartphone app that delivers real-time 'context aware' behavioural support: the Quit Sense feasibility RCT. PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH 2024; 12:1-99. [PMID: 38676391 DOI: 10.3310/kqyt5412] [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] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Background During a quit attempt, cues from a smoker's environment are a major cause of brief smoking lapses, which increase the risk of relapse. Quit Sense is a theory-guided Just-In-Time Adaptive Intervention smartphone app, providing smokers with the means to learn about their environmental smoking cues and provides 'in the moment' support to help them manage these during a quit attempt. Objective To undertake a feasibility randomised controlled trial to estimate key parameters to inform a definitive randomised controlled trial of Quit Sense. Design A parallel, two-arm randomised controlled trial with a qualitative process evaluation and a 'Study Within A Trial' evaluating incentives on attrition. The research team were blind to allocation except for the study statistician, database developers and lead researcher. Participants were not blind to allocation. Setting Online with recruitment, enrolment, randomisation and data collection (excluding manual telephone follow-up) automated through the study website. Participants Smokers (323 screened, 297 eligible, 209 enrolled) recruited via online adverts on Google search, Facebook and Instagram. Interventions Participants were allocated to 'usual care' arm (n = 105; text message referral to the National Health Service SmokeFree website) or 'usual care' plus Quit Sense (n = 104), via a text message invitation to install the Quit Sense app. Main outcome measures Follow-up at 6 weeks and 6 months post enrolment was undertaken by automated text messages with an online questionnaire link and, for non-responders, by telephone. Definitive trial progression criteria were met if a priori thresholds were included in or lower than the 95% confidence interval of the estimate. Measures included health economic and outcome data completion rates (progression criterion #1 threshold: ≥ 70%), including biochemical validation rates (progression criterion #2 threshold: ≥ 70%), recruitment costs, app installation (progression criterion #3 threshold: ≥ 70%) and engagement rates (progression criterion #4 threshold: ≥ 60%), biochemically verified 6-month abstinence and hypothesised mechanisms of action and participant views of the app (qualitative). Results Self-reported smoking outcome completion rates were 77% (95% confidence interval 71% to 82%) and health economic data (resource use and quality of life) 70% (95% CI 64% to 77%) at 6 months. Return rate of viable saliva samples for abstinence verification was 39% (95% CI 24% to 54%). The per-participant recruitment cost was £19.20, which included advert (£5.82) and running costs (£13.38). In the Quit Sense arm, 75% (95% CI 67% to 83%; 78/104) installed the app and, of these, 100% set a quit date within the app and 51% engaged with it for more than 1 week. The rate of 6-month biochemically verified sustained abstinence, which we anticipated would be used as a primary outcome in a future study, was 11.5% (12/104) in the Quit Sense arm and 2.9% (3/105) in the usual care arm (estimated effect size: adjusted odds ratio = 4.57, 95% CIs 1.23 to 16.94). There was no evidence of between-arm differences in hypothesised mechanisms of action. Three out of four progression criteria were met. The Study Within A Trial analysis found a £20 versus £10 incentive did not significantly increase follow-up rates though reduced the need for manual follow-up and increased response speed. The process evaluation identified several potential pathways to abstinence for Quit Sense, factors which led to disengagement with the app, and app improvement suggestions. Limitations Biochemical validation rates were lower than anticipated and imbalanced between arms. COVID-19-related restrictions likely limited opportunities for Quit Sense to provide location tailored support. Conclusions The trial design and procedures demonstrated feasibility and evidence was generated supporting the efficacy potential of Quit Sense. Future work Progression to a definitive trial is warranted providing improved biochemical validation rates. Trial registration This trial is registered as ISRCTN12326962. Funding This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Public Health Research programme (NIHR award ref: 17/92/31) and is published in full in Public Health Research; Vol. 12, No. 4. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Naughton
- Behavioural and Implementation Science Group, School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Aimie Hope
- Behavioural and Implementation Science Group, School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Chloë Siegele-Brown
- Department of Computer Science and Technology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kelly Grant
- Norwich Clinical Trials Unit, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Caitlin Notley
- Addiction Research Group, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Antony Colles
- Norwich Clinical Trials Unit, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Claire West
- Norwich Clinical Trials Unit, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Cecilia Mascolo
- Department of Computer Science and Technology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Tim Coleman
- Division of Primary Care, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Garry Barton
- Norwich Clinical Trials Unit, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Lee Shepstone
- Norwich Clinical Trials Unit, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Toby Prevost
- Nightingale-Saunders Clinical Trials and Epidemiology Unit, Kings College London, London, UK
| | - Stephen Sutton
- Behavioural Science Group, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - David Crane
- Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Felix Greaves
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Juliet High
- Norwich Clinical Trials Unit, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
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Jannati N, Salehinejad S, Kuenzig ME, Peña-Sánchez JN. Review and content analysis of mobile apps for inflammatory bowel disease management using the mobile application rating scale (MARS): Systematic search in app stores. Int J Med Inform 2023; 180:105249. [PMID: 37857167 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2023.105249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) need tools for self-management of their disease with the ultimate goal of improving medication adherence and health outcomes. Mobile apps represent a novel opportunity to provide self-management for patients with IBD. Many mobile apps have been developed for IBD self-management, but more evidence is needed about the quality of these mobile apps. OBJECTIVE This study evaluated mobile apps developed for the IBD community and rated the quality of these apps to provide a roadmap for future development. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Apple App Store and Google Play Store were systematically searched to identify IBD mobile apps for patients and physicians based on the IBD-related keywords. We included mobile apps that focus on IBD, are in the English language, and are free. The related app quality was evaluated independently by two reviewers using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS). RESULTS We identified 401 mobile apps. After removing duplicates and unrelated apps, 44 apps were included in the review. Overall, the mean MARS scores were 3.5 (SD = 0.5) on a scale from 1.00 to 5.00, which was the acceptable range.; 12 apps got scores ≥ 4.00. The highest mean domain score belonged to the functionality dimension (mean = 3.9, SD = 0.6) and the lowest belonged to the engagement dimension (mean = 3.2, SD = 0.8). CONCLUSION The MARS ratings showed that the IBD mobile apps quality meet acceptable criteria. However, more attention must be paid to design features that improve user interest and engagement, especially among children and adolescents. Healthcare professional involvement is crucial for designing mobile health apps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazanin Jannati
- Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
| | - Simin Salehinejad
- Health in Disasters and Emergencies Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
| | - M Ellen Kuenzig
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Canada; SickKids Inflammatory Bowel Disease Centre, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
| | - Juan Nicolás Peña-Sánchez
- Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
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Geng L, Jiang G, Yu L, Xu Y, Huang W, Chen Z, Qi X, Zhang T, Zhao M. The Most Popular Commercial Weight Management Apps in the Chinese App Store: Analysis of Quality, Features, and Behavior Change Techniques. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2023; 11:e50226. [PMID: 37999950 PMCID: PMC10709793 DOI: 10.2196/50226] [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: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many smartphone apps designed to assist individuals in managing their weight are accessible, but the assessment of app quality and features has predominantly taken place in Western countries. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of research evaluating weight management apps in China, which highlights the need for further investigation in this area. OBJECTIVE This study aims to conduct a comprehensive search for the most popular commercial Chinese smartphone apps focused on weight management and assess their quality, behavior change techniques (BCTs), and content-related features using appropriate evaluation scales. Additionally, the study sought to investigate the associations between the quality of various domains within weight management apps and the number of incorporated BCTs and app features. METHODS In April 2023, data on weight management apps from the iOS and Android app stores were downloaded from the Qimai Data platform. Subsequently, a total of 35 weight management apps were subjected to screening and analysis by 2 researchers. The features and quality of the apps were independently assessed by 6 professionals specializing in nutrition management and health behavioral change using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS). Two registered dietitians, who had experience in app development and coding BCTs, applied the established 26-item BCT taxonomy to verify the presence of BCTs. Mean (SD) scores and their distributions were calculated for each section and item. Spearman correlations were used to assess the relationship between an app's quality and its technical features, as well as the number of incorporated BCTs. RESULTS The data set included a total of 35 apps, with 8 available in the Android Store, 10 in the Apple Store, and 17 in both. The overall quality, with a mean MARS score of 3.44 (SD 0.44), showed that functionality was the highest scoring domain (mean 4.18, SD 0.37), followed by aesthetics (mean 3.43, SD 0.42), engagement (mean 3.26, SD 0.64), and information (mean 2.91, SD 0.52), which had the lowest score. The mean number of BCTs in the analyzed apps was 9.17 (range 2-18 BCTs/app). The most common BCTs were "prompt review of behavioral goals" and "provide instruction," present in 31 apps (89%). This was followed by "prompt self-monitoring of behavior" in 30 apps (86%), "prompt specific goal setting" in 29 apps (83%), and "provide feedback on performance" in 27 apps (77%). The most prevalent features in the analyzed apps were the need for web access (35/35, 100%), monitoring/tracking (30/35, 86%), goal setting (29/35, 83%), and sending alerts (28/35, 80%). The study also revealed strong positive correlations among the number of BCTs incorporated, app quality, and app features. This suggests that apps with a higher number of BCTs tend to have better overall quality and more features. CONCLUSIONS The study found that the overall quality of weight management apps in China is moderate, with a particular weakness in the quality of information provided. The most prevalent BCTs in these apps were reviewing behavioral goals, providing guidance, self-monitoring of behavior, goal setting, and offering performance feedback. The most common features were the need for web access, monitoring and tracking, goal setting, and sending alerts. Notably, higher-quality weight management apps in China tended to incorporate more BCTs and features. These findings can be valuable for developers looking to improve weight management apps and enhance their potential to drive behavioral change in weight management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Geng
- School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Genyan Jiang
- School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Lingling Yu
- School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yueming Xu
- School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Wei Huang
- School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Zhiqi Chen
- School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xiaoyan Qi
- School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Mei Zhao
- School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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Lin M, Meng Z, Luo C, Chen Y. The application of unmanned aerial vehicle oblique photography technology in online tourism design. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0289653. [PMID: 37676900 PMCID: PMC10484438 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Tilt photography of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is widely used in urban management, cadastral mapping, disaster monitoring and other fields, but there are few innovative applications in online tourism. In this study, empirical design and usability testing methods were adopted, advanced positioning technology and Cesium engine were used to build a 3D real online travel application based on tilt photography, and the interactive function was realized through JavaScript language dynamic interactive function script. Meanwhile, combined with the questionnaire survey, the mobile application Rating Scale (MARS) was used to evaluate the function and quality of the application. The results show that engagement, functionality and aesthetics have no significant influence on user perception. Information quality and subjective quality of application have significant positive influence on user perception, and the influence of information quality is more significant. This study extends the application of oblique photography in tourism and provides experience for the development of tourism digitization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyi Lin
- Fujian Jiangxia University, Fuzhou, Fujiang, China
| | | | - Caisheng Luo
- Fujian Jiangxia University, Fuzhou, Fujiang, China
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Zhang M, Wolters M, O'Connor S, Wang Y, Doi L. Smokers' user experience of smoking cessation apps: A systematic review. Int J Med Inform 2023; 175:105069. [PMID: 37084673 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2023.105069] [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: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To explore how smokers view common functions and characteristics of smoking cessation apps. DESIGN Systematic review. SEARCH SOURCES CINAHL PLUS, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, and Google Scholar. REVIEW METHODS Seven digital databases were searched separately using relevant search terms. Search results were uploaded to Covidence. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were identified with the expert team in advance. Titles, abstracts, and full texts were screened by two reviewers independently. Any disagreements were discussed in research meetings. Pertinent data were extracted and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Findings were presented in a narrative approach. RESULTS 28 studies were included in this review. The overarching themes were app functionality and app characteristics. Under app "functionality", six subthemes emerged: 1) education; 2) tracking; 3) social support; 4) compensation; 5) distraction, and 6) reminding. Under "app characteristics", five subthemes emerged: 1) simplification, 2) personalisation, 3) diverse content forms, 4) interactivity, and 5) privacy and security. CONCLUSION Understanding user needs and expectations is crucial for developing a programme theory for smoking cessation app interventions. Relevant needs identified in this review should be linked to broader theories of smoking cessation and app-based intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengying Zhang
- School of Health in Social Science, The University of Edinburgh, UK; Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research & Policy, The University of Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Maria Wolters
- School of Informatics, The University of Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Yajing Wang
- School of Health in Social Science, The University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Lawrence Doi
- School of Health in Social Science, The University of Edinburgh, UK; Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research & Policy, The University of Edinburgh, UK
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Fuentes A PMDC, Jiménez Tapia A, Ruiz-Cortés EM, Bolaños-Ceballos F, Flores Castro JC, Gutiérrez R, González-Forteza C. Effectiveness of a Mobile App to Increase Risk Perception of Tobacco, Alcohol, and Marijuana Use in Mexican High School Students: Quantitative Study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2023; 11:e37873. [PMID: 36892918 PMCID: PMC10037168 DOI: 10.2196/37873] [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: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Young people have the highest rate of drug use worldwide. Recent data from Mexico in this population show that the prevalence of illicit drug use doubled between 2011 and 2016 (2.9%-6.2%), with marijuana being the one with the highest increase (2.4%-5.3%), but also point out that alcohol and tobacco use have remained steady or decreased. Mexican adolescents are at high risk for drug use owing to a low perception of risk and the availability of drugs. Adolescence is an ideal period to reduce or prevent risky behaviors using evidence-based strategies. OBJECTIVE In this study, we aimed to test the short-term effectiveness of a mobile intervention app ("What Happens if you Go Too Far?" ["¿Qué pasa si te pasas?"]) that seeks to increase risk perception of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use in a sample of Mexican high school students. METHODS A nonexperimental evaluation based on pretest-posttest design was used to measure the effectiveness of a preventive intervention using a mobile app, "What Happens If You Go Too Far?" The dimensions analyzed were knowledge of drugs and their effects, life skills, self-esteem, and risk perception. The intervention was conducted on a high school campus with 356 first-year students. RESULTS The sample included 359 first-year high school students (mean 15, SD 0.588 years; women: 224/359, 62.4% men: 135/359, 37.6%). The intervention increased the overall risk perception of tobacco (χ24=21.6; P<.001) and alcohol use (χ24=15.3; P<.001). There was no significant difference in the perception that it is dangerous to smoke 5 cigarettes, and there was a marginal difference in the perception that it is very dangerous to smoke 1 cigarette or to use alcohol or marijuana. We used a generalized estimating equation method to determine the impact of the variables on risk perception. The results showed that knowledge about smoking increased the risk perception of smoking 1 cigarette (odds ratio [OR] 1.1065, 95% CI 1.013-1.120; P=.01), and that knowledge about marijuana use (OR 1.109, 95% CI 1.138-1.185; P=.002) and self-esteem (OR 1.102, 95% CI 1.007-1.206; P=.04) produced significant increases in the risk perception of consuming 5 cigarettes. Resistance to peer pressure and assertiveness also increased the perceived risk of using tobacco and alcohol. CONCLUSIONS The intervention has the potential to increase the perception of risk toward drug use in high school students by providing knowledge about the effects and psychosocial risks of drug use and by strengthening life skills that are associated with increased risk perception. The use of mobile technologies in intervention processes may broaden the scope of preventive work for adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alberto Jiménez Tapia
- Direction of Epidemiological and Psychosocial Research, National Institute of Psychiatry Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Eunice M Ruiz-Cortés
- Direction of Epidemiological and Psychosocial Research, National Institute of Psychiatry Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | | | - Rafael Gutiérrez
- Direction of Epidemiological and Psychosocial Research, National Institute of Psychiatry Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Catalina González-Forteza
- Direction of Epidemiological and Psychosocial Research, National Institute of Psychiatry Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Mexico City, Mexico
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9
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Mavragani A, Siegel KR, Dickerman SR, Todi AA, Kahler CW, Park ER, Hoeppner SS. Testing the Outcomes of a Smoking Cessation Smartphone App for Nondaily Smokers: Protocol for a Proof-of-concept Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc 2023; 12:e40867. [PMID: 36787172 PMCID: PMC9975937 DOI: 10.2196/40867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nondaily smoking is a widespread, increasingly prevalent pattern of smoking, particularly in ethnic minority and vulnerable populations. To date, no effective treatment approach for this type of smokers has been identified. OBJECTIVE This study aims to use a randomized controlled trial to evaluate proof-of-concept markers of the Smiling instead of Smoking (SiS) app, a smoking cessation smartphone app designed specifically for nondaily smokers. This app was developed iteratively and is now in its third version. Previous studies have demonstrated acceptability and feasibility when participants were onboarded in person (study 1) and remotely (study 2) and showed within-person changes in line with hypothesized mechanisms of change. This is the first randomized test of this app. METHODS In total, 225 adult nondaily smokers will be asked to undertake a quit attempt while using smoking cessation support materials for a period of 7 weeks. Participants will be randomized to use the SiS smartphone app, the National Cancer Institute smartphone app QuitGuide, or the National Cancer Institute smoking cessation brochure "Clearing the Air." Participants will take part in a 15-minute scripted onboarding phone call during which study staff will introduce participants to their support materials. Survey links will be sent 2, 6, 12, and 24 weeks after the participants' initially chosen quit date. The primary outcome is self-efficacy to remain abstinent from smoking at treatment end, measured using the Smoking Self-Efficacy Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes cover several domains relevant to treatment development and implementation: treatment acceptability (eg, satisfaction with smoking cessation support, measured using the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire, and app usability, measured using the System Usability Scale); treatment feasibility (eg, measured using the number of days participants used the SiS or QuitGuide app during the prescribed treatment period); and, in an exploratory way, treatment efficacy assessed using self-reported 30-day point prevalence abstinence. RESULTS Recruitment began in January 2021 and ended June 2022. The final 24-week follow-up was completed in January 2023. This trial is funded by the American Cancer Society. CONCLUSIONS This study is designed to test whether the prescribed use of the SiS app results in greater self-efficacy to abstain from smoking in nondaily smokers than commonly recommended alternative treatments and whether the SiS app treatment is acceptable and feasible. Positive results will mean that the SiS app warrants testing in a large-scale randomized controlled trial to test its effectiveness in supporting smoking cessation in nondaily smokers. The design of this study also provides insights into issues pertinent to smoking cessation smartphone app treatment development and implementation by measuring, in a randomized design, markers of treatment satisfaction, engagement with the technology and content of the treatment, and adherence to the treatment plan. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04672239; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04672239. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/40867.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kaitlyn R Siegel
- Recovery Research Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Sarah R Dickerman
- Biobehavioral Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Akshiti A Todi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher W Kahler
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Elyse R Park
- Mongan Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Susanne S Hoeppner
- OCD & Related Disorders Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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10
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Derksen ME, Jaspers MWM, Kunst AE, Fransen MP. Usage of digital, social and goal-setting functionalities to support health behavior change: A mixed methods study among disadvantaged women during or after pregnancy and their healthcare professionals. Int J Med Inform 2023; 170:104981. [PMID: 36603389 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2022.104981] [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: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to gain insight into how and to what extent social (i.e. private/group chat) and goal-setting (e.g. rewards) functionalities in digital interventions for health behavior change were used by clients and nurses in a preventive care program for disadvantaged women during or after pregnancy, and which factors influenced usage. METHODS We collected quantitative and qualitative data on usage of these functionalities in 'Kindle', a mHealth intervention to prepare for health behavior change. RESULTS We found that nurses (n = 5) and clients (n = 20) scarcely used both functionalities. They sent 862 messages in the social functionality whose security they appreciated, but habitually used WhatsApp likewise. Moreover, nurses were hesitant to let their clients interact in the group chat. Clients formulated 59 personal goals, which they found difficult to do. Nurses rewarded 846 points for clients' progress on goal attainment, but found it hard to determine how many points to reward. Clients and nurses indicated that the functionality made it more fun and easy to discuss clients' personal goals. CONCLUSIONS To conclude, digital, social and goal-setting functionalities were used to a limited extent by nurses and clients, and need optimization before implementation to support disadvantaged groups to change their health behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- M E Derksen
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, Netherlands.
| | - M W M Jaspers
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Medical Informatics, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - A E Kunst
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - M P Fransen
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, Netherlands
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11
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Messner EM, Sturm N, Terhorst Y, Sander LB, Schultchen D, Portenhauser A, Schmidbaur S, Stach M, Klaus J, Baumeister H, Walter BM. Mobile Apps for the Management of Gastrointestinal Diseases: Systematic Search and Evaluation Within App Stores. J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e37497. [PMID: 36197717 PMCID: PMC9582913 DOI: 10.2196/37497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gastrointestinal diseases are associated with substantial cost in health care. In times of the COVID-19 pandemic and further digitalization of gastrointestinal tract health care, mobile health apps could complement routine health care. Many gastrointestinal health care apps are already available in the app stores, but the quality, data protection, and reliability often remain unclear. Objective This systematic review aimed to evaluate the quality characteristics as well as the privacy and security measures of mobile health apps for the management of gastrointestinal diseases. Methods A web crawler systematically searched for mobile health apps with a focus on gastrointestinal diseases. The identified mobile health apps were evaluated using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS). Furthermore, app characteristics, data protection, and security measures were collected. Classic user star rating was correlated with overall mobile health app quality. Results The overall quality of the mobile health apps (N=109) was moderate (mean 2.90, SD 0.52; on a scale ranging from 1 to 5). The quality of the subscales ranged from low (mean 1.89, SD 0.66) to good (mean 4.08, SD 0.57). The security of data transfer was ensured only by 11 (10.1%) mobile health apps. None of the mobile health apps had an evidence base. The user star rating did not correlate with the MARS overall score or with the individual subdimensions of the MARS (all P>.05). Conclusions Mobile health apps might have a positive impact on diagnosis, therapy, and patient guidance in gastroenterology in the future. We conclude that, to date, data security and proof of efficacy are not yet given in currently available mobile health apps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva-Maria Messner
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Niklas Sturm
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Yannik Terhorst
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.,Department of Research Methods, Institute of Psychology and Education, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Lasse B Sander
- Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg at Breisgau, Germany
| | - Dana Schultchen
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Alexandra Portenhauser
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Simone Schmidbaur
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Michael Stach
- Institute of Databases and Information Systems, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jochen Klaus
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Harald Baumeister
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Benjamin M Walter
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
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12
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Webb J, Peerbux S, Ang A, Siddiqui S, Sherwani Y, Ahmed M, MacRae H, Puri H, Majeed A, Glasner S. Long-Term Effectiveness of a Clinician-Assisted Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention for Smoking Cessation: Secondary Outcomes from a Randomized Controlled Trial. Nicotine Tob Res 2022; 24:1763-1772. [PMID: 35470860 PMCID: PMC9597001 DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntac113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Introduction This study evaluated the secondary effectiveness outcomes for Quit Genius, a digital clinician-assisted cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention for smoking cessation. Methods Adult smokers (N = 556) were randomly assigned to Quit Genius (n = 277), a digital, clinician-assisted CBT intervention or very brief advice (VBA) to stop smoking, an evidence-based, 30-s intervention designed to facilitate quit attempts, coupled with referral to a cessation service (n = 279). Participants were offered combination nicotine replacement therapy (patches and gum) tailored to individual nicotine dependence. Analyses (n = 530), by intention-to-treat, compared Quit Genius and VBA at 4, 26, and 52 weeks post-quit date (QD). The primary outcome was self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence (PPA) at 4 weeks post-QD. Consecutive 7-day point-prevalence abstinence, defined as abstinent at two or more consecutive timepoints, was examined at weeks 26 and 52 to indicate long-term effectiveness. Abstinence was verified using a random sample of participants with carbon monoxide breath testing of <5 parts per million (n = 280). Results Self-reported consecutive 7-day PPA at weeks 26 and 52 for Quit Genius was 27.2% and 22.6%, respectively, compared with VBA which was 16.6% and 13.2% (RR = 1.70, 95% CI, 1.22-2.37; p = .003, 26 weeks; RR = 1.71, 95% CI, 1.17–2.50; P = .005, 52 weeks). Biochemically verified abstinence was significantly different at 26- (p = .03) but not 52 weeks (p = .16). Quit Genius participants were more likely to remain abstinent than those who received VBA (RR = 1.71, 95% CI 1.17–2.50; p = .005). Conclusions This study provides secondary evidence for the long-term effectiveness of Quit Genius in comparison with VBA. Future trials of digital interventions without clinician support and comparisons with active treatment are needed. Implications The long-term effectiveness of clinician-assisted digital smoking cessation interventions has not been well studied. This study established the long-term effectiveness of an extended CBT-based intervention; results may inform implementation of scalable approaches to smoking cessation in the health system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Webb
- Department of Clinical Affairs, Digital Therapeutics, Inc, San Francisco, USA
| | | | - Alfonso Ang
- Department of Clinical Affairs, Digital Therapeutics, Inc, San Francisco, USA.,Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Sarim Siddiqui
- Department of Clinical Affairs, Digital Therapeutics, Inc, San Francisco, USA
| | - Yusuf Sherwani
- Department of Clinical Affairs, Digital Therapeutics, Inc, San Francisco, USA
| | - Maroof Ahmed
- Department of Clinical Affairs, Digital Therapeutics, Inc, San Francisco, USA
| | - Hannah MacRae
- Department of Clinical Affairs, Digital Therapeutics, Inc, San Francisco, USA
| | - Hannah Puri
- Department of Clinical Affairs, Digital Therapeutics, Inc, San Francisco, USA
| | - Azeem Majeed
- School of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Suzette Glasner
- Department of Clinical Affairs, Digital Therapeutics, Inc, San Francisco, USA.,Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, USA
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13
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Sanchez S, Kundu A, Limanto E, Selby P, Baskerville NB, Chaiton M. Smartphone Apps for Vaping Cessation: Quality Assessment and Content Analysis. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2022; 10:e31309. [PMID: 35343904 PMCID: PMC9002586 DOI: 10.2196/31309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background As the prevalence of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use, or vaping, continues to grow, particularly among young people, so does the need for research and interventions to address vaping. Objective This study examines the quality of free vaping cessation apps, their contents and features, popularity among users, and adherence to evidence-based principles. Methods A systematic search of existing apps for vaping cessation was conducted in December 2020. Eligible apps were free, in English, and included features specifically targeting vaping cessation. Each app included in the analysis was used daily for at least seven consecutive days, assessed using the Mobile App Rating Scale, and rated by at least two authors (AK, EL, or SS) based on adherence to evidence-based practices. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) estimates were computed to assess interrater reliability (excellent agreement; ICC 0.92; 95% CI 0.78-0.98). Results A total of 8 apps were included in the quality assessment and content analysis: 3 were developed specifically for vaping cessation and 5 focused on smoking cessation while also claiming to address vaping cessation. The mean of app quality total scores was 3.66 out of 5. Existing vaping cessation apps employ similar approaches to smoking cessation apps. However, they are very low in number and have limited features developed specifically for vaping cessation. Conclusions Given the lack of vaping cessation interventions at a time when they are urgently needed, smartphone apps are potentially valuable tools. Therefore, it is recommended that these apps apply evidence-based practices and undergo rigorous evaluations that can assess their quality, contents and features, and popularity among users. Through this process, we can improve our understanding of how apps can be effective in helping users quit vaping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherald Sanchez
- Institute of Medical Science, Termerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Ontario Tobacco Research Unit, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Anasua Kundu
- Ontario Tobacco Research Unit, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Limanto
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Peter Selby
- Nicotine Dependence Service, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Michael Chaiton
- Institute of Medical Science, Termerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Ontario Tobacco Research Unit, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
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14
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Seo S, Cho SI, Yoon W, Lee CM. Classification of Smoking Cessation Apps: Quality Review and Content Analysis. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2022; 10:e17268. [PMID: 35175213 PMCID: PMC8895289 DOI: 10.2196/17268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2019] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background
Many people use apps for smoking cessation, and the effectiveness of these apps has been proven in several studies. However, no study has classified these apps and only few studies have analyzed the characteristics of these apps that influence their quality.
Objective
The purpose of this study was to analyze the content and the quality of smoking cessation apps by type and identify the characteristics that affect their overall quality.
Methods
Two app marketplaces (App Store and Google Play) were searched in January 2018, and the search was completed by May 2020. The search terms used were “stop smoking,” “quit smoking,” and “smoking cessation.” The apps were categorized into 3 types (combined, multifunctional, and informational). The tailored guideline of Clinical Practice Guideline for Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence was utilized for evaluating app content (or functions), and the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) was used to evaluate the quality. Chi-square test was performed for the general characteristics, and one-way analysis of variance was performed for MARS analysis. To identify the general features of the apps that could be associated with the MARS and content scores, multiple regression analysis was done. All analyses were performed using SAS software (ver. 9.3).
Results
Among 1543 apps, 104 apps met the selection criteria of this study. These 104 apps were categorized as combined type (n=44), functional type (n=31), or informational type (n=29). A large amount of content specified in the guideline was included in the apps, most notably in the combined type, followed by the multifunctional and informational type; the MARS scores followed the same order (3.64, 3.26, and 3.0, respectively). Regression analysis showed that the sector in which the developer was situated and the feedback channel with the developer had a significant impact on both the content and MARS scores. In addition, problematic apps such as those made by unknown developers or copied and single-function apps were shown to have a large market share.
Conclusions
This study is the first to evaluate the content and quality of smoking cessation apps by classification. The combined type had higher-quality content and functionality than other app types. The app developer type and feedback channel with the app developer had a significant impact on the overall quality of the apps. In addition, problematic apps and single-function apps were shown to have a large market share. Our results will contribute to the use and development of better smoking cessation apps after considering the problems identified in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suin Seo
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Il Cho
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Wonjeong Yoon
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheol Min Lee
- Department of Family Medicine, Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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15
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A population-level analysis of changes in Australian smokers' preferences for smoking cessation support over two decades - from 1998 to 2017. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. WESTERN PACIFIC 2022; 19:100342. [PMID: 35024667 PMCID: PMC8669336 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2021.100342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Background Encouraging and assisting smokers to quit remains a key public health goal. Government and commercial initiatives have nudged smokers towards supported cessation. We tracked long-term trends in Australian smokers’ quit attempt methods across 20 years. Methods Data from 11,917 smokers were collected from an annual, cross-sectional, face-to-face, random and representative population survey. The survey measured demographic characteristics, tobacco use, recent quit attempts, nicotine dependence, quit intentions, and recent methods used when attempting to quit. Quit attempt preferences were analysed over time and by smoker characteristics. Findings Each year, more smokers attempted to quit than remained quit, with a stable trend over time. Socioeconomic disadvantage and mental health conditions are more likely among smokers, but there was no difference in quit attempts by these characteristics. Quit attempts have risen among those aged 60 years and over whereas other age groups have remained stable. Although trending downwards, unassisted quitting remained the most common method: 1998: 61% and 2017: 40%. Asking a doctor for help/advice (34%) was the most common assisted method in 2017, increasing from 18% in 1998. Methods of quitting varied by smoker characteristics, with supported methods used more often by older, more dependent, socio-economically disadvantaged smokers and those with a mental health condition. Interpretation The relative stability of recent quit attempts, persistence in unassisted quitting, and fluctuating preferences for supported cessation methods indicate that it is important for clinicians and policy makers to continue to support quit attempts through a variety of options, tailored to smoker's needs.
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16
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Hee Ko KK, Kim SK, Lee Y, Lee JY, Stoyanov SR. Validation of a Korean version of mobile app rating scale (MARS) for apps targeting disease management. Health Informatics J 2022; 28:14604582221091975. [PMID: 35404685 DOI: 10.1177/14604582221091975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The mobile app rating scale (MARS) is a widely used instrument for evaluating smartphone app quality. We aimed to examine the reliability and validity of the Korean version of MARS (MARS-K). Two independent raters performed the assessment using the translated 23-item questionnaire. We applied intraclass correlation coefficient analysis (ICC) to examine inter-rater reliability, Omega, and item-total correlation for internal consistency, and Pearson's r for test-retest reliability and correlation between subscales and the total score of MARS-K. Most items showed moderate to good ICC (0.447-1.000). The MARS-K showed excellent internal consistency and all subscales exceeded the acceptable level of omega. Results indicated MARS-K to be a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating disease management apps offered in the Korean app store. However, upgrades are recommended to further improve MARS-K's rating accuracy and reliability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimmi Keum Hee Ko
- 217065School of Architecture, Design and Planning, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sun Kyung Kim
- Department of Nursing, and Department of Biomedicine, 34991Health & Life Convergence Sciences, BK21 Four, Biomedical and Healthcare Research Institute, Mokpo National University, Jeonnam, Korea
| | - Youngho Lee
- Department of Computer Engineering, 34991Mokpo National University, Muan-gun, Jeonnam, Korea
| | - Joo Yun Lee
- College of Nursing, 314937Gachon University, Incheon, Korea
| | - Stoyan R Stoyanov
- School of Design, 346235Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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17
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Yanyan F, Zhuoxin W, Shanshan D, Hekai L, Fuzhi W. The function and quality of individual epidemic prevention and control apps during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review of Chinese apps. Int J Med Inform 2022; 160:104694. [PMID: 35144100 PMCID: PMC8801898 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2022.104694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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18
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Antezana G, Venning A, Smith D, Bidargaddi N. Understanding what we know so far about young people's engagement with wellbeing apps. A scoping review and narrative synthesis. Digit Health 2022; 8:20552076221144104. [DOI: 10.1177/20552076221144104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Increased levels of wellbeing contribute to people being more productive, resilient, physically healthy and showing lower levels of mental illness. Using mobile apps to increase wellbeing in young people is becoming the method of choice. This study sought to critically appraise the current evidence base with regards to young people's (16–24 years of age) engagement with wellbeing apps. Methods A systematic review of the literature and narrative synthesis was conducted to investigate users’ characteristics and other potential engagement elements. A total of 11,245 titles, 160 abstracts and 68 full-text articles published between 2002 and 2021 were screened, of which 22 studies were included. Results Main themes/findings indicated that a user's engagement with wellbeing apps was dependant on the presence of strong identity elements, including motivation, mood and values; design elements such as meaningful rewards, short duration of studies and seamless automatic delivery with low contact with researchers; and being innovative and contextualised. The majority of the studies did not report outcomes by social determinants such as ethnicity, education and others. Conclusion This research reflects on the need to consider participants’ individuality when designing app mediated wellbeing interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaston Antezana
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Anthony Venning
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - David Smith
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Niranjan Bidargaddi
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
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19
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Vanderloo LM, Carsley S, Agarwal P, Marini F, Dennis CL, Birken C. Selecting and Evaluating Mobile Health Apps for the Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative: Development of the eHealth Resource Checklist. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2021; 9:e27533. [PMID: 34860681 PMCID: PMC8686460 DOI: 10.2196/27533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The ubiquity of smartphones and mobile devices in the general population presents an unprecedented opportunity for preventative health. Not surprisingly, the use of electronic health (eHealth) resources accessed through mobile devices in clinical trials is becoming more prevalent; the selection, screening, and collation of quality eHealth resources is necessary to clinical trials using these technologies. However, the constant creation and turnover of new eHealth resources can make this task difficult. Although syntheses of eHealth resources are becoming more common, their methodological and reporting quality require improvement so as to be more accessible to nonexperts. Further, there continues to be significant variation in quality criteria employed for assessment, with no clear method for developing the included criteria. There is currently no single existing framework that addresses all six dimensions of mobile health app quality identified in Agarwal et al’s recent scoping review (ie, basic descriptions of the design and usage of the resource; technical features and accessibility; health information quality; usability; evidence of impact; and user engagement and behavior change). In instances where highly systematic tactics are not possible (due to time constraints, cost, or lack of expertise), there may be value in adopting practical and pragmatic approaches to helping researchers and clinicians identify and disseminate e-resources. Objective The study aimed to create a set of guidelines (ie, a checklist) to aid the members of the Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI) Canada trial—a preconception randomized controlled clinical trial to prevent child obesity—to assist their efforts in searching, identifying, screening, and including selected eHealth resources for participant use in the study intervention. Methods A framework for searching, screening, and selecting eHealth resources was adapted from the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) checklist for systematic and scoping reviews to optimize the rigor, clarity, and transparency of the process. Details regarding searching, selecting, extracting, and assessing quality of eHealth resources are described. Results This study resulted in the systematic development of a checklist consisting of 12 guiding principles, organized in a chronological versus priority sequence to aid researchers in searching, screening, and assessing the quality of various eHealth resources. Conclusions The eHealth Resource Checklist will assist researchers in navigating the eHealth resource space by providing a mechanism to detail their process of developing inclusion criteria, identifying search location, selecting and reviewing evidence, extracting information, evaluating the quality of the evidence, and synthesizing the extracted evidence. The overarching goal of this checklist is to provide researchers or generalists new to the eHealth field with a tool that balances pragmatism with rigor and that helps standardize the process of searching and critiquing digital material—a particularly important aspect given the recent explosion of and reliance on eHealth resources. Moreover, this checklist may be useful to other researchers and practitioners developing similar health interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh M Vanderloo
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sarah Carsley
- Department of Health Promotion, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Payal Agarwal
- Institute for Health Systems Solutions and Virtual Care, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Flavia Marini
- Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Cindy-Lee Dennis
- Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Catherine Birken
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
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20
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Barroso-Hurtado M, Suárez-Castro D, Martínez-Vispo C, Becoña E, López-Durán A. Smoking Cessation Apps: A Systematic Review of Format, Outcomes, and Features. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182111664. [PMID: 34770178 PMCID: PMC8583115 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Smoking cessation interventions are effective, but they are not easily accessible for all treatment-seeking smokers. Mobile health (mHealth) apps have been used in recent years to overcome some of these limitations. Smoking cessation apps can be used in combination with a face-to-face intervention (FFSC-Apps), or alone as general apps (GSC-Apps). The aims of this review were (1) to examine the effects of FFSC-Apps and GSC-Apps on abstinence, tobacco use, and relapse rates; and (2) to describe their features. A systematic review was conducted following the internationally Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Of the total 6016 studies screened, 24 were included, of which nine used GSC-Apps and 15 FFSC-Apps. Eight studies reported significant differences between conditions in smoking cessation outcomes, with three of them being in favor of the use of apps, and two between different point-assessments. Concerning Apps features, most GSC-Apps included self-tracking and setting a quit plan, whereas most of the FFSC-Apps included self-tracking and carbon monoxide (CO) measures. Smartphone apps for smoking cessation could be promising tools. However, more research with an adequate methodological quality is needed to determine its effect. Nevertheless, smartphone apps’ high availability and attractiveness represent a great opportunity to reach large populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Barroso-Hurtado
- Smoking and Addictive Disorders Unit, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (D.S.-C.); (C.M.-V.); (E.B.); (A.L.-D.)
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-881-81-39-39
| | - Daniel Suárez-Castro
- Smoking and Addictive Disorders Unit, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (D.S.-C.); (C.M.-V.); (E.B.); (A.L.-D.)
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Carmela Martínez-Vispo
- Smoking and Addictive Disorders Unit, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (D.S.-C.); (C.M.-V.); (E.B.); (A.L.-D.)
| | - Elisardo Becoña
- Smoking and Addictive Disorders Unit, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (D.S.-C.); (C.M.-V.); (E.B.); (A.L.-D.)
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Ana López-Durán
- Smoking and Addictive Disorders Unit, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (D.S.-C.); (C.M.-V.); (E.B.); (A.L.-D.)
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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21
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Diaz-Skeete YM, McQuaid D, Akinosun AS, Ekerete I, Carragher N, Carragher L. Analysis of Apps With a Medication List Functionality for Older Adults With Heart Failure Using the Mobile App Rating Scale and the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics Functionality Score: Evaluation Study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2021; 9:e30674. [PMID: 34726613 PMCID: PMC8596242 DOI: 10.2196/30674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Managing the care of older adults with heart failure (HF) largely centers on medication management. Because of frequent medication or dosing changes, an app that supports these older adults in keeping an up-to-date list of medications could be advantageous. During the COVID-19 pandemic, HF outpatient consultations are taking place virtually or by telephone. An app with the capability to share a patient’s medication list with health care professionals before consultation could support clinical efficiency, for example, by reducing consultation time. However, the influence of apps on maintaining an up-to-date medication history for older adults with HF in Ireland remains largely unexplored. Objective The aims of this review are twofold: to review apps with a medication list functionality and to assess the quality of the apps included in the review using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) and the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics functionality scale. Methods A systematic search of apps was conducted in June 2019 using the Google Play Store and iTunes App Store. The MARS was used independently by 4 researchers to assess the quality of the apps using an Android phone and an iPad. Apps were also evaluated using the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics functionality score. Results Google Play and iTunes App store searches identified 483 potential apps (292 from Google Play and 191 from iTunes App stores). A total of 6 apps (3 across both stores) met the inclusion criteria. Of the 6 apps, 4 achieved an acceptable MARS score (3/5). The Medisafe app had the highest overall MARS score (4/5), and the Medication List & Medical Records app had the lowest overall score (2.5/5). On average, the apps had 8 functions based on the IMS functionality criteria (range 5-11). A total of 2 apps achieved the maximum score for number of features (11 features) according to the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics functionality score, and 2 scored the lowest (5 features). Peer-reviewed publications were identified for 3 of the apps. Conclusions The quality of current apps with medication list functionality varies according to their technical aspects. Most of the apps reviewed have an acceptable MARS objective quality (ie, the overall quality of an app). However, subjective quality (ie, satisfaction with the apps) was poor. Only 3 apps are based on scientific evidence and have been tested previously. A total of 2 apps featured all the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics functionalities, and half did not provide clear instructions on how to enter medication data, did not display vital parameter data in an easy-to-understand format, and did not guide users on how or when to take their medication.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Natacha Carragher
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,Alcohol, Drugs and Addictive Behaviours, Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Lucia Carragher
- NetwellCASALA Advanced Research Centre, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dundalk, Ireland
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22
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Ramos G, Ponting C, Labao JP, Sobowale K. Considerations of diversity, equity, and inclusion in mental health apps: A scoping review of evaluation frameworks. Behav Res Ther 2021; 147:103990. [PMID: 34715396 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2021.103990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Mental health applications or apps are a promising approach to reduce the pervasive unmet mental health need observed among marginalized groups. However, these groups face unique challenges to engage in and benefit from these interventions, and apps that consider issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) may be better positioned to reach them. App evaluation frameworks emerge as crucial tools for researchers, clinicians, and users to select evidence-based apps. Nevertheless, it is unclear the extent to which existing assessment tools capture DEI factors. The present scoping review identified 68 studies that employed one or more assessment tools to evaluate a mental health app, leading to 44 unique app evaluation frameworks. Results showed that most frameworks were developed after 2015, and only 58% of them considered at least one DEI criterion. Frameworks that performed exceptionally well were those that combined multiple standardized and validated measures. This lack of consideration for DEI variables may limit the ability of app-based interventions to serve marginalized communities, or even worse, create new disparities. Therefore, we provide recommendations to improve current app evaluation frameworks' cultural robustness and clinical utility, maximizing their effectiveness when working with individuals from marginalized communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Ramos
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carolyn Ponting
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jerome P Labao
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kunmi Sobowale
- University of California, Los Angeles-Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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23
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Baggio É, Cadore Weis M, da Silva Santos B, Mccabe C, Neill F, Duarte Valim M. Brazilian Mobile Phone Applications Related to Hand Hygiene and Their Applicability for Healthcare Professionals. Comput Inform Nurs 2021; 40:208-218. [PMID: 34570006 DOI: 10.1097/cin.0000000000000822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to identify available mobile applications regarding education for hand hygiene and their applicability as a resource for nurses and other healthcare professionals. The aim was to assess the quality of the mobile apps for education on hand hygiene for health professionals. A review of mobile apps available from Apple App Store and Google Play Store in Brazil was conducted. The World Health Organization recommendations and the Mobile Application Rating Scale for evaluating quality were used. Six applications were selected, only three presented gamification elements incorporated into the learning method and only two of them-SureWash Pocket and Give Me 5-used the international recommendations to improve hand hygiene compliance in a more substantial and interactive way. The mean quality total score for the five rated apps was 3.41, indicating poor to acceptable quality. SureWash Pocket was the only application that reached Mobile Application Rating Scale ≥4 in all dimensions. These mobile applications can be used as complementary alternatives in addition to other available education strategies to improve the standards of hand hygiene and change the behavior of health professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Érica Baggio
- Author Affiliations: Nursing Graduate Program (Ms Baggio), Nursing Department (Ms Cadore Weis), and Nursing Graduate Program (Mr da Silva Santos), Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil; General Nurse (Dr Mccabe) and Clinical Skills (Dr Neill), School of Nursing and Midwifery, Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; and Nursing Department, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil (Dr Duarte Valim)
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24
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Flemington T, La Hera-Fuentes G, Bovill M, Hart A, Bennett J, Ryan NM, Gould GS. Smoking Cessation Messages for Pregnant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women: A Rapid Review of Peer-Reviewed Literature and Assessment of Research Translation of Media Content. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18179341. [PMID: 34501931 PMCID: PMC8430943 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18179341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This review summarized literature about knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women from Australia who smoke during pregnancy, then examined the extent that existing health promotion materials and media messages aligned with evidence on smoking cessation for pregnant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. Knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of pregnant Aboriginal women who smoke tobacco were identified in the literature. Health promotion campaigns were retrieved from a grey literature search with keywords and social and professional networks. Key themes from peer-reviewed papers were compared against the content of health promotion campaigns using the Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing Model, the Behavior Change Wheel and thematic analysis. Eleven empirical studies and 17 campaigns were included. Empirical studies highlighted women sought holistic care that incorporated nicotine replacement therapy, engaged with their family and community and the potential for education about smoking cessation to empower a woman. Health promotion campaigns had a strong focus on ‘engagement with family and community’, ‘knowledge of risks of smoking,’ ‘giving up vs cutting down’ and ‘culture in language and arts’. There were similarities and variances in the key themes in the research evidence and promotion materials. Topics highly aligned included risks from smoking and quitting related issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara Flemington
- Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia;
| | - Gina La Hera-Fuentes
- School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; (G.L.H.-F.); (M.B.); (A.H.); (J.B.); (N.M.R.)
| | - Michelle Bovill
- School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; (G.L.H.-F.); (M.B.); (A.H.); (J.B.); (N.M.R.)
| | - Allison Hart
- School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; (G.L.H.-F.); (M.B.); (A.H.); (J.B.); (N.M.R.)
| | - Jessica Bennett
- School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; (G.L.H.-F.); (M.B.); (A.H.); (J.B.); (N.M.R.)
| | - Nicole M. Ryan
- School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; (G.L.H.-F.); (M.B.); (A.H.); (J.B.); (N.M.R.)
| | - Gillian Sandra Gould
- Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2480, Australia
- Correspondence:
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25
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Bendotti H, Lawler S, Ireland D, Gartner C, Hides L, Marshall H. What do people want in a smoking cessation app? An analysis of user reviews and app quality. Nicotine Tob Res 2021; 24:169-177. [PMID: 34460922 DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntab174] [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: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mobile smoking cessation (mCessation) apps have the potential to complement and enhance existing interventions, but many are of low quality. Exploring app reviews can provide a broader understanding of user experiences and engagement, to enhance the quality, acceptability and effectiveness of future developments. METHODS Publicly available user reviews and ratings of smoking cessation apps were mined from Google Play TM and the App Store ® via a targeted two-stage search strategy. English language smoking cessation apps with at least 20 consumer reviews between 2011 and 2020 were included. User reviews were thematically analysed using Braun & Clarke's framework. Apps were independently scored using the Mobile Apps Rating Scale (MARS) and compared to average user star ratings. RESULTS Forty-eight versions of 42 apps, encompassing 1,414 associated reviews, met eligibility criteria. Inductive coding of reviews produced 1,084 coding references including reviews coded across multiple nodes. Themes generated included: (1) supportive characteristics/tools; (2) useability; (3) influence on smoking behaviour; (4) benefits of quitting; and (5) role as a supplementary tool for quitting. The mean MARS score of 36 free and accessible apps was 3.10 (SD 0.71) with mean scores ranging from 2.00 to 4.47. An inverse relationship between MARS scores and average user star ratings was observed . CONCLUSIONS App personalisation, relationality, functionality and credibility were important to users, and should be considered as key design components for future apps. Differences between user star ratings and MARS scores may illustrate competing priorities of consumers and researchers, and the importance of a co-design development method. IMPLICATIONS This is the first study to use unsolicited user reviews from a large population to understand the general mCessation user experience in relation to making a quit attempt. Our findings highlight specific features favoured and disliked by users, including their influence on engagement, and supports previous findings that mCessation applications need to be highly tailorable, functional, credible and supportive. We recommend a consumer-driven, co-design approach for future mCessation app developments to optimise user acceptability and engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hollie Bendotti
- Thoracic Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Chermside, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sheleigh Lawler
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - David Ireland
- The Australian eHealth Research Centre, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Coral Gartner
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Leanne Hides
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Henry Marshall
- Thoracic Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Chermside, Queensland, Australia.,Department of Thoracic Medicine, The Prince Charles Hospital, Queensland Health
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26
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Hendriks Y, Peek S, Kaptein M, Bongers I. ‘There’s a thousand apps for that’: A qualitative study of the process and information needs when searching for and selecting apps for smoking cessation (Preprint). JMIR Hum Factors 2021; 9:e32628. [PMID: 35436217 PMCID: PMC9052019 DOI: 10.2196/32628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ylva Hendriks
- Tranzo, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, Netherlands
| | - Sebastiaan Peek
- Tranzo, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, Netherlands
| | - Maurits Kaptein
- Jheronimus Academy of Data Science, 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
| | - Inge Bongers
- Tranzo, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, Netherlands
- Research Unit Evidence Based Management of Innovation, Mental Health Care Institute Eindhoven, Eindhoven, Netherlands
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27
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Derksen ME, Jaspers MW, van Strijp S, Fransen MP. Mobile Health for Smoking Cessation Among Disadvantaged Young Women During and After Pregnancy: User-Centered Design and Usability Study. JMIR Form Res 2021; 5:e24112. [PMID: 34346895 PMCID: PMC8374659 DOI: 10.2196/24112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Smoking prevalence during and after pregnancy remains high among socioeconomically disadvantaged women. Mobile health (mHealth) apps with game and social support elements seem promising to support smoking cessation. Objective This study aims to describe the user-centered design and usability evaluation of Kindle, an mHealth app with game and social support elements, to support disadvantaged young women during and after pregnancy through the first stages of smoking cessation. Methods Disadvantaged women (n=9), members of their social networks (n=4), and nurses supporting these women (n=51) were informants throughout the iterative prototype development of Kindle according to the International Organization for Standardization 9241-11:2018. Specific phases included understanding the context of use through secondary analysis of qualitative interview data (phase 1), establishing the user and organizational requirements (phase 2), production of design solutions (phase 3), and usability inspection of the prototype through a heuristic evaluation (3 experts) along with user testing by a think aloud method (5 disadvantaged women and 5 nurses; phase 4). Usability problems were categorized according to the principles of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. Results Phase 1 resulted in an understanding of the VoorZorg program and the needs of VoorZorg nurses and clients (eg, focus on early stages of change and building new supportive networks to aid clients in smoking cessation). In phase 2, we established requirements (n=22; eg, mHealth app, secure communication between nurses and clients, easy-to-use interfaces, inclusion of game elements, and tailoring at early stages of change in smoking cessation). Phase 3 resulted in a prototype of Kindle, combining the interface for nurses and clients, including the following functionalities: personal goal setting with earning points; secured chat function between nurses and other clients; and tips, diary, and profile creation. The heuristic evaluation and thinking aloud method in phase 4 revealed 78 usability problems in the interfaces. Most usability problems concerned simplicity (eg, unclear clickable button) and naturalness (eg, unclear icon). Conclusions The user-centered design and usability testing of the mHealth app Kindle yielded useful insights. The involvement of end users, specifically socioeconomically disadvantaged women during and after their pregnancy, resulted in a prototype that met their needs and requirements (eg, mHealth app, secure communication between nurses and clients, easy-to-use interfaces, inclusion of game elements, and tailoring to the early stages of change in smoking cessation) to achieve readiness for smoking cessation. Moreover, the usability evaluation by end users and experts revealed unique usability problems for this population. These insights allow for further optimization of Kindle and encourage future studies to engage disadvantaged populations in all phases of mHealth intervention design and usability testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marloes E Derksen
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Monique Wm Jaspers
- Department of Medical Informatics, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Sander van Strijp
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Mirjam P Fransen
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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28
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Gowarty MA, Longacre MR, Vilardaga R, Kung NJ, Gaughan-Maher AE, Brunette MF. Usability and Acceptability of Two Smartphone Apps for Smoking Cessation Among Young Adults With Serious Mental Illness: Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Ment Health 2021; 8:e26873. [PMID: 34255699 PMCID: PMC8295834 DOI: 10.2196/26873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Young adults with serious mental illness (SMI) have higher smoking rates and lower cessation rates than young adults without SMI. Scalable interventions such as smartphone apps with evidence-based content (eg, the National Cancer Institute's [NCI's] QuitGuide and quitSTART) could increase access to potentially appealing and effective treatment for this group but have yet to be tested in this population. OBJECTIVE The goal of this user-centered design study is to determine the user experience (including usability and acceptability) of 2 widely available apps developed by the NCI-QuitGuide and quitSTART-among young adult tobacco users with SMI. METHODS We conducted usability and acceptability testing of QuitGuide and quitSTART among participants with SMI aged between 18 and 35 years who were stable in community mental health treatment between 2019 and 2020. Participants were randomly assigned to use QuitGuide or quitSTART on their smartphones. App usability was evaluated at baseline and following a 2-week field test of independent use via a video-recorded task completion protocol. Using a mixed method approach, we triangulated 4 data sources: nonparticipant observation, open-ended interviews, structured interviews (including the System Usability Scale [SUS]), and backend app use data obtained from the NCI. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS Participants were 17 smokers who were not interested in quitting, with a mean age of 29 (SD 4) years; 41% (n=7) presented with psychotic disorders. Participants smoked an average of 15 (SD 7) cigarettes per day. The mean SUS scores for QuitGuide were similar at visits one and two (mean 64, SD 18 and mean 66, SD 18, respectively). The mean SUS scores for quitSTART numerically increased from visit one (mean 55, SD 20) to visit two (mean 64, SD 16). Acceptability scores followed the same pattern. Observed task completion rates were at least 75% (7/9 for QuitGuide, 6/8 for quitSTART) for both apps at both visits for all but 2 tasks. During the 13-day trial period, QuitGuide and quitSTART users interacted with their assigned app on an average of 4.6 (SD 2.8) days versus 10.8 (SD 3.5) days, for a mean total of 5.6 (SD 3.8) interactions versus 41 (SD 26) interactions, and responded to a median of 1 notification (range 0-8) versus 18.5 notifications (range 0-37), respectively. Qualitative comments indicated moderate to high satisfaction overall but also included concerns about the accuracy of the apps' feedback. CONCLUSIONS Both QuitGuide and quitSTART had acceptable levels of usability and mixed levels of acceptability among young adults with SMI. The higher level of engagement with quitSTART suggests that quitSTART may be a favorable tool for young adult smokers with SMI. However, clinical support or coaching may be needed to overcome initial usability issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minda A Gowarty
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Community and Family Medicine, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, United States.,Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States.,Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, United States
| | - Meghan R Longacre
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States.,The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States
| | - Roger Vilardaga
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Nathan J Kung
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States
| | - Ashley E Gaughan-Maher
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States.,Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, United States
| | - Mary F Brunette
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States.,Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, United States.,The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, United States
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29
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Bustamante LA, Gill Ménard C, Julien S, Romo L. Behavior Change Techniques in Popular Mobile Apps for Smoking Cessation in France: Content Analysis. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2021; 9:e26082. [PMID: 33983130 PMCID: PMC8160788 DOI: 10.2196/26082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The mobile app market differs from country to country, and to date, no previous review of the content quality of smoking cessation apps has been conducted in France. Objective This study aimed to examine the general quality of the most popular smoking cessation apps in France and also determine the degree to which apps adhere to established behavioral and cognitive techniques (BCTs) proven effective in clinical practice. Methods A systematic research of smoking cessation apps was conducted in both the Google Play Store and Apple Store in the French market. The general quality of popular apps was rated with the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS), and the therapeutic quality was assessed with the ratio of adherence of the behavior change technique taxonomy for smoking cessation treatment. Results A total of 14 mobile apps met all the inclusion criteria of the content analysis. The interrater reliability varied from “substantial” (0.79) to “almost perfect” (0.9) for the two measures. The mean MARS score was 3.5 out of 5 (median 3.6, IQR 0.6 [3.2-3.8]). The findings suggest that popular apps focus primarily on the functionality dimension of the MARS scale (4.2/5). The mean number of BCTs was 22, with a large difference between apps (minimum 4, maximum 38). At least half of the apps addressed motivation (8.8/14, 63%) and advised on using behavioral skills in order to quit smoking or stay a nonsmoker (8.7/14, 62%). However, only a handful of apps gathered important information (5.9/14, 42%) in order to deliver proper advice regarding the use of approved medication or the implementation of behavioral techniques (4.3/14, 31%). The mean MARS score was positively correlated with the price (r=0.70, P=.007) and the number of BCTs used (r=0.67, P=.01). User rating was not correlated with any quality scale (P=.67). Conclusions The content quality of popular smoking cessation apps in France varied by app type and price. Most popular apps propose in general good quality content but lack implementation of evidence-based BCTs associated with effectiveness on smoking cessation treatment. Further research is needed to evaluate the improvement in the content quality of smoking cessation apps in France.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luz Adriana Bustamante
- Laboratoire EA 4430-Clinique Psychanalyse Developpement, Department of Psychology, University of Paris Nanterre, Nanterre, Ile-de-France, France
| | - Cédric Gill Ménard
- Laboratoire EA 4430-Clinique Psychanalyse Developpement, Department of Psychology, University of Paris Nanterre, Nanterre, Ile-de-France, France
| | - Sabrina Julien
- C2S - Cognition Santé Société (EA 6291), Department of Psychology, Université de Reims Champagne - Ardenne, Reims, France
| | - Lucia Romo
- Laboratoire EA 4430-Clinique Psychanalyse Developpement, Department of Psychology, University of Paris Nanterre, Nanterre, Ile-de-France, France
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30
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Peek J, Hay K, Hughes P, Kostellar A, Kumar S, Bhikoo Z, Serginson J, Marshall HM. Feasibility and Acceptability of a Smoking Cessation Smartphone App (My QuitBuddy) in Older Persons: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Form Res 2021; 5:e24976. [PMID: 33851923 PMCID: PMC8082378 DOI: 10.2196/24976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although many smoking cessation smartphone apps exist, few have been independently evaluated, particularly in older populations. In 2017, of the 112 commercially available smoking cessation apps in Australia, only 6 were deemed to be of high quality, in that they partially adhered to Australian guidelines. Mobile health (mHealth) apps have the potential to modify smoking behavior at a relatively low cost; however, their acceptability in older smokers remains unknown. Rigorous scientific evaluation of apps is thus urgently needed to assist smokers and clinicians alike. Objective We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial to evaluate the feasibility of a large-scale trial to assess the use and acceptability of a high-quality smoking cessation app in older smokers. Methods Adult inpatient and outpatient smokers with computer and smartphone access were recruited face to face and via telephone interviews from Metropolitan Hospitals in Brisbane, Australia. Participants were randomized 1:1 to the intervention (requested to download the “My QuitBuddy” smoking cessation app on their smartphone) or the control group (provided access to a tailored smoking cessation support webpage [Quit HQ]). The My QuitBuddy app is freely available from app stores and provides personalized evidenced-based smoking cessation support. Quit HQ offers regular email support over 12 weeks. No training or instructions on the use of these e-resources were given to participants. Outcomes at 3 months included recruitment and retention rates, use and acceptability of e-resource (User Version of the Mobile App Rating Scale [uMARS]), changes in quitting motivation (10-point scale), and self-reported smoking abstinence. Results We randomized 64 of 231 potentially eligible individuals (27.7%). The mean age of participants was 62 (SD 8). Nicotine dependence was moderate (mean Heaviness of Smoking Index [HSI] 2.8 [SD 1.2]). At 3 months the retention rate was (58/64, 91%). A total of 15 of 31 participants in the intervention arm (48%) used the app at least once, compared with 10 of 33 (30%) in the control arm. uMARS scores for e-resource use and acceptability were statistically similar (P=.29). Motivation to quit was significantly higher in the intervention arm compared with the control arm (median 6 [IQR 4-8] versus 4 [IQR 4-5], respectively, P=.02). According to the intention-to-treat analysis, smoking abstinence was nonsignificantly higher in the intervention group (4/31 [13%], 95% CI 4%-30%, versus 2/33 [6%], 95% CI 1%-20%; P=.42). The estimated number needed to treat was 14. Conclusions Internet and mHealth smoking cessation resources appear acceptable to a minority of older smokers. Smokers who engaged with the allocated e-resources rated them equally, and there were trends toward greater uptake, increased motivation, and higher abstinence rates in the app group; however, only the change in motivation reached statistical significance (median score 6 versus 4, respectively, P=.02). This results of this pilot study suggest that apps may improve quit outcomes in older adults who are willing to use them. Further research into user–app interactions should be undertaken to facilitate improvements in app design and consumer engagement. These favorable trends should be explored in larger trials with sufficient statistical power. Trial Registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12619000159156; http://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=376849&isReview=true
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Peek
- The University of Queensland Thoracic Research Centre, The Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside, Australia
| | - Karen Hay
- QIMR Berghoffer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Pauline Hughes
- The Department of Respiratory Medicine, Redcliffe Hospital, Redcliffe, Australia
| | - Adrienne Kostellar
- The Pharmacy Department, The Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Subodh Kumar
- The Department of Respiratory Medicine, Redcliffe Hospital, Redcliffe, Australia
| | - Zaheerodin Bhikoo
- The Department of Respiratory Medicine, Caboolture Hospital, Caboolture, Australia
| | - John Serginson
- The Department of Respiratory Medicine, Caboolture Hospital, Caboolture, Australia
| | - Henry M Marshall
- The University of Queensland Thoracic Research Centre, The Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside, Australia
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Terhorst Y, Messner EM, Schultchen D, Paganini S, Portenhauser A, Eder AS, Bauer M, Papenhoff M, Baumeister H, Sander LB. Systematic evaluation of content and quality of English and German pain apps in European app stores. Internet Interv 2021; 24:100376. [PMID: 33718002 PMCID: PMC7933737 DOI: 10.1016/j.invent.2021.100376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Pain spans a broad spectrum of diseases and types that are highly prevalent and cause substantial disease burden for individuals and society. Up to 40% of people affected by pain receive no or inadequate treatment. Providing a scalable, time-, and location-independent way for pain diagnostic, management, prevention and treatment mobile health applications (MHA) might be a promising approach to improve health care for pain. However, the commercial app market is rapidly growing and unregulated, resulting in an opaque market. Studies investigating the content, privacy and security features, quality and scientific evidence of the available apps are highly needed, to guide patients and clinicians to high quality MHA.Contributing to this challenge, the present study investigates the content, quality, and privacy features of pain apps available in the European app stores. METHODS An automated search engine was used to identify pain apps in the European Google Play and Apple App store. Pain apps were screened and checked for systematic criteria (pain-relatedness, functionality, availability, independent usability, English or German). Content, quality and privacy features were assessed by two independent reviewers using the German Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS-G). The MARS-G assesses quality on four objectives (engagement, functionality, aesthetics, information quality) and two subjective scales (perceived impact, subjective quality). RESULTS Out of 1034 identified pain apps 218 were included. Pain apps covered eight different pain types. Content included basic information, advice, assessment and tracking, and stand-alone interventions. The overall quality of the pain apps was average M = 3.13 (SD = 0.56, min = 1, max = 4.69). The effectiveness of less than 1% of the included pain apps was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial. Major problems with data privacy were present: 59% provided no imprint, 70% had no visible privacy policy. CONCLUSION A multitude of pain apps is available. Most MHA lack scientific evaluation and have serious privacy issues, posing a potential threat to users. Further research on evidence and improvements privacy and security are needed. Overall, the potential of pain apps is not exploited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannik Terhorst
- Department of Research Methods, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, 89069 Ulm, Germany
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Lise-Meitner-Str. 16, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Eva-Maria Messner
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Lise-Meitner-Str. 16, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Dana Schultchen
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, 89069 Ulm, Germany
| | - Sarah Paganini
- Department of Sport Psychology, University of Freiburg, Schwarzwaldstraße 175, 79117 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Alexandra Portenhauser
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Lise-Meitner-Str. 16, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Anna-Sophia Eder
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Lise-Meitner-Str. 16, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Melanie Bauer
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, 89069 Ulm, Germany
| | - Mike Papenhoff
- Pain Medicine Clinic, BG Klinikum Duisburg, Grossenbaumer Allee 250, D-47249 Duisburg, Germany
| | - Harald Baumeister
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Lise-Meitner-Str. 16, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Lasse Bosse Sander
- Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Engelberger Str. 41, 79106 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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Brooks AT, Allen HK, Thornton L, Trevorrow T. Behavioral medicine challenges in the shadow of a global pandemic. Transl Behav Med 2021; 11:664-668. [PMID: 33098423 PMCID: PMC7665787 DOI: 10.1093/tbm/ibaa106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Health behavior researchers should refocus and retool as it becomes increasingly clear that the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic surpass the direct effects of COVID-19 and include unique, drastic, and ubiquitous consequences for health behavior. The circumstances of the pandemic have created a natural experiment, allowing researchers focusing on a wide range of health behaviors and populations with the opportunity to use previously collected and future data to study: (a) changes in health behavior prepandemic and postpandemic, (b) health behavior prevalence and needs amidst the pandemic, and (c) the effects of the pandemic on short- and long-term health behavior. Our field is particularly challenged as we attempt to consider biopsychosocial, political, and environmental factors that affect health and health behavior. These realities, while daunting, should call us to action to refocus and retool our research, prevention, and intervention efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa T Brooks
- Nursing Research and Translational Science, National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Hannah K Allen
- School of Applied Sciences, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
| | - Louise Thornton
- Sydney Medical School/The Matilda Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Tracy Trevorrow
- School of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Chaminade University of Honolulu, Honolulu, HI, USA
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Bahadoor R, Alexandre JM, Fournet L, Gellé T, Serre F, Auriacombe M. Inventory and Analysis of Controlled Trials of Mobile Phone Applications Targeting Substance Use Disorders: A Systematic Review. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:622394. [PMID: 33692708 PMCID: PMC7937918 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.622394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Less than 20% of people with addictions have access to adequate treatment. Mobile health could improve access to care. No systematic review evaluates effectiveness of mobile health applications for addiction. Objectives: First aim was to describe controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of smartphone applications targeting substance use disorders and addictive behaviors. Secondly, we aimed to understand how the application produced changes in behavior and craving management. Method: A systematic review based on PRISMA recommendations was conducted on MEDLINE, CENTRAL, and PsycINFO. Studies had to be controlled trials concerning addictive disorders (substance/behavior), mobile application-based interventions, assessing effectiveness or impact of those applications upon use, published after 2008. Relevant information was systematically screened for synthesis. Quality and risk of bias were evaluated with JADAD score. Results: Search strategy retrieved 22 articles (2014-2019) corresponding to 22 applications targeting tobacco, alcohol, other substances and binge eating disorder. Control groups had access to usual treatments or a placebo-application or no treatment. Eight applications showed reduced use. Most of the applications informed about risks of use and suggestions for monitoring use. Twelve applications managed craving. Discussion: Heterogeneity limited study comparisons. Duration of studies was too short to predict sustainable results. A reduction of craving seemed related to a reduction in use. Conclusion: There is a lack of robust and comparable studies on mHealth applications for addiction treatment. Such applications could become significant contributors in clinical practice in the future so longer-termed double-blind studies are needed. Targeting craving to prevent relapse should be systematic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubaab Bahadoor
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.,Addiction Team Phenomenology and Determinants of Appetitive Behaviors, Sanpsy CNRS USR 3413, Bordeaux, France
| | - Jean-Marc Alexandre
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.,Addiction Team Phenomenology and Determinants of Appetitive Behaviors, Sanpsy CNRS USR 3413, Bordeaux, France.,Pôle Addictologie et Filière Régionale, CH Charles Perrens and CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Lucie Fournet
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.,Addiction Team Phenomenology and Determinants of Appetitive Behaviors, Sanpsy CNRS USR 3413, Bordeaux, France.,Pôle Addictologie et Filière Régionale, CH Charles Perrens and CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Thibaut Gellé
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.,Addiction Team Phenomenology and Determinants of Appetitive Behaviors, Sanpsy CNRS USR 3413, Bordeaux, France.,Pôle Addictologie et Filière Régionale, CH Charles Perrens and CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Fuschia Serre
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.,Addiction Team Phenomenology and Determinants of Appetitive Behaviors, Sanpsy CNRS USR 3413, Bordeaux, France.,Pôle Addictologie et Filière Régionale, CH Charles Perrens and CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Marc Auriacombe
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.,Addiction Team Phenomenology and Determinants of Appetitive Behaviors, Sanpsy CNRS USR 3413, Bordeaux, France.,Pôle Addictologie et Filière Régionale, CH Charles Perrens and CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.,Department of Psychiatry, Center for Studies of Addiction, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Larsen M, Nicholas J, Han J, Lemon C, Okun K, Torok M, Wong D, Wong I, Wong Q, Huckvale K. Here's something I prepared earlier: a review of the time to publication of cross-sectional reviews of smartphone health apps. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e039817. [PMID: 33268414 PMCID: PMC7713229 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Across a range of health conditions, apps are increasingly valued as tools for supporting the delivery and coordination of healthcare. Research-led cross-sectional reviews of apps are a potential resource to inform app selection in face of uncertainties around content quality, safety and privacy. However, these peer-reviewed publications only capture a snapshot of highly dynamic app stores and marketplaces. To determine the extent to which marketplace dynamics might impact the interpretation of app reviews, the current study sought to quantify the lag between the reported time of app assessment and publication of the results of these studies. DESIGN Searches were conducted on MEDLINE, Embase and PsycINFO to identify published cross-sectional reviews of health, fitness or wellness apps. Publication timeline metadata were extracted, allowing the primary outcome measure, the delay between app store search and manuscript publication, to be calculated. A secondary measure, the time between search and manuscript submission, was also calculated where possible. RESULTS After screening, 136 relevant cross-sectional app review studies were analysed. The median time to publication was 431 days (approximately 14 months, range: 42-1054 days). The median time to submission was 269 days (approximately 9 months, range: 5-874 days). Studies which downloaded apps typically took longer to publish (p=0.010), however the number of apps reviewed did not impact the time to publication (p=0.964). Studies which recommended specific apps were not published more rapidly (p=0.998). CONCLUSIONS Most health app reviews present data that are at least a year out-of-date at the time of publication. Given the high rate of turnover of health apps in public marketplaces, it may not be appropriate, therefore, for these reviews to be presented as a resource concerning specific products for commissioners, clinicians and the public. Alternative sources of information may be better calibrated to the dynamics of the app marketplace.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Larsen
- Black Dog Institute, UNSW Sydney, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jennifer Nicholas
- Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jin Han
- Black Dog Institute, UNSW Sydney, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Christopher Lemon
- St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kelsi Okun
- Stanford University School of Humanities and Science, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Michelle Torok
- Black Dog Institute, UNSW Sydney, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David Wong
- Centre for Health Informatics, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Iana Wong
- Black Dog Institute, UNSW Sydney, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Quincy Wong
- School of Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kit Huckvale
- Black Dog Institute, UNSW Sydney, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
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Meacham MC, Vogel EA, Thrul J. Vaping-Related Mobile Apps Available in the Google Play Store After the Apple Ban: Content Review. J Med Internet Res 2020; 22:e20009. [PMID: 33185565 PMCID: PMC7695530 DOI: 10.2196/20009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In response to health concerns about vaping devices (eg, youth nicotine use, lung injury), Apple removed 181 previously approved vaping-related apps from the App Store in November 2019. This policy change may lessen youth exposure to content that glamorizes vaping; however, it may also block important sources of information and vaping device control for adults seeking to use vaping devices safely. OBJECTIVE Understanding the types of nicotine and cannabis vaping-related apps still available in the competing Google Play Store can shed light on how digital apps may reflect information available to consumers. METHODS In December 2019, we searched the Google Play Store for vaping-related apps using the keywords "vape" and "vaping" and reviewed the first 100 apps presented in the results. We reviewed app titles, descriptions, screenshots, and metadata to categorize the intended substance (nicotine or cannabis/tetrahydrocannabinol) and the app's purpose. The most installed apps in each purpose category were downloaded and evaluated for quality and usability with the Mobile App Rating Scale. RESULTS Of the first 100 apps, 79 were related to vaping. Of these 79 apps, 43 (54%) were specific to nicotine, 3 (4%) were specific to cannabis, 1 (1%) was intended for either, and for the remaining 31 (39%), the intended substance was unclear. The most common purposes of the apps were making do-it-yourself e-liquids (28/79, 35%) or coils (25/79, 32%), games/entertainment (19/79, 24%), social networking (16/79, 20%), and shopping for vaping products (15/79, 19%). Of the 79 apps, at least 4 apps (5%) paired with vaping devices to control temperature or dose settings, 8 apps (10%) claimed to help people quit smoking using vaping, and 2 apps (3%) had the goal of helping people quit vaping. CONCLUSIONS The majority of vaping-related apps in the Google Play Store had features either to help users continue vaping, such as information for modifying devices, or to maintain interest in vaping. Few apps were for controlling device settings or assisting with quitting smoking or vaping. Assuming that these Google Play Store apps were similar in content to the Apple App Store apps that were removed, it appears that Apple's ban would have a minimal effect on people who vape with the intention of quitting smoking or who are seeking information about safer vaping via mobile apps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith C Meacham
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Erin A Vogel
- Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Johannes Thrul
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Lugg ST, Kerr A, Kadiri S, Budacan AM, Farley A, Perski O, West R, Brown J, Thickett DR, Naidu B. Protocol for a feasibility study of smoking cessation in the surgical pathway before major lung surgery: Project MURRAY. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e036568. [PMID: 33158819 PMCID: PMC7651715 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-036568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Smoking prior to major thoracic surgery is the biggest risk factor for development of postoperative pulmonary complications, with one in five patients continuing to smoke before surgery. Current guidance is that all patients should stop smoking before elective surgery yet very few are offered specialist smoking cessation support. Patients would prefer support within the thoracic surgical pathway. No study has addressed the effectiveness of such an intervention in this setting on cessation. The overall aim is to determine in patients who undergo major elective thoracic surgery whether an intervention integrated (INT) into the surgical pathway improves smoking cessation rates compared with usual care (UC) of standard community/hospital based NHS smoking support. This pilot study will evaluate feasibility of a substantive trial. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Project MURRAY is a trial comparing the effectiveness of INT and UC on smoking cessation. INT is pharmacotherapy and a hybrid of behavioural support delivered by the trained healthcare practitioners (HCPs) in the thoracic surgical pathway and a complimentary web-based application. This pilot study will evaluate the feasibility of a substantive trial and study processes in five adult thoracic centres including the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. The primary objective is to establish the proportion of those eligible who agree to participate. Secondary objectives include evaluation of study processes. Analyses of feasibility and patient-reported outcomes will take the form of simple descriptive statistics and where appropriate, point estimates of effects sizes and associated 95% CIs. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study has obtained ethical approval from NHS Research Ethics Committee (REC number 19/WM/0097). Dissemination plan includes informing patients and HCPs; engaging multidisciplinary professionals to support a proposal of a definitive trial and submission for a full application dependent on the success of the study. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT04190966.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian T Lugg
- Birmingham Acute Care Research Group, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Amy Kerr
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Salma Kadiri
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Alina-Maria Budacan
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Amanda Farley
- Insitute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Olga Perski
- Institute of Epidemiology & Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Robert West
- Institute of Epidemiology & Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jamie Brown
- Institute of Epidemiology & Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - David R Thickett
- Birmingham Acute Care Research Group, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Babu Naidu
- Birmingham Acute Care Research Group, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
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Terhorst Y, Philippi P, Sander LB, Schultchen D, Paganini S, Bardus M, Santo K, Knitza J, Machado GC, Schoeppe S, Bauereiß N, Portenhauser A, Domhardt M, Walter B, Krusche M, Baumeister H, Messner EM. Validation of the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS). PLoS One 2020; 15:e0241480. [PMID: 33137123 PMCID: PMC7605637 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mobile health apps (MHA) have the potential to improve health care. The commercial MHA market is rapidly growing, but the content and quality of available MHA are unknown. Instruments for the assessment of the quality and content of MHA are highly needed. The Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) is one of the most widely used tools to evaluate the quality of MHA. Only few validation studies investigated its metric quality. No study has evaluated the construct validity and concurrent validity. OBJECTIVE This study evaluates the construct validity, concurrent validity, reliability, and objectivity, of the MARS. METHODS Data was pooled from 15 international app quality reviews to evaluate the metric properties of the MARS. The MARS measures app quality across four dimensions: engagement, functionality, aesthetics and information quality. Construct validity was evaluated by assessing related competing confirmatory models by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Non-centrality (RMSEA), incremental (CFI, TLI) and residual (SRMR) fit indices were used to evaluate the goodness of fit. As a measure of concurrent validity, the correlations to another quality assessment tool (ENLIGHT) were investigated. Reliability was determined using Omega. Objectivity was assessed by intra-class correlation. RESULTS In total, MARS ratings from 1,299 MHA covering 15 different health domains were included. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a bifactor model with a general factor and a factor for each dimension (RMSEA = 0.074, TLI = 0.922, CFI = 0.940, SRMR = 0.059). Reliability was good to excellent (Omega 0.79 to 0.93). Objectivity was high (ICC = 0.82). MARS correlated with ENLIGHT (ps<.05). CONCLUSION The metric evaluation of the MARS demonstrated its suitability for the quality assessment. As such, the MARS could be used to make the quality of MHA transparent to health care stakeholders and patients. Future studies could extend the present findings by investigating the re-test reliability and predictive validity of the MARS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannik Terhorst
- Department of Research Methods, Institute of Psychology and Education, University Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, University Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Paula Philippi
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, University Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Lasse B. Sander
- Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Dana Schultchen
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, University Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sarah Paganini
- Department of Sport Psychology, Institute of Sports and Sport Science, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marco Bardus
- Department of Health Promotion and Community Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Karla Santo
- Academic Research Organization, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
- Westmead Applied Research Centre, Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Cardiovascular Division, The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, Australia
| | - Johannes Knitza
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Gustavo C. Machado
- Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Stephanie Schoeppe
- School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Appleton Institute, Physical Activity Research Group, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Natalie Bauereiß
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, University Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Alexandra Portenhauser
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, University Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Matthias Domhardt
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, University Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Benjamin Walter
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Martin Krusche
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Harald Baumeister
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, University Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Eva-Maria Messner
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology and Education, University Ulm, Ulm, Germany
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Chen J, Ho E, Jiang Y, Whittaker R, Yang T, Bullen C. Mobile Social Network-Based Smoking Cessation Intervention for Chinese Male Smokers: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2020; 8:e17522. [PMID: 33095184 PMCID: PMC7647814 DOI: 10.2196/17522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Around 2 million Chinese people, mostly men, die annually from tobacco-related diseases; yet, fewer than 8% of Chinese smokers ever receive any smoking cessation support. Objective This study aimed to test the preliminary effectiveness and feasibility for a mobile social network (WeChat)–based smoking cessation intervention (SCAMPI program) among Chinese male smokers. Methods Chinese male smokers aged 25-44 years were recruited online from WeChat, the most widely used social media platform in China. Individuals using other smoking cessation interventions or who lacked capacity to provide online informed consent were excluded. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to intervention or control groups. Neither participants nor researchers were masked to assignment. The trial was fully online. All data were collected via WeChat. The intervention group received access to the full-version SCAMPI program, a Chinese-language smoking cessation program based on the Behaviour Change Wheel framework and relevant cessation guidelines. Specific intervention functions used in the program include: planning to help users make quitting plans, calculator to record quitting benefits, calendar to record progress, gamification to facilitate quitting, information about smoking harms, motivational messages to help users overcome urges, standardized tests for users to assess their levels of nicotine dependence and lung health, as well as a social platform to encourage social support between users. The control group had access to a static WeChat page of contacts for standard smoking cessation care. Both groups received incentive credit payments for participating. The primary outcome was 30-day biochemically verified smoking abstinence at 6 weeks after randomization, with missing data treated as not quitting. Secondary outcomes were other smoking status measures, reduction of cigarette consumption, study feasibility (recruitment and retention rate), and acceptability of and satisfaction with the program. Results The program recorded 5736 visitors over a 13-day recruitment period. We recruited 80 participants who were randomly allocated to two arms (n=40 per arm). At 6 weeks, 36 of 40 (90%) intervention participants and 35 of 40 (88%) control participants provided complete self-reported data on their daily smoking status via WeChat. Biochemically verified smoking abstinence at 6 weeks was determined for 10 of 40 (25%) intervention participants and 2 of 40 (5%) control participants (RR=5, 95% CI 1.2-21.4, P=.03). In the intervention group, the calculator function, motivational messages, and health tests were underused (less than once per week per users). Participants rated their satisfaction with the intervention program as 4.56 out of 5.00. Conclusions Our program is a novel, accessible, and acceptable smoking cessation intervention for Chinese male smokers. A future trial with a greater sample size and longer follow-up will identify if it is as effective as these preliminary data suggest. Trial Registration ANZCTR registry, ACTRN12618001089224; https://tinyurl.com/y536n7sx International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-18071
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinsong Chen
- National Institute for Health Innovation, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Elsie Ho
- School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Yannan Jiang
- National Institute for Health Innovation, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Robyn Whittaker
- National Institute for Health Innovation, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Tingzhong Yang
- Centre for Tobacco Control Research, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Christopher Bullen
- National Institute for Health Innovation, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Gowarty MA, Kung NJ, Maher AE, Longacre MR, Brunette MF. Perceptions of Mobile Apps for Smoking Cessation Among Young People in Community Mental Health Care: Qualitative Study. JMIR Form Res 2020; 4:e19860. [PMID: 33006560 PMCID: PMC7568217 DOI: 10.2196/19860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Young adults with serious mental illness are over twice as likely to have tobacco use disorder than those in the general population and are less likely to utilize proven treatment methods during quit attempts. However, little research has evaluated the efficacy of interventions for this group. Smartphone apps may be an underutilized tool for tobacco use disorder among young adults with serious mental illness. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to explore attitudes toward smoking cessation apps and preferences regarding app design in young adult smokers with serious mental illness. METHODS Five focus groups involving 25- to 35-year-old adults with serious mental illness receiving treatment at a community mental health center were conducted between May 2019 and August 2019. Three researchers independently coded transcripts and identified themes using thematic analysis. RESULTS Participants (n=22) were individuals who smoke daily: 10 (46%) self-identified as female, 18 (82%) self-identified as White, and 9 (41%) had psychotic disorders. Key themes that emerged included a general interest in using health apps; a desire for apps to provide ongoing motivation during a quit attempt via social support, progress tracking, and rewards; a desire for apps to provide distraction from smoking; concerns about app effectiveness due to a lack of external accountability; and concerns that apps could trigger cravings or smoking behavior by mentioning cigarettes or the act of smoking. CONCLUSIONS Apps have the potential to support smoking cessation or reduction efforts among young adults with serious mental illness. However, they may require tailoring, optimization, and clinical support to effectively promote cessation in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minda A Gowarty
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Community and Family Medicine, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, United States.,Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States.,Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, United States
| | - Nathan J Kung
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States
| | - Ashley E Maher
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States
| | - Meghan R Longacre
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States.,The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States
| | - Mary F Brunette
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States.,Center for Technology and Behavioral Health, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, United States
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40
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Nguyen M, Hossain N, Tangri R, Shah J, Agarwal P, Thompson-Hutchison F, Halperin I. Systematic Evaluation of Canadian Diabetes Smartphone Applications for People With Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational Diabetes. Can J Diabetes 2020; 45:174-178.e1. [PMID: 33127288 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcjd.2020.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2019] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Our aims in this study were to: 1) review diabetes apps available in Canada using the Mobile App Rating Scale tool and generate usability scores for each, 2) characterize availability of features across all apps, 3) evaluate the clinical safety of bolus insulin calculators and 4) evaluate the quality of exportable blood glucose reports meant for use by health-care providers. METHODS Two primary reviewers searched for, screened and evaluated diabetes apps from the Android Play Store and iOS App Store, resulting from the search terms "glucose" and "diabetes." RESULTS Overall Mobile App Rating Scale quality rating score was 3.1 out of 5. The Functionality subsection scored the highest (3.9 out of 5) and Information scored the lowest (2.0 out of 5). The majority of apps have the ability to track carbohydrate intake (54 of 75, 72%), send reminders (46 of 75, 61%) and can generate blood glucose reports (53 of 75, 71%), but few have bolus insulin calculators (6 of 75, 9%) and remote diabetes support (10 of 75, 13%). CONCLUSION Despite the widespread availability of many iOS and Android diabetes management apps, few are of high quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Nguyen
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Jay Shah
- Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Payal Agarwal
- Department of Family Medicine, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Fiona Thompson-Hutchison
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ilana Halperin
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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41
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Pallejà-Millán M, Rey-Reñones C, Barrera Uriarte ML, Granado-Font E, Basora J, Flores-Mateo G, Duch J. Evaluation of the Tobbstop Mobile App for Smoking Cessation: Cluster Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2020; 8:e15951. [PMID: 32589153 PMCID: PMC7381259 DOI: 10.2196/15951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mobile apps provide an accessible way to test new health-related methodologies. Tobacco is still the primary preventable cause of death in industrialized countries, constituting an important public health issue. New technologies provide novel opportunities that are effective in the cessation of smoking tobacco. OBJECTIVE This paper aims to evaluate the efficacy and usage of a mobile app for assisting adult smokers to quit smoking. METHODS We conducted a cluster randomized clinical trial. We included smokers older than 18 years who were motivated to stop smoking and used a mobile phone compatible with our mobile app. We carried out follow-up visits at 15, 30, and 45 days, and at 2, 3, 6, and 12 months. Participants of the intervention group had access to the Tobbstop mobile app designed by the research team. The primary outcomes were continuous smoking abstinence at 3 and 12 months. RESULTS A total of 773 participants were included in the trial, of which 602 (77.9%) began the study on their D-Day. Of participants in the intervention group, 34.15% (97/284) did not use the app. The continuous abstention level was significantly larger in the intervention group participants who used the app than in those who did not use the app at both 3 months (72/187, 38.5% vs 13/97, 13.4%; P<.001) and 12 months (39/187, 20.9% vs 8/97, 8.25%; P=.01). Participants in the intervention group who used the app regularly and correctly had a higher probability of not being smokers at 12 months (OR 7.20, 95% CI 2.14-24.20; P=.001) than the participants of the CG. CONCLUSIONS Regular use of an app for smoking cessation is effective in comparison with standard clinical practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01734421; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01734421.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meritxell Pallejà-Millán
- Unitat de Suport a la Recerca Camp de Tarragona, Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina, Reus, Spain.,Departament de Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain
| | - Cristina Rey-Reñones
- Departament de Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain.,Institut Català de la Salut, Unitat de Suport a la Recerca Camp de Tarragona, Reus, Spain
| | - Maria Luisa Barrera Uriarte
- Institut Català de la Salut, Unitat de Suport a la Recerca Camp de Tarragona, Reus, Spain.,Equip d'Atenció Primaria La Granja (Tarragona-2), Direcció d'Atenció Primaria Camp de Tarragona, Institut Català de la Salut, Torreforta, Spain
| | - Esther Granado-Font
- Institut Català de la Salut, Unitat de Suport a la Recerca Camp de Tarragona, Reus, Spain.,Equip d'Atenció Primaria Horts de Miró (Reus-4), Direcció d'Atenció Primaria Camp de Tarragona, Institut Català de la Salut, Reus, Spain
| | - Josep Basora
- Unitat de Suport a la Recerca Camp de Tarragona, Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina, Reus, Spain.,Departament de Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain
| | - Gemma Flores-Mateo
- Unitat de Suport a la Recerca Camp de Tarragona, Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina, Reus, Spain.,Unitat d'Anàlisi i Qualitat, Xarxa Sanitària i Social Santa Tecla, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Jordi Duch
- Departament d'Enginyeria Informàtica i Matemàtiques, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
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Colbert S, Thornton L, Richmond R. Smartphone apps for managing alcohol consumption: a literature review. Addict Sci Clin Pract 2020; 15:17. [PMID: 32381062 PMCID: PMC7206704 DOI: 10.1186/s13722-020-00190-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Smartphone applications (apps) designed to assist users to reduce hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption show potential as an inexpensive alternative to traditional brief intervention in primary care. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the literature on alcohol reduction apps and the availability of evidenced-based apps on top commercial app stores. Methods We reviewed literature through to December 2019 using the databases PubMed, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Google Scholar and keyword search terms smartphone/mobile/phone AND application/app AND alcohol. Articles were included if the primary intervention was a smartphone app and the study measured participant changes in frequency or volume of alcohol consumption. Results 21 relevant articles were identified that evaluated 19 unique smartphone apps. Of the 19 unique apps, seven were designed for use among youth and 12 in adult populations. The available evidence for the efficacy of alcohol reduction apps among youth is inconclusive, with results from these evaluations not showing a clear benefit in reducing alcohol consumption compared to control groups. The results of apps designed for adult populations appears more promising, but results are still mixed. Of the 19 alcohol reduction apps that have been evaluated only eight of these are currently publicly available in commercial app stores. Of these eight apps, only four were demonstrated in the literature to assist with reducing alcohol consumption. Conclusion The evidence for alcohol reduction apps is promising but inconclusive. Few apps that have been evaluated in the scientific literature are currently available for download in commercial app stores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Colbert
- School Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia
| | - Louise Thornton
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Robyn Richmond
- School Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia.
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Stec M, Arbour MW. Wellness and Disease Self-Management Mobile Health Apps Evaluated by the Mobile Application Rating Scale. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yfpn.2020.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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44
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Messner EM, Terhorst Y, Barke A, Baumeister H, Stoyanov S, Hides L, Kavanagh D, Pryss R, Sander L, Probst T. The German Version of the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS-G): Development and Validation Study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2020; 8:e14479. [PMID: 32217504 PMCID: PMC7148545 DOI: 10.2196/14479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The number of mobile health apps (MHAs), which are developed to promote healthy behaviors, prevent disease onset, manage and cure diseases, or assist with rehabilitation measures, has exploded. App store star ratings and descriptions usually provide insufficient or even false information about app quality, although they are popular among end users. A rigorous systematic approach to establish and evaluate the quality of MHAs is urgently needed. The Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) is an assessment tool that facilitates the objective and systematic evaluation of the quality of MHAs. However, a German MARS is currently not available. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to translate and validate a German version of the MARS (MARS-G). METHODS The original 19-item MARS was forward and backward translated twice, and the MARS-G was created. App description items were extended, and 104 MHAs were rated twice by eight independent bilingual researchers, using the MARS-G and MARS. The internal consistency, validity, and reliability of both scales were assessed. Mokken scale analysis was used to investigate the scalability of the overall scores. RESULTS The retranslated scale showed excellent alignment with the original MARS. Additionally, the properties of the MARS-G were comparable to those of the original MARS. The internal consistency was good for all subscales (ie, omega ranged from 0.72 to 0.91). The correlation coefficients (r) between the dimensions of the MARS-G and MARS ranged from 0.93 to 0.98. The scalability of the MARS (H=0.50) and MARS-G (H=0.48) were good. CONCLUSIONS The MARS-G is a reliable and valid tool for experts and stakeholders to assess the quality of health apps in German-speaking populations. The overall score is a reliable quality indicator. However, further studies are needed to assess the factorial structure of the MARS and MARS-G.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yannik Terhorst
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Antonia Barke
- Clinical and Biological Psychology, Catholic University Eichstaett-Ingolstadt, Eichstaett-Ingolstadt, Germany
| | | | - Stoyan Stoyanov
- Creative Industries Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Leanne Hides
- Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - David Kavanagh
- Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Rüdiger Pryss
- Institute of Databases and Information Systems, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Lasse Sander
- Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Probst
- Department for Psychotherapy and Biopsychosocial Health, Danube University Krems, Krems, Austria
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45
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Assessing Digital Support for Smoking Cessation. INFORM SYST 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-44322-1_25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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46
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Sustainable Construction Safety Knowledge Sharing: A Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling and A Feedforward Neural Network Approach. SUSTAINABILITY 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/su11205831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Most studies focused on the introduction of new technologies have not investigated the psychological factors affecting the willingness to use them or conducted empirical studies to explore whether willingness and actual construction safety knowledge-sharing behavior are associated with fewer construction incidents. We conducted face-to-face and LinkedIn open-ended interviews as well as a global survey to study the willingness and actual behavior to share construction knowledge via social software Web 2.0, Internet of Things (IoT) and mobile apps. Then, the Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) for willingness and actual knowledge-sharing behavior, as well as the Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) Neural Network were used to illustrate the effect of various factors on predicting the willingness to share knowledge via Web 2.0, mobile apps and IoT. Results of the interviews found that practitioners use IoT for knowledge sharing, mainly because they do not want to fall behind the curve. PLS-SEM and MLP revealed that practitioners share construction safety knowledge are not driven by safety-related reasons such as safety awareness enhancement but perceived organization support from their companies. Employees who agree that their organization cared about their employees’ well-being was the strongest predictor in influencing people’s decision to use tools for knowledge sharing. Moreover, many respondents claimed that factors such as monetary rewards have little impact on motivating people to use tools for knowledge sharing.
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Klein P, Lawn S, Tsourtos G, van Agteren J. Tailoring of a Smartphone Smoking Cessation App (Kick.it) for Serious Mental Illness Populations: Qualitative Study. JMIR Hum Factors 2019; 6:e14023. [PMID: 31482850 PMCID: PMC6754228 DOI: 10.2196/14023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Smoking rates of Australians with severe mental illness (SMI) are disproportionately higher than the general population. Despite the rapid growth in mobile health (mHealth) apps, limited evidence exists to inform their design for SMI populations. Objective This study aimed to explore the feasibility, acceptability, and utility of adapting a novel smoking cessation app (Kick.it) to assist smokers with SMI to prevent smoking relapse and quit. Methods Using co-design, two in-depth interviews with 12 adult smokers and ex-smokers with SMI were conducted in this qualitative study. Stage 1 interviews explored participants’ smoking-related experiences and perceptions of social support for smoking cessation, informed the development of the stage 2 interview schedule, and provided context for participants’ responses to the second interview. Stage 2 interviews explored participants’ perceptions of the feasibility, utility, and acceptability of the app features for SMI populations. Results People with SMI perceived mHealth interventions to support their quit smoking attempts as feasible, acceptable, and useful. Key emerging themes included personalization of the app to users’ psychosocial needs, a caring app to mediate self-esteem and self-efficacy, an app that normalizes smoking relapse and multiple quit attempts, a strong focus on user experience to improve usability, and a social network to enhance social support for smoking cessation. Conclusions This study gained an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of smoking and quitting among people with SMI and their perception of the Kick.it app features to help inform the tailoring of the app. Specific program tailoring is required to assist them in navigating the complex interactions between mental illness and smoking in relation to their psychosocial well-being and capacity to quit. This study describes the adaptations required for the Kick.it app to meet the specific needs and preferences of people with SMI. Results of this study will guide the tailoring of the Kick.it app for SMI populations. The study findings can also inform a co-design process for the future development and design of smoking cessation apps for SMI populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Klein
- Flinders Human Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.,College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Sharon Lawn
- Flinders Human Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
| | - George Tsourtos
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Joep van Agteren
- Wellbeing and Resilience Centre, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia
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Tombor I, Beard E, Brown J, Shahab L, Michie S, West R. Randomized factorial experiment of components of the SmokeFree Baby smartphone application to aid smoking cessation in pregnancy. Transl Behav Med 2019; 9:583-593. [PMID: 30011020 PMCID: PMC6629841 DOI: 10.1093/tbm/iby073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Smartphone applications (apps) might be able to reach pregnant smokers who do not engage with face-to-face support. However, we do not know how far pregnant smokers will engage with smoking cessation apps or what components are likely to be effective. This study aimed to assess pregnant smokers' engagement with the SmokeFree Baby app (v1) and to assess the short-term efficacy of selected components ("modules") for smoking abstinence. Positive outcomes would provide a basis for further development and evaluation. SmokeFree Baby was developed drawing on behavior change theories and relevant evidence. Pregnant smokers (18+) who were interested in quitting and set a quit date were recruited. Following multiphase optimization development principles, participants (N = 565) were randomly allocated to one of 32 (2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2) experimental groups in a full factorial design to evaluate five modules (each in minimal and full version: identity, health information, stress management, face-to-face support, and behavioral substitution). Measures of engagement included duration and frequency of engagement with the app. Smoking abstinence was measured by self-reported number of smoke-free days up to 4 weeks from the quit date. Participants engaged with the app for a mean of 4.5 days (SD = 8.5) and logged in a mean of 2.9 times (SD = 3.1). Main effects of the modules on the number of smoke-free days were not statistically significant (identity: p = .782, health information: p = .905, stress management: p = .103, face-to-face support: p = .397, behavioral substitution: p = .945). Despite systematic development and usability testing, engagement with SmokeFree Baby (v1) was low and the app did not appear to increase smoking abstinence during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ildiko Tombor
- Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, UK
| | - Emma Beard
- Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, UK
| | - Jamie Brown
- Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, UK
| | - Lion Shahab
- Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, UK
| | - Susan Michie
- Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, UK
| | - Robert West
- Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, UK
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Rajani NB, Weth D, Mastellos N, Filippidis FT. Adherence of popular smoking cessation mobile applications to evidence-based guidelines. BMC Public Health 2019; 19:743. [PMID: 31196062 PMCID: PMC6567534 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-7084-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Smoking remains one of the major preventable causes of chronic diseases. Considering the promising evidence on the effectiveness of mobile technology for health behaviour change, along with the increasing adoption of smartphones, this review aims to systematically assess the adherence of popular mobile apps for smoking cessation to evidence-based guidelines. METHODS The United Kingdom Android and iOS markets were searched in February 2018 to identify smoking cessation apps. After screening, 125 Android and 15 iOS apps were tested independently by two reviewers for adherence to the National Institute of Care and Excellence (NICE) Smoking Cessation Guidelines for Self-Help Materials and the Five A Guidelines for Smoking Cessation. Pearson chi square tests were run to examine differences between the two operating systems. RESULTS A majority of apps across both operating systems had low adherence (fulfils 1-2 out of 5 guidelines) to the Five A Guidelines (65.7%) and low adherence (fulfils 1-3 out of 9 guidelines) to the NICE Smoking Cessation Guidelines for Self-Help Materials (63.6%). Only 15% of mobile apps provided information about the benefits of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), and even fewer provided information regarding types of NRT products (7.1%) or how to use them (2.1%). In addition, only a minority of apps arrange follow-up appointments or provide additional support to help smokers quit. CONCLUSION Similar to previous mobile app reviews dating back to 2014, our findings show that most mobile apps do not follow existing smoking cessation treatment guidelines, indicating little change regarding the availability of evidence-based mobile apps for smoking cessation in the UK market. Smokers seeking to quit, tobacco control policy makers and software developers need to work together to develop apps that are in line with the latest clinical guidelines and strategies to maximise effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita B. Rajani
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Reynolds Building, St. Dunstan’s Road, London, W6 8RP UK
| | - Dominik Weth
- Department of Strategy and Innovation, MSU Consulting GmbH, Bad Homburg, Germany
| | - Nikolaos Mastellos
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Reynolds Building, St. Dunstan’s Road, London, W6 8RP UK
| | - Filippos T. Filippidis
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Reynolds Building, St. Dunstan’s Road, London, W6 8RP UK
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50
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Spanish adaptation and validation of the Mobile Application Rating Scale questionnaire. Int J Med Inform 2019; 129:95-99. [PMID: 31445295 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2019.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND AIM In recent years, numerous health-related apps have appeared on the market, and assessing their quality has become crucial. A very popular tool worldwide, created especially for this purpose, is the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS). However, there are no similar tools in Spanish. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to adapt MARS to the Spanish language and validate the resultant version. METHOD The design consists of three processes: cross-cultural adaptation, translation, and metric evaluation. 46 mobile applications, 23 of which were for Apple telephones and 23 of which were for telephones running Android, were included in the study. The main objective of these applications was to promote physical activity. The internal factor structure and reliability of MARS were examined. RESULTS No major differences were observed in the two Spanish translations, which were carried out independently. The blind back-translation, reviewed by the original author of MARS, suggested minor edits. Discrimination indices (item-scale correlation) obtained appropriate results for both raters. The reliability of the scores was found to be appropriate both in terms of internal consistency (α > 0.77), temporal stability (r > 0.72), and inter-rater reliability (IC > 0.76). The correlations between the subscales have shown high values with range between 0.47 and 0.83. CONCLUSION The Spanish version of MARS was shown to have appropriate metric properties to assess the quality of health apps.
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