A 6-Month Randomized Trial of a Smartphone Application, UControlDrink, in Aiding Recovery in Alcohol Use Disorder

Assessing the Quality and Behavior Change Potential of Vaping Cessation Apps: Systematic Search and Assessment

Background

An increasing number of people are using vapes (e-cigarettes), and with growing evidence of associated harms, there is a need for acceptable cessation support and interventions. Smartphone apps for health and well-being have increased in popularity and use. Limited published literature assesses the potential of apps to support vaping cessation.

Objective

A systematic search of vaping cessation apps currently available in Australia for iOS and Android platforms was conducted. Apps were assessed against established health app assessment tools for quality and behavior change potential.

Methods

A systematic search through the Australian Apple iTunes and Google Play stores was conducted using the search terms "vape"; "vaping"; "e-cigarette"; and "cessation," "quit," or "quitting" in May 2023. Only apps that encouraged the cessation of vaping were included. App descriptions were reviewed to determine if they were relevant for inclusion in this study, and relevant apps were downloaded onto the appropriate mobile device for review. The Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) was used to rate the quality (engagement, functionality, aesthetics, and information) of the apps using an overall score out of 5. The App Behavior Change Scale (ABACUS) was used to assess the behavior change potential of each app using a score out of 21.

Results

An initial search of the app stores yielded 220 Android apps and 124 iOS apps. Screening against the inclusion criteria left 20 iOS apps and 10 Android apps for review. Six apps were available on both operating systems, and these were downloaded, reviewed, and reported separately for each operating system. The average MARS score for all apps assessed in this review was 3.1 (SD 0.41) out of 5. The reviewed apps overall performed well for the MARS elements relating to functionality, such as ease of use and navigation, but had the lowest scores for information-related elements, such as credibility. The number of ABACUS behavior change features per app ranged from 0 to 19 out of 21, with a mean of 8.9 (SD 4.51). The apps commonly included information-related features, such as requesting baseline information. The least common behavior change features were those relating to goal-setting, such as asking about the user's willingness for behavior change and providing feedback on current actions in comparison to future goals.

Conclusions

The identified vaping cessation apps had moderate levels of quality and some behavior change components. Future vaping cessation apps could benefit from including more features that are known to support behavior change, such as goal-setting, to improve the potential benefit of these apps to support people to stop vaping. As guidelines for vaping cessation continue to be established, future apps need to reference these in their development.

Additive effects of adjunctive app-based interventions for mental disorders - A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Background

It is uncertain whether app-based interventions add value to existing mental health care.

Objective

To examine the incremental effects of app-based interventions when used as adjunct to mental health interventions.

Methods

We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases on September 15th, 2023, for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on mental health interventions with an adjunct app-based intervention compared to the same intervention-only arm for adults with mental disorders or respective clinically relevant symptomatology. We conducted meta-analyses on symptoms of different mental disorders at postintervention. PROSPERO, CRD42018098545.

Results

We identified 46 RCTs (4869 participants). Thirty-two adjunctive app-based interventions passively or actively monitored symptoms and behaviour, and in 13 interventions, the monitored data were sent to a therapist. We found additive effects on symptoms of depression (g = 0.17; 95 % CI 0.02 to 0.33; k = 7 comparisons), anxiety (g = 0.80; 95 % CI 0.06 to 1.54; k = 3), mania (g = 0.2; 95 % CI 0.02 to 0.38; k = 4), smoking cessation (g = 0.43; 95 % CI 0.29 to 0.58; k = 10), and alcohol use (g = 0.23; 95 % CI 0.08 to 0.39; k = 7). No significant effects were found on symptoms of depression within a bipolar disorder (g = -0.07; 95 % CI -0.37 to 0.23, k = 4) and eating disorders (g = -0.02; 95 % CI -0.44 to 0.4, k = 3). Studies on depression, mania, smoking, and alcohol use had a low heterogeneity between the trials. For other mental disorders, only single studies were identified. Only ten studies had a low risk of bias, and 25 studies reported insufficient statistical power.

Discussion

App-based interventions may be used to enhance mental health interventions to further reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, mania, smoking, and alcohol use. However, the effects were small, except for anxiety, and limited due to study quality. Further high-quality research with larger sample sizes is warranted to better understand how app-based interventions can be most effectively combined with established interventions to improve outcomes.

Design, development and pilot testing of 'Quest', a smartphone-based relapse prevention app for patients with alcohol dependence

OBJECTIVE

To design, develop and pilot the 'Quest' app for smartphone-based relapse prevention for patients diagnosed with alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS).

METHODS

Principles of relapse prevention and motivation enhancement were used to develop the Quest App. Four addiction psychiatrists reviewed the app using the "app evaluation framework". Thirty patients (> 18 yrs age) diagnosed with ADS, who had an Android smartphone, were fluent in writing and reading English and agreed to use the app regularly for the next three months were enrolled in this study. After initial treatment for intoxication/withdrawal and with written consent, patients in the study group (TAUQ) were requested to download the Quest application from a downloadable installation file. The usability and acceptability of Quest App amongst TAUQ patients was evaluated using the usability section of the mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ). The short-term effectiveness at the end of three months was compared between TAUQ and comparison group who received Treatment as Usual (TAU).

RESULTS

Both acceptability (65 %) and usability (5.8 out of 7) of the app were high. The patient groups (with or without Quest app) showed a significant reduction in drinking at 30, 60, and 90 days follow-up compared with their baseline number of drinking days. There was no significant difference between the two groups (with or without Quest App) in the median number of lapses and the median number of days of heavy drinking.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first attempt to develop a smartphone app and test its feasibility in preventing relapse among patients with ADS in the Indian population. Further validation of the app after incorporating feedback and testing on a larger sample size and multiple languages is required.