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Schaafsma HN, Jantzi HA, Seabrook JA, McEachern LW, Burke SM, Irwin JD, Gilliland JA. The impact of smartphone app-based interventions on adolescents' dietary intake: a systematic review and evaluation of equity factor reporting in intervention studies. Nutr Rev 2024; 82:467-486. [PMID: 37330675 PMCID: PMC10925905 DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuad058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT Adolescence is a critical stage for improving nutrition. The popularity of smartphones makes them an ideal platform for administering interventions to adolescents. A systematic review has yet to assess the impact of smartphone app-based interventions exclusively on adolescents' dietary intake. Furthermore, despite the impact of equity factors on dietary intake and the claim for mobile health of increased accessibility, there is minimal research on the reporting of equity factors in the evaluation of smartphone app-based nutrition-intervention research. OBJECTIVES This systematic review examines the effectiveness of smartphone app-based interventions on adolescents' dietary intake and the frequency with which equity factors and statistical analyses specific to equity factors are reported in these intervention studies. DATA SOURCES Databases (ie, Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, ERIC, and Cochrane Central Register for Randomized Control Trials) were searched for studies published from January 2008 to October 2022. Smartphone app-based intervention studies that were nutrition focused, evaluated at least 1 dietary intake variable, and included participants with a mean age between 10 and 19 years were included. All geographic locations were included. DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS Study characteristics, intervention results, and reported equity factors were extracted. Because of the heterogeneity of dietary outcomes, findings were reported as a narrative synthesis. CONCLUSION In total, 3087 studies were retrieved, 14 of which met the inclusion criteria. Eleven studies reported a statistically significant improvement in at least 1 dietary outcome because of the intervention. Reporting of at least 1 equity factor across articles' Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion sections was minimal (n = 5), and statistical analyses specific to equity factors were rare, occurring in only 4 of the 14 included studies. Future interventions should include a measurement of intervention adherence and report the impact of equity factors on the effectiveness and applicability of interventions for equity-deserving groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly N Schaafsma
- Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Children’s Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Heather A Jantzi
- Children’s Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Geography, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jamie A Seabrook
- Children’s Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
- School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Brescia University College at Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Louise W McEachern
- Children’s Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Geography, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shauna M Burke
- Children’s Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
- School of Health Studies, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jennifer D Irwin
- School of Health Studies, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jason A Gilliland
- Children’s Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Geography, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- School of Health Studies, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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Guan V, Zhou C, Wan H, Zhou R, Zhang D, Zhang S, Yang W, Voutharoja BP, Wang L, Win KT, Wang P. A Novel Mobile App for Personalized Dietary Advice Leveraging Persuasive Technology, Computer Vision, and Cloud Computing: Development and Usability Study. JMIR Form Res 2023; 7:e46839. [PMID: 37549000 PMCID: PMC10442736 DOI: 10.2196/46839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Australian Dietary Guidelines (ADG) translate the best available evidence in nutrition into food choice recommendations. However, adherence to the ADG is poor in Australia. Given that following a healthy diet can be a potentially cost-effective strategy for lowering the risk of chronic diseases, there is an urgent need to develop novel technologies for individuals to improve their adherence to the ADG. OBJECTIVE This study describes the development process and design of a prototype mobile app for personalized dietary advice based on the ADG for adults in Australia, with the aim of exploring the usability of the prototype. The goal of the prototype was to provide personalized, evidence-based support for self-managing food choices in real time. METHODS The guidelines of the design science paradigm were applied to guide the design, development, and evaluation of a progressive web app using Amazon Web Services Elastic Compute Cloud services via iterations. The food layer of the Nutrition Care Process, the strategies of cognitive behavioral theory, and the ADG were translated into prototype features guided by the Persuasive Systems Design model. A gain-framed approach was adopted to promote positive behavior changes. A cross-modal image-to-recipe retrieval model under an Apache 2.0 license was deployed for dietary assessment. A survey using the Mobile Application Rating Scale and semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted to explore the usability of the prototype through convenience sampling (N=15). RESULTS The prominent features of the prototype included the use of image-based dietary assessment, food choice tracking with immediate feedback leveraging gamification principles, personal goal setting for food choices, and the provision of recipe ideas and information on the ADG. The overall prototype quality score was "acceptable," with a median of 3.46 (IQR 2.78-3.81) out of 5 points. The median score of the perceived impact of the prototype on healthy eating based on the ADG was 3.83 (IQR 2.75-4.08) out of 5 points. In-depth interviews identified the use of gamification for tracking food choices and innovation in the image-based dietary assessment as the main drivers of the positive user experience of using the prototype. CONCLUSIONS A novel evidence-based prototype mobile app was successfully developed by leveraging a cross-disciplinary collaboration. A detailed description of the development process and design of the prototype enhances its transparency and provides detailed insights into its creation. This study provides a valuable example of the development of a novel, evidence-based app for personalized dietary advice on food choices using recent advancements in computer vision. A revised version of this prototype is currently under development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivienne Guan
- School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Chenghuai Zhou
- School of Computing and Information Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Hengyi Wan
- School of Computing and Information Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rengui Zhou
- School of Computing and Information Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Dongfa Zhang
- School of Computing and Information Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sihan Zhang
- School of Computing and Information Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Wangli Yang
- School of Computing and Information Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Bhanu Prakash Voutharoja
- School of Computing and Information Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Lei Wang
- School of Computing and Information Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Khin Than Win
- School of Computing and Information Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Peng Wang
- School of Computing and Information Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
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Salas-Groves E, Childress A, Albracht-Schulte K, Alcorn M, Galyean S. Effectiveness of Home-Based Exercise and Nutrition Programs for Senior Adults on Muscle Outcomes: A Scoping Review. Clin Interv Aging 2023; 18:1067-1091. [PMID: 37456063 PMCID: PMC10349578 DOI: 10.2147/cia.s400994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
This scoping review investigates the volume of evidence for home-based exercise and nutrition programs and their effect on muscle quality among senior adults to inform implementation and future research. It aims to answer the research question: What are the evidence, challenges, and needs for research regarding a home-based exercise and nutrition intervention program to improve muscle outcomes in senior adults? This scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA extension for Scoping Review. The following databases were searched: PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. Applied filters were used to help condense the research articles. A total of 13 studies met the inclusion criteria for this scoping review. Most exercise interventions were either resistance or multi-component exercise programs. The nature of the nutrition intervention varied between different supplements, foods, education, or counseling. Muscle outcomes included muscle mass in nine studies, muscle function in all the studies, muscle strength in ten studies, and biochemical analyses in two studies. Two studies found improvements in muscle mass; two studies revealed improvements in all their muscle function tests; and three studies revealed improvements in muscle strength. Muscle biopsy in a study revealed enhanced muscle fibers, but both studies did not reveal any biomarker improvements. The scoping review findings revealed mixed results on the effectiveness of a home-based exercise and nutrition program. However, the current evidence does have many gaps to address before recommending this form of intervention for senior adults as an effective way to prevent and manage sarcopenia. Since this review identified multiple knowledge gaps, strengths, and limitations in this growing field, it can be a starting point to help build future study designs and interventions in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Salas-Groves
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Allison Childress
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | | | - Michelle Alcorn
- Department of Hospitality and Retail Management, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Shannon Galyean
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
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Ronteltap A, Bukman AJ, Nagelhout GE, Hermans RCJ, Hosper K, Haveman-Nies A, Lupker R, Bolman CAW. Digital health interventions to improve eating behaviour of people with a lower socioeconomic position: a scoping review of behaviour change techniques. BMC Nutr 2022; 8:145. [PMID: 36482430 PMCID: PMC9733085 DOI: 10.1186/s40795-022-00635-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Specific approaches are needed to reach and support people with a lower socioeconomic position (SEP) to achieve healthier eating behaviours. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that digital health tools exhibit potential to address these needs because of its specific features that enable application of various behaviour change techniques (BCTs). The aim of this scoping review is to identify the BCTs that are used in diet-related digital interventions targeted at people with a low SEP, and which of these BCTs coincide with improved eating behaviour. The systematic search was performed in 3 databases, using terms related to e/m-health, diet quality and socioeconomic position. A total of 17 full text papers were included. The average number of BCTs per intervention was 6.9 (ranged 3-15). BCTs from the cluster 'Goals and planning' were applied most often (25x), followed by the clusters 'Shaping knowledge' (18x) and 'Natural consequences' (18x). Other frequently applied BCT clusters were 'Feedback and monitoring' (15x) and 'Comparison of behaviour' (13x). Whereas some BCTs were frequently applied, such as goal setting, others were rarely used, such as social support. Most studies (n = 13) observed a positive effect of the intervention on eating behaviour (e.g. having breakfast) in the low SEP group, but this was not clearly associated with the number or type of applied BCTs. In conclusion, more intervention studies focused on people with a low SEP are needed to draw firm conclusions as to which BCTs are effective in improving their diet quality. Also, further research should investigate combinations of BCTs, the intervention design and context, and the use of multicomponent approaches. We encourage intervention developers and researchers to describe interventions more thoroughly, following the systematics of a behaviour change taxonomy, and to select BCTs knowingly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber Ronteltap
- grid.438049.20000 0001 0824 9343Knowledge Centre Healthy and Sustainable Living, University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, P.O. box 12011, 3501 AA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Andrea J. Bukman
- grid.438049.20000 0001 0824 9343Knowledge Centre Healthy and Sustainable Living, University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, P.O. box 12011, 3501 AA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Gera E. Nagelhout
- IVO Research Institute, The Hague, The Netherlands ,grid.5012.60000 0001 0481 6099Department of Health Promotion, CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Roel C. J. Hermans
- grid.5012.60000 0001 0481 6099Department of Health Promotion, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands ,grid.491176.c0000 0004 0395 4926Netherlands Nutrition Centre, The Hague, The Netherlands
| | | | - Annemien Haveman-Nies
- grid.4818.50000 0001 0791 5666Consumption and Healthy Lifestyles Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Remko Lupker
- grid.36120.360000 0004 0501 5439Faculty of Psychology, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, The Netherlands
| | - Catherine A. W. Bolman
- grid.36120.360000 0004 0501 5439Faculty of Psychology, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, The Netherlands
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Yu H, Liu S, Qin H, Zhou Z, Zhao H, Zhang S, Mao J. Artificial intelligence-based approaches for traditional fermented alcoholic beverages' development: review and prospect. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2022; 64:2879-2889. [PMID: 36310425 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2022.2128034] [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: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Traditional fermented alcoholic beverages (TFABs) have gained widespread acceptance and enjoyed great popularity for centuries. COVID-19 pandemics lead to the surge in health demand for diet, thus TFABs once again attract increased focus for the health benefits. Though the production technology is quite mature, food companies and research institutions are looking for transformative innovation in TFABs to make healthy, nutritious offerings that give a competitive advantage in current beverage market. The implementation of intelligent platforms enables companies and researchers to gather, store and analyze data in a more convenient way. The development of data collection methods contributed to the big data environment of TFABs, providing a fresh perspective that helps brewers to observe and improve the production steps. Among data analytical tools, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is considered to be one of the most promising methodological approaches for big data analytics and decision-making of automated production, and machine learning (ML) is an important method to fulfill the goal. This review describes the development trends and challenges of TFABs in big data era and summarize the application of AI-based methods in TFABs. Finally, we provide perspectives on the potential research directions of new frontiers in application of AI approaches in the supply chain of TFABs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huakun Yu
- National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Jiangsu Provincial Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, China
| | - Shuangping Liu
- National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, China
- Luzhou Laojiao Group Co. Ltd, Luzhou, China
| | - Hui Qin
- Luzhou Laojiao Group Co. Ltd, Luzhou, China
| | - Zhilei Zhou
- National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, China
- Shaoxing Key Laboratory of Traditional Fermentation Food and Human Health, Jiangnan University (Shaoxing) Industrial Technology Research Institute, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hongyuan Zhao
- National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Jiangsu Provincial Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, China
- School of Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Suyi Zhang
- Luzhou Laojiao Group Co. Ltd, Luzhou, China
| | - Jian Mao
- National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, China
- Shaoxing Key Laboratory of Traditional Fermentation Food and Human Health, Jiangnan University (Shaoxing) Industrial Technology Research Institute, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
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6
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Srivastava R, Kushwaha S, Khanna P, Gupta M, Bharti B, Jain R. Comprehensive overview of smartphone applications delivering child nutrition information. Nutrition 2022; 103-104:111773. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2022.111773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
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Li Y, Ding J, Wang Y, Tang C, Zhang P. Nutrition-Related Mobile Apps in the China App Store: Assessment of Functionality and Quality. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2019; 7:e13261. [PMID: 31364606 PMCID: PMC6691672 DOI: 10.2196/13261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2018] [Revised: 06/02/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are an increasing number of mobile apps that provide dietary guidance to support a healthy lifestyle and disease management. However, the characteristics of these nutrition-related apps are not well analyzed. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the functionality and quality of nutrition-related apps in China. METHODS Mobile apps providing dietary guidance were screened in the Chinese iOS and Android app stores in November 2017, using stepwise searching criteria. The first screening consisted of extracting information from the app descriptions. Apps that (1) were free, (2) contain information on diet and nutrition, and (3) were last updated after January 1, 2016, were downloaded for further analysis. Nutritional functionalities were determined according to the Chinese Dietary Guidelines framework. Market-related functionalities were developed from previous studies and tailored to downloaded apps. The quality of apps was assessed with the user version of the Mobile App Rating Scale (uMARS). RESULTS Out of 628 dietary guidance apps screened, 44 were nutrition-related. Of these, guidance was provided on diet exclusively (11/44, 25%), fitness (17/44, 39%), disease management (11/44, 25%), or maternal health (5/44, 11%). Nutritional functionalities included nutritional information inquiry (40/44, 91%), nutrition education (35/44, 80%), food record (34/44, 77%), diet analysis (34/44, 77%), and personalized recipes (21/44, 48%). Dietary analysis and suggestions mainly focused on energy intake (33/44, 75%) and less on other factors such as dietary structure (10/44, 23%). Social communication functionalities were available in 42 apps (96%), user incentives were supported in 26 apps (59%), and intelligent recognition technology was available in 8 apps (18%). The median score for the quality of the 44 apps, as determined on a 5-point uMARS scale, was 3.6 (interquartile range 0.7). CONCLUSIONS Most nutrition-related apps are developed for health management rather than for dietary guidance exclusively. Although basic principles of energy balance are used, their nutritional functionality was relatively limited and not individualized. More efforts should be made to develop nutrition-related apps with evidence-based nutritional knowledge, comprehensive and personalized dietary guidance, and innovative technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Li
- The George Institute for Global Health at Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.,Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jingmin Ding
- The George Institute for Global Health at Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yishan Wang
- The George Institute for Global Health at Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Chengyao Tang
- Public Health Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Puhong Zhang
- The George Institute for Global Health at Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.,Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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Developing a nationwide spine care referral programme on the WhatsApp messenger platform: The Oman experiment. Int J Med Inform 2019; 126:82-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2019.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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9
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McKay FH, Slykerman S, Dunn M. The App Behavior Change Scale: Creation of a Scale to Assess the Potential of Apps to Promote Behavior Change. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2019; 7:e11130. [PMID: 30681967 PMCID: PMC6367670 DOI: 10.2196/11130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Using mobile phone apps to promote behavior change is becoming increasingly common. However, there is no clear way to rate apps against their behavior change potential. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to develop a reliable, theory-based scale that can be used to assess the behavior change potential of smartphone apps. METHODS A systematic review of all studies purporting to investigate app's behavior change potential was conducted. All scales and measures from the identified studies were collected to create an item pool. From this item pool, 3 health promotion exerts created the App Behavior Change Scale (ABACUS). To test the scale, 70 physical activity apps were rated to provide information on reliability. RESULTS The systematic review returned 593 papers, the abstracts and titles of all were reviewed, with the full text of 77 papers reviewed; 50 papers met the inclusion criteria. From these 50 papers, 1333 questions were identified. Removing duplicates and unnecessary questions left 130 individual questions, which were then refined into the 21-item scale. The ABACUS demonstrates high percentage agreement among reviewers (over 80%), with 3 questions scoring a Krippendorff alpha that would indicate agreement and a further 7 came close with alphas >.5. The scale overall reported high interrater reliability (2-way mixed interclass coefficient=.92, 95% CI 0.81-0.97) and high internal consistency (Cronbach alpha=.93). CONCLUSIONS The ABACUS is a reliable tool that can be used to determine the behavior change potential of apps. This instrument fills a gap by allowing the evaluation of a large number of apps to be standardized across a range of health categories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona H McKay
- School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia
| | - Sarah Slykerman
- School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia
| | - Matthew Dunn
- School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia
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10
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Wright CJC, Schwarzman J, Dietze PM, Crockett B, Lim MSC. Barriers and opportunities in the translation of mobile phone and social media interventions between research and health promotion practice in Australia: a qualitative study of expert perspectives. Health Res Policy Syst 2019; 17:5. [PMID: 30630497 PMCID: PMC6329110 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-018-0406-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Newer technologies, such as smartphones and social networking sites, offer new opportunities for health promotion interventions. There is evidence to show that these technologies can be effectively and acceptably used for health promotion activities. However, most interventions produced in research do not end up benefitting non-research populations, while the majority of technology-facilitated interventions which are available outside of research settings are either undocumented or have limited or no evidence to support any benefit. We therefore aimed to explore the perspectives of researchers and health promotion experts on efforts to translate technology-facilitated prevention initiatives into practice, and the barriers to achieving translation. Methods We utilised a qualitative study design, involving in-depth interviews with researchers experienced with technology-facilitated prevention interventions and prominent health promotion experts. Results Some barriers mirror the findings of other studies into health promotion practice, which have found that competing priorities, resource limitations and organisational capacity are important in determining use of evidence in programme planning, engagement in translation and evaluation practice. We add to this literature by describing barriers that are more specifically related to technology-facilitated prevention, such as the pace of developments in technology, and how this clashes with the time taken to develop and ready evidence for translation. Conclusions In order to maximise the vast potential of technology-facilitated prevention interventions to promote population health, it is essential that translation is at the forefront of consideration for both researchers and practitioners. We suggest actions that can be taken by both researchers and practitioners to improve translation of technology-facilitated prevention interventions, and also highlight how funding schemes can be modified to facilitate translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra J C Wright
- Centre for Population Health, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia. .,Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 99 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Joanna Schwarzman
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 99 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Paul M Dietze
- Centre for Population Health, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia.,Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 99 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Belinda Crockett
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 99 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Megan S C Lim
- Centre for Population Health, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia.,Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 99 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, 235 Bouverie St, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
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11
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Combined use of a healthy lifestyle smartphone application and usual primary care counseling to improve arterial stiffness, blood pressure and wave reflections: a Randomized Controlled Trial (EVIDENT II Study). Hypertens Res 2018; 42:852-862. [DOI: 10.1038/s41440-018-0182-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Revised: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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12
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Mauch CE, Wycherley TP, Laws RA, Johnson BJ, Bell LK, Golley RK. Mobile Apps to Support Healthy Family Food Provision: Systematic Assessment of Popular, Commercially Available Apps. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2018; 6:e11867. [PMID: 30578213 PMCID: PMC6320405 DOI: 10.2196/11867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2018] [Revised: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Modern families are facing conflicting demands on their time and resources, which may be at the detriment of child and family diet quality. Innovative nutrition interventions providing parents with behavioral support for the provision of healthy food could alleviate this issue. Mobile apps have the potential to deliver such interventions by providing practical behavioral support remotely, interactively, and in context. OBJECTIVE This review aimed to identify and assess popular, commercially available food- and nutrition-related mobile apps that offer support for the provision of healthy family food by (1) describing app scope and characteristics, (2) assessing app quality, and (3) conducting a behavioral analysis of app content and features. METHODS Searches in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store between August 2017 and November 2017 identified apps addressing the food provision process. Apps were included if they were applicable to parents or families, written in English, and with a user rating of ≥4 stars. Weight loss and diet monitoring apps and subscription apps with no free versions were excluded. App quality was assessed using the Mobile App Rating Scale (4 domains: engagement, functionality, aesthetics, and information). App content and features were extracted and behavior change techniques (BCTs) identified. RESULTS Of the 2881 apps screened, 1.77% (51/2881) were included for assessment, comprising 23 recipe and recipe manager apps, 12 meal planning apps, 10 shopping list apps, 4 family organizers, and 2 food choice apps. Half (n=26) of the apps functioned primarily through user data input. Food choice and family organizer apps scored highest for app quality (mean 3.5 [SD 0.6] out of 5), whereas most apps scored well for functionality and poorly for engagement. Common app features with the potential to support healthy food provision included meal planners (n=26), shopping lists (n=44), and the ability to share app content (n=48). Behavioral support features mapped to relatively few BCTs (mean 3.9 [SD 1.9] per app), with Adding objects to the environment present in all apps, and 65% (33/51) including Instruction on how to perform the behavior. CONCLUSIONS Recipe and recipe manager apps, meal planning apps, and family organizers with integrated meal planning and shopping lists scored well for functionality and incorporated behavioral support features that could be used to address barriers to healthy food provision, although features were focused on planning behaviors. Future apps should combine a range of features such as meal planners, shopping lists, simple recipes, reminders and prompts, and food ordering to reduce the burden of the food provision pathway and incorporate a range of BCTs to maximize behavior change potential. Researchers and developers should consider features and content that improve the engagement quality of such apps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea E Mauch
- Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Australia.,School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Division of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Thomas P Wycherley
- School of Health Sciences, Division of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Rachel A Laws
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Science, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Brittany J Johnson
- Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Australia.,School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Division of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Lucinda K Bell
- Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Australia
| | - Rebecca K Golley
- Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Australia.,School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Division of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
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Mobile app increases vegetable-based preparations by low-income household cooks: a randomized controlled trial. Public Health Nutr 2018; 22:714-725. [PMID: 30472970 PMCID: PMC6521788 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980018003117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Objective We built an app to help clients of food pantries. The app offers vegetable-based recipes, food tips and no-cost strategies for making mealtimes healthier and for bargain-conscious grocery shopping, among other themes. Users customize materials to meet their own preferences. The app, available in English and Spanish, has been tested in a randomized field trial. Design A randomized controlled trial with repeated measures across 10 weeks. Setting Clients of fifteen community food pantry distributions in Los Angeles County, USA. Participants Distributions were randomized to control and experimental conditions, and 289 household cooks and one of their 9–14-year-old children were enrolled as participants. Experimental dyads were given a smartphone with our app and a phone use-plan, then trained to use the app. ‘Test vegetables’ were added to the foods that both control and experimental participants received at their pantries. Results After 3–4 weeks of additional ‘test vegetables’, cooks at experimental pantries had made 38 % more preparations with these items than control cooks (P = 0·03). Ten weeks following baseline, experimental pantries also scored greater gains in using a wider assortment of vegetables than control pantries (P = 0·003). Use of the app increased between mid-experiment and final measurement (P = 0·0001). Conclusions The app appears to encourage household cooks to try new preparation methods and widen their incorporation of vegetables into family diets. Further research is needed to identify specific app features that contributed most to outcomes and to test ways in which to disseminate the app widely.
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The Effectiveness of a Smartphone Application on Modifying the Intakes of Macro and Micronutrients in Primary Care: A Randomized Controlled Trial. The EVIDENT II Study. Nutrients 2018; 10:nu10101473. [PMID: 30309008 PMCID: PMC6212958 DOI: 10.3390/nu10101473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Revised: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: This study evaluates the effectiveness of adding a diet smartphone application to standard counseling to modify dietary composition over the long term (12 months). Methods: A randomized, controlled, multicenter clinical trial was conducted involving the participation of 833 subjects from primary care clinics (415 to the intervention (counseling + application) group (IG) and 418 to the control (counseling) group (CG)). Both groups were counseled about a healthy diet and physical activity. For the 3-month intervention period, the IG was also trained to use a diet smartphone application that involved dietary self-monitoring and tailored feedback. Nutritional composition was estimated using a self-reported food frequency questionnaire. Results: An analysis of repeated measures revealed an interaction between the group and the percentages of carbohydrates (p = 0.031), fats (p = 0.015) and saturated fats (p = 0.035) consumed. Both groups decreased their energy intake (Kcal) at 12 months (IG: −114 (95% CI: −191 to −36); CG: −108 (95% CI: −184 to −31)). The IG reported a higher percentage intake of carbohydrates (1.1%; 95% CI: 0.1 to 2.0), and lower percentage intakes of fats (−1.0%; 95% CI: −1.9 to −0.1) and saturated fats (−0.4%; 95%CI: −0.8 to −0.1) when compared to the CG. Conclusions: Better results were achieved in terms of modifying usual diet composition from counseling and the diet smartphone application compared to counseling alone. This was evaluated by a self-reported questionnaire, which indicated an increased percentage intake of carbohydrates, and decreased percentage intakes of fats and saturated fats.
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Recio-Rodriguez JI, Gómez-Marcos MA, Agudo-Conde C, Ramirez I, Gonzalez-Viejo N, Gomez-Arranz A, Salcedo-Aguilar F, Rodriguez-Sanchez E, Alonso-Domínguez R, Sánchez-Aguadero N, Gonzalez-Sanchez J, Garcia-Ortiz L. EVIDENT 3 Study: A randomized, controlled clinical trial to reduce inactivity and caloric intake in sedentary and overweight or obese people using a smartphone application: Study protocol. Medicine (Baltimore) 2018; 97:e9633. [PMID: 29480874 PMCID: PMC5943855 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000009633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mobile technology, when included within multicomponent interventions, could contribute to more effective weight loss. The objective of this project is to assess the impact of adding the use of the EVIDENT 3 application, designed to promote healthy living habits, to traditional modification strategies employed for weight loss. Other targeted behaviors (walking, caloric-intake, sitting time) and outcomes (quality of life, inflammatory markers, measurements of arterial aging) will also be evaluated. METHODS Randomized, multicentre clinical trial with 2 parallel groups. The study will be conducted in the primary care setting and will include 700 subjects 20 to 65 years, with a body mass index (27.5-40 kg/m), who are clinically classified as sedentary. The primary outcome will be weight loss. Secondary outcomes will include change in walking (steps/d), sitting time (min/wk), caloric intake (kcal/d), quality of life, arterial aging (augmentation index), and pro-inflammatory marker levels. Outcomes will be measured at baseline, after 3 months, and after 1 year. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group (IG) or the control group (CG). Both groups will receive the traditional primary care lifestyle counseling prior to randomization. The subjects in the IG will be lent a smartphone and a smartband for a 3-month period, corresponding to the length of the intervention. The EVIDENT 3 application integrates the information collected by the smartband on physical activity and the self-reported information by participants on daily food intake. Using this information, the application generates recommendations and personalized goals for weight loss. DISCUSSION There is a great diversity in the applications used obtaining different results on lifestyle improvement and weight loss. The populations studied are not homogeneous and generate different results. The results of this study will help our understanding of the efficacy of new technologies, combined with traditional counseling, towards reducing obesity and enabling healthier lifestyles. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the Health Area of Salamanca ("CREC of Health Area of Salamanca") on April 2016. A SPIRIT checklist is available for this protocol. The trial was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov provided by the US National Library of Medicine-number NCT03175614.
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Affiliation(s)
- José I. Recio-Rodriguez
- Primary Health Care Research Unit, La Alamedilla Health Center, Health Service of Castilla y León (SACYL), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca (IBSAL), Spanish Network for Preventive Activities and Health Promotion (REDIAPP)
- Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy
| | - Manuel A. Gómez-Marcos
- Primary Health Care Research Unit, La Alamedilla Health Center, Health Service of Castilla y León (SACYL), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca (IBSAL), Spanish Network for Preventive Activities and Health Promotion (REDIAPP)
- Department of Medicine, University of Salamanca
| | - Cristina Agudo-Conde
- Primary Health Care Research Unit, La Alamedilla Health Center, Health Service of Castilla y León (SACYL), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca (IBSAL), Spanish Network for Preventive Activities and Health Promotion (REDIAPP)
| | - Ignasi Ramirez
- Centro de Salud Sta Ponça de Palma de Mallorca, Spanish Network for Preventive Activities and Health Promotion (REDIAPP)
| | | | | | | | - Emiliano Rodriguez-Sanchez
- Primary Health Care Research Unit, La Alamedilla Health Center, Health Service of Castilla y León (SACYL), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca (IBSAL), Spanish Network for Preventive Activities and Health Promotion (REDIAPP)
| | - Rosario Alonso-Domínguez
- Primary Health Care Research Unit, La Alamedilla Health Center, Health Service of Castilla y León (SACYL), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca (IBSAL), Spanish Network for Preventive Activities and Health Promotion (REDIAPP)
| | - Natalia Sánchez-Aguadero
- Primary Health Care Research Unit, La Alamedilla Health Center, Health Service of Castilla y León (SACYL), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca (IBSAL), Spanish Network for Preventive Activities and Health Promotion (REDIAPP)
| | - Jesus Gonzalez-Sanchez
- Primary Health Care Research Unit, La Alamedilla Health Center, Health Service of Castilla y León (SACYL), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca (IBSAL), Spanish Network for Preventive Activities and Health Promotion (REDIAPP)
- Department of Nursing, University of Extremadura
| | - Luis Garcia-Ortiz
- Primary Health Care Research Unit, La Alamedilla Health Center, Health Service of Castilla y León (SACYL), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca (IBSAL), Spanish Network for Preventive Activities and Health Promotion (REDIAPP)
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Salamanca,Spain
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16
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Tonkin E, Jeffs L, Wycherley TP, Maher C, Smith R, Hart J, Cubillo B, Brimblecombe J. A Smartphone App to Reduce Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption Among Young Adults in Australian Remote Indigenous Communities: Design, Formative Evaluation and User-Testing. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2017; 5:e192. [PMID: 29233803 PMCID: PMC5743922 DOI: 10.2196/mhealth.8651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2017] [Revised: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The disproportionate burden of noncommunicable disease among Indigenous Australians living in remote Indigenous communities (RICs) is a complex and persistent problem. Smartphones are increasingly being used by young Indigenous adults and therefore represent a promising method to engage them in programs seeking to improve nutritional intake. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to consult RIC members to inform the content of a smartphone app that can be used to monitor and reduce sugar-sweetened beverage intake in RICs. METHODS The study was conducted in two phases. The formative phase involved a simulated grocery selection activity with think aloud ("think aloud shop"), a semistructured interview, a questionnaire outlining current smartphone and app use, and a paper prototyping activity. A preliminary end-user testing phase involved a think aloud prototype test and a semistructured interview regarding user satisfaction. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 20 18- to 35-year-old smartphone users for each phase from two RICs in the Northern Territory, Australia. Thematic analysis of transcribed audio recordings was used to identify determinants of food choice from the think aloud shop; themes related to the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) from the eating behaviors interview; and usability, comprehension, and satisfaction with the app from the preliminary end-user testing. RESULTS Smartphone use in RICs is currently different to that found in urban environments; in particular, extremely low use of Facebook, restricted variety of phone types, and limited Internet access. Findings regarding promoting app engagement indicate that utilizing an opt-in approach to social features such as leader boards and team challenges is essential. The inclusion of games was also shown to be important for satisfaction, as were the use of audio features, contextually embedded dissemination, and streamlined app design for comprehension in this target group. CONCLUSIONS This research provides critical insights and concrete recommendations for the development of lifestyle improvement apps targeted toward disadvantaged young adults in nonurban settings, specifically RICs. It serves as a framework for future app development projects using a consultative user-centered design approach, supporting calls for the increased use of this strategy in app development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Tonkin
- Nutrition Program, Wellbeing and Preventable Chronic Disease, Menzies School of Health Research, Casuarina, Northern Territory, Australia
- Centre for Population Health Research, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Lauren Jeffs
- Nutrition Program, Wellbeing and Preventable Chronic Disease, Menzies School of Health Research, Casuarina, Northern Territory, Australia
- Centre for Population Health Research, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Thomas Philip Wycherley
- Nutrition Program, Wellbeing and Preventable Chronic Disease, Menzies School of Health Research, Casuarina, Northern Territory, Australia
- Centre for Population Health Research, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Carol Maher
- Centre for Population Health Research, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Ross Smith
- Wearable Computer Laboratory, School of Information Technology and Mathematical Sciences, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jonathon Hart
- Wearable Computer Laboratory, School of Information Technology and Mathematical Sciences, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, South Australia, Australia
| | - Beau Cubillo
- Nutrition Program, Wellbeing and Preventable Chronic Disease, Menzies School of Health Research, Casuarina, Northern Territory, Australia
- Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Julie Brimblecombe
- Nutrition Program, Wellbeing and Preventable Chronic Disease, Menzies School of Health Research, Casuarina, Northern Territory, Australia
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