Ecological Momentary Assessment and Technological Advances in Clinical Care

Abstract

Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) methods provide a means by which researchers may attain highly detailed, ecologically valid, and contextually rich data on everyday experience and behavior. EMA methods are now widely used by researchers, particularly those studying health behaviors. A key reason for the popularity of EMA methods is that they allow researchers to examine both between- and within-individual differences in treatment efficacy and to explore the temporal sequences related to events of interest. Until relatively recently, EMA methods have predominately been employed as assessment and research tools. However, in recent years clinicians and researchers have begun to explore the value of real-time data collection methods as the foundation for providing tailored interventions that can respond to a patient’s behaviors, moods, social context, and geographical location. This chapter discusses how EMA data can potentially be utilized to improve the delivery of health interventions. The authors conclude that while there are clearly potential benefits of utilizing real-time data collection methods for treatment delivery, considerable work remains to ensure that EMA-based interventions are appropriate, theoretically derived, and ethical in their effects on privacy and confidentiality.