Use Of Mobile Health Applications Research Articles

Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial on the Development and Effectiveness of an Educational Mobile Application Using an Integrated Change Model to Prevent Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors

Background: An effective approach to preventing cardiovascular issues is the use of mobile health applications to improve modifiable risk factors. This protocol for a randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the development and effectiveness of an educational mobile app that employs an integrated change model to reduce risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) among individuals aged 20 to 69 years. Methods: This study will be a parallel, randomized, single-blind clinical trial utilizing the randomized block design involving 430 participants. The participants will be divided into a control group receiving standard clinical care and an intervention group receiving standard clinical care along with app-based education, over approximately 6 months. Conclusion: This application has been designed to enhance motivation, awareness, and positive habits to reduce risk factors in individuals at increased risk of ASCVD. Consequently, the results could improve cardiovascular health knowledge, manage biological risk factors, and modify cardiac behaviors through mobile applications. This research is expected to present a promising approach to utilizing mobile apps for managing cardiovascular health and contribute to the growing body of research on digital health interventions.

The Types and Effectiveness of Mobile Health Applications Used in Improving Oral Cancer Knowledge: A Mixed Methods Systematic Review

ABSTRACTBackground and AimsThe global burden of oral cancer (OC) is enormous. Mobile health applications have been found to play a promising role in cancer prevention; however, no known systematic review evidence exists on whether the use of mobile health applications is effective in increasing public knowledge of OC or not. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on the types and effectiveness of mobile health applications used for improving OC knowledge.MethodsThis study adopted a mixed methods systematic review design. The review methodology was informed by Joanna Brigg's Institute's PRISMA checklist and the AMSTAR‐2 guidelines. The literature used for this review were obtained through the search of multiple sources, including 12 electronic databases, web sources, and manual searching of the reference lists and citations of the included articles. Quality appraisal of the included articles was done using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, after which relevant data were collected, synthesized, and configured.ResultsA total of three high‐quality articles, from two studies conducted in India, were included in this review. The studies investigated 574 participants, who are predominantly doctors and community members, on two Android‐based mobile health applications (M‐OncoED and Prayaas). Only Prayaas was found to significantly increase OC knowledge among its users (p < 0.05). Only M‐OncoED was found to significantly increase the practice of OC screening advice provision among a selected group of users. No other significant finding was reported on the effect of OC knowledge obtained from the use of these applications on clinical, behavioral, and epidemiological outcomes.ConclusionMobile health application‐based education is a highly underutilised but very promising strategy that can be used to improve public knowledge of OC. This strategy needs to be adopted in public education programmes on OC.

German mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (G-MAUQ) and short version (G-MAUQ-S): Translation and validation study

BackgroundThe use of mobile health applications is increasingly common among the general public and in healthcare systems. With such apps percolating into the classic healthcare sector, the necessity of sound and standardized evaluation grows. The mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ) provides a novel and custom-tailored psychometrically validated instrument to capture users’ perception of the usefulness and usability of an mHealth application. So far, this questionnaire is only available in English, Malay and Chinese. The aim of this study was to translate and validate a German version of the MAUQ (G-MAUQ). Further, we developed a short scale with 6 items (G-MAUQ-S) in German. MethodsWe used the Translation, Review, Adjudication, Pretest and Documentation (TRAPD) method to translate the MAUQ. Subsequently, we assessed content validity with 15 expert ratings and face validity with 15 German speaking mHealth users. To further validate the questionnaire, we used data from 148 participants of an RCT examining symptom checkers in the Emergency Department to assess convergent validity by correlating the G-MAUQ with the German version of the System Usability Scale and discriminant validity by correlating the G-MAUQ with other unrelated questionnaires. Lastly, we developed a short version by assessing item discrimination, factor loadings, correlation with the full scale and construct validity. ResultsAll but one item showed sufficient content validity with item-level content validity index values between CVI-I = 0.8 and 1.0. Face validity was excellent with item-level face validity index values ranging from FVI-I = 0.87 to 1. Convergent validity was sufficient with r = 0.769, and discriminant validity was sufficient with values between r = −0.014 and r = 0.220. An internal consistency of Cronbach's α = 0.93 demonstrated high reliability. The short scale showed sufficient convergent validity (r = 0.762) and discriminant validity (r between −0.012 and 0.201). ConclusionsA validated and reliable G-MAUQ can be used by researchers and practitioners to assess the usability of mHealth interventions. We also provide the German mHealth App Usability Questionnaire – Short Version (G-MAUQ-S) with six questions to quickly assess the usability of an intervention.

The Influence of Self-Efficacy on Older Adults' Use of Mobile Health Applications.

mHealth apps can especially benefit older adults with chronic conditions, but their usage rates remain often low. This study examines how older adults' self-perceived technical skills and confidence affect their use of a mHealth app. It was conducted in southern Germany and included older adults (65 years and older) with and without age-related chronic conditions. Results indicate that perceived self-efficacy does not always match actual capability. This discrepancy raises concerns about how it might impact the use and prescription of these apps.

Studi Eksploratif tentang Efektivitas Manajemen Stres Berbasis Mobile Health Application pada Tenaga Kesehatan

Healthcare professionals often face high levels of stress due to demanding job requirements, which can negatively impact their mental and physical health. Mobile health applications have emerged as potential tools to assist in stress management. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of mobile health applications in reducing stress among healthcare professionals. The study utilizes a literature review method by identifying, selecting, and analyzing 12 relevant research articles. The article search was conducted across several databases such as Science Direct, PubMed, Springer, Elsevier, and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria encompass articles that discuss the use of mobile health applications for stress management among healthcare professionals, published within the last 10 years. Data were thematically analyzed to identify key findings related to the effectiveness of these applications. The literature review results indicate that mobile health applications are effective in reducing stress levels and improving the psychological well-being of healthcare professionals. Successful implementation requires attention to factors influencing adoption and usage, as well as strategies to overcome existing barriers. Further research is needed to evaluate the long-term effects and develop practical recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of these applications.

Contribution of mobile health technologies to public health in rural areas: Accessibility and education methods

In today's rapidly advancing world, mobile health services have become influential in various aspects of our lives. It is anticipated that mobile applications, especially in rural areas, can play a significant role in the delivery of healthcare services. In this context, it is essential to examine the applications of mobile health services in rural areas and the education methods employed in these applications. The main objective of this study is to explore the contributions of mobile health services applications in rural areas to public health and to examine the education methods used in these services in light of current literature. The focus of this study is on how mobile health applications can be utilized in rural areas, the impact of this usage on public health, and the effectiveness of the education methods employed. The research was conducted through searches using key terms such as "mobile health" and "public health nursing" or "mobile health technologies" and "nursing" or "telehealth" on important academic databases like Google Scholar, PubMed free fulltext, Science Direct, Ebscohost, Sage, Scopus, and CINAHL. The information obtained from literature searches was analyzed to understand the impact of mobile health applications on public health in rural areas and the education methods employed. The study results indicate that the use of mobile health applications in rural areas can contribute significantly to public health. Advantages such as rapid diagnosis and treatment, effective monitoring of chronic diseases, and quick access to emergency services stand out among the potential impacts of mobile health applications. Mobile health applications can contribute significantly to public health in rural areas and increase their usage, particularly in primary healthcare services.

Access and use of mobile health applications among Medicaid-insured pregnant and postpartum individuals

Mobile health applications can address health disparities in prenatal care due to adverse social determinants of health. We assessed the uptake and use of, preferences for, and barriers to mobile health applications among Medicaid-insured pregnant and postpartum individuals enrolled in prenatal care from March to May 2021. Medicaid-insured pregnant and postpartum individuals frequently used (56 %) and were potentially interested in using (90 %) mobile health applications for health-related tasks and had reliable internet access to do so (94 %). Over two fifths (44 %) reported barriers to using mobile health applications. Further research is needed to understand whether using mobile health applications to address social needs in the peripartum period can affect prenatal care utilization and decrease health disparities.

EHealth tools use and mental health: a cross-sectional network analysis in a representative sample

eHealth tools usage is vital for health care systems and increased significantly after the COVID-19 pandemic, which aggravated mental health issues. This cross-sectional study explored whether sociodemographic characteristics and mental health indices (stress and symptoms of anxiety and depression) were linked to the behavioral intention to use eHealth tools and eHealth tools usage in a representative sample from Poland using a network approach. Measurements were conducted in March 2023 among 1000 participants with a mean age of 42.98 (18–87) years, with 51.50% women. The measures included the behavioral intention to use eHealth tools (BI) based on the UTUAT2; eHealth tool use frequency (use behavior) including ePrescription, eSick leave, eReferral, electronic medical documentation (EMD), Internet Patient Account (IKP), telephone consultation, video consultation, mobile health applications, and private and public health care use; and the PSS-4, GAD-2, and PHQ-2. Furthermore, sociodemographic factors (sex, age, children, relationship status, education, and employment) were included in the research model. Network analysis revealed that mental health indices were weakly related to eHealth tools use. Higher stress was positively linked with mobile health application use but negatively linked to video consultation use. Use of various eHealth tools was intercorrelated. Sociodemographic factors were differentially related to the use of the eight specific eHealth tools. Although mental health indices did not have strong associations in the eHealth tools use network, attention should be given to anxiety levels as the factor with the high expected influence.

The Effectiveness of Mobile Health Utilization to Prevent Non-Communicable Diseases at the Group of Majlis Taklim

Background: Mobile health application is a technological innovation that has proven effective use for the prevention and management of NCDs in other countries. However, there has been no test on the use of mobile health applications that have been launched in Indonesia, including the Halodoc application. The majlis taklim group is a target group in increasing community empowerment in the family order. Aims: This study was to examine Halodoc application in preventing noncommunicable diseases. Methods: The population is the member of the majlis taklim who was active in the last three months. The sample was respondents who were identified as having knowledge and bad behavior in NCD prevention efforts, 45 people. Descriptive analysis on respondents' characteristics and level of knowledge. While analytical analysis consists of dependent T tests to determine the difference in effectiveness before and after utilizing the application, the next test is the CBAM-Stage of Concern test, which is to assess respondents' perceptions through the level of respondents' concern for halodoc innovation. Results: Univariate analysis found that most respondents were poorly educated, namely 35 respondents (78%), as IRT 30 respondents (67%), family history of NCD disease 30 respondents (67%), and history of NCD disease in themselves 10 respondents (22%). The level of knowledge on the pretest was low at 23 respondents (51%), and the knowledge on the posttest was mostly high at 31 respondents (69%). Conclusion: The result of the dependent T test obtained a value of 0.000 means that statistically there is a significant difference in knowledge before and after the use of Halodoc for the prevention and management of NCDs. The test results with the Stage of Use Consern Questionnaire (SoC) analysis, obtained information on the percentage of respondents' perception of the highest acceptance of innovation before being given the Halodoc intervention (pretest) at the personal level, which is 60%. However, after utilizing Halodoc, most respondents' perceptions were at the level of unconcern, which was 81%.

Sağlık Bilimleri Öğrencilerinin Sağlık Okuryazarlık, Etik Duyarlılık Düzeylerinin ve Bilgi Güvenliği Farkındalıklarının Mobil Sağlık Uygulamaları (Aplikasyonları) Kullanımları Bağlamında Değerlendirilmesi

Amaç: Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi’ndeki üniversitelerde örgün eğitim-öğretim gören lisans sağlık bilimleri öğrencilerinin sağlık okuryazarlık, etik duyarlılık düzeylerinin ve bilgi güvenliği farkındalıklarının mobil sağlık uygulamaları kullanımları bağlamında değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Yöntem: Çalışma kesitsel tanımlayıcı araştırmadır. 2020-2021 Bahar ve Yaz Eğitim-Öğretim Dönemleri’nde Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi’ndeki araştırma iznini onaylayan 7 üniversitenin 324 (18 yaş üstü) örgün eğitim-öğretim gören lisans öğrencisi örneklemi oluşturmuştur. Veriler Tanıtıcı Bilgi Formu, Bilgi Güvenliği Farkındalık Ölçeği, Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Ölçeği, Etik Duyarlılık Ölçeği kullanılarak çevrimiçi ölçek aracılığıyla kartopu yöntemiyle toplanmıştır. Bulgular: Öğrencilerin %79’u 18-22 yaş aralığında, %75,9’u kadın, %57,1’i hemşirelik öğrencisidir. Öğrenciler sağlık okuryazarlığı eğitimi (%23,8), mobil sağlık uygulamaları eğitimi (%18,2), hasta güvenliği eğitimi (%60,2) almışlardır. Öğrencilerin bilgi güvenliği açısından saldırı ve tehditlere yönelik farkındalıklarının orta düzey, sağlık okuryazarlıklarının yüksek düzey, etik ikilem deneyimleme puanının orta düzey olduğu saptanmıştır. Eğitim alınan bölüm etik ikilem deneyimlemenin %2’sini, saldırı ve tehditlere yönelik farkındalığın %2’sini ve sağlık okuryazarlığın %2’sini açıklamaktadır. Sağlık okuryazarlık, etik ikilem deneyimlemenin %3’ünü açıklamaktadır. Sonuç: Sağlık bilimleri öğrencilerinin başarılı mobil sağlık uygulamaları kullanımları, çalışma yaşamlarında kendilerinin ve toplumun akıllı sağlık hizmetlerini etkin ve güvenli bir şekilde kullanabilmelerini, sağlık hizmetlerinin ve lisans eğitimlerinin kalitelerinin artmasını sağlayacaktır.

The use of mobile health applications in empowering self-management of type 2 diabetes: a literature review

The use of mobile health applications is vital for achieving glycemic control, promoting lifestyle changes, and empowering self-management in individuals with type 2 diabetes. This literature review aims to assess the effectiveness of mobile health applications in empowering self-management among type 2 diabetes patients. A thorough search was conducted in databases like PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, ULAKBIM National Database, and Medline between January 2020 and March 2023, using keywords such as "mobile health, mobile applications, type 2 diabetes, diabetes self-management, nursing." The search yielded 525 articles, out of which 34 studies in Turkish or English that evaluated the effectiveness of mobile health applications in individuals aged 18 years and above with type 2 diabetes were included in the review. Recent studies demonstrate a growing utilization of mobile health applications for the management of treatment and care in individuals with type 2 diabetes. These applications have been shown to empower self-management by promoting dietary adherence, regular blood sugar monitoring, regular physical activity, reduced medication requirements, and decreased HbA1c levels. Additionally, mobile health applications have been found to reduce face-to-face counseling time and healthcare costs. In conclusion, mobile health applications offer promising solutions for improving self-management and healthcare outcomes for individuals with type 2 diabetes. Further research and continued integration of these applications into clinical practice are essential to optimize their benefits and address the challenges faced by diabetes patients worldwide.

Use of Mobile Health Applications by Lay Users in Kuwait

Aim/Purpose: This study aims to explore the use of mobile health applications (mHealth apps) by lay users in Kuwait. Specifically, it seeks to: (i) identify and highlight the impact of factors that contribute to their use of mHealth apps and (ii) validate a model of these users’ usage of mHealth apps. Background: The advancement of information technologies has paved the way for efficiency and effectiveness in healthcare sectors in developed countries. Kuwait has attempted to revolutionise healthcare systems through mobile applications of information technology solutions to educate users on better methods of receiving customised health services. However, end-user usage of mHealth apps remains in the infancy in developing countries, including Kuwait. Lay users are often vulnerable and frequently overlooked by researchers and health technology providers. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 225 lay users of mHealth apps in Kuwait using an online questionnaire to achieve the study objectives. A purposive sampling method utilising convenience and snowballing sampling techniques was used in which all the respondents were lay users. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and regression analyses were employed to analyse the collected data. Contribution: The study contributes to the extant literature on health informatics and mHealth by providing a comprehensive understanding of how technological, social, and functional factors are related to mHealth apps in the context of developing countries. It identifies key drivers of mHealth app use, suggests expanding the TAM model, and facilitates comparisons with developed countries, addressing gaps in mHealth research. Findings: Four factors (i.e., perceived trust (PT), perceived ease of use (PEU) and behaviour control (PBC), perceived usefulness (PU), and subjective norms (SN)) were identified that influence the use of mHealth apps. These four identified factors also contributed to lay users’ use of these mHealth apps. Among these four factors, perceived trust (PT) was the main contributor to lay users’ use of these mHealth apps. Recommendations for Practitioners: Based on the empirical results, this study provides feasible recommendations for the government, healthcare providers, and developers of mHealth apps. The findings urge developers to enhance app functionality by prioritising privacy and security to build user trust while outlining guidelines for future development focused on user-centric design and compliance with data privacy regulations. Additionally, the government should establish supportive policies and funding, ensure regulatory oversight, and promote public awareness to foster trust. Healthcare providers should integrate mHealth apps into their services, train staff for practical use, gather users’ feedback, and collaborate with developers to create tailored healthcare solutions. Future Research: Additional research is required to apply probability sampling techniques and increase the sample size to generate more reliable and generalisable findings. Additionally, the young age segment must be considered here, and research must be extended to consider the moderating role of demographic factors like age, gender, and educational levels to better understand the adoption of mHealth apps.

Heuristics used for evaluating the usability of mobile health applications: A systematic literature review.

Mobile health applications hold immense potential for enhancing health outcomes. Usability is one of the main factors for the adoption and use of mobile health applications. However, despite the growing importance of mHealth applications, clear standards for their evaluation remain elusive. The present study aimed to determine heuristics for the usability evaluation of health-related applications. We systematically searched multiple databases for relevant papers published between January 2008 and April 2021. Articles were reviewed, and data were extracted and categorized from those meeting inclusion criteria by two authors independently. Heuristics were identified based on statements, words, and concepts expressed in the studies. These heuristics were first mapped to Nielsen's heuristics based on their differences or similarities. The remaining heuristics that were very important for mobile applications were categorized into new heuristics. Seventeen studies met the eligibility criteria. Seventy-nine heuristics were extracted from the papers. After combining the items with the same concepts and removing irrelevant items based on the exclusion criteria, 20 heuristics remained. Common heuristics such as "Visibility of system status" and "Flexibility and efficiency of use" were categorized into 10 previously established heuristics and new heuristics like "Navigation" and "User engagement" were recognized as new ones. In our study, we have meticulously identified 20 heuristics that hold promise for evaluating and designing mHealth applications. These heuristics can be used by the researchers for the development of robust tools for heuristic evaluation. These tools, when adapted or tailored for health domain applications, have the potential to significantly enhance the quality of mHealth applications. Ultimately, this improvement in quality translates to enhanced patient safety. (10.17605/OSF.IO/PZJ7H).

Role of mobile health applications in prevention and detection of pandemic disease: A population perspective.

The Saudi government and the MOH launched six mobile application help in tracking positive cases, get medical consultation from home, and vaccination for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Our study was conducted to evaluate the role of mobile health applications in the prevention and detection of pandemic disease from population perspectives. A cross-sectional descriptive exploratory research design was utilized in this study. Based on the sample size calculation (described below), we recruited a convenience sample of 462 participants from the Northern Border Region according to the set of inclusion and exclusion criteria: Anyone over 12 years of age, including both genders and both Saudi citizens and non-Saudi citizens, were eligible to participate during the period from March 2022 to the end of July. In total 462 were participated, and 79.2% of them were females. There was a statistically significant difference between educational level and the overall score of public satisfaction with the ease of use of mobile health applications as well as overall satisfaction with the services provided by mobile health apps during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference between gender and the role of mobile applications in the prevention of COVID-19 (p = 0.028). The study found that most participants agree that the mobile health applications launched by the Saudi government and Ministry of Health have been successful in aiding the anticipation and early detection of COVID-19 cases, as well as facilitating access to healthcare services. Over half of the participants strongly agree that these mobile applications have been very effective and beneficial for their health and have helped save time.

Investigation of Young People’s Use of Mobile Health Apps, and Their Physical Activity and Health Perception Levels

Objectives: The interest in mobile health apps is increasing day by day. This study aimed to examine young people’s preferences for mobile health apps, their physical activity levels, and health perceptions. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted with 283 students from two vocational schools of higher education. Participants were asked to complete the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form and the Perception of Health Scale, as well as questions about their mobile health application preferences. The data were evaluated at p<0.05 significance level. Results: The study was conducted with 283 participants with a mean age of 20.6±2 years. The number of participants using health-related apps on their smartphones was 179 (63.3%). Of the 104 participants who did not use mobile health apps, 71.1% reported that they did not prefer them because they thought they would not use them regularly. 11 participants did not know about mobile apps. 41.9% had been using mobile health apps for about one year, and the most used app was pedometers (n=147). Both health perceptions and physical activity scores of individuals who used mobile health apps were higher than those who did not (respectively; p=0.003, p<0.001), and the health perception of physically active individuals was higher than the others (p=0.044). Conclusion: Currently, the use of mobile health applications is associated with both health perception and physical activity. However, constant use of the apps cannot be ensured. Therefore, it is important to provide the necessary promotion and motivation to people.

Factors influencing patients' adoption and use of mobile health applications for diabetes self-management: a systematic review

Mobile health (mHealth) apps can facilitate diabetes self-management (DSM) and assist in reducing the risk of complications, enhancing diabetes control and improving patient outcomes. The objectives of this systematic review were to (1) determine the adoption level of DSM apps among diabetes patients, (2) identify the factors associated with the adoption and use of DSM apps, and (3) explore patients’ perspectives of DSM apps and the predominant preferred features. A comprehensive literature search was performed in four electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus, PsychNet, and IEEE Xplore digital library using the PRISMA guidelines. Relevant data and information were collected from studies published between 2016 and 2023, fulfilling the inclusion criteria (n = 26), and thematic analysis was performed. The adoption level of mHealth apps for DSM among diabetic patients ranged from 7.0% to 47.0%, and diverse factors relating to patients’ demographics, preferences and experiences were identified. Overall, older, male and less educated patients were less likely to adopt DSM apps, while the intention to use these apps was influenced by patients’ perceived benefits, recommendations by patients and healthcare professionals, and ease of use. Given that most of the reviewed studies were conducted in developed countries, the present patients’ adoption level of mHealth apps for DSM is relatively low, thereby highlighting the need for improvement. The factors identified in this study may be considered when attempting to encourage patients to use these apps. More research is needed to elucidate how mobile health apps can be effectively integrated into diabetes care and management pathways.

How does information technology affect individuals’ health behavior in a pandemic? Insights from mobile health application use during COVID-19

The COVID-19 crisis has affected human mental health and health behavior. This was not the first pandemic in the world and will not be the last. Pandemics affect health behavior regarding prevention, avoidance, and management of illness. This study applies literature from Information Systems (IS) success, pandemic behavior, unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), and mobile technology identity (MTI) to investigate the effects of information technology (IT) attributes on health behavior during a pandemic. It is based on data from 232 patients of Arabic ethnic origin who visited a primary care clinic in Shefar'am. Results, based on structural equation modeling, indicate that perceived usefulness of mobile technology increases satisfaction with health reporting. Moreover, anxiety increases disclosure effort in using mobile technology, both directly and through a path mediated by MTI. Finally, disclosure effort reduces change in health behavior and satisfaction with self-reporting. Previous studies on health behavior during a pandemic and the role of IT in health behavior do not consider the role of IT in people's heath behavior, such as how IT can enable them to more frequently check their health during the pandemic. This study contributes to the literature by addressing this gap and providing insights into the role of IT in health behavior change during a pandemic. It also offers insights for clinics regarding the usefulness of mobile health (m-health) applications for patients so that they can to help patients change their health behavior towards using these applications.

Leveraging Digital Health to Improve the Cardiovascular Health of Women.

In this review, we present a comprehensive discussion on the population-level implications of digital health interventions (DHIs) to improve cardiovascular health (CVH) through sex- and gender-specific prevention strategies among women. Over the past 30 years, there have been significant advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among men and women worldwide. However, women are often underdiagnosed, undertreated, and underrepresented in cardiovascular clinical trials, which all contribute to disparities within this population. One approach to address this is through DHIs, particularly among racial and ethnic minoritized groups. Implementation of telemedicine has shown promise in increasing adherence to healthcare visits, improving BP monitoring, weight control, physical activity, and the adoption of healthy behaviors. Furthermore, the use of mobile health applications facilitated by smart devices, wearables, and other eHealth (defined as electronically delivered health services) modalities has also promoted CVH among women in general, as well as during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Overall, utilizing a digital health approach for healthcare delivery, decentralized clinical trials, and incorporation into daily lifestyle activities has the potential to improve CVH among women by mitigating geographical, structural, and financial barriers to care. Leveraging digital technologies and strategies introduces novel methods to address sex- and gender-specific health and healthcare disparities and improve the quality of care provided to women. However, it is imperative to be mindful of the digital divide in specific populations, which may hinder accessibility to these novel technologies and inadvertently widen preexisting inequities.

A Mobile Health Information Behavior Model: Theoretical Development and Mixed-Method Testing in the Context of Mobile Apps on Child Poisoning Prevention

While several studies have explored the use of mobile health applications, few have observed determinants of mobile health information behavior. To develop a model explaining parents’ mobile information behavior on child poisoning prevention, we first explored relevant theories to suggest a theoretical model. In that, we combine existing models on risk and health information seeking, such as the Planned Risk Information Seeking Model, with models on the acceptance of mobile technologies, such as the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technologies. Thereafter, we employed a sequential mixed-method design with an initial qualitative study (four online focus groups with n = 25 parents in total) and a standardized online survey of n = 1,013 parents to evaluate our research model. Results confirm that both, determinants of information seeking and determinants of technology acceptance, contribute to the explanation of mobile information behavior. App use intention was mainly related to the performance expectancy of app use, the subjective information norm, and social influence on app use. To increase the usage of prevention apps and contribute to the reduction of child injuries, communication on poisoning apps should address subdimensions of the performance expectancy, such as their utility and peoples’ trust in app providers. Moreover, physicians are important multipliers for these messages.

Mobile health application can add our insight into caring for children: The benefit and future usage of the Chemo Assist for Children

Background: The ease of use of mobile health applications felt by users is essential to ensure the sustainability of digital-based intervention programs. The mHealth Chemo Assist for Children (CAC) application has been used by parents with children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who are undergoing chemotherapy in usability tests and positive benefits felt by users have been reported. A deeper understanding of the barriers and factors supporting implementing the CAC mHealth application can help guide strategies to overcome these challenges. Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the obstacles and factors supporting implementing mHealth CAC application in a natural setting. Methods: Qualitative research was conducted at two government hospitals in Indonesia. Focus group discussions were conducted with nine parents of children with ALL following chemotherapy. The interview was transcribed verbatim and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: This research produced three main themes, namely the use of CAC and additional usage expectations, application quality, and current and future application usage. Conclusions: It is necessary to improve the benefit, ease of use of application features and overcome the obstacles experienced in using the CAC application.