Use Of Smartphone Applications Research Articles

Smartphone ownership and use of mental health applications by psychiatric inpatients

Little is known about the use of mental health smartphone applications during the greatest period of vulnerability - immediately following discharge from a psychiatric inpatient unit. Currently, no data are available regarding smartphone ownership or technology literacy of individuals who receive inpatient psychiatric treatment. The goal of this study was to determine psychiatric inpatients’ smartphone ownership, current uses of, and interest in utilizing apps to aid in mental health treatment after discharge. A single time point self-report survey was given to patients prior to discharge from a psychiatric inpatient unit at a major academic hospital in a metropolitan area of the United States. Of the 101 survey respondents, 82.8% indicated that they own a smartphone, and over 70% indicated that they use smartphone apps, can access the internet from their phones, and use social media. While only 25.3% reported that they currently use a mental health app, a majority of respondents (53.2%) expressed interest in using such apps in the future, and almost 60% would use those apps to track their mental health. Our data suggest that there is significant untapped potential for utilizing smartphone applications for psychiatric monitoring and treatment following discharge from an inpatient psychiatric unit.

Efektivitas Penerapan Telemental Konseling terhadap Penurunan Kecemasan Remaja Akibat Paparan Informasi Covid 19 di Kota Padang

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in China is a global health threat, which causes fear, anxiety in receiving the right information according to the mental health needs of society. Teenagers are included in the group who experience the psychological impact of Covid 19 who experience anxiety. Adolescents are more receptive to the use of smartphone applications, health authorities may consider providing psychoeducation and online or smartphone-based psychological interventions. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of implementing Telemental Counseling in Padang city adolescents in 2020. The design used in this study was a Quasi experimental design with a pre and post control group design approach. The sampling technique was Simple Random Sampling with a total sample of 44 people, 22 people in the intervention group and 22 from the control group. This study used the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMS) questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using Paired T-Test. The results of this study showed a decrease in the level of anxiety in adolescents in the intervention group, namely the average score of anxiety before being given the application of Telemental counseling in the experimental group was 21.18 and 17.32 afterwards. The results of this statistical test show that there is an effect of providing telemental counseling in the intervention group on reducing anxiety in adolescents in Padang City. The statistical test results obtained p-value = 0.000 (p <0.05).

Regulation and validation of smartphone applications in plastic surgery: It's the Wild West out there

Background and purposeThe use of smartphone applications is ubiquitous within healthcare. Over recent years there have been multiple applications developed within the field of plastic surgery. In the UK, applications with a medical purpose should be registered with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) as a medical device. The aim of this study was to evaluate plastic surgery specific smartphone applications designed for healthcare professional usage, and determine what proportion meet the criteria of a medical device and are suitably certified. MethodsA systematic review of the Apple and Google Play App stores was carried out using search terms relevant to plastic surgery. Data was extracted from the app store listing, developer website and the contents of each application. Each application was evaluated against the criteria given by the MHRA to determine whether it constituted a medical device. Results215 applications for plastic surgery healthcare professionals were identified, of which 22 met the definition of a medical device. Only 14% (n = 3) of these applications were appropriately certified, 14% (n = 3) were validated in peer-reviewed literature and 45% (n = 10) had documented medical professional involvement. ConclusionMost applications with a medical purpose were not certified as a medical device, had not been validated in any peer-reviewed research, and did not have any documented involvement of medical professionals. The potential consequences of such applications operating incorrectly are stark and represent a risk to patient safety. Usage of multiple applications in a single patient encounter may compound error and safety of clinical care.

Editorial: using smartphones to collect linguistic data

Abstract In the last decade, we have seen a number of studies come to life in which the collection of data for linguistic research has not followed a traditional path of holding in-person interviews or experiments, or using surveys for eliciting judgements, but instead have made use of smartphone technology and applications for collecting data. The current collection is the first to include papers with reflections from the linguistics community about the use of smartphone technology for linguistic research. The scope of the projects presented in this collection is a broad one. They have the mode of data collection, i.e. through a phone, in common, but all present different opportunities and challenges. The studies discussed in this introduction use smartphones to investigate language variation and change, clinical linguistics, psycholinguistics, and the sociology of language. Our hope is that this issue will provide ideas and inspiration, as well as access to readily usable tools, to keep researchers working, in a remote fashion, towards increasing our understanding the human competence of language.

The Use of Smartphone Applications in Laboratory Activities in Developing Scientific Communication Skills of Students

Smartphone applications have been widely used in everyday life, not least in the world of education. The use of smartphone applications in improving the quality of learning has become a trend and is widely used by educators. The use of smartphones in learning is dominated by the implementation of regular learning and is still lacking in the laboratory's implementation. This study aimed to determine the use of smartphone applications in laboratory activities in developing students' scientific communication skills. The research method used was the quantitative descriptive method. The research sample was a fifth-semester physics education study program student who contracted the school physics laboratory course. The smartphone application used in laboratory activities in this study consists of a physics toolbox and tracker. Physics toolbox is an application whose working principle is based on sensors. Students use the tracker to make graphs from videos that illustrate activities laboratory. The research instrument used was a performance assessment in the form of a scientific communication skill observation sheet. The data analysis technique was done by calculating the percentage of achievement of students' scientific communication skills. The results showed that smartphone applications could develop students' scientific communication skills in a good category. Thus, smartphone applications in laboratory activities can develop one of the skills needed by students in facing the era of industrial revolution 4.0.

העלאת המודעות והנגשת הידע על שימוש באפליקציות בטלפון חכם לטיפול באנשים עם מגבלה בקוגניציה התפקודית

Background: Smartphones have the potential to foster independence for people facing functional cognition disabilities. According to the literature, this technology is seldom used as a rehabilitative tool given that OT’s are frequently are unfamiliar with these tools or feel insecure in their usage due to a lack of training. Needs Assessment Objectives: To examine the perception and the extent of use of smartphone applications, as a means of improving the independence of people dealing with functional cognitive disability. OTs and among those individuals dealing themselves with mental illness. Additionally, this study will examine OT’s interest in becoming more informed on this topic. Method: A needs assessment included conversations with policy makers in the Ministry of Health and OTs working in the field. An electronic survey was distributed on social media. Recipients of the surveys were OTs who work in mental health (N=58), the physical domain (N = 51), and people who were coping with mental health illness (N = 30). Results: A need for mobile applications as a means of functional cognitive intervention was found. Most of the patients (82.7%) responded that they could benefit from functional cognitive therapy using mobile technology, and 79.9% said that instructions given by professionals about its use were lacking. All mental health clinicians (100%), and 94.1% of those in the physical domain, responded that functional cognitive therapy using mobile technology would help their clients. Most mental health clinicians (89.5%) and 100% of those in the physical domain responded that they would like to gain more knowledge about mobile technology as a means of functional cognitive therapy. Conclusions: A project will be developed that will include a training booklet for functional cognitive therapy, accompanied by a lecture given by an expert OT in the field of technology. The goal of the project is to increase the use of mobile applications, as a means of improving the daily functioning of people who cope with functional cognition disabilities. Expected Clinical Implications: The training booklet and lecture will add to the knowledge about adapting and using mobile applications, as a functional cognitive tool, in the mental and physical fields. We expect that this knowledge will promote the use of applications in therapy, as well as improve the therapist's ability to use them.

Hot Off the Press: Mobile Smartphone Technology Is Associated With Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest Survival Improvement.

Bystander CPR and early defibrillation are essential components of the out of hospital cardiac arrest chain of survival. The use of smartphone applications to direct trained first responders to nearby cardiac arrest victims, and to provide maps of local automated external defibrillators, seems incredibly promising. We discuss an observational study by Derkenne et al published in Academic Emergency Medicine, November 2020, looking at the experience of using the "Staying Alive" smartphone application to notify potential first responders of nearby out of hospital cardiac arrest victims. We provide critical analysis and summarize social media discussion about the article.

Gay and Bisexual Men’s Recommendations for Effective Digital Social Marketing Campaigns to Enhance HIV Prevention and Care Continuity

Because use of geosocial-networking smartphone applications ('apps') is ubiquitous among men who have sex with men (MSM), online-to-offline service models that include advertisements on these apps may improve engagement with effective HIV prevention and treatment services. Through our formative qualitative study, we conducted individual in-depth interviews (n = 30) and focus group discussions (n = 18) with MSM in Rhode Island to develop a digital social marketing campaign aimed at increasing HIV testing, including how best to reach men by advertising on apps. Qualitative data analysis revealed that participants were frequently exposed to pop-up advertisements on apps. These advertisements are viewed as invasive and, as such, many expressed a preference for other formats (e.g., direct messages, banner advertisements). Men expressed a preference for provocative images and phrases to catch their attention followed with fact-driven messaging to motivate them to engage with services offline. Findings from this study offer several practical recommendations for developing a social marketing campaign that uses advertisements on apps to increase HIV testing among MSM, including using formats other than pop-up advertisements and pairing fact-driven messaging with eye-catching images to direct them to trusted local clinical services.

English through the use of smartphone apps as motivation for students from the School of Tourism and Gastronomy

With students spending up to 20% of their in-class time texting, emailing, and checking social media, it is no wonder the problem about smartphones in the classroom arises. This article presents results of a piece of research focused on the analysis and reflection of the smartphone applications used with higher education students in order to provide, as well as to improve, their results in departmental exams while they are studying English at a professional level.
 The study took place over one semester of a curricular English course where smartphone applications were carefully selected and integrated into the current didactic units of the standardized institutional English program, with the purpose of finding, in the school of tourism and gastronomy, not only a solution, but a different approach to turning the problem into part of an updated methodology for the foreign language classroom. 
 The results of this research are expected to have a significant impact on the improvement of the methodology used by teachers at all the schools on our institutional English program with the effect that, once the teachers begin to implement the systematic use of smart phone applications in the delivery of their lessons, learners will hopefully perceive the English course as more relevant and meaningful and be motivated to achieve the expected results.

Patient interest in and barriers to telemedicine video visits in a multilingual urban safety-net system.

To determine interest in and barriers to video visits in safety-net patients with diverse age, racial/ethnic, or linguistic background. We surveyed patients in an urban safety-net system to assess: interest in video visits; ability to successfully complete test video visits; and barriers to successful completion of test video visits. Among 202 participants, of which 177 (87.6%) were persons of color and 113 (55.9%) preferred non-English languages, 132 (65.3%) were interested in and 109 (54.0%) successfully completed a test video visit. Younger age, non-English preference, and prior smartphone application use were associated with interest. Over half (n = 112) reported barriers to video visits; Internet/data access was the most common barrier (n = 50, 24.8%). Safety-net patients are interested in video visits and able to successfully complete test visits. Internet or mobile data access is a common barrier in even urban safety-net settings and may impact equitable telemedicine access.

Affecting Length of Stay in Well-appearing Febrile Infants.

Introduction:The management of infants under 2 months of age presenting with fever has perplexed pediatricians for decades. The University of Illinois at Chicago was selected as one of the primary sites for the REVISE (Reducing Variation in Infant Sepsis Evaluations) study through the American Academy of Pediatrics. Our primary objective was to decrease the length of stay (LOS) for well-appearing febrile infants by 20% over 8 months from December 2016 to August 2017.Methods:We introduced the use of a decision support smartphone application to providers caring for febrile infants. Monthly retrospective chart review of patients 7–59 days old with fever seen in the emergency department or the inpatient setting was performed from September 2015 to August 2016 for baseline data, from December 2016 to August 2017 for intervention data, and from September 2017 to December 2018 for surveillance data.Results:A total of 1013 patients of ages 7–59 days seen in the emergency department or inpatient unit between September 2015 to December 2018 were screened for study inclusion. Forty-one febrile, well-appearing infants of ages 7–59 days met inclusion criteria. During the baseline period, there was a mean LOS of 48 hours. Intervention and surveillance data did not change the mean from baseline.Conclusions:Infants with a negative diagnostic evaluation for urinary tract infection, bacteremia, or meningitis drove our LOS. Further study is needed to affect the LOS in febrile infants with diagnoses of urinary tract infection, bacteremia, or meningitis.

Aplicativos de smartphones e atividades físicas:

Este artigo visou analisar a utilização dos aplicativos de smartphones e o impacto sobre as atividades físicas. Atentar-se às tecnologias em desenvolvimento e suas potencialidades e limitações conduzem a reflexões que permitam resultados satisfatórios. Por meio de revisão bibliográfica, percebe-se que o aperfeiçoamento dos aplicativos e dispositivos associados, a diversificação de estratégias e intervenções e diversos outros fatores discutidos demonstram que esta nova realidade tem grande chances de futuramente revolucionar a intervenção profissional. Contudo, ainda é preciso cuidado e senso crítico por parte dos envolvidos, carecendo de educação e familiarização tanto dos usuários quanto dos profissionais, bem como maior segurança nas informações coletadas e utilizadas.

Use of stewardship smartphone applications by physicians and prescribing of antimicrobials in hospitals: A systematic review.

BackgroundAntimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs promote appropriate use of antimicrobials and reduce antimicrobial resistance. Technological developments have resulted in smartphone applications (apps) facilitating AMS. Yet, their impact is unclear.ObjectivesSystematically review AMS apps and their impact on prescribing by physicians treating in-hospital patients.Data sourcesEMBASE, MEDLINE (Ovid), Cochrane Central, Web of Science and Google Scholar.Study eligibility criteriaStudies focusing on smartphone or tablet apps and antimicrobial therapy published from January 2008 until February 28th 2019 were included.ParticipantsPhysicians treating in-hospital patients.InterventionsAMS appsMethodsSystematic review.ResultsThirteen studies met the eligibility criteria. None was a randomized controlled trial. Methodological study quality was considered low to moderate in all but three qualitative studies. The primary outcomes were process indicators, adherence to guidelines and user experience. Guidelines were more frequently accessed by app (53.0% - 89.6%) than by desktop in three studies. Adherence to guidelines increased (6.5% - 74.0%) significantly for several indications after app implementation in four studies. Most users considered app use easy (77.4%—>90.0%) and useful (71.0%—>90%) in three studies and preferred it over guideline access by web viewer or booklet in two studies. However, some physicians regarded app use adjacent to colleagues or patients unprofessional in three qualitative studies. Susceptibility to several antimicrobials changed significantly post-intervention (from 5% decrease to 10% - 14% increase) in one study.ConclusionsUse of AMS apps seems to promote access to and knowledge of antimicrobial prescribing policy, and increase adherence to guidelines in hospitals. However, this has been assessed in a limited number of studies and for specific indications. Good quality studies are necessary to properly assess the impact of AMS apps on antimicrobial prescribing. To improve adherence to antimicrobial guidelines, use of AMS apps could be considered.

Allowing Users to Benefit from Tree Shading: Using a Smartphone App to Allow Adaptive Route Planning during Extreme Heat

This paper presents the outcomes from a joint research project that aims to develop a smartphone application/online platform to model the most thermally comfortable active transport route to a planned destination using heat information and tree shading (Shadeway). Here, we provide a summary of our systematic review of academic literature and applications from the Google Play and Apple App Store, to identify current knowledge about personal adaptation strategies when navigating travel in cities during high temperatures. The review identifies that there is a lack of attention regarding the use of smartphone applications to address urban thermal comfort for active transport by government and private industry. We then present the initial results of original research from three community focus groups and an online survey that elicited participants’ opinions about Shadeways in the City of Greater Bendigo (CoGB), Australia. The results clearly show the need for better management of Shadeways in CoGB. For example, 52.3% of the routes traveled by participants suffer from either no or poor levels of shading, and 53 of the shaded areas were located along routes that also experience heavy traffic, which can have an adverse effect on perceptions and actual safety. It is expected that this study will contribute to improve understanding of the methods used to identify adaptation strategies to increasingly extreme temperatures.

Smartphone and medical application use among dentists in China

BackgroundWith the development of information technology, an increasing number of healthcare professionals are using smartphones and mobile medical applications (apps) in their clinical practice. The objective of this study was to survey the use of smartphone-based medical apps among dentists in China and determine dentists’ perceptions of such apps.MethodsAll data were collected using anonymous questionnaires. The questionnaires for this cross-sectional study were randomly sent to dentists by email, and 379 dentists responded. Dentists’ demographics and perceptions of WeChat, QQ (the most popular social media apps in China) and other medical apps were assessed; the questionnaire including questions on the purpose, frequency, daily use, and opinion of the apps they used. Questions were answered using a Likert scale (1 = strongly agree, 2 = agree, 3 = not sure, 4 = disagree, and 5 = strongly disagree).ResultsA total of 379 valid responses were received; the respondents had a median age of 33.6 years old (63.3% female). All subjects (100%) owned a smartphone, and all of them installed and used WeChat or QQ in their clinical practice. Only 76% of subjects installed medical apps (other than WeChat and QQ) on their smartphones. Male dentists were more likely to install medical apps than female dentists (p < 0.05). With increasing age, the percentage of dentists who installed medical apps decreased (p < 0.001). The frequency and daily use were higher for WeChat and QQ than for medical apps. Medical apps were positively perceived, with dentists reporting that they recommend these medical apps to their peers (Likert score: 1.67 ± 0.68).ConclusionMedical apps were perceived to have a positive impact on clinical practice, education and patient care in dentistry by providing relevant medical information. However, there will still be much room for improvement in the future.

Smartphone use and perceptions of their benefit and detriment within Australian anaesthetic practice.

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the perceptions of Australian anaesthetists in relation to smartphone use within anaesthetic practice. In particular, we aimed to assess the frequency of smartphone use, the types and number of smartphone applications used, how reliant anaesthetists perceive themselves to be on smartphones and whether they perceive them to be a factor that aids or distracts from their practice. Secondly, we assessed whether there is an association between the type, frequency, reliance and perceptions of smartphone use and the years of experience as an anaesthetist. A 24-item questionnaire addressing these questions was created and distributed to an email list of credentialled anaesthetists in Melbourne, Australia. A total of 113 consultant anaesthetists who practise at 55 hospitals in Melbourne completed the questionnaire. Our results suggest that the majority of anaesthetists are using smartphones regularly in their practice. About 74% of respondents agreed that they rely on their smartphone for their work. We found that respondents were more likely to rely on smartphones and consider them to aid patient safety than to consider them a distraction. This phenomenon was particularly apparent in those who had been a consultant anaesthetist for less than three years. Furthermore, those who had been a consultant anaesthetist for less than three years were more likely to have more smartphone apps relating to anaesthetics, use them more often and rely on them to a greater degree. Our results highlight the ubiquitous and perceived useful nature of smartphones in anaesthetic practice.

A socio-technical framework for digital contact tracing

In their efforts to tackle the COVID-19 crisis, decision makers are considering the development and use of smartphone applications for contact tracing. Even though these applications differ in technology and methods, there is an increasing concern about their implications for privacy and human rights. Here we propose a framework to evaluate their suitability in terms of impact on the users, employed technology and governance methods. We illustrate its usage with three applications, and with the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) guidelines, highlighting their limitations.

FINANCIAL LITERACY, MATHEMATICS LITERACY AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE USE OF FINTECH SMARTPHONE APPS: A CASE STUDY OF INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE, SUAN SUNANDHA RAJABHAT UNIVERSITY

The purposes of this study have been to explore financial literacy, mathematics literacy, and also the attitude towards the use of fintech smartphone apps among the students and alumni of the International College, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University (Bangkok, Thailand). The stratified random sampling was employed in this study on the sample consisting of 273 units. The research finding reveal that 72.6% of the respondents possess the moderate level of knowledge and skills in financial literacy and in mathematics, while 4.5% of them have such skills at high level and 20.4% — at low level. The attitude among the students and alumni of the International College towards the use of fintech smartphone applications was divided into five areas. These were the ability and limitation, accuracy, safety, convenience and worthiness. The research findings reveal that the attitudes among the surveyed students and alumni were not much different. This was, most probably, because the sample units were in the same group of the generation Y (16-35 y.o.). This age group is using smartphones all the time and they are well familiar with many applications, including fintech ones. The research findings and conclusions can be used as guidelines while developing finance-related curriculum and also in mathematics learning instructions which may involve fintech apps use.

The Effect Of Counseling On The Adherence Of Therapeutic Hypertension Patients

Failure of therapy is a result of bad adherence medication. Non-adherence to therapy is a major factor that is suspected to result in uncontrolled blood pressure in hypertensive patients resulting in more serious complications. Therefore it is important to increase the adherence rate of treatment in patients with hypertension in the treatment process. For this reason, the need for interventions to improve adherence with several aspects that can be changed. This study uses One Group Pretest-Posttest Design using 100 samples. Data derived from questionnaires containing 25 items of adherence to therapy, 5 items of knowledge, 4 items of trust, 3 items of motivation, 10 items of family support with nonparametric statistical tests used were Mc Nemar test. Mc Nemar test results indicate that there is a significant difference between adherence at the pre-test and at the post-test after counseling with a significance value (p = 0,000). The results also showed that there was a difference in knowledge with a significance value (p = 0.001), motivation with a value (p = 0.031) and family support with a value (p = 0,000). The education with counseling about knowledge, trust, motivation and family support is effective in increasing compliance. There are other changeable factors such as lifestyle education, patient doctor relationships, and the use of smartphone applications for self-reported therapy can improve adherence in patients thereby minimizing therapy failure. Other educational methods that can be used besides counseling are counseling and dissemination of social media information.

Route guidance ranking procedures with human perception consideration for personalized public transport service

The use of smartphone applications (apps) to acquire real time and readily available journey planning information is becoming instinctive behavior by public transport (PT) users. Through the apps, a passenger not only seeks a path from origin to destination, but a satisfactory path that caters to the passenger’s preferences at the desired time of travel. Essentially, apps attempt to provide a means of personalized PT service. As the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic take form and infiltrate human and environmental interactions, passenger preference personalization will likely include avoiding risks of infection or contagious contact. The personal preferences are enabled by multiple attributes associated with alternative PT routes. For instance, preferences can be connected to attributes of time, cost, and convenience.This work establishes a personalized PT service, as an adjustment to current design frameworks, by integrating user app experience with operators’ data sources and operations modeling. The work proceeds to focus on its key component: the personalized route guidance methodology. In addition to using the existing shortest path or k-weighted shortest path method, this study develops a novel, lexicographical shortest path method, considering a just noticeable difference (JND). The method adopts lexicographical ordering to capture passenger preferences for different PT attributes following Ernst Weber’s law of human perception threshold. However, a direct application of Weber’s law violates the axiom of transitivity required for an implementable algorithm, and thus, a revised method is developed with proven algorithms for ranking different paths. The differences between the three route-guidance methods and the effects of the JND perception threshold on the order of the alternative PT routes are demonstrated with an example.The developments were examined in a case study by simulation on the Copenhagen PT network. The results show that using the JND method reduces the value/cost of the most important attributes. Identical robust results are attained when JND parameters are not specified and default values are used. The latter may apply for the future with a mixture of specified and default preference input values. Finally, the computation time indicates a favorable potential for real-life applications. It is believed that the consideration of human threshold perception will encourage decision makers to establish new criteria to comply with this.