Technology-supported Interventions Research Articles

Implementing weight management during and after pregnancy to reduce diabetes and CVD risk in maternal and child populations.

Maintaining a healthy weight during pregnancy is critical for both women's and children's health. Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) can lead to complications such as gestational diabetes, hypertension and caesarean delivery. Insufficient GWG can cause fetal growth restriction and increase infant mortality risk. Additionally, postpartum weight retention raises risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases for both mother and child. This review seeks to identify current obstacles in weight management research during and after pregnancy and explore evidence-based strategies to overcome them. Pregnancy offers a window of opportunity for health behaviour changes as women are more receptive to education and have regular contact with health services. Staying within Institute of Medicine's recommended GWG ranges is associated with better maternal and fetal outcomes. Systematic review evidence supports structured diet and physical activity pregnancy interventions, leading to reduced GWG and fewer complications. Health economic evaluation indicates significant returns from implementation, surpassing investment costs due to decreased perinatal morbidity and adverse events. However, the most effective way to implement interventions within routine antenatal care remains unclear. Challenges increase in the postpartum period due to competing demands on women physically, mentally and socially, hindering intervention reach and retention. Flexible, technology-supported interventions are needed, requiring frameworks such as penetration-implementation-participation-effectiveness and template-for-intervention-description-and-replication for successful implementation. Greater research efforts are necessary to inform practice and investigate fidelity aspects through pragmatic implementation trials during the pregnancy and postpartum periods. Understanding the best ways to deliver interventions will empower women to maintain a healthy weight during their reproductive years.

Daily Functioning of Veterans With Type 2 Diabetes: Protocol for an Ambulatory Assessment Study.

Diabetes impacts nearly 25% of veterans. Many veterans do not engage in recommended physical activity and other diabetes self-management behaviors. Type 2 diabetes is generally asymptomatic; as such, the long-term consequences of inadequate self-management and benefits of consistent self-management are not salient in the short term. Furthermore, self-management behaviors typically take place outside of medical visits; however, self-management-related factors are only assessed during medical visits, likely missing large amounts of variability. Thus, ambulatory assessment methods such as ecological momentary assessment (EMA), accelerometry, and continuous glucose monitoring are needed to understand the dynamics of daily self-management and identify potential intervention targets. The overarching goal of this study is to understand daily, time-varying factors (comorbid affective symptoms and social context) that influence physical activity, diabetes self-management, glycemic management, daily functioning, and quality of life in participants' natural environments. We are recruiting veterans with type 2 diabetes (target N=100). Participants are required to complete a battery of baseline assessments related to mental health, psychosocial factors, and self-management behaviors. Participants then receive 5 momentary EMA surveys and 1 daily EMA survey per day, in which veterans report comorbid affective symptoms (mood, stress, and pain), social support, social interactions, physical activity, and other self-management behaviors. Momentary surveys are delivered randomly during daily preprogrammed intervals over a 14-day sampling period. Accelerometry and continuous glucose monitoring are also used to assess physical activity and blood glucose, respectively. The first 6 participants also completed interviews assessing their experience in the study and barriers to participation. These test participants informed modifications to the protocol for the remaining participants. The project received funding in April of 2023. Enrollment began in March of 2023 and is planned to be completed in April 2025. Among the 6 test participants, the overall EMA response rate was 87% (range 74%-95%). The response rate for the EMA survey including daily items (67%, range 21%-93%) was lower than the earlier shorter EMA surveys (89%, range 81%-96%). The mean rate of valid accelerometer wear of at least 20 hours per day was 93% (SD 11%), and continuous glucose monitoring data were available for 91% (SD 17%) of days on average. Participants reported few barriers to completing EMA surveys but noted the random timing of questions made it difficult to plan around, and the end-of-day survey was long. Two participants reported survey items reminded or motivated them to engage in diabetes self-management behaviors. Assessment tools developed from this study can inform clinical decision-making by considering barriers to self-management that occur in daily life. Clinical applications include tailored, adaptive technology-supported interventions to improve self-management that provide the right type and amount of support at the right time by adapting to an individual's changing internal and contextual state. DERR1-10.2196/53874.

Assessing a digital technology-supported community child health programme in India using the Social Return on Investment framework.

An estimated 5.0 million children aged under 5 years died in 2020, with 82% of these deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia. Over one-third of Mumbai's population has limited access to healthcare, and child health outcomes are particularly grave among the urban poor. We describe the implementation of a digital technology-based child health programme in Mumbai and evaluate its holistic impact. Using an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered mobile health platform, we developed a programme for community-based management of child health. Leveraging an existing workforce, community health workers (CHW), the programme was designed to strengthen triage and referral, improve access to healthcare in the community, and reduce dependence on hospitals. A Social Return on Investment (SROI) framework is used to evaluate holistic impact. The programme increased the proportion of illness episodes treated in the community from 4% to 76%, subsequently reducing hospitalisations and out-of-pocket expenditure on private healthcare providers. For the total investment of Indian Rupee (INR) 2,632,271, the social return was INR 34,435,827, delivering an SROI ratio of 13. The annual cost of the programme per child was INR 625. Upskilling an existing workforce such as CHWs, with the help of AI-driven decision- support tools, has the potential to extend capacity for critical health services into community settings. This study provides a blueprint for evaluating the holistic impact of health technologies using evidence-based tools like SROI. These findings have applicability across income settings, offering clear rationale for the promotion of technology-supported interventions that strengthen healthcare delivery.

Approaches for supporting adolescents’ reading motivation: existing research and future priorities

Research has consistently demonstrated declines in reading motivation and engagement from childhood to adolescence, with current levels of reading enjoyment and engagement among adolescents at an all-time low. This has led to increased interest in approaches for supporting adolescents’ reading motivation. To date, efforts to support adolescent reading motivation have utilized a variety of approaches, yet there is currently no review which synthesizes existing research in this area and provides recommendations for future research and practice. Drawing upon both narrative and scoping review principles, this review synthesizes 38 peer-reviewed articles and research reports which have evaluated approaches for improving adolescents’ (12–16 years old) reading motivation. The article outlines the breadth and scope of approaches which have been used previously, categorized into five types: (1) reading and literacy skills programs; (2) whole-school reading culture; (3) book clubs; (4) technology-supported interventions; and (5) performance and theater. The review also identifies gaps and issues relating to the current body of research and proposes priorities for future work in this area. Together, the findings and recommendations address calls to dedicate renewed and sustained attention to supporting adolescents’ reading motivation and engagement and provide a point of reference for researchers and education practitioners seeking to select, develop, and implement strategies for supporting adolescents’ reading motivation in the future.

SPAN Website for Remote Intervention with Autistic Adolescents and Young Adults: Feasibility and Usability.

Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) report less functional independence and social participation than their neurotypical peers. Remotely delivered interventions may allow autistic AYA to promote their independence, social participation, and wellbeing as they transition to adulthood. Social Participation and Navigation (SPAN) is a technology-based remotely delivered intervention initially developed for AYA with acquired brain injuries. The SPAN (website, application, and intervention manual) was modified to address the needs of AYA with autism (SPAN-ASD). This study examined the SPAN-ASD website and web application's feasibility and usability. Participants comprised 12 autistic AYA and 18 practitioners (all occupational therapists) with more than 1 year of experience in working with autistic AYA. All navigated the SPAN-ASD website and goal-management application. Practitioners completed the SPAN-ASD components and the Usefulness, Satisfaction, and Ease of Use questionnaires; AYA completed the System Usability Scale. The practitioners' average feasibility scores ranged from 4.30 to 4.68 (high); the overall usability score was 5.77 (good). The autistic AYA rated SPAN-ASD as a good, acceptable, and useful tool. Content analysis and item-level ratings indicated some needed improvements. Practitioners and autistic AYA perceived the SPAN-ASD website and application as highly feasible and usable, with excellent potential for technology-supported interventions.

Interplay Between Innovation and Intersubjectivity: Therapists Perceptions of Phantom Motor Execution Therapy and Its Effect on Phantom Limb Pain.

Interpersonal processes, including therapeutic alliance, may modulate the impact of interventions on pain experience. However, the role of interpersonal context on the effects of technology-enhanced interventions remains underexplored. This study elicited therapists' perspectives on how a novel rehabilitative process, involving Phantom Motor Execution (PME), may impact phantom limb pain. The mediating role of therapeutic alliance, and the way PME influenced its formation, was investigated. A qualitative descriptive design, using a framework method, was used to explore therapists' (n=11) experiences of delivering PME treatment. Semi-structured online-based interviews were conducted. A 3-way interaction between therapist, patient, and the PME device was an overarching construct tying four themes together. It formed the context for change in phantom limb experience. The perceived therapeutic effects (theme 1) extended beyond those initially hypothesised and highlighted the mediating role of the key actors and context (theme 2). The therapeutic relationship was perceived as a transformative journey (theme 3), creating an opportunity for communication, collaboration, and bonding. It was seen as a cause and a consequence of therapeutic effects. Future directions, including the role of expertise-informed adaptations and enabling aspects of customised solutions, were indicated (theme 4). This study pointed to intrapersonal, interpersonal, and contextual factors that should be considered in clinical implementation of novel rehabilitative tools. The results demonstrated that therapists have unique insights and a crucial role in facilitating PME treatment. The study highlighted the need to consider the biopsychosocial model of pain in designing, evaluating, and implementing technology-supported interventions.

An Evaluation of Alternative Technology-Supported Counseling Approaches to Promote Multiple Lifestyle Behavior Changes in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease

Although technology-supported interventions are effective for reducing chronic disease risk, little is known about the relative and combined efficacy of mobile health strategies aimed at multiple lifestyle factors. The purpose of this clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy of technology-supported behavioral intervention strategies for managing multiple lifestyle-related health outcomes in overweight adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Using a 2×2 factorial design, adults with excess body weight (body mass index ≥27kg/m2, age ≥40years), T2D, and CKD stages 2-4 were randomized to an advice control group, or remotely delivered programs consisting of synchronous group-based education (all groups), plus (1) Social Cognitive Theory-based behavioral counseling and/or (2) mobile self-monitoring of diet and physical activity. All programs targeted weight loss, greater physical activity, and lower intakes of sodium and phosphorus-containing food additives. Of 256 randomized participants, 186 (73%) completed 6-month assessments. Compared to the ADVICE group, mHealth interventions did not result in significant changes in weight loss, or urinary sodium and phosphorus excretion. In aggregate analyses, groups receiving mobile self-monitoring had greater weight loss at 3months (P=.02), but between 3 and 6months, weight losses plateaued, and by 6months, the differences were no longer statistically significant. When engaging patients with T2D and CKD in multiple behavior changes, self-monitoring diet and physical activity demonstrated significantly larger short-term weight losses. Theory-based behavioral counseling alone was no better than baseline advice and demonstrated no interaction effect with self-monitoring.

Interventions Designed to Improve HIV Continuum of Care Outcomes for Persons with HIV in Contact with the Carceral System in the USA.

Purpose of ReviewTo describe existing evidence and identify future directions for intervention research related to improving HIV care outcomes for persons with HIV involved in the carceral system in the USA, a population with high unmet HIV care needs.Recent FindingsFew recent intervention studies focus on improving HIV care outcomes for this population. Successful strategies to improve care outcomes include patient navigation, substance use treatment, and incentivizing HIV care outcomes. Technology-supported interventions are underutilized in this population. Notable gaps in the existing literature include intervention research addressing HIV care needs for cisgender and transgender women and those under carceral supervision in the community.SummaryFuture research should address existing gaps in the literature and respond to emergent needs including understanding how the changing HIV care delivery environment resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the approval of new injectable ART formulation shape HIV care outcomes in this population.

Self-guided technology to improve health-related behaviour and quality of life in people with cancer.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world, and both the disease and its treatments result in reduced health-related quality of life (World Health Organization (WHO), 2020; Mishra et al, 2012). Cancer survivors are at increased risk of multiple chronic illnesses and the long-term effects of treatment such as fatigue, depression, weight loss/gain and pain (James et al, 2011). Health-related quality of life among people living with, or after, cancer can be improved through nutrition and exercise interventions, and these interventions may also improve survival (Albino de Queiroz et al, 2021; Mishra et al, 2012). There is emerging evidence that these interventions may also help to counter cancer-related bone and muscle loss (Kiss et al, 2020). Delivering these interventions by traditional face-to-face methods may not be feasible when meeting the increasing incidence of cancer patients globally (Duan et al, 2021). Therefore, there is a need to consider alternative modes of delivery to achieve increased access and reduce healthcare system burden. Kiss et al (2019) proposed that technology-supported interventions, such as those delivered over the internet, mobile phone or wearable devices, could offer self-guided support in nutrition and physical activity to more of the world's 32 million people living with cancer. Their systematic review aimed to describe and appraise the efficacy of such interventions for people with cancer. This commentary aims to critically appraise the methods used within this systematic review to discuss the findings in the context of previous evidence and clinical practice.

Promoting collaborative psychiatric care decision-making in community mental health centers: Insights from a patient-centered comparative effectiveness trial.

Mental health service-users face important medication decisions; yet not all are active participants in the decision-making process. Little is known about which technology-supported interventions might effectively promote collaborative decision-making in psychiatric care. We compared the effectiveness of two technology-supported collaborative care decision-making approaches. We used a cluster-randomized design with a mixed-methods approach. Participants were Medicaid-enrolled adults receiving psychiatric care in participating community mental health centers. Measurement-based care used computerized systematic symptom and medication screenings to inform provider decision-making. Person-centered care supported participants in completing computerized Health Reports and preparing to work with providers on collaborative decision-making about psychiatric care. Primary study outcomes included the patient experience of medication management and shared decision-making during psychiatric care. Analyses examined the impact of both approaches and explored moderating variables. We used qualitative methods to understand participation and implementation experiences. Across 14 sites 2,363 participants enrolled (1,162 in measurement-based care, 1,201 in person-centered care). We observed statistically significant improvements in patient experience of medication management scores for both study arms; however, the clinical significance of this change was minor. We found no significant changes for shared decision-making. Qualitative interviews revealed a range of factors associated usefulness of intervention assessment, provider-service-user communication, and site-level logistics. We observed modest positive findings related to our patient-centered outcomes. We identified important implementation facilitators and barriers that can inform the implementation of future comparative effectiveness patient-centered research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Mobile-Assisted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Negative Symptoms: Open Single-Arm Trial With Schizophrenia Patients.

BackgroundNegative symptoms are an important unmet treatment need for schizophrenia. This study is a preliminary, open, single-arm trial of a novel hybrid intervention called mobile-assisted cognitive behavioral therapy for negative symptoms (mCBTn).ObjectiveThe primary aim was to test whether mCBTn was feasible and could reduce severity of the target mechanism, defeatist performance attitudes, which are associated with experiential negative symptoms and poor functioning in schizophrenia.MethodsParticipants with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (N=31) who met prospective criteria for persistent negative symptoms were enrolled. The blended intervention combines weekly in-person group therapy with a smartphone app called CBT2go. The app extended therapy group skills, including recovery goal setting, thought challenging, scheduling of pleasurable activities and social interactions, and pleasure-savoring interventions to modify defeatist attitudes and improve experiential negative symptoms.ResultsRetention was excellent (87% at 18 weeks), and severity of defeatist attitudes and experiential negative symptoms declined significantly in the mCBTn intervention with large effect sizes.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that mCBTn is a feasible and potentially effective treatment for experiential negative symptoms, if confirmed in a larger randomized controlled trial. The findings also provide support for the defeatist attitude model of experiential negative symptoms and suggest that blended technology-supported interventions such as mCBTn can strengthen and shorten intensive psychosocial interventions for schizophrenia.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03179696; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03179696

Effect of Technology-Supported Interventions on Prenatal Gestational Weight Gain, Physical Activity, and Healthy Eating Behaviors: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

This review characterizes the effect of technology-supported interventions on prenatal gestational weight gain (GWG), physical activity, and healthy eating behaviors and describes intervention characteristics that may influence intervention effectiveness. A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and CINHAL and identified prenatal technology-supported randomized controlled trials (RCT) targeting GWG, physical activity, and/or healthy eating behaviors (N = 21). Authors aggregated effect sizes to estimate overall effectiveness and calculated means of effect sizes as a function of intervention characteristics (i.e., delivery mode, type of technology, frequency of technology, correspondence between technology tool and targeted behavior). Random effects models revealed technology-supported RCTs had small effects on GWG (d = 0.23), physical activity (d = 0.38), energy intake (d = 0.38), and eating behaviors (d = 0.16). RCTs using technology with face-to-face sessions, tracking tools, and incorporating devices daily were associated with slightly larger effects, particularly for physical activity and healthy eating behaviors. Although there are small effects of technology-supported interventions on lowering GWG and improving physical activity and healthy eating behaviors, these effects may be improved by particular intervention characteristics such as delivery mode (e.g., technology plus face-to-face), type of technology (e.g., tracking tools), and frequency of technology prescribed (e.g., daily). Given the challenges and barriers of promoting prenatal GWG regulation, physical activity, and healthy eating behaviors, leveraging the use of technology to implement interventions may be a useful strategy to optimize maternal and infant well-being.

A Systematic Review on Technology-Supported Interventions to Improve Old-Age Social Wellbeing: Loneliness, Social Isolation, and Connectedness.

Background This review studies technology-supported interventions to help older adults, living in situations of reduced mobility, overcome loneliness, and social isolation. The focus is on long-distance interactions, investigating the (i) challenges addressed and strategies applied; (ii) technology used in interventions; and (iii) social interactions enabled. Methods We conducted a search on Elsevier's Scopus database for related work published until January 2020, focusing on (i) intervention studies supported mainly by technology-mediated communication, (ii) aiming at supported virtual social interactions between people, and (iii) evaluating the impact of loneliness or social isolation. Results Of the 1178 papers screened, 25 met the inclusion criteria. Computer and Internet training was the dominant strategy, allowing access to communication technologies, while in recent years, we see more studies aiming to provide simple, easy-to-use technology. The technology used was mostly off-the-shelf, with fewer solutions tailored to older adults. Social interactions targeted mainly friends and family, and most interventions focused on more than one group of people. Discussion. All interventions reported positive results, suggesting feasibility. However, more research is needed on the topic (especially randomized controlled trials), as evidenced by the low number of interventions found. We recommend more rigorous methods, addressing human factors and reporting technology usage in future research.

Randomized Trial of a Physical Activity Intervention for Latino Men: Activo

Latino men experience disproportionately high rates of diseases related to low physical activity, yet they are poorly represented in physical activity intervention trials. Efforts to promote physical activity in Latina women show promising results, yet such interventions are yet to be extended to Latino men. This study tested a computer expert system‒tailored, text messaging-supported physical activity intervention for underactive Spanish-speaking Latino men compared with a control group matched for contact time. Potential predictors of intervention success were also explored. Randomized trial. Participants were randomized to receive a Tailored Physical Activity Intervention (Intervention) or a Wellness Control (Control). Data were collected in 2015-2017 and analyzed in 2018-2019. Insufficiently active Latino men (n=46). Intervention participants received a baseline counseling session and then, individually tailored print materials and text messages on a tapered schedule for 6 months. Control participants received printed wellness materials and text messages on the same schedule. Primary outcome was a change in weekly moderate to vigorous physical activity from baseline to 6 months measured by accelerometers. Self-reported moderate to vigorous physical activity measured by the 7-day Physical Activity Recall Interview was a secondary outcome. For Intervention participants, median accelerometer-measured moderate to vigorous physical activity increased from 10.0 minutes/week at baseline to 57.5 minutes/week at 6 months, whereas for Control participants, it increased from 21.0 minutes/week at baseline to 23.0 minutes/week at 6 months (p<0.05). Similar results were found for self-reported moderate to vigorous physical activity. At 6 months, 47% of Intervention participants met national guidelines of 150 minutes/week versus 25% of Control participants (p=0.15, not significant). Findings suggest that an individually tailored intervention can successfully increase moderate to vigorous physical activity in underactive Latino men. Such technology-supported interventions have the potential for broad dissemination. This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT02512419.

Technology-Supported Interventions for Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review.

Technology is deeply embedded in daily life; thus, more pregnant women seek information through the Internet and incorporate the use of technological devices during their pregnancies. This systematic review aimed to examine to what extent and how technology-supported interventions were developed and delivered to pregnant women, as well as intervention effects on the targeted outcomes. Electronic data were collected from MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Scopus. Among the 11 selected studies, most were pilot studies to test the feasibility, acceptability, or preliminary effects of technology-supported interventions. The studies included both women with healthy pregnancies and pregnancies complicated by factors including preterm labor, smoking, and alcohol abuse. Most were conducted in the US, and most participants were white or African American. Interventions were primarily developed by research teams and focused on mental health issues including depression, anxiety, and stress. Interventions incorporated the use of technology including computers, mobile phones, and audiovisual aids. The overall interventions were reported to be feasible, acceptable, and beneficial in all the selected studies. Based on the review of literature, suggestions were provided for future research including the need for careful selection of intervention topics and objectives to target women who can benefit more from technology-supported interventions.

Effect of Lifestyle Coaching Including Telemonitoring and Telecoaching on Gestational Weight Gain and Postnatal Weight Loss: A Systematic Review.

Background: Obesity during pregnancy, excessive gestational weight gain (GWG), and postpartum weight retention (PPWR) are associated with health risks for mothers and their offspring. Face-to-face lifestyle interventions can reduce GWG and PPWR, but they are resource-demanding and effects on long-term maternal and fetal outcomes are scarce. Objectives: To explore the existing literature about the effect of technology-supported lifestyle interventions including telemonitoring and-coaching on GWG and PPWR. Methods: PudMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE (incl. The Cochrane databases), and Web of Science databases were searched for relevant studies published since 2000. Inclusion criteria were: lifestyle interventions to optimize GWG or PPWR with at least mobile applications or websites, focusing on physical activity (PA), healthy eating (HE), and/or psychological well-being, including self-monitoring with telemonitoring and telecoaching. Results: The technology-supported interventions in seven study protocols and four pilot studies differed in terms of the used behavior change models, their focus on different lifestyle issues, and their intervention components for telemonitoring and telecoaching. Technology-supported interventions including telemonitoring and coaching can optimize GWG and PPWR, although not all results are significant. Effects on PA and HE are inconsistent. Conclusions: Technology-supported lifestyle interventions might affect GWG and PPWR, but more research is needed to examine the effectiveness, the usability, and the critical features of these interventions.

Evidence for Interventions to Improve and Maintain Occupational Performance and Participation for People With Serious Mental Illness: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review evaluates the evidence for the effectiveness of interventions within the scope of occupational therapy to improve and maintain performance and participation for people with serious mental illness. Areas included in this review are activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, leisure, social participation, and rest and sleep. Databases searched included MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, OTseeker, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Reviewers read and assessed citations, abstracts, and full-text articles for inclusion and analysis. Sixty-one articles were selected for inclusion. The review yielded strong evidence for psychoeducation and occupation- and cognitive-based interventions, moderate evidence for skills-based interventions, and limited evidence for technology-supported interventions. Results of this review support use of evidence-based practice within the scope of occupational therapy, inclusion of occupational therapy practitioners as mental health service providers, and continued research.

Technology Use, Preferences, and Capacity in Injured Patients at Risk for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Objective: This investigation comprehensively assessed the technology use, preferences, and capacity of diverse injured trauma survivors with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Method: A total of 121 patients participating in a randomized clinical trial (RCT) of stepped collaborative care targeting PTSD symptoms were administered baseline one-, three-, and six-month interviews that assessed technology use. Longitudinal data about the instability of patient cell phone ownership and phone numbers were collected from follow-up interviews. PTSD symptoms were also assessed over the course of the six months after injury. Regression analyses explored the associations between cell phone instability and PTSD symptoms. Results: At baseline, 71.9% (n = 87) of patients reported current cell phone ownership, and over half (58.2%, n = 46) of these patients possessed basic cell phones. Only 19.0% (n = 23) of patients had no change in cell phone number or physical phone over the course of the six months postinjury. In regression models that adjusted for relevant clinical and demographic characteristics, cell phone instability was associated with higher six-month postinjury PTSD symptom levels (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Diverse injured patients at risk for the development of PTSD have unique technology use patterns, including high rates of cell phone instability. These observations should be strongly considered when developing technology-supported interventions for injured patients with PTSD.

Toward the Design of Evidence-Based Mental Health Information Systems for People With Depression: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.

BackgroundExisting research postulates a variety of components that show an impact on utilization of technology-mediated mental health information systems (MHIS) and treatment outcome. Although researchers assessed the effect of isolated design elements on the results of Web-based interventions and the associations between symptom reduction and use of components across computer and mobile phone platforms, there remains uncertainty with regard to which components of technology-mediated interventions for mental health exert the greatest therapeutic gain. Until now, no studies have presented results on the therapeutic benefit associated with specific service components of technology-mediated MHIS for depression.ObjectiveThis systematic review aims at identifying components of technology-mediated MHIS for patients with depression. Consequently, all randomized controlled trials comparing technology-mediated treatments for depression to either waiting-list control, treatment as usual, or any other form of treatment for depression were reviewed. Updating prior reviews, this study aims to (1) assess the effectiveness of technology-supported interventions for the treatment of depression and (2) add to the debate on what components in technology-mediated MHIS for the treatment of depression should be standard of care.MethodsSystematic searches in MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library were conducted. Effect sizes for each comparison between a technology-enabled intervention and a control condition were computed using the standard mean difference (SMD). Chi-square tests were used to test for heterogeneity. Using subgroup analysis, potential sources of heterogeneity were analyzed. Publication bias was examined using visual inspection of funnel plots and Begg’s test. Qualitative data analysis was also used. In an explorative approach, a list of relevant components was extracted from the body of literature by consensus between two researchers.ResultsOf 6387 studies initially identified, 45 met all inclusion criteria. Programs analyzed showed a significant trend toward reduced depressive symptoms (SMD –0.58, 95% CI –0.71 to –0.45, P<.001). Heterogeneity was large (I2≥76). A total of 15 components were identified.ConclusionsTechnology-mediated MHIS for the treatment of depression has a consistent positive overall effect compared to controls. A total of 15 components have been identified. Further studies are needed to quantify the impact of individual components on treatment effects and to identify further components that are relevant for the design of future technology-mediated interventions for the treatment of depression and other mental disorders.

Breast cancer survivors' preferences for technology-supported exercise interventions.

The purpose of this study was to explore breast cancer survivors' interest in and preferences for technology-supported exercise interventions. Post-treatment survivors [n=279; M age=60.7 (SD=9.7)] completed a battery of online questionnaires in August 2015. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all data. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine relationships between survivors' interest in a technology-supported exercise interventions and demographic, disease, and behavioral factors. These same factors were examined in relation to perceived effectiveness of such interventions using multiple regression analyses. About half (53.4%) of survivors self-reported meeting public health recommendations for physical activity. Fewer than half reported using an exercise or diet mobile app (41.2%) or owning an activity tracker (40.5%). The majority were interested in receiving remotely delivered exercise counseling (84.6%), participating in a remotely delivered exercise intervention (79.5%), and using an exercise app or website (68%). Survivors reported that the most helpful technology-supported intervention components would be an activity tracker (89.5%), personalized feedback (81.2%), and feedback on how exercise is influencing mood, fatigue, etc. (73.6%). Components rated as least helpful were social networking integration (31.2%), group competitions (33.9%), and ability to see others' progress (35.1%). Preferences for technology-supported exercise interventions varied among breast cancer survivors. Nonetheless, data indicate that technology-supported interventions may be feasible and acceptable. Engaging stakeholders may be important in developing and testing potential intervention components.