Self-monitoring Tools Research Articles

Promoting physical activity among cancer survivors through general practice: a realist review.

Multiple studies have shown that physical activity improves cancer survivorship, by decreasing risk of second primary cancers and chronic conditions. However, cancer survivor physical activity levels remain low. General practice presents more opportunities for lifestyle interventions, such as increasing physical activity. We conducted a realist review of physical activity interventions relevant to general practice. A total of 9728 studies were obtained from a systematic search of the CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, and SPORTDiscus databases from the inception of the electronic database to 21 June 2024. We focussed on intervention studies that improved physical activity among cancer survivors and were relevant to general practice. Data extraction focussed on: what makes physical activity interventions effective for cancer survivors (what works) and what factors promote physical activity for cancer survivors (for whom it works). Thirty-seven studies were used to generate themes on the components of physical activity interventions that are likely to work and for whom; these studies facilitated goal setting, action planning, self-monitoring, social support, and shaping of knowledge; through delivering tailored motivational support, evoking a teachable moment, and promoting the use of self-monitoring tools. Interventions that were cost-effective and easily implementable improved sustainability, deployability, and uptake by cancer survivors. Cancer survivor psychological and physical factors, such as baseline motivational levels and post-treatment symptoms, influenced the uptake of physical activity interventions. Our realist review has highlighted opportunities for general practices to promote physical activity among cancer survivors through collaborative goal setting, action planning, self-monitoring, social support, and shaping of knowledge.

A problem-based approach in the formation of the self-educational competence of schoolchildren (based on the use of digital technology resources)

The article reveals the possibilities of the problem-based approach in solving the problem of the formation of the self-educational competence of schoolchildren. Various ways of influencing the development of their self-educational competence through the preparation of specially selected tasks are offered in lessons, in homework and in individual work with schoolchildren. It is substantiated that in lessons it is expedient from the point of view of the formation of self-educational competence to use typical tasks similar to typical tasks for independent work and creative tasks. It is shown that the use of educational, training and research tasks is productive for organizing homework. It has been revealed that in individual work it will be effective to perform preparatory, trial, basic tasks. At the same time, it has been proven that all the specified types of tasks involve the active use of digital technologies, which will allow for effective organization of educational activities, improve the motivation and cognitive interest of schoolchildren, ensure individualization of learning and create prerequisites for the development of independence of schoolchildren. In lessons, it is advisable to use simple digital applications, digital resources for creating your own content, digital activity environments and digital resources for online communication. It is effective to use digital resources-sources of educational information, tools for self-monitoring and self-diagnosis, as well as resources for creating your own digital content in homework. Digital resources-sources of information, tools for self-monitoring and self-diagnosis, digital activity environments and resources for personalized learning are useful for the individual work of schoolchildren. The article examines the potential of the problem-based approach to the formation of the self-educational competence of schoolchildren. The main components of self-educational competence are considered, namely: motivational-value, substantive-procedural and control-reflective. The impact of the problem-based approach on the development of each of these components is analyzed. It has been determined that the problem-based approach helps to increase students' motivation to study, stimulates their cognitive activity and develops critical thinking

Paper-based and mobile application-based self-monitoring tool for healthy dietary intake, development and applicability: a non-randomized trial

BackgroundUnhealthy diet is a key risk factor for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) that contribute to increased morbidity and premature mortality. With increased computer literacy and mobile phone penetration, there is a high opportunity for mobile application-based interventions. The current study was conducted to develop a mobile application to monitor dietary intake and to assess its acceptability and effectiveness in diet control compared to a similar paper-based intervention.A mobile application was developed based on research evidence and opinions of local experts. The mobile application was introduced to a selected group of office workers who were in preparation, action, and maintenance stages of the Trans Theoretical Model (TTM) and a paper-based intervention was used as the comparator. Socio-demographic data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. Participants were followed up for three months for adherence. The effectiveness of interventions was assessed at the end of three months by comparing the progressive change in the stage of change and the change from unhealthy to healthy dietary intake between two groups as primary and secondary outcomes respectively.ResultsAmong 123 office workers who participated in the study, 19.5% preferred the mobile intervention over the paper-based intervention. Younger, unmarried office workers and those who do not have children, had a higher acceptance for the mobile intervention (p < 0.05). There was no difference in adherence (in all three months) or outcomes between the two groups of intervention.Conclusion and recommendationsMobile application-based interventions are better accepted among the young age group and further studies are recommended to explore their applicability.Trial registrationThe study was registered in the Sri Lankan Clinical Trial Registry (Registration No. SLCTR/2020/025; Date 15th December 2020).

Mobile App for Improving the Mental Health of Youth in Out-of-Home Care: Development Study Using an Intervention Mapping Approach.

Youth in out-of-home care encounter substantial mental health challenges because of the absence of stable family and social support systems. Their vulnerability is heightened by trauma, neglect, and abuse. They struggle, especially when transitioning to independent living, coping with loneliness, anxiety, and pressure. This study aimed to develop a mobile app with high accessibility and long-term continuous effects to support independent living and improve mental health among youth in out-of-home care. The approach used was the systematic and step-by-step intervention mapping (IM) framework. The program was created using the IM framework and had 6 steps. Drawing from data from individual and focus group interviews and literature reviews, we developed a logical model of the problem. We established program outcomes and objectives, defining performance objectives and variable determinants. We identified theoretical and evidence-based methods that influence determinants. The app design integrated these methods into practical applications, allowing for the creation of self-management and emotional support tools. The development process included ongoing discussions between app designers and the research team to ensure that user needs and preferences were addressed. Individual interviews and focus group discussions revealed challenges in managing daily routines and regulating emotions. The program design was based on the transtheoretical model, social cognitive theory, and elaboration likelihood model. Key features included goal setting, structured routines, emotion recognition flashcards, character models demonstrating emotion regulation strategies, verbal persuasion, and self-monitoring tools to support habit formation and emotion regulation. An implementation plan was developed to facilitate the app's adoption, execution, and maintenance, while an evaluation plan was established, including app usage analytics, user logs, and feedback surveys. A randomized controlled trial will be conducted to assess the app's impact on mental health outcomes, focusing on reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms, improving emotion regulation, and enhancing daily living skills. The IM framework was beneficial in developing a mobile app to enhance the mental health of youth in out-of-home care. The study produced a program grounded in theory and evidence that caters to the needs of these individuals. Further research should aim to verify the app's effectiveness in real-world settings and refine it continuously based on user input.

Primary Care After Pregnancy Survey: Patient Preferences, Health Concerns, and Anticipated Barriers.

Despite recommendations for ongoing care after pregnancy, many individuals do not see a primary care clinician within the first postpartum year, missing a critical window to engage reproductive-age individuals in primary care. We administered an anonymous, cross-sectional, trilingual survey at a large urban safety-net hospital to assess postpartum individuals' preferences, health concerns, and anticipated barriers to primary care during the year after pregnancy. While 90% of respondents preferred a visit within one year, most individuals - including those with complicated pregnancies - did not recall a primary care recommendation from their pregnancy care team. Respondents reported a variety of primary care-amenable health concerns, and many social and logistical barriers to care. Preference for virtual care increased if self-monitoring tools were hypothetically available, indicating virtual visits may improve primary care access.

Impact of CYP3A5 Polymorphisms on Pediatric Asthma Outcomes.

Genetic variation among inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)-metabolizing enzymes may affect asthma control, but evidence is limited. This study tested the hypothesis that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Cytochrome P450 3A5 (CYP3A5) would affect asthma outcomes. Patients aged 2-18 years with persistent asthma were recruited to use the electronic AsthmaTracker (e-AT), a self-monitoring tool that records weekly asthma control, medication use, and asthma outcomes. A subset of patients provided saliva samples for SNP analysis and participated in a pharmacokinetic study. Multivariable regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, race, and ethnicity was used to evaluate the impact of CYP3A5 SNPs on asthma outcomes, including asthma control (measured using the asthma symptom tracker, a modified version of the asthma control test or ACT), exacerbations, and hospital admissions. Plasma corticosteroid and cortisol concentrations post-ICS dosing were also assayed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Of the 751 patients using the e-AT, 166 (22.1%) provided saliva samples and 16 completed the PK study. The e-AT cohort was 65.1% male, and 89.6% White, 6.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.2% Black, 1.2% Native American, 1.8% of unknown race, and 15.7% Hispanic/Latino; the median age was 8.35 (IQR: 5.51-11.3) years. CYP3A5*3/*3 frequency was 75.8% in White subjects, 50% in Native Hawaiians and 76.9% in Hispanic/Latino subjects. Compared with CYP3A5*3/*3, the CYP3A5*1/*x genotype was associated with reduced weekly asthma control (OR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.97-0.98; p < 0.001), increased exacerbations (OR: 6.43; 95% CI: 4.56-9.07; p < 0.001), and increased asthma hospitalizations (OR: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.43-1.93; p < 0.001); analysis of 3/*3, *1/*1 and *1/*3 separately showed an allelic copy effect. Finally, PK analysis post-ICS dosing suggested muted changes in cortisol concentrations for patients with the CYP3A5*3/*3 genotype, as opposed to an effect on ICS PK. Detection of CYP3A5*3/3, CYPA35*1/*3, and CYP3A5*1/*1 could impact inhaled steroid treatment strategies for asthma in the future.

Long-term effect of increasing water intake on repeated self-assessed health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

The aim of this study was to determine the long-term effect of increasing water intake in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) on longitudinal changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in the setting of a clinical trial. Self-completed HRQoL (using the KDQoL-SF, v.1.3 questionnaire) was assessed annually in participants of a 3-year randomized controlled clinical trial (n=187), allocated (1:1) either to increase water intake to reduce urine osmolality to ≤270 mosmol/kg (implemented by dietetic coaching, self-monitoring tools, text messaging) or continue usual water intake. Overall, 96% and 81.8% of participants (n=187) completed the questionnaire at the baseline and final study visits, respectively. At baseline, the physical component summary score (PCS) and mental component summary score (MCS) were similar in the two groups (P>0.05) and the five dimensions with the lowest scores in both groups were: energy and fatigue; general and overall health; sleep; emotional well-being; and pain. Within each group, there were no longitudinal changes over time. At the final visit, the PCS was higher in the increased water intake group (51.3±7.6, mean±standard deviation) compared to the usual water intake group 48.8±9.3; P=0.037) whereas the MCS was numerically similar. The improvement in the PCS was due to higher sub-scale values for physical functioning and pain (both P<0.05). By multivariate analysis, only baseline PCS and height-corrected total kidney volume were associated with the final PCS (P<0.05). HRQoL scores remained stable over a 3 year period, and were not adversely affected by the intervention to increase water intake. Future studies should evaluate the clinical significance of the higher PCS in the increased water intake group.

Self-Care is Not Enough: Effects of Self-Care Self-Monitoring Intervention on Teacher Candidates’ Resilience and Self-Efficacy

ABSTRACT Educator preparation programs must prepare teachers to endure the demands of the profession. Teacher candidates can develop skills to mitigate stress and develop resilience and self-efficacy necessary for the current reality of the teaching profession. We implemented a randomized control trial to evaluate the effects of a self-care self-monitoring intervention on teacher candidates’ resilience and self-efficacy. Participants assigned to the treatment group created self-care goals and monitored their weekly progress toward their goals. We found no significant effects of the self-monitoring tool on teacher candidates’ resilience and self-efficacy. We contextualize our findings within the current teacher attrition and retention crisis and share implications for educator preparation programs.

Fluctuations of stress and resilience in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: Insights and recommendations

BackgroundHealthcare workers (HCW) have faced unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19, with significant impact on their well-being. We aimed to monitor stress-related symptoms and resilience in HCW over time in relation to various factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsBetween June 2020 and May 2022, data was collected among HCW of Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC) through a digital self-monitoring application. The application included a 14-items self-monitoring tool (i.e., 7-items on Supporting factors, 7-items on Stressful burden), and a set of validated questionnaires (i.e., the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), Impact of Event Scale – Revised (IES-R), Resilience Evaluation Scale (RES), and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). ResultsThe self-monitoring tool and validated questionnaires were completed by 1070 and 413 participants respectively. Mean stress-related symptom scores (as measured by the self-monitoring, CBI, IES-R, and DASS-21) exhibited significant changes over time (all p’s < 0.001), which correlated with the waves of COVID-19 patients admitted and the national COVID-19 mortality rate (all p’s < 0.005). Resilience, as measured by the RES, showed a significant decrease from the start of data collection onwards (p = 0.001), whereas supporting factors showed significant decreases the first few months, followed by fluctuations after January 2021 (p = 0.02). LimitationsSelection bias may have arisen as those participating may have been more concerned with the burden on mental wellbeing. ConclusionsThe current study underscores the need for active psychosocial support for all HCW particularly during periods of increased admissions due to pandemics.

Abstract 17: Associations Between Digital Health App Engagement and Physical Activity Among African American Women With Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome: Data From the Step It Up Digital Health-Enabled Physical Activity Intervention

Background: Physical activity (PA) improves cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic health (CKMH); however, few digital health tools to increase PA are tailored for populations disproportionately impacted by adverse social determinants, such as African American (AA) women. Less is known about the effects of engagement with digital health applications (apps) on PA among AA women from under-resourced communities. The objective was to examine associations between app engagement and PA over six months in the Step It Up (SIU) digital health PA intervention. Methods: We enrolled women with ≥Stage 1 CKM syndrome (overweight/obesity) from resource-limited Washington, DC areas into SIU. Before the study, we created the SIU app with community-engaged approaches. Participants used the SIU app and a Fitbit Charge 2 PA monitor for the study. After collecting baseline PA data for two weeks, the app provides interactive PA educational modules, motivational and place-tailored messages about PA, and CKMH self-monitoring tools for six months. We examined associations between overall app and specific feature engagement (i.e. ecological momentary stress assessments (EMA) completed when opening the app, goal setting, modules) with PA (in steps/day) using linear mixed modeling. Results: Participants (N=57) had mean age=60±14 years and BMI=37±8 kg/m 2 . Overall app engagement was positively associated with PA, with each unit increase in engagement associated with 148 more steps/day (p&lt;0.001, Table). Of the app features, engagement with the app EMA was significantly associated with higher PA (p&lt;0.001). Engagement with app goal-setting tools and modules were less significantly associated with higher PA (p=.06 and p=.07 respectively). Conclusions: Engagement with community-tailored, digital health tools like the SIU app can increase PA for AA women with CKM syndrome from under-resourced communities. Future studies should identify methods for increasing engagement in digital health interventions to improve PA and CKMH among AA women.

Development of an intervention for reducing infant bathing frequency.

Bathing babies less frequently and intensively in the first six months of life may prevent eczema, but this has not yet been definitively tested in a randomised controlled trial. Such a trial would require evidence-based support to help parents engage with a minimal bathing routine. The present study reports the development of this support. We adopted a four-stage design process: (i) Pregnant women and their families (n = 31) were interviewed to ascertain key barriers and facilitators towards following the minimal bathing intervention. (ii) These barriers and facilitators were mapped to behaviour change techniques, focussing on the intervention types of education, persuasion and environmental restructuring, alongside appropriate modes of delivery, and prototype intervention materials were developed. (iii) We iteratively refined these materials in a workshop with multidisciplinary experts and Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) representatives (n = 13) and an (iv) intervention walkthrough with families (n = 5). The design process was informed by the Behaviour Change Wheel, Theoretical framework of acceptability and the Template for intervention description and replication. Social influences and motivational factors are likely to influence both uptake and adherence to the intervention. Anticipated emotional reward from participating in research for the benefit of others was indicated to be a strong facilitator for intervention uptake. Alternatives to bathing, having fun with the baby and the night-time routine, alongside family support, were notable facilitators suggested to aid adherence to the intervention. Barriers included hygiene concerns and anticipated negative social appraisal. Barriers and facilitators were mapped to thirty-six behaviour change techniques, focussing on the intervention types of education, persuasion and environmental restructuring, all of which were embedded into the package of support. The prototype intervention materials received positive feedback from the expert workshop and study walkthrough with families. The final package of support comprises printed and digital prompts and cues, a study booklet, video, and digital tool for self-monitoring. The intervention design process incorporated the 'real world' views and experiences of families, experts and PPIE representatives, alongside criteria for designing behavioural interventions. The effectiveness of the package of support will be tested in a feasibility trial and embedded process evaluation.

Impact of telenurse-led intervention in clinical trials on health literacy, empowerment, and health outcomes in patients with solid tumours: a pilot quasi-experimental study

BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, decentralised clinical trials incorporated self-monitoring, self-reporting, and telenursing tools to address health literacy and health empowerment of patients enrolled in clinical trials. We aimed to determine the impact of an educational intervention using telenursing consultations on health literacy, health empowerment, and health-related quality of life in cancer patients enrolled in clinical trials by measuring the level of satisfaction with the care received and assessing the views of healthcare professionals concerning the advanced practice nurse (APN) role in oncology clinical trials.MethodsIn this pilot analytical, descriptive, longitudinal, quasi-experimental, and pre-post test study, an educational intervention was conducted by 5 visits with an APN using synchronous teleconsultation in patients starting cancer treatment for the first time in a clinical trial (n = 60), and health professionals working with the APN (n = 31). A descriptive analysis of the samples and questionnaires were utilised along with statistical comparisons.ResultsAfter the intervention, patients' health literacy (31.7%), health empowerment (18.3%), and health-related quality of life (33.3%) increased (p < 0.05), with a decrease and trend towards resolution of care needs (p < 0.05). Satisfaction with the quality and care received in terms of perceived convenience, transition, and continuity of care showed positive results in 64.9 ± 20.7, 77.6 ± 19.5, and 72.1 ± 20.4 of respondents, respectively. On the overall assessment of the APN role, healthcare professionals expressed a high level of agreement with the statements related to their work performance.ConclusionsThe data indicates that a clinical trial APN-led telenursing educational intervention results in an overall increase in health literacy, an improvement in health empowerment and health-related quality of life, and a decrease in care needs of oncology clinical trials patients. Patients stated that they received a high quality of care and health professionals indicated high levels of acceptance with APNs. Based on these results, we suggest that the APN role should gain more recognition in the Spanish healthcare system and their professional competencies should be aligned with those of other countries.

Research-Grade Accelerometers to Assess Intervention Effectiveness and Commercial Wearables as a Self-Monitoring Tool: Are the Two Aligned on Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity?

There is limited evidence about how comparable commercial monitors and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) cut-points frequently used with research-grade accelerometers are in estimating time spent in MVPA when both are worn on the wrist. We used data from 14 adults (57.3 years) who concurrently wore Fitbit (Versa 2) and Axivity (AX3) monitors to assess comparability between the Fitbit and Axivity data, aggregated to 5-s and 60-s epochs, for time spent in daily MVPA and MVPA in bouts of ≥1 – &lt;2 min, ≥2 – &lt;5 min, and ≥5 min. The Fitbit provided higher estimates of total daily MVPA (93.8 ± 66.3 min/day) compared with Axivity-assessed MVPA derived from either 5-s (59.2 ± 37.3 min/day) or 60-s (47.4 ± 36.2 min/day) epochs. The number and duration of MVPA bouts were also higher from Fitbit compared with Axivity (5-s and 60-s epochs). Intraclass correlation coefficients showed moderate to good reliability between MVPA assessed by the Fitbit and Axivity devices (5 s and 60 s). Bland–Altman analysis suggested proportional bias between the Fitbit and Axivity outcomes with wide limits of agreement. No MVPA outcomes were within the 10% equivalency zone. Researchers utilizing the Fitbit as a self-monitoring tool within an intervention should be aware of the potential misalignment with the research-grade accelerometer used to evaluate intervention effectiveness. Feedback from a Fitbit may inform participants they have achieved the required MVPA, while outcomes from the research-grade device may classify them as not meeting their target.

Assessment of urine colour using a wallet card: a randomised study of a novel patient self-care tool during chemoradiation for oesophageal cancer

BackgroundPatients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiation for oesophageal cancer often experience dehydration from decreased fluid intake and increased losses. Despite frequent clinical visits during treatment, patients can still present with dehydration, suggesting...

Designing and Developing a Gamified App for Enhancing Independent Practice in K-12 Music Education

Practice is essential for skill acquisition in any domain. Research in music education indicates that time spent practicing and effective strategies are both predictors of the achievement level in musical performance. However, many K-12 music students today lack the motivation and self-regulation skills to practice independently. Using design thinking, the researcher creates LessonLink, a gamified mobile application to motivate and cultivate K-12 music students’ self-regulation for independent practice. LessonLink serves multiple roles, including a learning management system, an interactive platform to enhance teacher-student-parent interaction, a gamified platform to motivate student practice, and an embedded self-regulation tool for goal-setting and self-monitoring.

Feasibility and acceptability of a dengue self-monitoring system to reduce treatment delay in Malaysia: A single-centre pilot randomised controlled trial.

Most dengue cases are managed in an outpatient setting, where patients are advised to return to the clinic daily for monitoring. Some patients can develop severe dengue at home and fail to recognise the deterioration. An application called DengueAid was designed as a self-monitoring tool for patients to reduce delay in seeking timely treatment. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of the DengueAid application. Dengue patients were recruited from a public health clinic in Malaysia and randomised to either use the DengueAid application plus standard care for dengue or receive only the standard care. The outcomes evaluated were the (1) feasibility of recruitment, data collection and follow-up procedures; (2) preliminary clinical outcome measures; and (3) acceptability of DengueAid. Qualitative interviews were conducted for participants in the intervention arm to assess the acceptability of DengueAid. Thirty-seven patients were recruited with 97% (n = 36) retention rates. The recruitment rate was low (63% refusal rate, n = 62/99) with difficulty in data collection and follow-up due to the variable interval of care for dengue in an outpatient setting. DengueAid application was acceptable to the participants, but preliminary clinical outcomes and qualitative data suggested limited utility of the application. Unwell conditions of patients and limited access to healthcare are important factors impacting the application's utility. The feasibility trial uncovered issues with recruitment, data collection and follow-up processes. Further research and modification to the application are needed to improve its utility and usability.

Designing Visual and Interactive Self-Monitoring Interventions to Facilitate Learning: Insights from Informal Learners and Experts.

Informal learners of computational skills often fi nd it difficult to self-direct their learning pursuits, which may be spread across different mediums and study sessions. Inspired by self-monitoring interventions from domains such as health and productivity, we investigate key requirements for helping informal learners better self-reflect on their learning experiences. We carried out two elicitation studies with paper-based and interactive probes to explore a range of manual, automatic, and semi-automatic design approaches for capturing and presenting a learner's data. We found that although automatically generated visual overviews of learning histories are initially promising for increasing awareness, learners prefer having controls to manipulate overviews through personally relevant filtering options to better reflect on their past, plan for future sessions, and communicate with others for feedback. To validate our findings and expand our understanding of designing self-monitoring tools for use in real settings, we gathered further insights from experts, who shed light on factors to consider in terms of data collection techniques, designing for reflections, and carrying out field studies. Our findings have several implications for designing learner-centered self-monitoring interventions that can be both useful and engaging for informal learners.

Effect of digital monitoring and counselling on self-management ability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a randomised controlled trial.

To assess a remote physiotherapist (PT) counselling intervention using self-monitoring tools for improving self-management ability, physical activity participation, and health outcomes in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Eligible participants were randomly assigned to receive group education, a Fitbit®, a self-monitoring app, and PT counselling phone calls (Immediate Group). The Delayed Group received a monthly e-newsletter until week 26, and then the intervention. The primary outcome was Patient Activation Measure (PAM-13). Participants were assessed at baseline, 27 weeks (the primary end point) and 53 weeks. Secondary outcomes included disease activity, pain, fatigue, depression, sitting/walking habits, daily physical activity time, and daily awake sedentary time. Generalized Linear Mixed-effect Models (GLMMs) were used to assess the effect of the intervention on the change of each outcome measure from the initiation to 27 weeks after the intervention. Analysis included 131 participants (91.6% women; 80.2% completed during the COVID-19 pandemic). The mean change of PAM-13 at 27 weeks was 4.6 (SD = 14.7) in the Immediate Group vs -1.6 (SD = 12.5) in the Delayed Group. The mean change in Delayed Group at 53 weeks (after the 26-week intervention) was 3.6 (SD = 14.6). Overall, the intervention improved PAM-13 at 27 weeks post-intervention from the GLMM analysis (adjusted coefficient: 5.3; 95% CI: 2.0, 8.7; p = <0.001). Favourable intervention effects were also found in disease activity, fatigue, depression, and self-reported walking habit. Remote counselling paired with self-monitoring tools improved self-management ability in people with RA. Findings of secondary outcomes indicate that the intervention had a positive effect on symptom management.

Promoting healthy habits with armonia: An innovative weight loss self-monitoring tool

Promoting healthy habits with armonia: An innovative weight loss self-monitoring tool

Evaluation of Wrist-Worn Photoplethysmography Trackers with an Electrocardiogram in Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease: A Validation Study.

Photoplethysmography measurement of heart rate with wrist-worn trackers has been introduced in healthy individuals. However, additional consideration is necessary for patients with ischemic heart disease, and the available evidence is limited. The study aims to evaluate the validity and reliability of heart rate measures by a wrist-worn photoplethysmography (PPG) tracker compared to an electrocardiogram (ECG) during incremental treadmill exercise among patients with ischemic heart disease. Fifty-one participants performed the standard incremental treadmill exercise in a controlled laboratory setting with 12-lead ECG attached to the patient's body and wearing wrist-worn PPG trackers. At each stage, the absolute percentage error of the PPG was within 10% of the standard acceptable range. Further analysis using a linear mixed model, which accounts for individual variations, revealed that PPG yielded the best performance at the baseline low-intensity exercise. As the stages progressed, heart rate validity decreased but was regained during recovery. The reliability was moderate to excellent. Low-cost trackers AMAZFIT Cor and Bip validity and reliability were within acceptable ranges, especially during low-intensity exercise among patients with ischemic heart disease recovering from cardiac procedures. Though using the tracker as part of the diagnosis tool still requires more supporting studies, it can potentially be used as a self-monitoring tool with precautions.