Use Of Apps Research Articles

Exploring Individuals' Views and Feedback on a Nutritional Screening Mobile App: Qualitative Focus Group Study.

Malnutrition is a major global health challenge. Worldwide, approximately 390 million adults are underweight, while 2.5 billion are overweight. The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) has been implemented successfully in the United Kingdom to assess the nutritional status of patients in health care settings. Currently, MUST is available as a web-based tool or as a paper-based version, However, the paper tool can lead to calculation errors, and web-based tools require internet access, limiting use in some communities. The MUST app uses clear and simple navigation and processes information precisely, so could potentially improve the accuracy and accessibility of malnutrition screening for health care professionals (HCP) in all settings. This study aimed to explore the views of HCPs on the content, functionality, and usability of a newly developed mobile app for MUST. We performed a qualitative study using deductive and inductive framework analysis. A series of online focus groups (~1 hour each) were conducted, exploring potential users' views on the app's content design, functionality, and usefulness, which was set in demonstration mode and not available for direct use with patients. Each focus group used a semistructured approach and predefined topic guide. Participants were recruited consecutively and United Kingdom-wide using advertisements through emails, newsletters, and on social media across appropriate local and national networks. Participants had the opportunity to look at the app on their phones before giving feedback and an on-screen demonstration of the app was provided during the focus group. Data were analyzed using deductive and inductive framework analysis. In total, 8 online focus groups were conducted between August 2022 and January 2023. Participants (n=32) were dietetic and nutrition HCPs or educators with experience in using MUST in clinical or community settings. Data analysis revealed three broad themes: (1) improving the app for better use in practice, (2) user experience of design, and (3) barriers and facilitators in different settings. Overall feedback for the app was positive with potential users considering it to be very useful for improving routine and accurate screening, particularly in the community, and mainly because of the automatic calculation feature, which may help with improving discrepancies. Participants generally considered the app to be for professional use only, stating that patients may find it too clinical or technical. Participants also made suggestions for app sustainability and improvements, such as incentives to complete the demographics section or the option to skip questions, and the addition of more subjective measures and instructions on measuring ulna length. The MUST app was positively evaluated by potential users, who reported it was user-friendly and an accessible way to screen for malnutrition risk, whilst improving the accuracy of screening and availability in community settings.

User Experience and Extended Technology Acceptance Model in Commercial Health Care App Usage Among Patients With Cancer: Mixed Methods Study.

The shift in medical care toward prediction and prevention has led to the emergence of digital health care as a valuable tool for managing health issues. Aiding long-term follow-up care for cancer survivors and contributing to improved survival rates. However, potential barriers to mobile health usage, including age-related disparities and challenges in user retention for commercial health apps, highlight the need to assess the impact of patients' abilities and health status on the adoption of these interventions. This study aims to investigate the app adherence and user experience of commercial health care apps among cancer survivors using an extended technology acceptance model (TAM). The study enrolled 264 cancer survivors. We collected survey results from May to August 2022 and app usage records from the app companies. The survey questions were created based on the TAM. We categorized 264 participants into 3 clusters based on their app usage behavior: short use (n=77), medium use (n=101), and long use (n=86). The mean usage days were 9 (SD 11) days, 58 (SD 20) days, and 84 (SD 176) days, respectively. Analysis revealed significant differences in perceived usefulness (P=.01), interface satisfaction (P<.01), equity (P<.01), and utility (P=.01) among the clusters. Structural equation modeling indicated that perceived ease-of-use significantly influenced perceived usefulness (β=0.387, P<.01), and both perceived usefulness and attitude significantly affected behavioral intention and actual usage. This study showed the importance of positive user experience and clinician recommendations in facilitating the effective usage of digital health care tools among cancer survivors and contributing to the evolving landscape of medical care.

When and Why Adults Abandon Lifestyle Behavior and Mental Health Mobile Apps: Scoping Review.

With 1 in 3 adults globally living with chronic conditions and the rise in smartphone ownership, mobile health apps have become a prominent tool for managing lifestyle-related health behaviors and mental health. However, high rates of app abandonment pose challenges to their effectiveness. We explored the abandonment of apps used for managing physical activity, diet, alcohol, smoking, and mental health in free-living conditions, examining the duration of app use before abandonment and the underlying reasons. A scoping review was conducted based on the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines and eligibility criteria were designed according to the SPIDER (Sample, Phenomenon of Interest, Design, Evaluation, Research type) framework. In total, 4 databases were searched (MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and PsycINFO) to identify quantitative and qualitative studies with outcome measures related to app abandonment in adults with free-living conditions, including reasons for abandonment and duration of use, for mobile apps related to WHO (World Health Organization) modifiable health behaviors and mental health. The included studies' risk of bias was appraised based on the STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) and COREQ (Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research) checklists. To enable data synthesis across different methodologies, app domains, demographic data, and outcome measures were categorized. Results are presented in 2 sections: quantitatively in a scatterplot to understand when users abandon apps and qualitatively through basic qualitative content analysis to identify the underlying reasons. Eighteen eligible studies (525,824 participants) published between 2014 and 2022, predominantly from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany, were identified. Findings revealed a curvilinear pattern of app abandonment, with sharper abandonment soon after acquisition, followed by a slowing rate of abandonment over time. Taken together, a median of 70% of users discontinued use within the first 100 days. The abandonment rate appeared to vary by app domain, with apps focusing on alcohol and smoking exhibiting faster abandonment, and physical activity and mental health exhibiting longer usage durations. In total, 22 unique reasons for abandonment were organized into six categories: (1) technical and functional issues, (2) privacy concerns, (3) poor user experience, (4) content and features, (5) time and financial costs, and (6) evolving user needs and goals. This study highlights the complex nature of health app abandonment and the need for an improved understanding of user engagement over time, underscoring the importance of addressing various factors contributing to abandonment, from technical issues to evolving user needs. Our findings also emphasize the need for longitudinal studies and a consistent definition of app abandonment to better understand and mitigate this phenomenon, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of health apps in supporting public health initiatives.

Investigating access and use of digital tools for agriculture among rural farmers: A case study of Nkomazi Municipality, South Africa

Abstract The study examined the access and utilization of digital tools for agriculture among rural farmers in Nkomazi, Mpumalanga, South Africa. Data were collected from 120 rural farmers who were purposively sampled in Nkomazi Municipality. Information was gathered from the respondents through enumerator-administered structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed descriptively using percentages, means, and ranks, and multiple linear regression was employed to analyze the influence of the farmers’ socio-economic characteristics on their utilization of digital tools. The findings reveal that the farmers had an average age of 45.81 years. Approximately half (50.9%) of the farmers had no formal education or only completed primary education, and the average years of farming experience was 8.62 years. Overall, the farmers had access to traditional digital tools and apps such as radio, television, and smartphones. However, their utilization of these tools and apps, especially modern digital tools such as WhatsApp (43.3%) and Facebook (37.5%) for agricultural purposes, was still relatively low. This can be attributed to various challenges highlighted by the farmers, including insufficient skills and training, high costs of tools and apps, and issues related to network coverage. The educational level and cosmopoliteness of the farmers were identified as key socio-economic factors influencing the utilization of digital tools among the respondents. It is recommended that the farmers receive education and training on the use of modern digital tools and apps to enhance their ability to leverage them effectively and efficiently for the benefit of their agricultural enterprise.

Assessing the Feasibility and Acceptability of the Daybreak Drink Tracker: Prospective Observational Study.

Excessive alcohol use is associated with significant harms, with wide-ranging social and economic impacts. Efforts to prevent and reduce the harmful use of alcohol are a public health priority. Smartphone apps have the potential to provide accessible and cost-effective support to those seeking to reduce alcohol consumption; however, the evidence base regarding which components are effective is lacking. Self-monitoring is considered as one of the most effective components for behavior change across multiple health domains, yet there is mixed evidence for its role in the alcohol use space. An improved understanding of the use, acceptability, and outcomes of smartphone apps and their inherent components is required to determine their potential role in alcohol behavior change. We investigated the feasibility and acceptability of the Drink Tracker, a novel feature of the commercially available Daybreak (Hello Sunday Morning) app. The Daybreak app is accessible worldwide via major app stores and is offered free of charge to Australian residents. Individuals (aged over 18 years) registering for Daybreak were invited to access the Drink Tracker to monitor their alcohol consumption as part of an uncontrolled observational prospective study. Feasibility was assessed via uptake and frequency of use of the Drink Tracker. Acceptability was measured via participant feedback to determine overall satisfaction, perceived helpfulness, and likelihood of recommending the Drink Tracker to others. Self-reported changes in alcohol consumption (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score) and psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale score) at 3-month follow-up were also measured. Preliminary data collected for the first 4 months (October 2023 to February 2024) of the study were reported, including 3-month follow-up outcomes. Feasibility was demonstrated, with almost 70% (2847/4119) of those registering for Daybreak going on to access the Drink Tracker. Of those accessing the Drink Tracker, 71.1% (n=2024) consented to research, comprising the final participant sample. Frequency of use was high, with over half of participants (1112/2024, 54.9%) using the Drink Tracker more than once, and more than one-third (757/2024, 37.4%) using the Drink Tracker more than 5 times. Of the 30 participants completing a 3-month follow-up, acceptability was high, with 73% (n=22) reporting high satisfaction levels with the Drink Tracker overall, 87% (n=26) indicating it was easy to use and rating a mean score of 7.7 (SD 2.8) out of 10 in terms of likelihood of recommending to others. Significant reductions in alcohol consumption (P<.001) and psychological distress scores (P<.001) were observed at the 3-month follow-up. Our results suggest that the Daybreak Drink Tracker is highly feasible and acceptable in supporting individuals accessing commercially available smartphone apps to change their relationship with alcohol. While positive clinical outcomes were observed, the absence of a control group disallows any conclusions with regard to the efficacy of the Drink Tracker. Further testing via a randomized controlled trial is required.

Usability of a smartphone application for patients with interstitial lung disease: Results from the Registry for Better Understanding of ILD (RE-BUILD) pilot study.

Digital technologies offer opportunities for remote monitoring, increased patient engagement and incorporation of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) into interstitial lung disease (ILD) care and research. This study evaluated the usability and patient experience of the RE-BUILD (Registry for Better Understanding of ILD) application, an ILD-specific smartphone app. Patients with ILD aged ≥18 years were recruited from three tertiary ILD centres to use the RE-BUILD app for 6 months. The mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ) was evaluated at 1, 3 and 6 months and patients received monthly prompts to enter clinical and PROM data. Qualitative interviews regarding patient experience were performed in a subset of 10. Fifty patients, with mean age 66.9 ± 10.3 years, 25 (50%) female were included. Participants used the app for a median of 48 (IQR 21-178.3) sessions, equivalent to 8 sessions (IQR 3.5-29.71) per month. Median number of days that the app was accessed was 37 (IQR 14-96.8), with 13 (26%) patients using the app >30 times per month. The most accessed app feature was physical activity, followed by 'air quality'. Participants agreed or strongly agreed that the app was easy to use (76.0%) easy to learn to use (79.8%) and well-organized with accessible information (74.8%). The median overall MAUQ score for usability was 5.69 (IQR 5.03-6.19). There was also a high rate of engagement with app functionalities. RE-BUILD is a usable and intuitive platform for self-monitoring and data collection in ILD. Patients report a high degree of satisfaction and have provided valuable feedback for its further development.

Review Analyzer

This project focuses on leveraging generative AI to analyse user reviews from the Play Store for diverse applications. By utilizing advanced large language models (LLMs), the system processes extensive user feedback to identify key trends, sentiments, and actionable insights. The AI analyses reviews to categorize overall user sentiment (positive, negative, or neutral), highlight recurring issues, and identify popular feature requests. The generative AI’s capabilities enable it to provide nuanced suggestions to developers, such as improving app functionality, addressing common complaints, and implementing features aligned with user preferences. Additionally, the system can generate concise summaries of user reactions, offering developers a clear understanding of their app's strengths and areas needing improvement. This data-driven approach enhances app development by prioritizing updates based on real user needs, improving user satisfaction, and fostering higher ratings on the Play Store. The integration of generative AI streamlines the review analysis process, ensuring actionable recommendations for sustained app success. Key Words: Generative AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), sentiment analysis, App improvement, review analysis 1.INTRODUCTION This project utilizes generative AI to analyze Play Store reviews across various applications, providing developers with actionable insights. By leveraging large language models (LLMs), the system processes user feedback to identify sentiment trends, highlight common issues, and suggest improvements. This approach enables developers to understand user reactions effectively and prioritize updates, ultimately enhancing app quality, user satisfaction, and ratings. The integration of AI streamlines review analysis, ensuring data-driven decisions for better app performance.

Utilization and Challenges of Using ICT at SPM Al-Mashduqiah: Perception of English Teachers

The use of technology in English learning is becoming increasingly crucial to achieve optimal learning outcomes. This study aims to explore teachers' perceptions regarding the use and challenges of using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in English learning at SPM Al-Mashduqiah. Using a qualitative method with a case study type, this study focuses on the perception of English teachers in the school as the subject of the study. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews, observations, and documentation, which were then analyzed using a descriptive approach to describe and interpret the teacher's experiences and views in detail. The findings reveal that teachers have been utilizing ICT in various aspects of English learning, including the use of learning apps, interactive videos, and online platforms for assignments and evaluations. However, teachers face several challenges, such as limited facilities, lack of technical training, and resistance to changes from traditional teaching methods. Teachers' perceptions of ICT utilization vary; most view ICT as a tool capable of increasing student engagement and learning effectiveness, while others feel burdened by the need to master new technologies in their use in English learning. The study concludes that although the use of ICT in English learning at SPM Al-Mashduqiah has great potential to improve the quality of education, further efforts are needed to address existing challenges, including increased facility support and ongoing training for teachers. These findings are expected to provide valuable insights for policymakers and education practitioners in designing effective strategies for ICT integration, making an English learning more enjoyable and effective.

Desenvolvimento de uma aplicação móvel baseada em jogos para o ensino da Anatomia de estudantes da área da saúde

Introduction: Game-based mobile applications have become powerful tools to aid the learningprocess. In the study of human anatomy, the use of apps has shown promise, providing studentswith an interactive and accessible way to explore and understand the complexity of the humanbody. Objective: This study describes the performance on digital platforms of an application developed to help healthcare students learn human anatomy content. Methods: This mobile application was developed in the Dart programming language and made available for Android and iOS systems. The Anatomania App presented a multifaceted approach to teaching human anatomy, including resources such as quizzes, text lessons, explanatory videos, and flashcards. These screens offer options for adjusting individual preferences and settings. Results: This mobile application had a total of 85,807 downloads and 82,839 registered users. This application had a high frequency of users from Portuguese-speaking countries such as Brazil, Angola, Portugal, and Mozambique. Conclusion: This educational application has shown the potential to promote a more effective and interactive approach to learning anatomy.

The Classification Method is Used for Sentiment Analysis in My Telkomsel

User reviews significantly impact how mobile apps are perceived and provide developers with valuable insights into improving the functionality and quality of their products. Sentiment analysis of these evaluations helps identify the main issues faced by consumers, such as technical difficulties, costs, and service levels. The main objective of this study is to classify user sentiment into positive and negative categories, focusing on the MyTelkomsel app. With the use of Google Play Scraper, 39,493 reviews on various app versions and user experiences were collected. This data was analyzed using multiple machine learning models, including Support Vector Machines (SVM), Naive Bayes, Random Forest, and Gradient Boosting, alongside the Natural Language Processing (NLP) approach. The results show that 39.2% of the reviews are positive, while 60.8% reflect negative sentiment. Among the models, SVM showed the highest accuracy in sentiment classification with a value of (0.854792), while Naive Bayes (0.775541), Random Forest (0.829725), and Gradient Boosting (0.819344) also performed well in sentiment classification. These findings suggest that developers can leverage the insights gained from this analysis to proactively improve the performance and user experience of the MyTelkomsel app, by addressing technical and service-related issues identified in user reviews.

Effects of 10 Weeks of Walking With Mobile Step-Tracking Apps on Body Composition, Fitness, and Psychological State in Adolescents Who Are Overweight and Obese: Randomized Controlled Trial.

In recent decades, physical activity intervention programs have been developed to reduce overweight and obesity in adolescents. However, this population is considered hard to reach in physical activity programs due to lack of adherence and poor results. Interventions with mobile phones in the adolescent population with normal weight have shown benefits, so this line of research may provide benefits in adolescents with overweight or obesity, although it has not yet been explored in the scientific literature. This study aims to determine the changes produced by a 10-week intervention promoted during school lessons on physical education using step tracker mobile apps in out-of-school hours on physical activity, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, body composition, and the physical condition of adolescents who are overweight and obese, and to analyze the changes achieved by the 10-week intervention on the psychological state of adolescents who are overweight and obese. The study was based on a randomized controlled trial with an initial sample of 50 adolescents aged between 12 and 16 years (from the first to the fourth years of compulsory secondary education), whose body composition, physical activity level, physical condition, and psychological state were measured. Participants were divided into an experimental group (EG) and a control group (CG), where the EG performed a series of walking steps with a mobile app in their free time outside physical education classes. Adolescents in the CG continued to perform their physical activities as normal but did not use any mobile apps. Inclusion in the EG and CG was randomized, and the researchers were blinded. An increase was found in the EG in corrected arm girth (mean difference -0.46; P=.05), curl-up repetitions (mean difference -6.35; P=.02) and push-up repetitions (mean difference -2.27; P=.04) after the intervention. In the CG, there was a significant increase in hip girth (mean difference -1.37; P=.05), corrected thigh girth (mean difference -1.28; P=.04), and muscle mass (mean difference -0.87; P=.04), as well as a significant decrease in competence (mean difference 3.08; P=.03). The covariates gender and age showed an effect on corrected arm girth (gender: P=.04), curl-up repetitions (gender: P=.04) and push-up repetitions (gender: P=.04) in the EG; while in the CG it affected corrected thigh girth (gender: P=.04), adherence to the Mediterranean diet (gender: P=.04 and age: P=.047) competence (gender: P=.04 and age: P=.04) and relatedness (gender: P=.05 and age: P=.04). No significant differences were found when comparing changes in the CG and EG. A 10-week program of mobile app use by adolescents who are overweight and obese for physical activity outside of school hours does not appear effective in producing improvements in body composition, physical fitness, or adequate psychological state as it does not appear to significantly increase physical activity. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06089876; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT06089876.

Evaluating emergency nurses' use of and satisfaction with a web-based patient triage app.

Evidence suggests that using a standardised triage system that categorises patients into levels of severity or acuity to prioritise their care can provide the greatest levels of patient safety. The use of a web-based app to record patient triage data can support operational decision-making, reduce the risk of errors and standardise the time it takes to record the data required for accurate triage. This article details one aspect of a three-stage research project undertaken in Thailand which aimed to improve the quality of nurse triage, reduce errors in triage decisions and decrease the time spent on triage through implementation of a patient triage app. The patient information input into the app at initial triage is automatically uploaded into the electronic patient record. The authors report the results of the third stage of the project, which aimed to analyse the feasibility of using the app by evaluating completion of patient records and user satisfaction levels.

Investigating the antecedents of tourists’ intention to use travel tracking mobile applications to follow other travelers’ experiences

Purpose The purpose of this study is to propose and test a theoretical model investigating factors that influence travelers’ intention to use travel-related information shared by other travelers through a novel category of travel-focused mobile applications, referred to as travel-tracking mobile applications (TTMAs). Design/methodology/approach Data collected from mobile app users who traveled for leisure purposes were used to test an extended version of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2, adding trust and privacy concerns as new constructs to the existing framework. Findings The current study found empirical and significant evidence that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, hedonic motivation and trust positively; and system privacy negatively influenced travelers’ intention to adopt TTMA to follow other travelers’ experiences. Research limitations/implications Limitations and directions for future research are widely explored in the final section of this study. Practical implications Practical implications for tourism, travel and hospitality technology companies, TTMA developers and entrepreneurs of travel-related and/or location-based mobile applications are discussed following the empirical findings of this study. Originality/value The current study findings add to the body of knowledge in the field of travel technology acceptance, and provide practical implications, especially for entrepreneurs and tourism technology vendors.

Mobile retail shopping by millennial consumers in townships: a resistance perspective

General trends indicate an increase in the adoption and use of mobile shopping applications (apps) as well as shopping online. However, the trend seems not to be similar with township millennials in an emerging economy such as South Africa. Township millennial consumers seemingly prefer going in-store to buy products than via available mobile shopping apps. This novel study explored the reasons for resistance by township millennial customers to the adoption and use of mobile shopping apps during the COVID-19 pandemic to purchase products. The applicable and adopted research design for this study was explorative. A qualitative research approach was adopted and data was collected using online interviews. A sample size of ten township millennial consumers from four (Tembisa, Soweto, Katlehong, and Diepkloof) townships in South Africa participated in the interview process. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the collected data and determine the findings of the study. The main findings indicated that participants perceived some concerns related to security and privacy in using retail mobile shopping apps. There was a lack of knowledge and awareness regarding mobile shopping apps and how they function which further resulted in the resistance of usage. Township millennial consumers are stuck with the habit of buying in-store and cost is another factor that was highlighted as a cause for resistance, as they do not want to pay for delivery fees and hidden costs that arise from using retail mobile apps. The paper further provides valuable contributions, limitations and future study avenues. This study addressed the dearth in research about resistance factors in using advanced technology in townships. The findings provided insights into what mobile app shopping retailers should address to attract the adoption of app technologies and could mitigate further spread of future pandemics such as that of COVID-19.

TikTok Shopping Surge: Impact on Consumer Behaviour in Klang Valley, Malaysia

TikTok shop app is an application that is currently very popular with the public. This study aims to examine the relationships on how Klang valley consumers who use TikTok shop app response towards price of products, user-friendly social media features and social media influencers. A total of 384 TikTok shop app users were included in the quantitative research. Using a 5-pt Likert scale of 1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree, price of product, user-friendly social media feature, social media influencer towards consumer purchasing behaviour were measured. The analyses of the data were carried out using SPSS and AMOS software. The measurement model confirms that the TikTok App purchasing behaviour model fits the data. The Structural equation model showed that there was a positive relationship between price of product and consumer purchasing behaviour. However, there was no significant relationship between user-friendly social media features and consumer purchasing behaviour. Furthermore, social media influencer mediates the relationship between price of product and consumer purchasing behaviour but does not mediate the relationship between user-friendly social media features and consumer purchasing behaviour. This study contributed theoretically to the emergence of the TikTok App consumer purchasing behaviour model.

The impact of video dubbing app on chinese college students’ oral language skills across different proficiency levels

Oral language skills (OLSs) are essential for English language learners, but challenges remain in developing OLSs, especially in English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) contexts where traditional teaching methods struggle to effectively engage students. In order to maneuver effective methods to improve Chinese students’ OLSs, the present study explores the use of an English video dubbing app in language learning tasks and investigates its effectiveness in improving OLSs. A mixed-methods approach was used to provide a robust and comprehensive empirical study, including two groups of learners with different proficiency levels. Results from pre- and post-tests, students’ reflection papers, and interviews indicated that the students’ high level of engagement in the dubbing tasks led to significant improvements in students’ OLSs. Particularly in speaking, significant improvements were observed in pronunciation, intonation, fluency, grammar, and lexical use. The study also examined the relationship between the learners’ English proficiency levels and their learning outcomes. The results showed that dubbing tasks had a more significant impact on improving pronunciation for students with lower proficiency levels, while those with higher proficiency levels showed greater improvements in fluency and grammar and lexical use. Pedagogical implications were discussed based on the findings.

The biopsychosocial perspective on designing mobile health apps for self-management of chronic headaches

ABSTRACT This study identifies user-preferred features in apps for self-management of chronic headaches from the biopsychosocial perspective and examines the extent to which such features are represented in the current apps. We first conducted semi-structured interviews to identify user-preferred features that tap into the biopsychosocial domains of health. Then, we conducted a landscape analysis to review existing apps with respect to the identified features. Our findings revealed participants’ preferences for features in apps to self-manage chronic headaches and were categorised based on the biopsychosocial model. Further, our landscape analysis showed that several features (e.g. physical symptom tracker) are highly present in existing apps, while most of the preferred features (e.g. journaling) are scarce. The identified features appear to align with theory-based behaviour change techniques and, therefore, have implications for health behaviour change. In addition, our findings demonstrate that most of the user-preferred biopsychosocial features are not widely present in the existing headache apps. Overall, our study highlights the importance of incorporating user-preferred features that align with the biopsychosocial needs of headache app users. By acknowledging and addressing these needs, we can broaden the existing perspectives concerning app design and evaluation and cater to the holistic health experiences of users.

Exploring the Impact of Social Media Usage and Sports Participation on High School Students’ Mental Health and Academic Confidence

This study investigates the effects of sports participation and social media use on high school students' mental health and self-perception, with a focus on understanding their unique contributions to happiness and academic confidence. Structural equation modeling was applied to analyze the relationships between sports participation, time spent on social media, and self-reported levels of happiness and confidence, while accounting for potential gender differences. The results indicate that sports participation is positively associated with happiness, but does not significantly affect academic confidence. In contrast, the use of social media is negatively associated with academic confidence, although it does not significantly impact happiness. Gender differences were observed, with female students reporting a lower level of happiness but a higher level of academic confidence. These findings suggest that while extracurricular activities, such as sports varsity involvement, can support students' well-being, the excessive use of social media apps may undermine their academic confidence.

Factors influencing engagement with adherence-enhancing mobile health app in sickle cell disease

BackgroundMobile health (mHealth) applications have been utilized in chronic diseases to improve medication adherence, though factors driving engagement remain understudied. We previously demonstrated the benefits of mHealth app utilization in increasing adherence to hydroxyurea. In the “Integration of mHealth into Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) Care to Increase Hydroxyurea Utilization” (meSH) study, greater engagement with the InCharge Health app increased the percentage of days covered (PDC) for hydroxyurea. However, factors influencing app engagement were not investigated. This study aimed to identify patient-level factors associated with mHealth engagement during and post-study among adolescents and adults with SCD.MethodsAll meSH participants were included. The InCharge Health app use was measured for 24 weeks (study period) and 12 weeks (post-study period). Baseline demographics and validated measures of self-efficacy, financial hardship, and pain severity, impact, and frequency were evaluated as predictors of app engagement during the study period and post-study using linear models.ResultsComplete app use data were obtained from 284 of 293 participants, including 150 (52.8%) females and 240 (84.8%) who were HbSS/HbSβ0-thalassemia with a median age of 27 years. During the study period, 232 (81.7%) used InCharge Health at least once (median use excluding zeros: 26 days; IQR: 7–72 days). During the post-study period, 132 (46.5%) participants used the app at least once (median use excluding zeros: 16 days; IQR: 3–44 days). During the study period, the HbSS genotype, age > 25 years, higher education, higher self-efficacy score, and lower pain severity were associated with greater app engagement. Only age (p = 0.0032) and financial hardship (p = 0.0125) were significant in a multivariable model after backward elimination. During the post-study period, older age (p = 0.035), lower pain severity (p = 0.021) and lower frequency of pain (p = 0.033) predicted mHealth engagement. All three remained significant in a multivariable model after backward elimination.ConclusionsOlder age, lower financial hardship, lower pain severity, and greater self-efficacy were associated with increased engagement with a mHealth intervention for improving medication adherence among people living with SCD. This research can shift future app development from focusing on factors that drive patient interaction with mHealth targeting modifiable factors influencing app engagement.Trial registrationThe trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov. Registration Identifier: NCT04080167. Registration date: November 11, 2019.

Personalized Smartphone-Enabled Assessment of Blood Pressure and Its Treatment During the SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 Pandemic in Patients From the CURE-19 Study: Longitudinal Observational Study.

The use of digital interventions by patients for remote monitoring and management of health and disease is increasing. This observational study examined the feasibility, use, and safety of a digital smartphone app for routine monitoring of blood pressure (BP), medication, and symptoms of COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this study was to deploy and test electronic data recording using a smartphone app developed for routine monitoring of BP in patients with primary hypertension. We tested the app for ease of data entry in BP management and tracking symptoms of new-onset COVID-19 to determine if participants found this app approach useful and sustainable. This remote, decentralized, 12-week, prospective, observational study was conducted in a community setting within the United States. Participants were approached and recruited from affiliated sites where they were enrolled in an ongoing remote decentralized study (CURE-19) of participants experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic. Potential participants were asked to complete a digital screener to determine eligibility and given informed consent forms to read and consent to using the Curebase digital platform. Following enrollment, participants downloaded the digital app to their smartphones for all data collection. Participants recorded daily BP, associated medication use, and emergent symptoms associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, usability (adherence, acceptability, and user experience) was assessed using standard survey questions. Adverse events were collected based on participant self-report. Compliance and engagement were determined from user data entry rates. Feasibility and participant feedback were assessed upon study completion using the User Experience Questionnaire. Of the 389 participants who enrolled in and completed the study, 380 (98%) participants downloaded and entered BP routines in week 1. App engagement remained high; 239 (62.9%) of the 380 participants remained in the study for the full 12-week observation period, and 201 (84.1%) of the 239 participants entered full BP routines into the digital app 80% or more of the time. The smartphone app scored an overall positive evaluation as assessed by the User Experience Questionnaire and was benchmarked as "excellent" for domains of perspicuity, efficiency, and dependability and "above average" for domains of attractiveness and stimulation. Highly adherent participants with hypertension demonstrated well-controlled BP, with no significant changes in average systolic or diastolic BP between week 1 and week 12 (all P>.05). Participants were able to record BP medications and symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection. No adverse events attributable to the use of the smartphone app were reported during the observational period. The high retention, engagement and acceptability and positive feedback in this study demonstrates that routine monitoring of BP and medications using a smartphone app is feasible for patients with hypertension in a community setting. Remote monitoring of BP and data collection could be coupled with hypertensive medication in a combination product (drug+digital) for precision management of hypertension.