User Population Research Articles

DIPA2

The world today is increasingly visual. Many of the most popular online social networking services are largely powered by images, making image privacy protection a critical research topic in the fields of ubiquitous computing, usable security, and human-computer interaction (HCI). One topical issue is understanding privacy-threatening content in images that are shared online. This dataset article introduces DIPA2, an open-sourced image dataset that offers object-level annotations with high-level reasoning properties to show perceptions of privacy among different cultures. DIPA2 provides 5,897 annotations describing perceived privacy risks of 3,347 objects in 1,304 images. The annotations contain the type of the object and four additional privacy metrics: 1) information type indicating what kind of information may leak if the image containing the object is shared, 2) a 7-point Likert item estimating the perceived severity of privacy leakages, and 3) intended recipient scopes when annotators assume they are either image owners or allowing others to repost the image. Our dataset contains unique data from two cultures: We recruited annotators from both Japan and the U.K. to demonstrate the impact of culture on object-level privacy perceptions. In this paper, we first illustrate how we designed and performed the construction of DIPA2, along with data analysis of the collected annotations. Second, we provide two machine-learning baselines to demonstrate how DIPA2 challenges the current image privacy recognition task. DIPA2 facilitates various types of research on image privacy, including machine learning methods inferring privacy threats in complex scenarios, quantitative analysis of cultural influences on privacy preferences, understanding of image sharing behaviors, and promotion of cyber hygiene for general user populations.

Applying Human-Centered Design to Replicate an Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Intervention: A Case Study of Binti Shupavu in Kenya.

We present a case study describing the use of human-centered design (HCD) to determine how to adapt intervention components from an existing contraceptive uptake program for adolescent girls in 4 geographical contexts (Ethiopia, northern Nigeria, southern Nigeria, and Tanzania) for use in Kenya. First, we prioritized existing intervention components to be tested in Kenya using sacrificial concepts. Through these concepts, we identified key insights and behavioral archetypes from which to build higher-fidelity prototypes, leveraging existing program knowledge and resources while responding to unique opportunities for Kenyan adolescent girls. After 2 rounds of prototyping, we launched a high-fidelity intervention designed to improve contraceptive uptake among girls. We used program experience to identify strategies for improvement during early implementation. The resulting model, Binti Shupavu, is designed to tap into girls' aspirations and connect them with contraceptive use, build their trust in the health system, and work with influencers to build support for adolescent contraceptive use, following the global user journey. In the first year of implementation (January-December 2022), the intervention was scaled from 90 facilities to 360 facilities and reached 60,111 adolescent girls aged 10-19 years. Of these, 21,698 were new voluntary contraceptive users (36%) and an additional 3,873 (19%) were continuing users.Our design process suggests that HCD is a promising tool for navigating replication. The emphasis on users' perspectives, testing to learn, and collaboration facilitated a deep understanding of the new user population, thus guiding program designers to balance using existing components with developing new ones based on the population's unique needs. Finally, HCD has potential to support the localization agenda if design teams are supported by national, regional, and global experts to be aware of and use the evidence and implementation experience from earlier work.

Effects of User-Reported Risk Factors and Follow-Up Care Activities on Satisfaction With a COVID-19 Chatbot: Cross-Sectional Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic influenced many to consider methods to reduce human contact and ease the burden placed on health care workers. Conversational agents or chatbots are a set of technologies that may aid with these challenges. They may provide useful interactions for users, potentially reducing the health care worker burden while increasing user satisfaction. Research aims to understand these potential impacts of chatbots and conversational recommender systems and their associated design features. The objective of this study was to evaluate user perceptions of the helpfulness of an artificial intelligence chatbot that was offered free to the public in response to COVID-19. The chatbot engaged patients and provided educational information and the opportunity to report symptoms, understand personal risks, and receive referrals for care. A cross-sectional study design was used to analyze 82,222 chats collected from patients in South Carolina seeking services from the Prisma Health system. Chi-square tests and multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between reported risk factors and perceived chat helpfulness using chats started between April 24, 2020, and April 21, 2022. A total of 82,222 chat series were started with at least one question or response on record; 53,805 symptom checker questions with at least one COVID-19-related activity series were completed, with 5191 individuals clicking further to receive a virtual video visit and 2215 clicking further to make an appointment with a local physician. Patients who were aged >65 years (P<.001), reported comorbidities (P<.001), had been in contact with a person with COVID-19 in the last 14 days (P<.001), and responded to symptom checker questions that placed them at a higher risk of COVID-19 (P<.001) were 1.8 times more likely to report the chat as helpful than those who reported lower risk factors. Users who engaged with the chatbot to conduct a series of activities were more likely to find the chat helpful (P<.001), including seeking COVID-19 information (3.97-4.07 times), in-person appointments (2.46-1.99 times), telehealth appointments with a nearby provider (2.48-1.9 times), or vaccination (2.9-3.85 times) compared with those who did not perform any of these activities. Chatbots that are designed to target high-risk user groups and provide relevant actionable items may be perceived as a helpful approach to early contact with the health system for assessing communicable disease symptoms and follow-up care options at home before virtual or in-person contact with health care providers. The results identified and validated significant design factors for conversational recommender systems, including triangulating a high-risk target user population and providing relevant actionable items for users to choose from as part of user engagement.

Digital technologies for step counting: between promises of reliability and risks of reductionism.

Step counting is among the fundamental features of wearable technology, as it grounds several uses of wearables in biomedical research and clinical care, is at the center of emerging public health interventions and recommendations, and is gaining increasing scientific and political importance. This paper provides a perspective of step counting in wearable technology, identifying some limitations to the ways in which wearable technology measures steps and indicating caution in current uses of step counting as a proxy for physical activity. Based on an overview of the current state of the art of technologies and approaches to step counting in digital wearable technologies, we discuss limitations that are methodological as well as epistemic and ethical-limitations to the use of step counting as a basis to build scientific knowledge on physical activity (epistemic limitations) as well as limitations to the accessibility and representativity of these tools (ethical limitations). As such, using step counting as a proxy for physical activity should be considered a form of reductionism. This is not per se problematic, but there is a need for critical appreciation and awareness of the limitations of reductionistic approaches. Perspective research should focus on holistic approaches for better representation of physical activity levels and inclusivity of different user populations.

PENGGUNAAN KAEDAH PENGGANDA PENANDA ARAS BAGI MENENTUKAN POPULASI PENGGUNA DADAH DI MALAYSIA

The issue of drug abuse at the global level shows an increase in demand and supply. However, annual statistics released by the National Anti-Drug Agency (NADA) show a decrease in detected drug users compared to the previous year. The main factor that caused the decrease was the government's efforts to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the year in question. Inaccurate estimates of the drug user population cause policies and strategies designed to deal with this issue to be less effective. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to estimate the population of youth drug users as the largest age segment of drug users in Malaysia using the benchmark multiplier method. Data from the NADA database were used as benchmarks and secondary data from the 2020 prevalence study were used as multipliers. The findings of the study showed that an estimated 654,000 individuals between the ages of 15 and 39 used drugs in 2021. A state-by-state comparison shows that Selangor has the highest number of drug users, with an estimated 133,000 individuals involved in drug use. Sabah is ranked second highest, with an estimated 91,000 drug users, while Johor is ranked third, with approximately 73,000 drug users in the state. Efforts to address the issue of substance abuse need to be increased based on the estimates shown from this study. This estimate is useful as a basis for future researchers in estimating the population of drug users or other hidden populations.

Identifying and reducing barriers to having a racially and ethnically diverse research population

In order for human factors professionals to develop technologies and tools that can benefit all, research studies must have a diverse participant population that reflects the user population. In this article, the authors discuss barriers to participation and strategies to increase recruitment and promote retention throughout the research process. Case studies are also shared to portray both how the barriers can negatively impact a study if ignored and how they have been successfully overcome. Finally, strategies synthesized from the literature and the article are combined and presented to support future research studies.

Abstract PR017: Enabling broad population access to facilitate gut microbiome discoveries

Abstract Microbial associations with colorectal cancer (CRC) are well recognized as well as the potential of using microbiome-based signals for broad-scale, non-invasive screening programs, particularly in underserved communities. Variability within microbiome workflows including sample collection is a contributing factor to inconsistent and non-translatable microbiome results. This limits microbiome discoveries associated with CRC and the development of such screening programs. In addition, ensuring participant and patient adherence can be a challenging prospect with fecal sample collections, and non-adherence (i.e., patient dropout, collection errors) can increasingly strain resources. An intuitively designed sample collection device should increase adherence across the general population while minimizing failed collections. Enabling the at-home collection of gut microbiome samples removes barriers between patients and testing while providing the scalability and flexibility needed for large studies or screening programs. Across two studies, 152 naïve participants were recruited to evaluate comprehension of and adherence to the OMNIgene™•GUT Dx device Instructions for Use (IFU). Both studies were designed with key considerations related to user group selection, sample size, population demographics, education level, and relevant real-world scenarios. In the first study (n=118), each participant was observed collecting one simulated “fecal” sample with representation across the Bristol scale (Type 1 to 7). The study observer conducted a follow-up interview with the participant regarding incorrect actions during collection. In the second study (n=34), participants collected one real fecal sample at home and returned it to the laboratory using standard postal services. Samples were inspected at the laboratory for collection adherence with the IFU by evaluating device closure, sufficient mixing, and DNA yield. DNA was extracted using the QIAamp PowerFecal Pro kit (QIAGEN) and quantified using PicoGreen (Invitrogen). In both studies, participants were asked to complete comprehension questionnaires to test understanding of the IFU used during collection. Participants demonstrated high rates of comprehension by answering the questions correctly 94% of the time. Participants observed collecting simulated samples demonstrated success rates of 87% for all tasks overall. Samples evaluated from the second study demonstrated participant adherence where 100% of samples were correctly returned via standard postal systems supporting at-home direct-to-consumer settings; 100% of participants properly closed the tube ensuring no loss of sample during transport; 97% of participants adequately mixed the sample; and 97% of participant samples provided sufficient DNA (≥ 120 ng) per extraction aliquot for downstream analysis. Results from these usability studies demonstrate that the OMNIgene™•GUT Dx device provides an easy-to-use at-home collection solution for diverse populations, especially at-risk, minority populations without easy access to clinical services. Citation Format: Ashlee Brown, Savannah Colameco, Tara Crawford Parks. Enabling broad population access to facilitate gut microbiome discoveries [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PR017.

Building a recommendation system based on the job offers extracted from the web and the skills of job seekers

&lt;p&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;Recruitment, or job search, is increasingly used throughout the world by a large population of users through various channels, such as websites, platforms, and professional networks. Given the large volume of information related to job descriptions and user profiles, it is complicated to appropriately match a user's profile with a job description, and vice versa. The job search approach has drawbacks since the job seeker needs to search a job offers in each recruitment platform, manage their accounts, and apply for the relevant job vacancies, which wastes considerable time and effort. The contribution of this research work is the construction of a recommendation system based on the job offers extracted from the web and on the e-portfolios of job seekers. After the extraction of the data, natural language processing is applied to structured data and is ready for filtering and analysis. The proposed system is a content-based system, it measures the degree of correspondence between the attributes of the e-&lt;span&gt;portfolio with those of each job offer of the same list of competence specialties using the Euclidean distance, the result is classified with a decreasing way to display the&lt;/span&gt; most relevant to the least relevant job offers.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Designing of a High-Quality CPR Simulation Game Clinical Scenario for Nursing Students: A Qualitative Study

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an important skill for nursing students. The process of learning high-quality CPR with a simulation-based learning method can be developed into a simulation game. In order to develop a CPR HQ simulation game, a clinical scenario that can be used as a guide in carrying out storyboards is needed. This research aims to formulate a simulation scenario that will serve as the basis for developing a high-quality CPR simulation game to increase nursing students' competency. This qualitative research uses a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach by inviting 15 respondents from the prospective user population, namely Emergency Nursing Lecturers, Emergency Room Nurses, BLS Trainers, and nursing students, to carry out Focus Group Discussions. The study's results revealed clinical scenarios that were arranged based on 4 themes, including 1) suitability of the competency being tested, 2) minimum competency for 5 cycles of CPR, 3) settings in the pre-and intrahospital scope, and 4) choice of patient outcome. These components are crucial when designing simulation scenarios that support students’ cognitive processes to achieve High-Quality CPR in nursing students. Thus, the results of this research can then be used as a guide in developing the HQ-CPR game as a learning medium for nursing students.

Leveraging water utility customer reporting for resilient operations and management

Water utilities collect information from various sources to gain continuous insights into the state of drinking water systems. Among the available data types, service problems that customers report are critical sources of information—especially during emergencies—which allow utilities to gage the impact of system operations on the resulting level of service. While some utilities increasingly collect and analyze customer reporting data to track key performance indicators (e.g., total complaints, response times), this information remains largely underutilized in research and practice. Further, little is known about spatial variations in the quantity or types of problems reported, which can indicate disparities in level of service and customer engagement. Here, we identify and compare spatial patterns in customer reporting against technical system performance and evaluate how trends change during emergency events (e.g., natural disasters). Our analysis demonstrates tightly coupled sociotechnical interdependencies between end user populations and drinking water systems. For instance, results reveal the prevalence of service problems in certain areas and show that several sociodemographic characteristics were statistically different in areas with higher or lower reporting levels. Finally, we offer recommendations for incorporating customer data into operational decision making and outreach efforts.

E-cigarette aerosol exposure effect on bone biomechanical properties in murine models

Numerous studies have shown the detrimental health effects of tobacco smoking on bone volume and strength in human and animal models. Little is known regarding the impacts of e-cigarettes, a form of smoke-less nicotine intake, despite their growing population of users. This study uses murine models to evaluate the effects of exposure to e-cigarette aerosols (JUUL) on bone structure and strength through micro-CT imaging and mechanical testing. JUUL mice had more trabecular bone in thickness and volume, yet lower ultimate stress and modulus values in the cortical bone than the control mice. These outcomes suggest that, although vaping can result in a higher bone volume, this bone is weaker than average. E-cigarettes should be examined more closely regarding adolescence and long-term consequences on skeletal health.

Validation of the Norwegian Version of the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ)

Introduction: The main objective of the study was to validate the Norwegian translation of the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ) and investigate the SSQ disability profiles in a cochlear implant (CI) user population. Methods: The study involved 152 adult CI users. The mean age at implantation was 55 (standard deviation [SD] = 16), and the mean CI experience was 5 years (SD = 4.8). The cohort was split into three groups depending on the hearing modality: bilateral CIs (BCIs), a unilateral CI (UCI), and bimodal (CI plus contralateral hearing aid; HCI). The SSQ disability profiles of each group were compared with those observed in similar studies using the English version and other translations of the SSQ. Standard values, internal consistency, sensitivity, and floor and ceiling effects were investigated, and the missing-response rates to specific questions were calculated. Relationships to speech perception were measured using monosyllabic word scores and the Norwegian Hearing in Noise Test scores. Results: In the BCI group, the average scores were around 5.0 for the speech and spatial sections and 7.0 for the qualities section (SD ∼2). The average scores of the UCI and HCI groups were about one point lower than those of the BCI group. The SSQ disability profiles were comparable to the profiles in similar studies. The slopes of the linear regression lines measuring the relationships between the SSQ speech and monosyllabic word scores were 0.8 per 10% increase in the monosyllabic word score for the BCI group (explaining 35% of the variation) and 0.4 for the UCI and HCI groups (explaining 22–23% of the variation). Conclusion: The Norwegian version of the SSQ measures hearing disability similar to the original English version, and the internal consistency is good. Differences in the recipients’ pre-implantation variables could explain some variations we observed in the SSQ responses, and such predictors should be investigated. Data aggregation will be possible using the SSQ as a routine clinical assessment in global CI populations. Moreover, pre-implantation variables should be systematically registered so that they can be used in mixed-effects models.

An Analysis of Literature on the Growth of E-Commerce in India

Abstract: If the Indian economy's fastest-growing sectors is e-commerce. Despite having a rapid development rate, India's ecommerce sector has lagged behind that of many established and rising nations, largely because of the country's small population of internet users. According to a 2015 research by the international management consulting firm AT Kearney, only 39 million Indians purchased goods online, which represents a very small portion of the 1.2 billion people who call India home. However, the spread of technology as well as the use of the internet and mobile devices create a favorable environment for the growth of e-commerce in India. A digital revolution is about to begin throughout the nation. the introduction of 4G services and a decrease in the cost of data plans, data cards, and USBThe cost of owning a reliable internet connection has decreased thanks to dongles.

EUREST-RISE: An innovative networking and training project on European Tobacco Control

Abstract Aim and objective The world's leading contributor to avoidable illness and premature death is thought to be smoking and other tobacco use. An integrated set of research projects are suggested as part of EUREST-RISE to aid in the training of researchers in the analysis of tobacco product systems, their processes and functions, and the relationships between important design elements and their evaluation in user populations. Methods Currently in its first phase of execution, EUREST-RISE is a Marie Sklodowska Curie Action (MSCA) funded under Grant Agreement (Number:101008139). In the framework of particular research objectives addressed within tasks of each WP, interdisciplinary knowledge transfer will be achieved through the intersectoral secondment of researchers and their reintegration to their home institution. Results By offering a special framework for collaboration on joint research and innovation projects in three areas, EUREST-RISE expects to achieve its goal of developing a cohort of scholars with cutting-edge practical training in European tobacco product regulatory science. A) Exchange of information about the use of big data bases to address tobacco control concerns from a product-level or population-level viewpoint, including EU Common Entry Gate product-level data and European secondary population-based databases B) offer research and training on the application of sensory and chemical analyses for the evaluation of flavors in heated tobacco products, e-cigarettes, and tobacco products C) train researchers in advocacy activities and policy integration, facilitate training in peer to peer communication, and training on communication to media and the general public. Conclusions A network of excellence in European tobacco product regulation science is anticipated to be created via the EUREST-RISE initiative. Key messages • Conflicts of Interest: None. • Funding: The EUREST-RISE Project takes place with the financial support of the European Union, under a Grant Agreement (Number:101008139, PI: Dr Vardavas).

Reinforcement learning for shared autonomy drone landings

Novice pilots find it difficult to operate and land unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), due to the complex UAV dynamics, challenges in depth perception, lack of expertise with the control interface and additional disturbances from the ground effect. Therefore we propose a shared autonomy approach to assist pilots in safely landing a UAV under conditions where depth perception is difficult and safe landing zones are limited. Our approach is comprised of two modules: a perception module that encodes information onto a compressed latent representation using two RGB-D cameras and a policy module that is trained with the reinforcement learning algorithm TD3 to discern the pilot’s intent and to provide control inputs that augment the user’s input to safely land the UAV. The policy module is trained in simulation using a population of simulated users. Simulated users are sampled from a parametric model with four parameters, which model a pilot’s tendency to conform to the assistant, proficiency, aggressiveness and speed. We conduct a user study (n=28) where human participants were tasked with landing a physical UAV on one of several platforms under challenging viewing conditions. The assistant, trained with only simulated user data, improved task success rate from 51.4 to 98.2% despite being unaware of the human participants’ goal or the structure of the environment a priori. With the proposed assistant, regardless of prior piloting experience, participants performed with a proficiency greater than the most experienced unassisted participants.

Awareness of IoT with Safeguarding Personal Data in the Connected World

IoT technology has transformed our daily lives and quality of life by providing convenience and efficiency at the same time. This research investigates the level of knowledge and understanding regarding the Internet of Things (IoT) in relation to safeguarding personal data. A sample was selected from the target population of IoT users. A total of 35 questionnaires were distributed to Malaysian citizens using simple random sampling methods to achieve the research objectives. The findings suggest a positive correlation between the perceived usefulness and the level of awareness regarding privacy and security in the context of the Internet of Things (IoT) among the citizens of Malaysia. The perceived usefulness of IoT technology substantially impacts users' level of awareness regarding privacy and security concerns. Future research on the effectiveness of different strategies in promoting IoT privacy and security awareness among individuals in other countries with similar cultural contexts is essential.

Prosthetic device and service satisfaction, quality of life, and functional performance in lower limb prosthesis clients.

The aim of this study was to characterize the relationship between prosthetic device and service satisfaction, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and functional movement in a diverse population of lower limb prosthesis users. An online survey was conducted on individuals with lower limb amputation between September and October 2021. Sample validated questionnaires assessing demographic and clinical features, satisfaction, functional outcomes, and quality of life were analyzed using path analysis. Participants were 1736 individuals with lower limb amputation. Overall, 44% of participants reported dissatisfaction with prosthetic device, whereas 37% were dissatisfied with prosthetic service. Low functional mobility was reported by 58% of participants and 61% reported low HRQOL. Lower extremity functional status (β = 0.55), HRQOL (β = 0.08), Activities-specific Balance Scale (β = 0.22), and modified fall efficacy scale (β = -0.07) are significantly associated with prosthetic device satisfaction ( P < 0.0005, R 2 = 0.47). Satisfaction with provider service was significantly associated with lower extremity functional status (β = 0.44) and balance confidence (β = 0.18) ( P < 0.0005, R 2 = 0.34). Civilians, veterans, and service members reported low functional mobility, low quality of life, and moderate levels of dissatisfaction with their lower extremity prosthetic device and provider service. Improvements in mobility, balance, quality of life, and fall efficacy may enhance device satisfaction. Functional mobility and balance improvements may increase ratings of provider service. This study provides feedback that may improve clinical decisions on lower limb prosthesis patient care.

Reasons for not entering opioid agonist treatment: A survey among high-risk opioid users in Finland.

Aims: To characterise and understand the untreated high-risk opioid user population in Finland, and to determine the reasons why these people do not enter treatment. Methods: The study setting was a half-year cross-sectional survey in Finland during 2021-2022. An electronic questionnaire with 24 structured questions was concluded in 16 needle exchange units. Participants were opioid-dependent people without opioid agonist treatment (OAT), and they answered the survey voluntarily and anonymously. Results: Of the 167 respondents, 62% were men, 53% were aged ≤34 years, 66% had used opioids for >6 years, and 78% used drugs intravenously (IV) daily. The most used opioid (95%) was buprenorphine. Most respondents used opioids as self-medication for withdrawal symptoms (75%), or to treat psychological symptoms (59%) or pain (43%). Of them, 70% also used other substances for recreational purposes. The most common named reasons to stay outside OAT were as follows: seeking treatment is too difficult (37%); treatment is too binding (36%); and fear of actions from authorities (23%). Conclusions: For opioid-dependent respondents who would be eligible for OAT in Finland, treatment awareness is limited. These high-risk opioid users also think that the treatment would be too binding. In conclusion, there is a need for increase in general information about, accessibility to, acceptance for and individualisation of OAT.

Impact on all-cause mortality of a case prediction and prevention intervention designed to reduce secondary care utilisation: findings from a randomised controlled trial

BackgroundHealth coaching services could help to reduce emergency healthcare utilisation for patients targeted proactively by a clinical prediction model (CPM) predicting patient likelihood of future hospitalisations. Such interventions are designed...

Relapses in Illicit Drug Use Among Probationers: Results in a Risk Group of Public Health Services in Bavaria.

Objective: We aimed to identify in this study time trends of relapses in the illicit consumption of narcotics in a special at-risk population of former drug users under a public health perspective. Methods: In a pooled dataset of 14 consecutive calendar years (2006-2019), the use of seven different narcotic substances was studied in 380 persons with a total of 2,928 urine samples which were analyzed using a valid marker system for narcotic residues. Results: During the entire observation period, the relapse rate for cannabinoids and opiates was the highest despite abstinence requirements. It was noticeable that the relapses across all narcotics groups occurred primarily during the first 3years of the probation period (90%) with a decrease in illegal consumption during the following years of the observation period. Conclusion: Special attention should be paid to probationers at the beginning of the probation period to develop more effective prevention strategies for substance abstinence by all involved actors in public health services.