Use Of Mobile Technology Research Articles

The willingness and attitudes of speech-language pathologists towards the use of mobile health technology: a survey study

BackgroundMobile health (mHealth) technology could be used in different ways to treat various speech and language disorders. The attitude of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) towards this technology and their willingness to use it can play a significant role in the success of the therapies they provide. This study was conducted to investigate the willingness and attitude of SLPs towards the use of mHealth technology.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2021 to April 2022 in Iran. A researcher-made questionnaire consisting of three parts (information related to demographic variables, attitude and willingness) was designed based on the past studies, and then given to all SLPs throughout Iran. Data were analyzed by SPSS software, using descriptive and inferential statistics (frequency, mean, Fisher’s exact test, and analysis of variance). Also, the SLPs’ willingness to use the desired technology was interpreted as a percentage as follows: 0–20% = not at all willing, 21–40% = slightly willing, 41–60% = moderately willing, 61–80% = highly willing, and above 80% = extremely willing.ResultsOne hundred sixty speech-language pathologists from all over Iran participated in this study. The results showed that the willingness of 65.25% of SLPs to use the mentioned technology was at a good level, and according to the mentioned category, they had a high willingness to use this technology. In regard to the attitude of SLPs, the findings showed that SLPs believed that patients receive a higher quality of care during in-person visits than through mHealth technology. Also, this survey showed that SLPs were more inclined to use this technology to answer patients’ questions. Non-payment of services provided through mHealth technology and privacy concerns were the reasons for the lack of use of this technology by SLPs.ConclusionsSLPs are willing to use mHealth technology after solving the related challenges, including payment of costs and privacy concerns. However, SLPs believed that this technology will not be a suitable alternative to face-to-face sessions.

THE WHATSAPP APPLICATION USE AS A SUPPORT SERVICE IN DISTANCE EDUCATION: A CASE ANALYSIS

This study aims to reveal the strengths and limitations of the WhatsApp application as a support service in distance education, conducted through a learning management system during the Covid-19 pandemic, and make suggestions on improving its use in this capacity. Despite the lack of readiness on the part of the students and the lack of sufficient knowledge regarding distance education during the pandemic, many universities had to revert to emergency remote teaching. This situation necessitated the intensive use of various support services for the students to get the most out of their emergency remote teaching However, their lack of experience with distance education prevented them from using the support services offered by learning management systems. Due to the increasingly widespread use of mobile technologies, one of the support services used by course instructors became the WhatsApp application. The following research is a qualitative case study. The sample for the study was determined through purposive sampling. The data was analyzed using the content analysis method. Nvivo qualitative data analysis software was used to contribute to the detailed and versatile data analysis. The most important results of the study were that the application supported and strengthened distance learning by allowing instant communication, but that the absence of a moderator caused various limitations in this communication. In addition, it was concluded that incorporating natural language processing techniques into learning management systems and clearly stated rules by course instructors improved the use of such instant communication applications as a support service for distance education.

Evaluation of Infrastructure Conditions and Needs to Drive Tourism 4.0

Purpose: Today, the Covid-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the tourism sector. Bali must stay alive and exist during the pandemic as a province that relies on the tourism sector. As one of the tourist attractions owned by the Province of Bali, Arts Center Cultural Park has a characteristic as a place for performances to develop artistic talents. In addition, it functions as a forum for MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises), especially for the Balinese people. The era of tourism 4.0 encourages the transformation of tourism objects towards digitalization. Research that examines conditions, infrastructure needs, and development strategies is needed to transform it to face the tourism era 4.0.
 Design/methodology/approach: This research method uses a descriptive qualitative method with interviews and literature studies.
 Findings: The expected results of the research are infrastructure in the form of an open stage, a performance hall, exhibition building, management building, parking, and other utilities. The digitization program that can be applied is the use of Virtual Reality (VR) and mobile technology to face the 4.0 tourism era.
 Paper type: Research paper

A A Context-Aware Human Distress Alert System for Safety from Interpersonal Violence Using Smartphone Sensors

Interpersonal violence is one of the causes of death globally. Getting help depends on timely response from responders. Development in personal safety technologies have been improved over the years due to the increase in the use of mobile technologies and the miniaturization of electronic sensors. However, existing technologies for communicating distress usually require active user interventions in alerting emergencies. Hence, this study proposes a system for the automatic detection and alert of distress situations arising from violent attacks through smartphone sensors. A fuzzy logic approach was adopted to classify levels of distress situation using input data values from tri-axial accelerometer, gyroscope, sound and proximity sensors. A prototype of the distress detection and alert process was implemented using Java programming language. The system prototype was implemented as an android based real-time application that detects and alerts distress using values from mobile device sensors. Testing the prototype showed that the system can automatically detect and send alert to responders using smartphone.

An Evaluative Review of Mobile-assisted L2 Vocabulary Learning Approaches based on the Situated Learning Theory

There is a growing trend of utilizing mobile technology to develop effective contextual vocabulary learning methods based on the situated learning theory (SLT). In spite of substantial research on mobile-assisted vocabulary learning (MAVL), there have been few reviews of MAVL approaches, let alone evaluations of them based on the idea of SLT. To address this research gap, this study evaluated three types of MAVL approaches: (1) mobile message services, (2) vocabulary learning applications, and (3) digital simulation games according to the authenticity principle and characteristics of SLT. The evaluative review included in-depth examinations of two aspects: the extent to which these characteristics are manifested in each approach, and the way in which these characteristics are incorporated into the design of each approach. The result suggests that the MAVL approaches differ significantly, in terms of their authenticity and degree of correspondence to the SLT. This review offers practical implications for the development and improvement of MAVL approaches, as well as important suggestions for future research, all of which are believed to benefit the field of L2 vocabulary acquisition.

Design and Evaluation of an mHealth Application in Self-Management of Post -Traumatic Stress Disorder

Introduction: Recent developments in the use of mobile technologies have given rise to opportunities for more effective and cost -efficient services for people with chronic diseases. Considering the relatively high prevalence of post -traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Iran and the lack of a native application for the self-management of many complications of this disorder, the present study aims to develop and evaluate a mobile application for PTSD selfmanagement. Method: This developmental -applied study was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, interviews and a literature review were carried out to identify users’ requirements and expectations of the application. Then, the application was modeled, designed, developed, and tested based on the requirements. In the second stage, the usability of developed application was evaluated by experts and users. Results: The following services were implemented in the application: psychoeducation, coping skills, breathing exercise, relaxation, positive affect, social support, self-assessment, reminders, useful links, and self-monitoring. According to experts’ evaluation, the application was of acceptable quality (78.25%). The application was relatively acceptable from the users’ point of view (68.67%). In the evaluation process, experts were most satisfied with the functionality of the application (80 %) , and users were most satisfied with the application’s ease of use (76%). Conclusion: Using the application can be useful in promoting access to healthcare services for patients with PTSD, and in addition to saving time and costs, it can be effective in the selfmanagement of this disorder.

An App Evaluation System for All Stakeholders: A Pilot Study

Mobile technologies, including apps, have become increasingly popular, and are being used to support daily activities among a variety of individuals. While the use of mobile technologies will not eliminate barriers often faced by individuals with disabilities, these systems have the potential to help minimize some of these barriers. As the popularity of apps is increasing, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability, internal consistency, and social validity among novice raters on two app evaluation rating scales. A total of 17 adults, with and without identified disabilities, evaluated apps using two team-designed app rating scales. Overall, findings indicated that the ratings completed during the pilot phase by the research team were more reliable than those completed by novice raters during the testing phase; that the dimension of individualization was the most reliable among team raters and novice participants without disabilities; and that the highest level of inconsistency in the reliability was among novice participants with disabilities. Practical implications, limitations, and future research directions are discussed.

Is Gamification Important for Service Systems Non-Users? A Study on Airline Loyalty Programs

Increasing use of social communication networks and mobile technology have caused the airline-passenger relationship to shift from traditional methods to more modern and technological infrastructure processes. The airline loyalty programs provide that permit more focused marketing, tailored services, and more accessibility for both members and non-members. Consumers are motivated by prizes, competition, and social engagement in gamified loyalty programmes. Gamification, which is effective in improving the results of innovation practices and their acceptance by consumers, plays an active role in this interaction. In this direction, the study aims to reveal the factors that affect the service system non-users behavioral intentions based on airline loyalty programs and its relationship between social influence, consumer innovativeness, and gamification. The research data were collected from air passengers who use air transportation at least once time and have no loyalty program membership. Data obtained from passengers were analyzed using the PLS-SEM model. The findings show that gamification processes will improve the participation process of new passengers, and in this direction, new consumer profiles can be added to the portfolio of service systems. In addition, it has revealed that gamification and social influence are effective on behavioral intention and gamification has a mediating role in the relationship between consumer innovativeness and behavioral intention.

The Influence of Mobile Technology-Assisted Flipped Classroom Model on Student Learning Outcomes of Map Read Material

This study aims to determine the effect of using the flipped classroom learning model assisted by mobile technology on the learning outcomes of Infantry Officer School of Indonesia Marine Corps students about reading maps. Officer graduates are required to have a good understanding of the concepts in each topic related to assignments. The ability to read maps is a top priority that must be mastered by the marine corps in war military operations. Time allocation in class is not enough for mastering the concept of map reading. It takes more time to master the material for the soldiers. The use of mobile technology provides access for Marine Corps students to additional study time online. The research method used is quasi-experimental or quasi-experimental using t-test data analysis techniques. The research design used a static group comparison design. Comparing the two groups that were taught using the flipped classroom model assisted by mobile technology and the conventional model. The subjects of this research were 133 students of Marine Corps Officer Formation Education at the Advanced Stage (Sargolan) who were divided into two groups, namely the experimental group of 67 students and the control group of 66 students. The findings in this study indicate that students who are taught with the flipped classroom model assisted by mobile technology obtain a better average learning outcome score. The flipped classroom model with the help of mobile technology is very suitable for Marine Corps Officer Formation Education students at the Advanced Class Basic Stage (Sargolan).

Predicting Pain in People With Sickle Cell Disease in the Day Hospital Using the Commercial Wearable Apple Watch: Feasibility Study.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic red blood cell disorder associated with severe complications including chronic anemia, stroke, and vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs). VOCs are unpredictable, difficult to treat, and the leading cause of hospitalization. Recent efforts have focused on the use of mobile health technology to develop algorithms to predict pain in people with sickle cell disease. Combining the data collection abilities of a consumer wearable, such as the Apple Watch, and machine learning techniques may help us better understand the pain experience and find trends to predict pain from VOCs. The aim of this study is to (1) determine the feasibility of using the Apple Watch to predict the pain scores in people with sickle cell disease admitted to the Duke University SCD Day Hospital, referred to as the Day Hospital, and (2) build and evaluate machine learning algorithms to predict the pain scores of VOCs with the Apple Watch. Following approval of the institutional review board, patients with sickle cell disease, older than 18 years, and admitted to Day Hospital for a VOC between July 2021 and September 2021 were approached to participate in the study. Participants were provided with an Apple Watch Series 3, which is to be worn for the duration of their visit. Data collected from the Apple Watch included heart rate, heart rate variability (calculated), and calories. Pain scores and vital signs were collected from the electronic medical record. Data were analyzed using 3 different machine learning models: multinomial logistic regression, gradient boosting, and random forest, and 2 null models, to assess the accuracy of pain scores. The evaluation metrics considered were accuracy (F1-score), area under the receiving operating characteristic curve, and root-mean-square error (RMSE). We enrolled 20 patients with sickle cell disease, all of whom identified as Black or African American and consisted of 12 (60%) females and 8 (40%) males. There were 14 individuals diagnosed with hemoglobin type SS (70%). The median age of the population was 35.5 (IQR 30-41) years. The median time each individual spent wearing the Apple Watch was 2 hours and 17 minutes and a total of 15,683 data points were collected across the population. All models outperformed the null models, and the best-performing model was the random forest model, which was able to predict the pain scores with an accuracy of 84.5%, and a RMSE of 0.84. The strong performance of the model in all metrics validates feasibility and the ability to use data collected from a noninvasive device, the Apple Watch, to predict the pain scores during VOCs. It is a novel and feasible approach and presents a low-cost method that could benefit clinicians and individuals with sickle cell disease in the treatment of VOCs.

Effectiveness of a Mobile App to Increase Risk Perception of Tobacco, Alcohol, and Marijuana Use in Mexican High School Students: Quantitative Study

Young people have the highest rate of drug use worldwide. Recent data from Mexico in this population show that the prevalence of illicit drug use doubled between 2011 and 2016 (2.9%-6.2%), with marijuana being the one with the highest increase (2.4%-5.3%), but also point out that alcohol and tobacco use have remained steady or decreased. Mexican adolescents are at high risk for drug use owing to a low perception of risk and the availability of drugs. Adolescence is an ideal period to reduce or prevent risky behaviors using evidence-based strategies. In this study, we aimed to test the short-term effectiveness of a mobile intervention app ("What Happens if you Go Too Far?" ["¿Qué pasa si te pasas?"]) that seeks to increase risk perception of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use in a sample of Mexican high school students. A nonexperimental evaluation based on pretest-posttest design was used to measure the effectiveness of a preventive intervention using a mobile app, "What Happens If You Go Too Far?" The dimensions analyzed were knowledge of drugs and their effects, life skills, self-esteem, and risk perception. The intervention was conducted on a high school campus with 356 first-year students. The sample included 359 first-year high school students (mean 15, SD 0.588 years; women: 224/359, 62.4% men: 135/359, 37.6%). The intervention increased the overall risk perception of tobacco (χ24=21.6; P<.001) and alcohol use (χ24=15.3; P<.001). There was no significant difference in the perception that it is dangerous to smoke 5 cigarettes, and there was a marginal difference in the perception that it is very dangerous to smoke 1 cigarette or to use alcohol or marijuana. We used a generalized estimating equation method to determine the impact of the variables on risk perception. The results showed that knowledge about smoking increased the risk perception of smoking 1 cigarette (odds ratio [OR] 1.1065, 95% CI 1.013-1.120; P=.01), and that knowledge about marijuana use (OR 1.109, 95% CI 1.138-1.185; P=.002) and self-esteem (OR 1.102, 95% CI 1.007-1.206; P=.04) produced significant increases in the risk perception of consuming 5 cigarettes. Resistance to peer pressure and assertiveness also increased the perceived risk of using tobacco and alcohol. The intervention has the potential to increase the perception of risk toward drug use in high school students by providing knowledge about the effects and psychosocial risks of drug use and by strengthening life skills that are associated with increased risk perception. The use of mobile technologies in intervention processes may broaden the scope of preventive work for adolescents.

Smartphone use as an efficient tool to improve anomia in primary progressive aphasia

ABSTRACT Cognitive interventions are helpful in the non-pharmacological management of Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) and other neurodegenerative disorders of cognition, by helping patients to compensate for their cognitive deficits and improve their functional independence. In this study, we examined the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation based on the use of mobile device technology in PPA. The aim of this research study was to determine if BL, a patient with semantic variant PPA (svPPA) and severe anomia, was able to learn using specific smartphone functions and an application to reduce her word finding difficulties. She was trained during the intervention sessions on a list of target pictures to measure changes in picture naming performance. Errorless learning was applied during learning. BL quickly learned to use smartphone functions and the application over the course of the intervention. She significantly improved her anomia for trained pictures, and to a lesser extent for untrained semantically related pictures. Picture naming performance was maintained six months after the intervention, and she continued to use her smartphone regularly to communicate with family members and friends. This study confirms that smartphone use can be learned in PPA, which can help reduce the symptoms of anomia and improve communication skills.

Influence of Mobile SMS Bill Query Application on Service Delivery by NAWASSCO AND NAIVAWASCO Water Utilities in Nakuru County

Water utilities play a critical role in providing safe and reliable water services to the public. However, ensuring efficient service delivery can be challenging, especially in areas with limited resources and inadequate infrastructure. In recent years, the use of mobile technology has emerged as a potential solution to address some of these challenges. This study examines the influence of a mobile SMS bill query application on the service delivery of two water utilities, NAWASSCO and NAIVAWASCO, in Nakuru County. This study aimed to determine the influence of mobile SMS bill query applications on service delivery by NAWASSCO and NAIVAWASCO water utilities in Nakuru County. Delone and McLean's IS success model, derived from the information systems (IS) theory, guided the study. A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted to achieve this, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Purposive sampling was used to select 33 and 24 staff in NAWASSCO and NAIVAWASCO water utilities, respectively. The Census method was employed since the target population was less than 100. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. OLS regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses at a 0.05 significance level. The OLS regression analysis revealed that mobile SMS bill query applications significantly influenced water service delivery in water utility companies ( β = 0.212, p &lt; 0.05). Water utility companies in Nakuru County should continue investing in and promoting the mobile SMS bill query application. Keywords: Mobile SMS Bill Query Application, NAWASSCO and NAIVAWASCO, Service Delivery and Water Utilities DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/15-6-06 Publication date: March 31 st 2023

CHARGE-AF: A Useful Score For Atrial Fibrillation Prediction?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the commonest arrhythmia in clinical practice and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Various predictive scores for new-onset AF have been proposed, but so far, none have been widely used in clinical practice. CHARGE-AF score was developed from a pooled diverse population from three large cohorts (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, Cardiovascular Health Study and Framingham Heart Study). A simple 5-year predictive model includes the variables of age, race, height, weight, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, current smoking, use of antihypertensive medication, diabetes mellitus, history of myocardial infarction and heart failure. Recent studies report that the CHARGE-AF score has good discrimination for incident AF and seems to be a promising prediction model for this arrhythmia. New screening tools (smartphone apps, smartwatches) are rapidly developing for AF detection. Therefore, the wide application of the CHARGE-AF score in clinical practice and the upcoming usage of mobile health technologies and smartwatches may result in better AF prediction and adequate stroke prevention, especially in high-risk patients.

Contact tracing apps, nationalism, and users with disability in the Global South: The faith in state and collective objective

Contact tracing apps have magnified the potential usefulness of mobile media and communication technologies for responding to disruptive events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Their efficacy and ethical debates have become the focus of recent studies in the Global North. Reasons for using contact tracing apps among users with disability living in the Global South, however, seem to be understudied. Through cases from Indonesia and Vietnam, this study found that nationalistic values were among the reasons for using contact tracing apps as reflected in the users’ faith in the state and inclination to support its collective objective to control the pandemic. The users believed the state would be accountable in managing the personal and mobility data the contact tracing apps collected. Using contact tracing apps represented the users’ sense of capabilities to individually partake in the existing efforts to control the pandemic.

Twelve years of iPads and apps in schools: What conditions support effective practices in K-6 classrooms?

Since their release in 2010, iPads and their associated apps have been touted as ‘game changers’ for schools struggling with technology provisioning issues, that limited their ability to fully leverage the educational potential of digital devices on a ‘whole class’ basis. Since then, a variety of schemes have been implemented such as ‘Bring Your Own Device’ (BYOD) and portable ‘device pods’, as systems for improving access to, and utilisation of, mobile technologies in classroom curriculum. In many schools, concurrent to these initiatives have been improvements in technology infrastructure, including upgrades to external connectivity via the advent of high-speed fibre-based broadband, and internally through the establishment of school wifi networks and associated online security systems. Aligned with these developments has been a growing body of research exploring how teachers at all levels of education systems have incorporated these new resources into their curriculum, and examining what, if any, benefits have resulted. This article is an analysis of key findings from four published studies undertaken by the author between 2015 and 2021 in New Zealand K-6 schools, to build understanding of factors that contributed to the effective practices with mobile devices witnessed in the research classrooms. While numerous separate studies have been undertaken exploring specific outcomes from the use of iPads and other mobile technologies in different educational contexts, the analysis presented in this article attempts to identify common factors existing across four purposively selected studies, that contributed to their success. The studies were deliberately chosen to provide a broad overview of applications of this technology in different K-6 classrooms for different purposes, supporting deeper understanding of the factors that underpin effective teaching and learning with and through mobile devices, in schools. This is important, as it builds knowledge of the fundamental foundations to effective educational use of mobile devices, regardless of the learning context in which they are used, and could assist teachers in designing, implementing and assessing curricular that optimises the learning potential of these devices.

The Prevalence and Perceived Utility of Mobile Health Technology Among Recently Incarcerated Homeless Adults.

Mobile technologies can deliver physical and mental health services for recently incarcerated homeless adults (RIHAs). The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and perceived utility of mobile technology to support health behavior change among RIHAs. Participants (n = 324) from an ongoing clinical trial at a homeless shelter in Texas were included in the current descriptive cross-sectional analyses. Over one fourth (28.4%) of participants had an active cell phone. Nearly 90 percent (88.6%) of participants reported at least weekly use of the internet, 77 percent used email (77.2%), and more than half used Facebook (55.2%). Although most participants (82.8%) believed that smartphone applications (apps) could help change their behavior, only a quarter (25.1%) had used an app for this purpose. These findings highlight the potential for smartphone-based intervention technologies, and future studies should examine whether smartphone apps that address mental health and health behaviors are feasible among RIHAs.

Affective Support for Self-Regulation in Mobile-Assisted Language Learning

Mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) research includes examination and development of second language learners' cognitive and metacognitive self-regulated learning skills, but the affective learning component of self-regulation in this context remains largely unexplored. Support for affective learning, which is defined by learners' beliefs, attitudes, and emotions, has been shown to influence learners' cognitive processes, performance, and engagement considerably, and is therefore critical to promote and foster throughout the learning process. This paper defines the importance of supporting affect in MALL, sets out a theoretical perspective on supporting affective self-regulation in MALL, and elaborates on what designers and teachers can do to facilitate affective development through the use of mobile technology, learning analytics, and artificial intelligence. It examines and further delineates the role of affective computing and the role of the teacher in fully harnessing the affective affordances of MALL.

Examining the Individual Response to a Low-Sodium Diet in Patients with Hypertension: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Excessive dietary sodium intake is an independent risk factor for hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Despite the large body of evidence concerning the effects of dietary interventions on blood pressure (BP) and CVD outcomes, trials have often reported low adherence to decreased sodium intake, likely due in part to heterogeneous BP responses. To address the challenges, recent clinical findings suggested a precise and personalized dietary approach that seeks to deliver more preventive and practical dietary advice than the "one-size-fits-all" guidelines and weighs the personal risk of developing specific diseases. The purpose of this pilot randomized controlled trial was to test the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of integrating the use of mobile technology and metabolomics with a low-sodium diet intervention in patients with hypertension to develop personalized low-sodium diet programs. Additionally, the study will examine the associations of urine metabolites with urinary sodium levels and BP control based on the hypothesis that targeted urine metabolites. In this report, we describe the design and protocol of the pilot trial. A total of 40 patients with hypertension will be randomly assigned to either a 8-week low-sodium diet group (n=20) or a standard care group (n=20). Each week, intervention participants went through individual sessions with an interventionist via videoconferencing to discuss low-sodium diet regimens, patients' food choices, and BP tracks on mobile apps. The control group followed their usual care for hypertension management. All participants in both groups monitored diet and BP using mobile apps for 8 weeks. A 24-hour urinary sodium excretion for the estimation of dietary sodium intake, systolic, and diastolic BPs were measured at the baseline and at 8 weeks. The primary outcomes of this study include the feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial (RCT) by reporting recruitment, retention, and completion statistics. The preliminary effects of intervention will be tested by a generalized estimating equation model. This pilot RCT study was approved by the institutional review board at the University of Texas Health San Antonio in January 2021. The first participant was enrolled in April 2021, and currently, 26 participants were enrolled. All data collection is expected to conclude by March 2023, with data analysis and study results ready for reporting by December 2023. Findings from this pilot RCT will further guide the team in planning a future large-scale study. The findings of this proposed study will establish a comprehensive knowledge base for future research and development of personalized dietary interventions to promote adherence to dietary strategies and self-management of chronic disease using the Precision Health approach for millions of Americans who are struggling with uncontrolled hypertension. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04764253; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04764253. DERR1-10.2196/39058.

Individual Investors’ Awareness and Participation in the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange, Tanzania

Participation of individual investors in Dar es Salaam stock markets stands at 1%, which is very low compared to Kenya, which is currently at 4%. Thus, the study evaluated the level of awareness of individuals that explained their low participation in the Dar es Salaam stock exchange. Primary data were collected from 200 participants and 200 non-participants and analysed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. Findings revealed that non-participant individuals had a low level of awareness regarding DSE and its activities compared to individual participants. Regarding voting and decision-making by shareholders, only 13% of participants were aware of this right. Financial awareness was also found out to be low among individuals. Binary logistic results indicated that awareness of DSE, awareness creation seminars, and access to media were likely to influence individuals' participation decisions. Thus, the study concluded that the level of awareness among individuals was deficient and affected their participation in the stock market. Therefore, the intensification of public awareness through seminars by DSE is essential. Also, DSE should increase the use of mobile trading platform and internet technologies to disseminate awareness information on investment opportunities for participation decision.