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Tag: behavior change
05/23/2023

The Feasibility, Acceptability, and Initial Efficacy of a Remotely Delivered, Financial-Incentive Intervention to Initiate Vaping Abstinence in Young Adults

Raiff BR, Newman ST, Upton CR & Burrows CA. (2022). The feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy of a remotely delivered, financial-incentive intervention to initiate vaping abstinence in young adults. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 30(5), 632–641. https://doi.org/10.1037/pha0000468

This study investigated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a remotely delivered intervention with financial incentives to promote vaping abstinence among young adults. Participants were recruited via a university email listserv and were between 18-35 years old, reported current vaping, and a desire to quit vaping. Eight participants were enrolled, given home cotinine saliva test kits (NicAlert and iScreen), and asked to abstain from vaping for 14 days. Live video meetings were scheduled every other day and provided the opportunity for participants to share their quitting process and receive support and guidance. All participants earned financial rewards for submission of their cotinine tests and escalating bonus rewards (increasing by $5 for each subsequent negative sample) for each cotinine negative sample at baseline and during the 14-day study. At the end of the study, participants completed exit survey questions on vaping behavior change and acceptability of study procedures. All participants completed 100% of video calls and were abstinent from vaping during the 2-week treatment period. Participants reported high favorability scores for the intervention (9.75-10 out of 10) related to convenience, effectiveness to help quit vaping, and fairness, and would recommend the intervention to someone else. Results also showed that cotinine levels decreased as financial bonuses for negative tests increased. This study provides a promising, acceptable, and safe approach to helping people stop vaping for 2 weeks. Future research should focus on exploring strategies for long-term sustainability of incentive-based interventions for vaping abstinence.

Posted in: Cutting Edge Literature // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ;
04/10/2023

Combined Laboratory and Field Test of a Smartphone Breath Alcohol Device and Blood Alcohol Concentration Estimator to Facilitate Moderate Drinking Among Young Adults

Leeman RF, Berey BL, Frohe T, Rowland BHP, Martens MP, Fucito LM, Stellefson M, Nixon SJ, & O’Malley SS. (2022). A combined laboratory and field test of a smartphone breath alcohol device and blood alcohol concentration estimator to facilitate moderate drinking among young adults. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 36(6), 710–723. https://doi.org/10.1037/adb0000780

This paper evaluated feasibility, usability, acceptability, and efficacy of blood alcohol content (BAC) related moderate drinking technology during a laboratory alcohol self-administration session and follow-up field test in real-world situations. Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 technologies to use during a laboratory alcohol drinking session: (1) breathalyzer alcohol device connected to an app, (2) BAC estimator app where participants make entries about drinking behavior, and (3) a self-texting control condition where participants send a text after each alcoholic drink consumed. All participants completed a laboratory alcohol-drinking session while using the assigned technology procedure. After this session, participants were instructed to use all three forms of technologies for two weeks. At the end of the field-testing period, acceptability, usability, and perspectives on all three technologies were The breathalyzer and BAC estimator app both had favorable acceptability and usability ratings. Participants used at least one form of technology on 67% of drinking days. Based on self-reported data, as also significantly lower during the field-test period than at baseline. Overall, combining lab and field methods to test drinking technologies was feasible among young adults. Results support the potential of mobile interventions to help young adults in motivating behavior change given their willingness to use apps.

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03/08/2023

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Mobile App Improves Health Behavior in Patients with Diabetes

Article Excerpt: With the use of cognitive behavioral therapy, a smartphone app helped patients with type 2 diabetes reduce HbA1c with less medication and insulation intensification vs. controls, a speaker reported. “Cardiometabolic diseases, and at its core, type 2 diabetes, are largely behavioral-acquired diseases and they’re related to unhelpful behaviors. But when we drive to what are the core, root causes of these behavioral choices, they have to do with thoughts and beliefs that lead to unhelpful behaviors and then unhelpful food choices, eating, exercise or behaviors and then type 2 diabetes,” Marc P. Bonaca, MD, MPH, FAHA, FACC, executive director of CPC Clinical Research, professor of cardiology and vascular medicine and director of vascular research at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, said during a press conference. “How do we break that cycle?

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/2s4ht3rj

Article Source: Healio

Posted in: Emerging Technologies // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ;
11/02/2022

Digital Solution for Smoking Cessation Shows Positive Results in Randomized Trial

Article Excerpt: A behavioral change digital health company has announced positive results from a randomized controlled trial for its app-based digital tool for tobacco use cessation. Pivot’s tool provides evidence-based tobacco cessation interventions, an interactive breath sensor, human coaching, nicotine replacement therapy, a digital support community, as well as behavioral therapy, the company stated in a press release.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/5dhkv6fe

Article Source: Healio

Posted in: Emerging Technologies // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
08/24/2022

Rewarding Healthy Behaviors

Article Excerpt: Human behavior is difficult to manage: Why do people do the things they do, even when some habits are bad for them? And how can they change these behaviors? Bethany Raiff, Ph.D., a professor of psychology in the College of Science & Mathematics, has designed incentive-based approaches, often using technology, to help people quit smoking, attend treatment for opioid use disorder, and engage in physical activity. “We make a lot of decisions that are not always in our best interest,” Raiff said. “I am trying to understand how to shift people’s decision-making toward healthier behavior.”

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/mwdvd6uc

Article Source: Rowan University News

Posted in: Emerging Technologies // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
08/23/2022

Implementation and impact of a technology-based HIV risk-reduction intervention among Thai men who have sex with men using “Vialogues”: a randomized controlled trial

Anand T, Nitpolprasert C, Jantarapakde J, Meksena R, Phomthong S, Phoseeta P, Phanuphak P & Phanuphak N (2020) Implementation and impact of a technology-based HIV risk-reduction intervention among Thai men who have sex with men using “Vialogues”: a randomized controlled trial, AIDS Care, 32:3, 394-405, DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2019.1622638

A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the impact of a technology-based intervention on HIV risks and condom use behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Thailand. Seventy-six participants who were at least 18 years of age and reported unprotected sex in the last 6 months were recruited from the Thai Red Cross Anonymous Clinic. Participants were randomly assigned to control (N=39) and intervention arms (N=37). The intervention group received HIV/STI prevention education videos delivered online via Vialogues.com and video sessions with a counselor monthly for 12 months. The control group received HIV counseling and testing alone for 12 months. Researchers compared attendance rates of recommended clinic visits and HIV testing, changes in HIV/AIDS knowledge, behavioral intentions, attitudes for engaging in safer sex, condom use self-efficacy, and risky behaviors at baseline, 6-month and 12-month follow-ups for both groups. Eighty-nine percent of participants in the intervention arm completed all monthly Vialogues sessions. At 12 months, participants in the intervention arm had significantly more clinic visits than those in the control arm (p=0.03). At 12 months, the intervention group also reported a significantly higher percentage of condom use for anal intercourse than the control group (p=0.003). Participants receiving the intervention also reported significantly reduced self-perceived HIV risk (p=0.001), popper use (p=0.002), and number of sexual partners (p=0.003), and increased condom use (p=0.006) from baseline to 6 months and 12 months. Results demonstrated that the Vialogues program was effective for improving safer sex behaviors and attitudes to lower HIV risk among Thai MSM.

Posted in: Cutting Edge Literature // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ;
08/08/2022

Willingness to pay for a telemedicine delivered healthy lifestyle programme

Rauch VK, Roderka M, Weintraub AB, Curtis K, Kotz DF, Rothstein RI, Batsis JA. Willingness to pay for a telemedicine-delivered healthy lifestyle programme. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare. 2022;28(7):517-523. doi:10.1177/1357633X20943337

This study explored how willing rural adults were to pay for a remote weight-management program. Researchers conducted a single arm pilot study with 27 adult patients recruited from a medical weight and wellness center. Participants received a 16-week intervention focused on healthy behavior changes, including mindfulness, movement, problem-solving, and nutrition. In the program, a health coach, registered dietician, and nurse exercise specialist delivered weekly 30-minute one-on-one telehealth visits with participants. Researchers collected willingness-to-pay in a two-item survey at baseline and week 16 that asked: 1) at what point they would trade in person visits for telehealth based on commute time to reach the medical center, and 2) whether they would be willing to engage in a telehealth visit with an upfront cost for services. Participants who commute 30-45 minutes reported the highest willingness to trade in-person visits with telemedicine out of all groups. There was a significant increase in participants who would be willing to pay $30 or less for telemedicine from baseline (58%) to 16-week follow-up (69%). There was no significant difference over time in participants’ willingness to pay for telemedicine based on commute times. In qualitative interviews with participants, a majority found the program helpful. Participants also reported the intervention helped reduce travel time and expenses and increased flexibility for families and work. Results demonstrated that in rural areas, a digital weight management program could be acceptable and cost-effective. Research with a larger sample size and longer duration is needed to more accurately gauge patients’ willingness-to-pay for remote program delivery.

Posted in: Cutting Edge Literature // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
08/05/2022

Digital Support for Reduced Alcohol Consumption

Article Excerpt: A digital support tool on your phone can help if you want to reduce your alcohol consumption. Researchers at Linköping University have developed and evaluated a digital tool that helps individuals reduce their alcohol intake on their own. “At the beginning of the study, the participants indicated that it was very important for them to reduce their alcohol consumption. But most indicated that they didn’t know how to do it. Those who got access to the digital support began to feel more self-assured about how they could go about actually changing their behavior,” says Marcus Bendtsen, who has led the study and is associate professor at the Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences at Linköping University.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/4sy6zxmv

Article Source: Medical Xpress

Posted in: Emerging Technologies // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
07/14/2022

Study: Wearables Can Empower Patients, but Barriers Prevent Greater Adoption

Article Excerpt: Using wearables to track health data could empower patients, but there are several barriers to effective use, including the need for provider support. The review, published in JMIR, analyzed 20 studies published in Europe and the U.S. that collectively included more than 7,000 participants. Researchers found three main overarching themes: the role of providers and potential benefits to care, driving behavior change and barriers to use.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/ycke8yas

Article Source: MobiHealthNews

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