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Tag: evaluation
06/13/2022

Effect of digital psychoeducation and peer support on the mental health of family carers supporting individuals with psychosis in England (COPe-support): a randomised clinical trial

Sin J, Henderson C, Elkes J, Cornelius V, Woodham LA, Batchelor R, Chen T, Corredor AM, Coughlan D, Dhital R, Evans S, Haider B, Heathcote J, Mansfield S, O’Brien A, Qassim M, Sserunkuma J, Travis CH, Williams E & Gillard S. (2022). Effect of digital psychoeducation and peer support on the mental health of family carers supporting individuals with psychosis in England (COPe-support): a randomised clinical trial. The Lancet (British Edition), 4(5), e320–e329. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2589-7500(22)00031-0

Researchers evaluated the effectiveness of a web-based multicomponent intervention (COPe-support) for improving the mental health and caregiving outcomes of caregivers of individuals with serious mental illness. A randomized two-arm trial was conducted to compare the COPe-support intervention to a passive control condition (an online information resource). Participants were adult relatives and close friends who provided at least weekly support in any format for persons with psychosis. Four hundred and seven participants were recruited from 30 mental health provider organizations across England. The COPe-support intervention included features addressing psychoeducation about psychosis and treatment, caregiving issues, wellbeing promotion, expert and peer support forums, and relevant external resources. Participants in the treatment group downloaded the free app and had access for 40 weeks. Participants were recommended to use the app for at least 30 minutes weekly. Participants completed self-reported assessments of psychological wellbeing, quality of life, caregiving experience and support at baseline, 10 weeks, 20 weeks, and 40 weeks. The results found no difference in mental wellbeing between the COPe-support group and the control group at 20 weeks follow-up. Participants who reported higher use of COPe-support reported a greater effect in improved mental well-being, but this difference was not statistically significant. The results were similar at the 40 weeks follow-up as well. Overall, the COPe-support for caregivers supporting an individual with psychosis was not superior to an information resource at 20 weeks. Considering the projected increase in the caregiver population and demand for support, a digital intervention targeting psychological support for caregivers such as COPe-support is valuable. Research to demonstrate the efficacy of digital interventions to support caregivers of individuals with serious mental illness is needed.

Posted in: Cutting Edge Literature // Tagged: ; ; ; ;
11/22/2021

A smoking cessation app for nondaily smokers (version 2 of the Smiling Instead of Smoking app): Acceptability and feasibility study

Hoeppner BB, Siegel KR, Carlon HA, Kahler CW, Park ER, Hoeppner SS. (2021). A smoking cessation app for nondaily smokers (version 2 of the Smiling Instead of Smoking app): Acceptability and feasibility study. JMIR Form Res. doi: 10.2196/29760

Researchers evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of version 2 of the Smiling Instead of Smoking app, a positive psychology intervention to help nondaily smokers quit. The study recruited 100 nondaily smokers to use the Smiling Instead of Smoking version 2 app for seven weeks during a quit attempt. The smartphone app provides daily positive psychology exercises and behavioral challenges every 2-3 days. The app also includes tools to track smoking behavior, summary graphs, reminders, note keeping and health information. The study tested feasibility and acceptability by analyzing participants’ interactions with the app, ratings of app usability and usefulness, and perceptions of the helpfulness of the app. Participants also self-reported their desire to smoke, self-efficacy, positive affect, and smoking status. On average, participants used the app for 24.7 out of 49 days. A majority of participants rated the app as easy to use and useful; 87% of participants said the app helped them to quit smoking and 82% said the app helped them to stay positive during the quit attempt. Large effects were observed in decreases in desire to smoke, importance of pros in smoking, and psychoactive benefits of smoking. Medium effects were found in remaining abstinent when met with internal and external cues. However, results indicated unexpected decreases in motivation to quit smoking and in perceived importance of the pros of quitting. Researchers concluded that the Smiling Instead of Smoking V2 was acceptable and feasible in promoting smoking cessation among nondaily smokers. Larger randomized controlled studies are needed.

Posted in: Cutting Edge Literature // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
07/10/2020

Privacy assessment in mobile health apps: Scoping review

Benjumea J, Ropero J, Rivera-Romero O, Dorronzoro-Zubiete E, Carrasco A. (2020). Privacy assessment in mobile health apps: Scoping review. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 8(7): e18868. doi: 10.2196/18868

Researchers conducted a scoping review of studies published from 2014 onward to evaluate how the scientific community assesses the privacy of mHealth apps. Read More

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02/13/2020

Dartmouth Researchers Study Use Of Voice Assistants In Detecting Dementia

Article Excerpt: Researchers from Dartmouth-Hitchcock and the University of Massachusetts Boston were recently awarded a four-year, $1.2 million grant from the National Institute on Aging to use voice assistant systems, such as Amazon’s Alexa and Google Home, to detect early cognitive impairment.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/wqa8gtl

Article Source: NH Business Review

Posted in: Emerging Technologies, News // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
02/08/2020

Sunday Seniors: Researchers Turn to Technology to Detect Dementia

Article Excerpt: Voice assistants like Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home can do everything from remotely turning on lights to keeping a to-do list.Now, researchers led by Dartmouth-Hitchcock and the University of Massachusetts Boston are hoping the voice assistant systems, which often rely on smart speakers to take verbal commands, can help people do something else: Pick up on early verbal signs of cognitive decline.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/rmwg3dt

Article Source: Valley News.  Also posted on Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine News.

Posted in: Emerging Technologies, News // Tagged: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
02/04/2020

Voice Assistants Like Alexa, Google Home May One Day Detect Dementia

Article Excerpt: It may seem outlandish now, but in the not-so-distant future, we may be able to call on voice assistants like Alexa, Siri or Google Home to help detect dementia and early cognitive impairment. Researchers at Dartmouth-Hitchcock and the University of Massachusetts Boston have received a 4-year, $1.1 million grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to study if voice and language patterns captured by voice assistants can be used to identify people in an early stage of dementia or cognitive impairment.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/w5drfvj

Article Source: Being Patient

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02/01/2020

Researchers Hope Voice Assistants Can Spot Signs Of Dementia

Article Excerpt: An effort to use voice-assistant devices like Amazon’s Alexa to detect signs of memory problems in people has gotten a boost with a grant from the federal government. Researchers from Dartmouth-Hitchcock and the University of Massachusetts Boston will get a four-year $1.2 million grant from the National Institute on Aging. The team hopes to develop a system that would use machine and deep learning techniques to detect changes in speech patterns to determine if someone is a risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/wzy5rut

Article Source: AP News.  Also picked up by Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, WCAX, WHDH TV 7News Boston, New Hampshire Public Radio, Medscape, Centre Daily Times, and CBS Boston.

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01/30/2020

Can Alexa Help Doctors Detect The Onset Of Dementia?

Article Excerpt: Saying “Hey Alexa” might soon allow doctors to make an earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, augmenting the work of clinicians in these very sensitive and often heartbreaking areas of medicine. A $1.17 million dollar, four-year grant has been awarded to researchers from Dartmouth-Hitchcock and the University of Massachusetts Boston by the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health, to use Voice Assistant Systems, such as Amazon’s Alexa and Google Home, to detect early cognitive impairment.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/raa5xz8

Article Source: Seacoast Online

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01/28/2020

New Research Utilizes Voice Assistant Systems for Early Detection of Cognitive Decline

Article Excerpt: Researchers from Dartmouth-Hitchcock (D-H) and the University of Massachusetts Boston were recently awarded a four-year grant award totaling $1,179,714 from the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health, to use Voice Assistant Systems, such as Amazon’s Alexa and Google Home, to detect early cognitive impairment. The project aims to improve early detection using voice and language to identify individuals in an early stage of cognitive impairment before they present to clinical providers as the diagnosis is often difficult and made late in the disease process.

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

Article Source: EurekAlert

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