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Tag: feasibility
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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03/06/2023

Implementation fidelity of the Promoting First Relationships intervention program in a Native community

Booth-LaForce C, Oxford ML, O’Leary R, Rees J, Petras A, Buchwald DS. Implementation fidelity of the Promoting First Relationships intervention program in a Native community. Transl Behav Med. 2023 Jan 20;13(1):34-41. doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibac060. PMID: 36227860; PMCID: PMC9853091.

An evidence-based parenting intervention called Promoting First Relationship (PFR) was evaluated for implementation fidelity in a Northern Plains Native community. PFR is a preventive program for primary caregivers and their young children based on attachment theory. Ten sessions are delivered weekly for an hour through home visits conducted by trained providers who are tribal members living on the reservation with at least a relevant bachelor’s degree. Each week has a specific theme and includes a check-in, reflection time, observation of video recordings, and handouts on the child’s behaviors, feelings, and needs. This study analyzed data from a randomized controlled trial of 162 primary caregivers and their children (10-30 months old) who were assigned to the PFR intervention or the control condition (referral to local resources). PFR providers were trained in a two-day in-person workshop and then, online intensive training and pilot sessions. All trainees were required to pass fidelity checks with three families to be certified. Researchers measured implementation fidelity using a checklist on adherence to content, scoring quality of delivery in video-recorded sessions, number of PFR sessions completed, and participant satisfaction. On average, adherence to PFR content was very high (mean=0.99 out of 1.00; SD=0.02) and quality of delivery exceeded established criteria. Despite high attrition which occurred before intervention delivery (28.40%, N=23), the remaining participants completed all 10 intervention sessions. Additionally, participants reported high satisfaction with the program (mean=3.90 out of 4, SD=0.19). Overall, high implementation fidelity of the PFR intervention was achieved in a Native community using in-person and remote online training and video feedback.

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02/20/2023

A WeChat-based smoking cessation intervention for Chinese smokers: a feasibility study

Luo T, Li MS, Williams D, Fritz J, Beiter K, Phillippi S, Yu Q, Kantrow S, Chen L, Chen Y, & Tseng TS. (2022). A WeChat-based smoking cessation intervention for Chinese smokers: a feasibility study. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 12(10), 1018–1027. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibac067

This paper reported the development and feasibility findings of a WeChat-based smoking cessation intervention for smokers in China. A total of 403 participants who currently smoked and used WeChat, the most widely used social media platform in China, were recruited and randomized to three study arms: Standard Intervention (N=136), Enhanced Intervention (N=135), and waitlist control (N=132). The Standard intervention consisted of 20 smoking cessation messages for 2 weeks and the Enhanced intervention included 20 smoking cessation messages for 2 weeks and 6 oral health-related messages for another week. Intervention content was informed by the Transtheoretical Model framework and targeted self-efficacy, stimulus control, coping skills, consciousness raising, and oral health. Researchers assessed feasibility by measuring program reach, recruitment rate, cost per person, attrition rate, intervention exposure, engagement, and satisfaction. Attrition from baseline to 4-week follow-up was 46% and program cost was estimated as $0.85 per person. In the Standard and Enhanced intervention arms, all participants read at least one message and on average engaged (sent a Like or comment) with 57% of the messages. A majority of participants were very or somewhat satisfied with the intervention (96%), engaged (72%) and would recommend to others (95%). Overall, findings support feasibility of both the Standard and Enhanced intervention. Given the feasibility and low cost of the WeChat-based program, this has the potential to be scaled up for larger population sizes to deliver smoking cessation treatment at low costs.

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01/30/2023

Feasibility and acceptability of using smartphone-based EMA to assess patterns of prescription opioid and medical cannabis use among individuals with chronic pain

Anderson Goodell EM, Nordeck C, Finan PH, Vandrey R, Dunn KE, & Thrul J. (2021). Feasibility and acceptability of using smartphone-based EMA to assess patterns of prescription opioid and medical cannabis use among individuals with chronic pain. Internet Interventions: the Application of Information Technology in Mental and Behavioural Health, 26, 100460–100460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2021.100460

This paper described the feasibility and acceptability of a smartphone-based Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) data collection tool among people who use multiple substances and suffer from chronic pain. Forty-six participants were recruited through targeted Facebook and Instagram advertisements and completed screening via the link in the ads. Eligible participants had an opioid medication prescription, current opioid use, a pain disorder, and a referral for medical cannabis. Participants completed prompted EMA surveys on a mobile app for 30 days. Surveys included questions about opioid medication use, medical cannabis use, and pain symptoms. Participants were prompted to respond to four randomly timed surveys (assessing the past hour) and one daily diary per day. A subsample of 10 participants completed qualitative interviews. On average, participants responded to 70% of past-hour surveys and 92% of daily diaries. During qualitative interviews, participants reported an overall positive experience, but identified some issues related to smartphone notifications, redundant questions, or being prompted to complete assessments when they do not feel well. Findings demonstrate the feasibility and general acceptability of using this methodology for examining patterns of medical cannabis and prescription opioid medication use among individuals with chronic pain. Engagement with the digital tool over the 30-day duration was comparable to previous work. This study has implications for informing larger-scale epidemiology studies, interventions, and assessments on a wider geographic scale.

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10/03/2022

Mobile App–Based Self-Report Questionnaires for the Assessment and Monitoring of Bipolar Disorder: Systematic Review

Chan E, Sun Y, Aitchison K, Sivapalan S. Mobile App–Based Self-Report Questionnaires for the Assessment and Monitoring of Bipolar Disorder: Systematic Review. JMIR Form Res 2021;5(1):e13770 DOI: 10.2196/13770

to determine the state of evidence for feasibility and validity of mobile app-based self-report questionnaires as tools for monitoring of bipolar symptoms. All papers published in English that assessed adherence to and validity of mobile app-based self-report surveys for monitoring patients with bipolar disorder were included. A total of 13 articles were identified. Four studies assessed the concurrent validity of mobile self-report tools and all 4 found a statistically significant association between mood ratings collected via mobile app self-report and clinical assessment using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale or Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. . Two studies observed statistically significant associations between data collected via mobile app self-report tools and instruments assessing clinically- related factors. Satisfactory adherence rates (at least 70%) were observed in all but 1 study that used a once-daily assessment. There was a wide range of adherence rates in studies using twice-daily assessments (42-95%). Overall, the review demonstrated that mobile app-based self-report instruments are valid relative to established assessment methods for measuring symptoms of mania and depression in patients with bipolar disorder. Future research is needed to evaluate feasibility of mobile self-report methods for identifying acute episodes and to inform insights into differences between patients with bipolar disorder and those without lived experience of this condition.

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06/27/2022

A gamified app for supporting undergraduate students’ mental health: A feasibility and usability study

Nicolaidou I, Aristeidis L, Lambrinos L. A gamified app for supporting undergraduate students’ mental health: A feasibility and usability study. Digit Health. 2022;8:20552076221109059. Published 2022 Jun 21. doi:10.1177/20552076221109059

This study aimed to address the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on undergraduate students by designing and testing feasibility, acceptability, and usability of Student Stress Resilience, a gamified mobile app that provides personalized data and focuses on enhancing students’ resilience. The app design is based on a theory of nine behavioral change techniques: action planning, feedback on outcomes, self-monitoring of behavior, social support, social comparison, prompts/cues, achievements, and incentives. The app includes a daily goal setting component for studying, exercising, or socializing. The app also tracks progress by using data from the smartphone accelerometer and sound sensor and from self-reported anxiety measurements and reflection on performance. App users receive points and badges for completing challenges. Social interaction is facilitated by allowing users to share their progress with others and the inclusion of a leaderboard. Adult undergraduate students (N=74) evaluated the prototype for Student Stress Resilience and completed an online survey on feasibility for supporting resilience and usability. Overall, participants gave positive feedback (3.76 out of 5 rating, on average) on all app functions for improving psychological resilience. Usability was satisfactory and 93% said they would be interested in continuing to use the app once it is fully developed. Student Stress Resilience is a promising mobile app to support mental health for the general student non-clinical population. Following the development of a fully functioning app, future research should evaluate Student Stress Resilience in a randomized controlled trial.

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04/25/2022

Preventive Digital Mental Health for Children in Primary Schools: Acceptability and Feasibility Study

Davies SM, Jardine J, Gutridge K, Bernard Z, Park S, Dawson T, Abel KM, Whelan P. Preventive Digital Mental Health for Children in Primary Schools: Acceptability and Feasibility Study. JMIR Form Res 2021;5(12):e30668. doi: 10.2196/30668

A study tested the feasibility of integrating a low-cost, scalable, and innovative digital mental health intervention in schools in the Greater Manchester area in the United Kingdom. Researchers piloted a digital intervention consisting of two components: (1) Lexplore, a reading assessment using eye-tracking technology to assess reading ability and identify any atypicality, and (2) Lincus, a web-based platform for emotional, social, and physical well-being measures wellbeing for monitoring and includes customized child-relevant information, local resources, and links. The intervention was implemented at a primary school for 6 weeks and all children were eligible for the study. During the 6-week period, Lexplore assessments were conducted twice in each school and participants were asked to spend about 5 minutes during free time every morning to complete surveys on the Lincus platform. Students, parents, and teachers also provided qualitative feedback about the digital platforms at group workshops or appointments. Results demonstrated that 88% of students completed both the initial and follow-up assessments for Lexplore and on average, approximately 1 Lincus survey per user per week was recorded. Overall, children and teachers found the digital intervention engaging, usable, and acceptable. However, there were some important barriers identified: log-in difficulties, incorporating the Lincus and Lexplore assessments into routines, availability of tablets across classes, and poor parental engagement. Overall, the intervention was well-received, and the study identified barriers and facilitators which will inform future research in this setting.

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12/13/2021

Feasibility and acceptability of a technology-based, rural weight management intervention in older adults with obesity

Batsis JA, Petersen CL, Clark MM, et al. (2021). Feasibility and acceptability of a technology-based, rural weight management intervention in older adults with obesity. BMC Geriatr 21, 44. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-020-01978-x

Researchers evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of technology-based health promotion program among 53 older adults (at least 65 years old) living in rural New England with body mass index of at least 30kg/m2 Participants were enrolled in a 26-week program that consisted of video-conference nutrition and exercise sessions and Fitbit device monitoring. A Samsung tablet and detailed instructions to connect to Wi-Fi was provided for each participant. A Fitbit with user instructions was also provided for each participant. A registered dietitian nutritionist delivered 18 individual 30-minute sessions centered on nutrition and 7 1-hour group sessions on caloric intake, vitamin D, and protein intake. Weekly food records and attendance were collected. A trained physical therapist also conducted 75-minute, twice-a-week video conference group sessions that focused on exercise. Exercise sessions included resistance, flexibility, and balance training. Participants were encouraged to complete 150 minutes per week of moderately intense aerobic walking outside of the sessions. Feasibility, acceptability, and health outcomes were assessed at baseline, 2, 4, and 6 months. Participants reported a high overall satisfaction of the program and the Fitbit. The Fitbit was worn by participants for on average 81.7% of the intervention time. Completed participants observed a mean of 4.6kg loss of weight. The researchers found improvement in physical functioning test outcomes and subjective measures of late-life physical functioning. The researchers concluded that a technology-based obesity intervention is feasible and acceptable for older adults living in rural areas and can lead to weight loss and better physical functioning.

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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.

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