A mobile app that uses neurofeedback and multi-sensory learning methods improves reading abilities in dyslexia: A pilot study

My work explores how technology can support different forms of reading and sense-making of text and multimedia content before, during, and after a museum visit. This paper will present AIMuseum, our pilot study, and how I plan my research. My main contribution is planned to be on the design, implementation, and evaluation of tools to support reading while catering for different abilities.

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A Pilot Study Investigating the Use of Mobile Technology for Coordinating Educational Plans in Inclusive Settings

Journal of Special Education Technology ◽

10.1177/01626434211033581 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 016264342110335

Author(s):

Nur Siyam ◽

Sherief Abdallah

Keyword(s):

Special Education ◽

Academic Success ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Mobile Technology ◽

Participatory Design ◽

Focal Point ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Mobile App ◽

Educational Plan ◽

Special Education Needs

Good coordination among school staff and families leads to increased learning quality and academic success for students with special education needs and disabilities (SEND). This pilot study aims to investigate the use of mobile technology for the coordination of therapy and learning for students with SEND. This study first follows a participatory design methodology to identify the key design principles required to inform the design of a coordination mobile app for special education. Then, a mobile app (IEP-Connect) is designed and implemented with the aim of facilitating information sharing between different parties involved in the intervention of students with SEND. The proposed app uses the Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) as the focal point of coordination. The evaluation of the app focused on students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as their learning requires sharing information from different distributed sources. Results from the usability study revealed that the app has “good” usability and that participants were satisfied with the use of the app for recording and sharing IEP information. The results of this study provide an understanding of the ways in which a coordination app for special education could be made easy and rewarding to use.

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Computer Based Oculomotor Training Improves Reading Abilities in Dyslexic Children: Results from A Pilot Study

Sports Injuries & Medicine ◽

10.29011/2576-9596.100030 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Maria Pia Bucci

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Reading Abilities ◽

Computer Based

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A Mobile App Specifically Designed to Facilitate Exercise in Parkinson Disease: Single-Cohort Pilot Study on Feasibility, Safety, and Signal of Efficacy

JMIR mhealth and uhealth ◽

10.2196/18985 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (10) ◽

pp. e18985

Author(s):

Merrill R Landers ◽

Terry D Ellis

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Parkinson Disease ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Mobile App ◽

Medical Attention ◽

Timed Up And Go ◽

Serious Adverse Events ◽

Primary Endpoints ◽

Single Cohort

Background Many people with Parkinson disease do not have access to exercise programs that are specifically tailored to their needs and capabilities. This mobile app allows people with Parkinson disease to access Parkinson disease–specific exercises that are individually tailored using in-app demographic questions and performance tests which are fed into an algorithm which in turn produces a video-guided exercise program. Objective To test the feasibility, safety, and signal of efficacy of a mobile app that facilitates exercise for people with Parkinson disease. Methods A prospective, single-cohort design of people with Parkinson disease who had downloaded the 9zest app for exercise was used for this 12-week pilot study. Participants, who were recruited online, were encouraged to exercise with the full automated app for ≥150 minutes each week. The primary endpoints were feasibility (app usage and usability questions) and safety (adverse events and falls). The primary endpoints for signal of efficacy were a comparison of the in-app baseline and 8-week outcomes on the 30-second Sit-To-Stand (STS) test, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and the Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire 8 (PDQ8). Results For feasibility, of the 28 participants that completed the study, 12 participants averaged >150 minutes of app usage per week (3 averaged 120-150, 4 averaged 90-120, and 9 averaged less than 90 minutes). A majority of participants (>74%) felt the exercise was of value (16/19; 9 nonrespondents), provided adequate instruction (14/19; 9 nonrespondents), and was appropriate for level of function (16/19; 9 nonrespondents). For safety, there were no serious adverse events that occurred during the app-guided exercise. There were 4 reports of strain/sprain injuries while using the app among 3 participants, none of which necessitated medical attention. For signal of efficacy, there was improvement for each of the primary endpoints: STS (P=.01), TUG (P<.001), and PDQ8 (P=.01). Conclusions Independent, video-guided exercise using a mobile app designed for exercise in Parkinson disease was safe and feasible though there was variability in app usage. Despite this, the results provide evidence for a signal of efficacy as there were improvements in 3 of the 3 outcomes. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03459586; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03459586

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Mobile app as a fetal monitoring aid – a pilot study

Sykepleien Forskning ◽

10.4220/sykepleienf.2021.86047en ◽

2021 ◽

pp. e-86047

Author(s):

Karoline Berg ◽

Eirin Haave ◽

Ellen Blix ◽

Aase Devold Pay

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Fetal Monitoring ◽

Mobile App

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A pilot study of a wearable device with mobile app-assisted exercise training program in patients with type 2 diabetes

10.26226/morressier.59d51846d462b80296ca3aae ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Liu Yuan-Ching

Keyword(s):

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Exercise Training ◽

Training Program ◽

Mobile App ◽

Wearable Device ◽

Exercise Training Program

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A Dietary Mobile App for Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: Prospective Pilot Study to Improve Dietary Intakes

Journal of Medical Internet Research ◽

10.2196/17817 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (7) ◽

pp. e17817

Author(s):

Cosette Fakih El Khoury ◽

Rik Crutzen ◽

Jos M G A Schols ◽

Ruud J G Halfens ◽

Mirey Karavetian

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Effect Size ◽

Mobile App ◽

Dietary Guidelines ◽

Medium Effect ◽

Dietary Intakes ◽

Large Effect Size ◽

Prospective Pilot Study ◽

Medium Effect Size

Background Mobile technology has an impact on the health care sector, also within dietetics. Mobile health (mHealth) apps may be used for dietary assessment and self-monitoring, allowing for real-time reporting of food intakes. Changing eating behaviors is quite challenging, and patients undergoing hemodialysis, particularly, struggle to meet the target intakes set by dietary guidelines. Usage of mobile apps that are developed in a person-centered approach and in line with recommendations may support both patients and health care practitioners. Objective This study is a pilot that aims at estimating the potential efficacy of a dietary intervention using a theory-based, person-centered smartphone app. Results will be used to improve both the app and a planned large-scale trial intended to assess app efficacy thoroughly. Methods A prospective pilot study was performed at the hemodialysis unit of Al Qassimi Hospital (The Emirate of Sharjah). All patients that fulfilled the study inclusion criteria were considered eligible to be enrolled in the pilot study. Upon successful installation of the app, users met with a dietitian once a week. Outcomes were measured at baseline (T0) and 2 weeks post app usage (T1). This pilot is reported as per guidelines for nonrandomized pilot and feasibility studies and in line with the CONSORT 2010 checklist for reporting pilot or feasibility trials. Results A total of 23 patients completed the pilot intervention. Mean energy intakes increased from 24.4 kcal/kg/day (SD 8.0) to 29.1 kcal/kg/day (SD 7.8) with a medium effect size (d=0.6, 95% CI 0.0-1.2). Mean protein intakes increased from 0.9 g/kg/day (SD 0.3) to 1.3 g/kg/day (SD 0.5) with a large effect size (d=1.0, 95% CI 0.4-1.6); mean intake of high biological value (%HBV) proteins also increased from 58.6% (SD 10.1) to 70.1% (SD 10.7) with a large effect size (d=1.1, 95% CI 0.5-1.7). Dietary intakes of minerals did not change, apart from sodium which decreased from a mean intake of 2218.8 mg/day (SD 631.6) to 1895.3 mg/day (SD 581.0) with a medium effect size (d=0.5, 95% CI 0.1-1.1). Mean serum phosphorus, potassium, and albumin levels did not change relevantly. Mean serum iron increased from 7.9 mg/dL (SD 2.8) to 11.5 mg/dL (SD 7.9) postintervention with a medium effect size (d=0.6, 95% CI 0.0-1.2). Conclusions This pilot study showed that the KELA.AE app has the potential to improve dietary intakes. Processes related to procedure, resources, tools, and app improvement for a future trial were assessed. A more extended intervention using a randomized controlled trial is required to estimate parameters concerning app efficacy accurately.

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Mobile App Strategy to Facilitate Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men: Pilot Intervention Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.22878 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Holly B Fontenot ◽

Bradley Patrick White ◽

Joshua G Rosenberger ◽

Hailee Lacasse ◽

Chokdee Rutirasiri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Papillomavirus ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Design Thinking ◽

Online Dating ◽

Care Delivery ◽

Hpv Vaccination ◽

Young Men ◽

Mobile App ◽

Young Msm ◽

Sex With Men

BACKGROUND Mobile app-based interventions have been identified as potential facilitators for vaccination among young men who have sex with men (MSM). OBJECTIVE This pilot study aimed to test the feasibility of a theoretically informed mobile health (mHealth) tool designed to reduce health disparities and facilitate human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among a sample of young MSM. METHODS The development of the mHealth tool was guided by previous research, implementation intention theory, and design thinking. We recruited MSM aged 18-26 years through a popular online dating app and linked participants to our mHealth tool, which provided HPV vaccine information and fostered access to care. RESULTS A total of 42 young MSM participated in this pilot study in Boston, Massachusetts. Participants reported variable HPV knowledge (ie, high knowledge of HPV risk factors and low knowledge of HPV-related cancer risks for men) and positive vaccine beliefs and attitudes. Of those who were either unvaccinated, not up to date, or did not report vaccine status, 23% (8/35) utilized the mHealth tool to obtain HPV vaccination. Participants primarily utilized the tool’s (1) educational components and (2) capabilities facilitating concrete vaccine action plans. CONCLUSIONS We recruited an underserved at-risk population of youth via an online dating app for our mHealth intervention that resulted in in-person health care delivery. This study was limited by enrollment challenges, including low willingness to download the mHealth tool to mobile devices.

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Exercise Management Using a Mobile App in Patients with Parkinsonism: A Prospective, Open-label, Single-arm, Pilot Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.27662 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Aram Kim ◽

Seo Jung Yun ◽

Kwan Sik Sung ◽

Yeonju Kim ◽

Ju Young Jo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Management Strategy ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Mobile App ◽

Open Label ◽

Home Based ◽

Secondary Outcomes

BACKGROUND Although exercise has benefits for motor function and quality of life in patients with parkinsonism, these patients have many barriers to exercise participation. Recently, the use of mobile apps has been highlighted as a remotely supervised exercise management strategy. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the effects of home-based exercise management with a customized mobile app on exercise amount, physical activity, and quality of life in patients with parkinsonism. METHODS This was a prospective, open-label, single-arm, pilot study. Participants were encouraged to engage in an 8-week home-based exercise program delivered through a customized app. The primary outcome was the exercise amount. The secondary outcomes were International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-39 (PDQ-39), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). RESULTS A total of 21 participants completed the intervention and assessment (mean age: 72 years; women: 17/21, 81%; men: 4/21, 19%). The participants reported a significant increase in the total amount of exercise (baseline: 343.33±206.70 min/week; 8-week follow up: 693.10±373.45 min/week; P<.001) and in the amount of each exercise component including stretching, strengthening, balance and cooperation, and oral-motor and vocal exercise after 8 weeks. The analysis of secondary outcomes revealed significant improvements in the IPAQ (P=.006), PDQ-39 (P=.02), and GDS (P=.04) scores. The usability of the program with the mobile app was verified based on the positive responses such as “intention to use” and “role expectation for rehabilitation.” CONCLUSIONS Exercise management with a customized mobile app may have benefits for improving exercise adherence, physical activity, depression, and quality of life in patients with parkinsonism. This supervised home-based, technology-based, reinforcing, and multimodal exercise management strategy should be recommend to patients with parkinsonism. In addition, this program may be useful as an alternative exercise management strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional clinical trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy of this exercise program in a large population and to confirm its disease-modifying effects.

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