scholarly journals Mobile phone access and implications for digital health interventions among adolescents and young adults in Zimbabwe: A cross-sectional survey (Preprint)

10.2196/21244 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aoife Doyle ◽  
Tsitsi Bandason ◽  
Ethel Dauya ◽  
Grace McHugh ◽  
Chris Grundy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Adolescents And Young Adults ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Phone Access

scholarly journals Mobile phone access and implications for digital health interventions among adolescents and young people in Zimbabwe: A cross-sectional survey (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aoife Doyle ◽  
Tsitsi Bandason ◽  
Ethel Dauya ◽  
Grace McHugh ◽  
Chris Grundy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Service Engagement

BACKGROUND Mobile phones may help young people (YP) access health information and support health service engagement. However, in low-income settings there is limited knowledge on YP’s phone and internet access to inform the feasibility of implementing digital health interventions. OBJECTIVE We investigated YP’s access to technology to inform the development of mobile interventions for HIV self-testing and mental health counselling within a trial of community-based health interventions for YP (CHIEDZA) in Zimbabwe. METHODS A cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted from October to December 2018 among YP aged 13-24 years in five CHIEDZA communities in urban and peri-urban Harare and Mashonaland East, Zimbabwe. Consenting YP completed a short self-completed tablet-based questionnaire on mobile phone ownership and use, and use of the internet. The primary outcome was the proportion who reported owning a mobile phone. Multiple logistic regression was used to investigate factors associated with mobile phone ownership and with internet access, with adjustment for the one-stage cluster sampling design. A priori exploratory variables were age, sex, marital status, and urban/peri-urban residence. RESULTS A total of 634/719 (88.2%) eligible YP, mean age 18.0 years (SD 3.3) and 62.6% female, participated. Of the YP interviewed, 62.6% (95%CI 58.5, 66.5) reported owning a phone and a further 4.3% reported having access to a shared phone. Phone ownership increased with age: 27.0% of 13-15-year olds, 61.0% of 16-17-year olds, 71.5% of 18-19 year olds and 84.7% of 20-24 year olds (OR 1.4 (1.3, 1.5) per year increase). Ownership was similar among females and males (61.2% (95%CI 55.8, 66.3) vs. 64.8% (95%CI 57.8, 71.2); age-adjusted OR 0.7 (0.5, 1.1)), and similar across other socio-demographic factors. YP reported that 85.3% of phones, either owned or shared, were smartphones. The most commonly used phone application was WhatsApp (71%), and 16.4% of phone owners reported having ever used their phone to track their health. A total of 407/631 (64.5% (95%CI 60.3, 68.5)) currently had access to the internet (used in last 3 months on any device) with access increasing with age (OR 1.2 (1.2, 1.3) per year increase). In age adjusted analysis, internet access was higher among males, the unmarried, those with a higher level of education, phone owners, and those who had lived in the community for more than one year. The aspect of the Internet that YP most disliked was unwanted sexual (27%) and violent (13%) content. CONCLUSIONS Mobile phone-based interventions may be feasible in this population; however, such interventions could increase inequity especially if they require access to the internet. Internet-based interventions should consider potential risks for participants and incorporate skill-building on safe internet and phone use.

scholarly journals Mobile Phone Access and Preferences Among Medical Inpatients at an Urban Canadian Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Survey

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam AboMoslim ◽  
Niloufar Ghaseminejad-Tafreshi ◽  
Abdulaa Babili ◽  
Samia El Joueidi ◽  
John A Staples ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Medical Ward ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Medical Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Phone Access

Abstract Background: Digital health interventions are increasingly used for patient care, yet little data is available on the phone access type and usage preferences of medical ward patients to inform the most appropriate digital interventions.Methods: To learn about mobile phone ownership, internet access, and cellular use preferences among medical patients, we conducted a researcher-administered survey of patients admitted to five internal medicine units at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) in January 2020.Results: A total of 81 ward patients completed the questionnaire from the two survey dates. Of those, 63.0% owned their own mobile phone, an additional 22.2% had access to a mobile phone via a proxy (or an authorized third-party) such as a family member, and 14.8% did not own or have access to a mobile phone. All participants with mobile phone access had cellular plans (i.e., phone and text) ; however, a quarter of respondents did not have data plans with internet. 71.1% of men owned a mobile phone compared to only 52.8% of women. All participants at a ‘high’ risk of readmission had access to a mobile phone, either as phone-owners or proxy-dependent users.Conclusion: Access to mobile phones among medical ward patients was high, but incomplete. More patients had cellular than data plans (i.e., internet and applications). Understanding patient-specific access is key to informing potential uptake of digital health interventions aimed at using patients’ mobile phones (mHealth) from an effectiveness and equity lens.

scholarly journals Digital Interventions to Support Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer: Systematic Review

JMIR Cancer ◽  
10.2196/12071 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. e12071 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa McCann ◽  
Kathryn Anne McMillan ◽  
Gemma Pugh
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Adolescents And Young Adults ◽  
Research Papers ◽  
Digital Interventions ◽  
Diagnosis Of Cancer

Background The last decade has seen an increase in the number of digital health interventions designed to support adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer. Objective The objective of this review was to identify, characterize, and fully assess the quality, feasibility, and efficacy of existing digital health interventions developed specifically for AYAs, aged between 13 and 39 years, living with or beyond a cancer diagnosis. Methods Searches were performed in PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science to identify digital health interventions designed specifically for AYA living with or beyond a cancer diagnosis. Data on the characteristics and outcomes of each intervention were synthesized. Results A total of 4731 intervention studies were identified through the searches; 38 interventions (43 research papers) met the inclusion criteria. Most (20/38, 53%) were website-based interventions. Most studies focused on symptom management and medication adherence (15, 39%), behavior change (15, 39%), self-care (8, 21%), and emotional health (7, 18%). Most digital health interventions included multiple automated and communicative functions such as enriched information environments, automated follow-up messages, and access to peer support. Where reported (20, 53% of studies), AYAs’ subjective experience of using the digital platform was typically positive. The overall quality of the studies was found to be good (mean Quality Assessment Criteria for Evaluating Primary Research Papers from a Variety of Fields scores >68%). Some studies reported feasibility outcomes (uptake, acceptability, and attrition) but were not sufficiently powered to comment on intervention effects. Conclusions Numerous digital interventions have been developed and designed to support young people living with and beyond a diagnosis of cancer. However, many of these interventions have yet to be deployed, implemented, and evaluated at scale.

scholarly journals Awareness of alcohol marketing, ownership of alcohol branded merchandise, and the association with alcohol consumption, higher-risk drinking, and drinking susceptibility in adolescents and young adults: a cross-sectional survey in the UK

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. e025297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Critchlow ◽  
Anne Marie MacKintosh ◽  
Christopher Thomas ◽  
Lucie Hooper ◽  
Jyotsna Vohra
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Adolescents And Young Adults ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Alcohol Marketing ◽  
Peer Approval ◽  
Current Drinker ◽  
The Uk ◽  
A Current

ObjectivesTo explore awareness of alcohol marketing and ownership of alcohol branded merchandise in adolescents and young adults in the UK, what factors are associated with awareness and ownership, and what association awareness and ownership have with alcohol consumption, higher-risk drinking and susceptibility.DesignOnline cross-sectional survey conducted during April–May 2017.SettingThe UK.ParticipantsAdolescents and young adults aged 11–19 years in the UK (n=3399).Main outcome measuresAlcohol Use Disorders Identification Test–Consumption (AUDIT-C) (0–12) and indication of higher-risk consumption (>5 AUDIT-C) in current drinkers. Susceptibility to drink (yes/no) in never drinkers.ResultsEighty-two per cent of respondents were aware of at least one form of alcohol marketing in the past month and 17% owned branded merchandise. χ2tests found that awareness of marketing and ownership of branded merchandise varied within drinking variables. For example, higher awareness of alcohol marketing was associated with being a current drinker (χ2=114.04, p<0.001), higher-risk drinking (χ2=85.84, p<0.001), and perceived parental (χ2=63.06, p<0.001) and peer approval of consumption (χ2=73.08, p<0.001). Among current drinkers, multivariate regressions (controlling for demographics and covariates) found that marketing awareness and owning branded merchandise was positively associated with AUDIT-C score and higher-risk consumption. For example, current drinkers reporting medium marketing awareness were twice as likely to be higher-risk drinkers as those reporting low awareness (adjusted OR (AOR)=2.18, 95% CI 1.39 to 3.42, p<0.001). Among never drinkers, respondents who owned branded merchandise were twice as likely to be susceptible to drinking as those who did not (AOR=1.98, 95% CI 1.20 to 3.24, p<0.01).ConclusionsYoung people, above and below the legal purchasing age, are aware of a range of alcohol marketing and almost one in five own alcohol branded merchandise. In current drinkers, alcohol marketing awareness was associated with increased consumption and greater likelihood of higher-risk consumption. In never drinkers, ownership of branded merchandise was associated with susceptibility.

scholarly journals A Systematic Review of Transition Readiness in Youth with Chronic Disease

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 554-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maureen Varty ◽  
Lori L. Popejoy
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Chronically Ill ◽  
Adolescents And Young Adults ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Transition Readiness ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Modifiable Factors

The transition of chronically ill adolescents and young adults to adult health care is poorly managed, leading to poor outcomes due to insufficient disease knowledge and a lack of requisite skills to self-manage their chronic disease. This review analyzed 33 articles published between 2009 and 2019 to identify factors associated with transition readiness in adolescents and young adults with chronic diseases, which can be used to design effective interventions. Studies were predominantly cross-sectional survey designs that were guided by interdisciplinary research teams, assessed adolescents and young adults ages 12–26 years, and conducted in the outpatient setting. Modifiable factors, including psychosocial and self-management/transition education factors, and non-modifiable factors, including demographic/ecological and disease factors, associated with transition readiness were identified. Further research is necessary to address gaps identified in this review prior to intervention development, and there is a need for additional longitudinal studies designed to provide perspective on how transition readiness changes over time.

scholarly journals Patterns of Mobile Phone Ownership and Use Among Pregnant Women in Southern Tanzania: Cross-Sectional Survey

10.2196/17122 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. e17122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lavanya Vasudevan ◽  
Jan Ostermann ◽  
Sara Marwerwe Moses ◽  
Esther Ngadaya ◽  
Sayoki Godfrey Mfinanga
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Rural Women ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Phone Calls

Background There is a paucity of subnational data on patterns of mobile phone ownership and use in Tanzania to inform the development of digital health interventions. Objective The aim of this study is to assess patterns of mobile phone ownership and use in pregnant women to inform the feasibility and design of digital health interventions for promoting timely uptake of childhood vaccines in southern Tanzania. Methods Between August and November 2017, pregnant women in their third trimester were enrolled at health facilities and from surrounding communities, and asked about their patterns of mobile phone ownership and use in an interviewer administered survey. Results Of 406 women, only 3 had never used a phone. Most women (>98%) could make and receive phone calls. Compared to urban women, rural women reported higher mobile phone use rates but were less likely to be sole owners of phones, and less likely to send or receive SMS, transact money, browse the internet, or use social media via mobile phones. Conclusions The findings suggest high feasibility for digital health interventions delivered via mobile phones to pregnant women in southern Tanzania. The feasibility of smartphone-based interventions or strategies relying on the use of social media or the internet is limited.

scholarly journals Age at Smoking Initiation in Slovenia

2015 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 274-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Koprivnikar ◽  
Aleš Korošec
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Social Class ◽  
Tobacco Control ◽  
Smoking Initiation ◽  
Smoking Prevention ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Adolescents And Young Adults ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Geographical Regions

Abstract Background. Smoking is initiated mostly by adolescents and young adults. In Slovenia, we have limited data about this. The purpose of this paper is to show data on age at smoking initiation and differences in age at smoking initiation by gender, age groups, education, social class and geographical region among inhabitants of Slovenia. Methods. We used data from the cross-sectional survey ‘Health-related behaviour 2012’ in Slovenian population aged from 25 to 74 years. Results. 4591 ever smokers, aged 25-74, that gave information about the age at smoking initiation were included in the analysis. At the age of 25 or less, smoking was initiated by 96.7% of Slovene ever smokers, at the age of 18 or less by 71.0%. The average age at smoking initiation was 17.7 years. Male ever smokers initiated smoking at an earlier age compared to female ones. Age at smoking initiation was decreasing in both male and female ever smokers, but was more pronounced in females. In male ever smokers, there were no differences in average smoking initiation age by education, self-reported social class and geographical regions, while in female ever smokers, there were significant differences in terms of education and geographical regions. Conclusion. The initiation of smoking predominantly occurs in adolescents and young adults. Age at smoking initiation has decreased in recent decades. Our study confirms the importance of early and sustained smoking prevention programmes in youth and the importance of national comprehensive tobacco control programme with effective tobacco control measures to ban tobacco products marketing.

Young adults’ preferred options for receiving chlamydia screening test results: a cross-sectional survey of 6085 young adults

2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 635-639 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Brugha ◽  
M Balfe ◽  
R M Conroy ◽  
E Clarke ◽  
M Fitzgerald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Screening Test ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Phone Call ◽  
Chlamydia Screening ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Transmitted Infection ◽  
Cross Sectional

Summary We investigated how young adults aged 18-29 years would like to be notified of chlamydia screening test results, and, when they test positive, their willingness and preferred mechanism for informing their partners. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 6085 young adults and found that a call to their mobile phone was their preferred way of receiving positive test results (selected by 50%), followed by email. Text messages (short message service [SMS]) and calls to landline phones were unpopular options, selected by between 5 and 10%. Over 75% of respondents stated they would inform their current partner of a positive chlamydia diagnosis, and 50% would inform their previous partners. Most were willing to receive yearly reminders to go for a chlamydia test. Young adults preference for being informed of chlamydia test results by mobile phone call, rather than by email or SMS text, especially if they test positive, suggests they place high value on the security of the communication mechanism. Offering a range of mechanisms for receipt of test results may increase the acceptability and coverage of sexually transmitted infection (STI) control strategies.

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