scholarly journals Influences on the Uptake of Health and Well-being Apps and Curated App Portals: Think-Aloud and Interview Study

10.2196/27173 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. e27173
Author(s):  
Dorothy Szinay ◽  
Olga Perski ◽  
Andy Jones ◽  
Tim Chadborn ◽  
Jamie Brown ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Protection ◽  
Social Influences ◽  
Theoretical Domains Framework ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Perceived Utility ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Health And Well Being

Background Health and well-being smartphone apps can provide a cost-effective solution to addressing unhealthy behaviors. The selection of these apps tends to occur in commercial app stores, where thousands of health apps are available. Their uptake is often influenced by popularity indicators. However, these indicators are not necessarily associated with app effectiveness or evidence-based content. Alternative routes to app selection are increasingly available, such as via curated app portals, but little is known about people’s experiences of them. Objective The aim of this study is to explore how people select health apps on the internet and their views on curated app portals. Methods A total of 18 UK-based adults were recruited through social media and asked during an in-person meeting to verbalize their thoughts while searching for a health or well-being app on the internet on a platform of their choice. The search was then repeated on 2 curated health app portals: the National Health Service Apps Library and the Public Health England One You App portal. This was followed by semistructured interviews. Data were analyzed using framework analysis, informed by the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behavior model and the Theoretical Domains Framework. Results Searching for health and well-being apps on the internet was described as a minefield. App uptake appeared to be influenced by participants’ capabilities such as app literacy skills and health and app awareness, and opportunities including the availability of apps, app esthetics, the price of an app, and social influences. Motivation factors that seemed to affect the uptake were perceived competence, time efficiency, perceived utility and accuracy of an app, transparency about data protection, commitment and social identity, and a wide range of emotions. Social influences and the perceived utility of an app were highlighted as particularly important. Participants were not previously aware of curated portals but found the concept appealing. Curated health app portals appeared to engender trust and alleviate data protection concerns. Although apps listed on these were perceived as more trustworthy, their presentation was considered disappointing. This disappointment seemed to stem from the functionality of the portals, lack of user guidance, and lack of tailored content to an individual’s needs. Conclusions The uptake of health and well-being apps appears to be primarily affected by social influences and the perceived utility of an app. App uptake via curated health app portals perceived as credible may mitigate concerns related to data protection and accuracy, but their implementation must better meet user needs and expectations.

scholarly journals Influences on the uptake of health and wellbeing apps and curated app portals: a think aloud and interview study. (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorothy Szinay ◽  
Olga Perski ◽  
Andy Jones ◽  
Tim Chadborn ◽  
Jamie Brown ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Protection ◽  
Social Influences ◽  
Theoretical Domains Framework ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Perceived Utility ◽  
Address Data ◽  
Important People

BACKGROUND Health and wellbeing smartphone apps can be identified through different routes, including via curated health app portals, but little is known about people’s experiences of this. OBJECTIVE This study explored how people select health apps online and their views on curated portals. METHODS Eighteen UK-based adults were recruited and asked to verbalise their thoughts whilst searching for a health or wellbeing app online, including on two curated health app portals. This was followed by semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using Framework Analysis, informed by the COM-B model and the Theoretical Domains Framework. RESULTS Searching for health and wellbeing apps online was described as a ‘minefield’. App uptake appeared to be influenced by i) capabilities (e.g. app literacy skills, health and app awareness), ii) opportunities (e.g. app aesthetics, cost and social influences) and iii) motivation (e.g. the perceived utility and accuracy of the app, and transparency about data protection). Social influences and the percieved utility of an app, in particular, were important. People were not previously aware of curated portals but found the concept appealing and likely to engender trust and address data protection concerns. While apps listed on these were perceived as more trustworthy, their presentation was considered disappointing. CONCLUSIONS The uptake of health and wellbeing apps appear primarily influenced by social influences and the perceived utility of the app. With curated health app portals perceived as credible, app uptake via such portals may mitigate concerns related to data protection and accuracy, but their implementation must better meet user needs. CLINICALTRIAL NA

scholarly journals Influences on the Uptake of and Engagement With Health and Well-Being Smartphone Apps: Systematic Review

10.2196/17572 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. e17572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorothy Szinay ◽  
Andy Jones ◽  
Tim Chadborn ◽  
Jamie Brown ◽  
Felix Naughton
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Theoretical Domains Framework ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Database Systems ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Smartphone Apps ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Health And Well Being

Background The public health impact of health and well-being digital interventions is dependent upon sufficient real-world uptake and engagement. Uptake is currently largely dependent on popularity indicators (eg, ranking and user ratings on app stores), which may not correspond with effectiveness, and rapid disengagement is common. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify factors that influence uptake and engagement with health and well-being apps to inform new approaches that promote the effective use of such tools. Objective This review aimed to understand what is known about influences on the uptake of and engagement with health and well-being smartphone apps among adults. Methods We conducted a systematic review of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods studies. Studies conducted on adults were included if they focused on health and well-being smartphone apps reporting on uptake and engagement behavior. Studies identified through a systematic search in Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, or MEDLARS Online (MEDLINE), EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsychINFO, Scopus, Cochrane library databases, DataBase systems and Logic Programming (DBLP), and Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Digital library were screened, with a proportion screened independently by 2 authors. Data synthesis and interpretation were undertaken using a deductive iterative process. External validity checking was undertaken by an independent researcher. A narrative synthesis of the findings was structured around the components of the capability, opportunity, motivation, behavior change model and the theoretical domains framework (TDF). Results Of the 7640 identified studies, 41 were included in the review. Factors related to uptake (U), engagement (E), or both (B) were identified. Under capability, the main factors identified were app literacy skills (B), app awareness (U), available user guidance (B), health information (E), statistical information on progress (E), well-designed reminders (E), features to reduce cognitive load (E), and self-monitoring features (E). Availability at low cost (U), positive tone, and personalization (E) were identified as physical opportunity factors, whereas recommendations for health and well-being apps (U), embedded health professional support (E), and social networking (E) possibilities were social opportunity factors. Finally, the motivation factors included positive feedback (E), available rewards (E), goal setting (E), and the perceived utility of the app (E). Conclusions Across a wide range of populations and behaviors, 26 factors relating to capability, opportunity, and motivation appear to influence the uptake of and engagement with health and well-being smartphone apps. Our recommendations may help app developers, health app portal developers, and policy makers in the optimization of health and well-being apps.

scholarly journals Influences on the Uptake of and Engagement With Health and Well-Being Smartphone Apps: Systematic Review (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorothy Szinay ◽  
Andy Jones ◽  
Tim Chadborn ◽  
Jamie Brown ◽  
Felix Naughton
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Theoretical Domains Framework ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Database Systems ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Smartphone Apps ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Health And Well Being

BACKGROUND The public health impact of health and well-being digital interventions is dependent upon sufficient real-world uptake and engagement. Uptake is currently largely dependent on popularity indicators (eg, ranking and user ratings on app stores), which may not correspond with effectiveness, and rapid disengagement is common. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify factors that influence uptake and engagement with health and well-being apps to inform new approaches that promote the effective use of such tools. OBJECTIVE This review aimed to understand what is known about influences on the uptake of and engagement with health and well-being smartphone apps among adults. METHODS We conducted a systematic review of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods studies. Studies conducted on adults were included if they focused on health and well-being smartphone apps reporting on uptake and engagement behavior. Studies identified through a systematic search in Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, or MEDLARS Online (MEDLINE), EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsychINFO, Scopus, Cochrane library databases, DataBase systems and Logic Programming (DBLP), and Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Digital library were screened, with a proportion screened independently by 2 authors. Data synthesis and interpretation were undertaken using a deductive iterative process. External validity checking was undertaken by an independent researcher. A narrative synthesis of the findings was structured around the components of the capability, opportunity, motivation, behavior change model and the theoretical domains framework (TDF). RESULTS Of the 7640 identified studies, 41 were included in the review. Factors related to uptake (U), engagement (E), or both (B) were identified. Under <i>capability</i>, the main factors identified were app literacy skills (B), app awareness (U), available user guidance (B), health information (E), statistical information on progress (E), well-designed reminders (E), features to reduce cognitive load (E), and self-monitoring features (E). Availability at low cost (U), positive tone, and personalization (E) were identified as physical <i>opportunity</i> factors, whereas recommendations for health and well-being apps (U), embedded health professional support (E), and social networking (E) possibilities were social <i>opportunity</i> factors. Finally, the <i>motivation</i> factors included positive feedback (E), available rewards (E), goal setting (E), and the perceived utility of the app (E). CONCLUSIONS Across a wide range of populations and behaviors, 26 factors relating to capability, opportunity, and motivation appear to influence the uptake of and engagement with health and well-being smartphone apps. Our recommendations may help app developers, health app portal developers, and policy makers in the optimization of health and well-being apps.

Happiness at the End of Life: A Qualitative Study

2020 ◽  
pp. 104990912093985
Author(s):  
Anne O’Callaghan ◽  
Ben Bickford ◽  
Conor Rea ◽  
Antonio Fernando ◽  
Phillipa Malpas
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Hospice Care ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Natural World ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Present Moment ◽  
Hospice Patients ◽  
Health And Well Being

Background: Happiness is a core ingredient of health and well-being, yet relatively little is known about what happiness means for individuals near the end of life, and whether perceptions of happiness change as individuals approach the end of their lives. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore, through interviews, how individuals experiencing hospice care understood and conceptualized happiness. Design: Qualitative interviews with hospice patients were analyzed thematically. Setting/Participants: Adult patients (n = 20) in a New Zealand hospice who were receiving palliative care and who could give their informed consent were invited by hospice nurse coordinators to an interview. Results: Four themes emerged from analysis of the transcribed interviews. Participants defined happiness most frequently and in most depth in relation to connection with others. They identified being in the present moment, particularly in relation to nature, and that happiness had become less associated with money, status, or possessions. They had an attitude of determination to focus on what mattered now. Conclusion: Patients receiving palliative care were generally happy with their lives, appreciated the simpler aspects of life away from the material. There was a common exhortation to young people to avoid focusing too much on acquisition and the internet and to prioritize instead social connection and engagement with the natural world.

Beyond Coping

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Stress And Coping ◽  
Significant Shift ◽  
Contemporary Society ◽  
Positive Orientation ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
And Coping ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Everyday Living

There are many challenges to be faced in contemporary society including the stresses of everyday living in the technological age and changes in patterns of employment and family life. Depression is being experienced in ‘epidemic’ proportions in many Western communities, and in particular amongst young people. The search for effective ways to reverse this trend has resulted in a significant shift in psychological approach from a focus on helplessness and pathology to a more positive orientation that emphasises health and well-being. This volume brings together leading researchers in the field of stress and coping to consider ways in which coping research contributes to our understanding of how people in different sectors of life meet goals and challenges. It provides a synthesis of different but compatible theoretical models that have been developed in the field of stress and coping and provides a way forward beyond the traditional stress and coping paradigms. The emergent model is able to be used to assess a wide range of issues in the stress and coping domain.

scholarly journals Cohort profile: the DANish LIFE course (DANLIFE) cohort, a prospective register-based cohort of all children born in Denmark since 1980

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. e027217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Bengtsson ◽  
Nadya Dich ◽  
Andreas Rieckmann ◽  
Naja Hulvej Rod
Keyword(s):  
Life Course ◽  
Young Adulthood ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Full Data ◽  
Childhood Adversities ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Adolescence And Young Adulthood ◽  
Health And Well Being

PurposeThe DANish LIFE course (DANLIFE) cohort is a prospective register-based study set up to investigate the complex life course mechanisms linking childhood adversities to health and well-being in childhood, adolescence and young adulthood including cumulative and synergistic actions and potentially sensitive periods in relation to health outcomes.ParticipantsAll children born in Denmark in 1980 or thereafter have successively been included in the cohort totalling more than 2.2 million children. To date, the study population has been followed annually in the nationwide Danish registers for an average of 16.8 years with full data coverage in the entire follow-up period. The information is currently updated until 2015.Findings to dateDANLIFE provides information on a wide range of family-related childhood adversities (eg, parental separation, death of a parent or sibling, economic disadvantage) with important psychosocial implications for health and well-being in childhood, adolescence and young adulthood. Measurement of covariates indicating demographic (eg, age, sex), social (eg, parental education) and health-related factors (eg, birth weight) has also been included from the nationwide registers. In this cohort profile, we provide an overview of the childhood adversities and covariates included in DANLIFE. We also demonstrate that there is a clear social gradient in the exposure to childhood adversities confirming clustering of adverse experiences within individuals.Future plansDANLIFE provides a valuable platform for research into early life adversity and opens unique possibilities for testing new research ideas on how childhood adversities affect health across the life course.

scholarly journals The relationships between rugby union, and health and well-being: a scoping review

2020 ◽  
pp. bjsports-2020-102085 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steffan A Griffin ◽  
Nirmala Kanthi Panagodage Perera ◽  
Andrew Murray ◽  
Catherine Hartley ◽  
Samantha G Fawkner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Health And Well Being

ObjectiveTo scope the relationships between rugby union, and health and well-being.DesignScoping review.Data sourcesPublished and unpublished reports of any age, identified by searching electronic databases, platforms and reference lists.MethodsA three-step search strategy identified relevant published primary, secondary studies and grey literature, which were screened using a priori inclusion criteria. Data were extracted using a standardised tool, to form (1) a numerical analysis and (2) a thematic summary.Results and discussion6658 records were identified, and 198 studies met the inclusion criteria. All forms of rugby union can provide health-enhancing physical activity (PA). ‘Non-contact’ and wheelchair rugby in particular provide a wide range of physical and mental health and well-being benefits. The evidence is either mixed or unclear in relation to ‘contact’ rugby union and its effects on a range of physical health domains. Injury and concussion incidence rates are high for contact rugby union relative to other sports.ConclusionsA wide range of stakeholders as well as existing and potential participants can use this information to make a more informed decision about participating in and promoting rugby union as a health-enhancing activity. Industry and policy-makers can use this review to inform policies and strategies that look to increase participation rates and use rugby union as a vehicle to contribute positively to population health. Further research understanding rugby union’s contribution to PA as well as to muscle-strengthening and balance is indicated, as well as research examining more health and well-being outcomes across more diverse cohorts.

scholarly journals Development of a Mobile Phone App to Support Self-Monitoring of Emotional Well-Being: A Mental Health Digital Innovation

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. e49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikki Rickard ◽  
Hussain-Abdulah Arjmand ◽  
David Bakker ◽  
Elizabeth Seabrook
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Health Research ◽  
Primary Component ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Mobile Phone Technology ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Health And Well Being

BackgroundEmotional well-being is a primary component of mental health and well-being. Monitoring changes in emotional state daily over extended periods is, however, difficult using traditional methodologies. Providing mental health support is also challenging when approximately only 1 in 2 people with mental health issues seek professional help. Mobile phone technology offers a sustainable means of enhancing self-management of emotional well-being.ObjectiveThis paper aims to describe the development of a mobile phone tool designed to monitor emotional changes in a natural everyday context and in real time.MethodsThis evidence-informed mobile phone app monitors emotional mental health and well-being, and it provides links to mental health organization websites and resources. The app obtains data via self-report psychological questionnaires, experience sampling methodology (ESM), and automated behavioral data collection.ResultsFeedback from 11 individuals (age range 16-52 years; 4 males, 7 females), who tested the app over 30 days, confirmed via survey and focus group methods that the app was functional and usable.ConclusionsRecommendations for future researchers and developers of mental health apps to be used for research are also presented. The methodology described in this paper offers a powerful tool for a range of potential mental health research studies and provides a valuable standard against which development of future mental health apps should be considered.

scholarly journals Competence of Teachers and Psychologists in the Field of Information Security of Children

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 261-277
Author(s):  
E.M. Shpagina ◽  
R.V. Chirkina
Keyword(s):  
Information Security ◽  
Education System ◽  
Personal Development ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Internet Environment ◽  
Modern Information ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Thematic Plan

Protection of interests, personal development, health and well-being of children in the information sphere is now coming to the fore in connection with the rapid digitalization of everyday life. The article deals with the problems of influence of modern information technologies on the younger generation, approaches to risk reduction and information security of children, as well as the problems of formation of competence of teachers and psychologists in this area. Specialists and managers of the education system are faced with the task of educating parents and helping children to overcome the risks and dangers of the Internet environment. According to the authors, the competence of teachers in the field of information security of children should consist of a set of knowledge, including organizational, legal, organizational, technical, psychological and pedagogical aspects of the problem. The main focus of the article is on the legal, psychological and pedagogical aspects of information security of children, which determine the content of training of teachers and psychologists. An approximate thematic plan of the training course for managers and specialists of the education system is presented.

scholarly journals Mental health of students living with food insecurity during the transition to university

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Howard ◽  
Erin Barker
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
First Year ◽  
Transition To University ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Health Deficit

The present study examined differences in mental health and well-being between students with and without suspected food insecurity during their transition to university. We drew on existing data from four samples of traditionally-aged, first-year undergraduates enrolled at large universities in three provinces (Alberta N = 199; Québec N = 299; Ontario N = 461 and N = 510). Students completed online surveys assessing a wide range of health-related behaviours and indicators, including food security. Poorer mental health (depression, anxiety, stress, low satisfaction with life) was consistently associated with food insecurity across samples. The magnitude of mental health deficit was comparable to socioeconomic disadvantage associated with food insecurity. Students with food insecurity are disproportionately launching their university careers with poorer mental health, revealing a critical point of intervention for these socioeconomically higher-risk students.

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