scholarly journals A Mobile App to Increase Fruit and Vegetable Acceptance Among Finnish and Polish Preschoolers: Randomized Trial

10.2196/30352 ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. e30352
Author(s):  
Henna Vepsäläinen ◽  
Essi Skaffari ◽  
Katarzyna Wojtkowska ◽  
Julia Barlińska ◽  
Satu Kinnunen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Study ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable ◽  
Multiprofessional Team ◽  
Food Education

Background Early childhood education and care (ECEC) centers are ideal venues for food education. As smartphones and tablets are becoming increasingly popular in ECEC centers, technology can be used to deliver such pedagogical content. Evidence suggests that video games can affect fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption among 9- to 12-year-old children, but studies among preschoolers are scarce. Objective This paper describes the development of the Mole’s Veggie Adventures app and its effectiveness in increasing FV acceptance among Finnish and Polish preschoolers aged 3 to 6 years. Methods A multiprofessional team created an app to be used in ECEC centers in groups of 3 to 10 children. The app aimed to increase vegetable acceptance, and it was built using elements that support the development of self-regulation and social skills. Altogether, 7 Finnish and 4 Polish ECEC centers participated in the study. Before randomization, parents reported background factors and their children’s willingness to taste different FVs. The ECEC professionals in the intervention arm were instructed to use the app at least once a week during the 3- to 4-week intervention period. The main outcomes in this unblinded, cluster-randomized study were FV acceptance and relative FV acceptance. The first was calculated as a sum variable describing the children’s willingness to taste 25 different FVs, the second as FV acceptance divided by the number of FVs served. We used analysis of covariance to compare the FV acceptance and relative FV acceptance scores between the intervention and control groups at follow-up. Results A total of 221 children were included in the analysis. At follow-up, the intervention group (115/221, 52%) had higher FV acceptance scores (baseline adjusted difference of mean 7.22; 95% CI 1.41-13.03) than the control group (106/221, 48%). The intervention effect was parallel for relative FV acceptance scores (baseline adjusted difference of mean 0.28; 95% CI 0.05-0.52). Conclusions The Mole’s Veggie Adventures app has the potential to increase FV acceptance among preschoolers and can be a valuable tool in supporting food education in ECEC centers. Furthermore, the app can be feasibly incorporated into preschool routines in countries with different educational environments. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05173311; https://tinyurl.com/4vfbh283

scholarly journals A Mobile App to Increase Fruit and Vegetable Acceptance Among Finnish and Polish Preschoolers: Randomized Trial (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henna Vepsäläinen ◽  
Essi Skaffari ◽  
Katarzyna Wojtkowska ◽  
Julia Barlińska ◽  
Satu Kinnunen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Study ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable ◽  
Multiprofessional Team ◽  
Food Education

BACKGROUND Early childhood education and care (ECEC) centers are ideal venues for food education. As smartphones and tablets are becoming increasingly popular in ECEC centers, technology can be used to deliver such pedagogical content. Evidence suggests that video games can affect fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption among 9- to 12-year-old children, but studies among preschoolers are scarce. OBJECTIVE This paper describes the development of the Mole’s Veggie Adventures app and its effectiveness in increasing FV acceptance among Finnish and Polish preschoolers aged 3 to 6 years. METHODS A multiprofessional team created an app to be used in ECEC centers in groups of 3 to 10 children. The app aimed to increase vegetable acceptance, and it was built using elements that support the development of self-regulation and social skills. Altogether, 7 Finnish and 4 Polish ECEC centers participated in the study. Before randomization, parents reported background factors and their children’s willingness to taste different FVs. The ECEC professionals in the intervention arm were instructed to use the app at least once a week during the 3- to 4-week intervention period. The main outcomes in this unblinded, cluster-randomized study were FV acceptance and relative FV acceptance. The first was calculated as a sum variable describing the children’s willingness to taste 25 different FVs, the second as FV acceptance divided by the number of FVs served. We used analysis of covariance to compare the FV acceptance and relative FV acceptance scores between the intervention and control groups at follow-up. RESULTS A total of 221 children were included in the analysis. At follow-up, the intervention group (115/221, 52%) had higher FV acceptance scores (baseline adjusted difference of mean 7.22; 95% CI 1.41-13.03) than the control group (106/221, 48%). The intervention effect was parallel for relative FV acceptance scores (baseline adjusted difference of mean 0.28; 95% CI 0.05-0.52). CONCLUSIONS The Mole’s Veggie Adventures app has the potential to increase FV acceptance among preschoolers and can be a valuable tool in supporting food education in ECEC centers. Furthermore, the app can be feasibly incorporated into preschool routines in countries with different educational environments. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05173311; https://tinyurl.com/4vfbh283

scholarly journals Efficacy of the Mindfulness Meditation Mobile App “Calm” to Reduce Stress Among College Students: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Huberty ◽  
Jeni Green ◽  
Christine Glissmann ◽  
Linda Larkey ◽  
Megan Puzia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Wait List Control ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Mean Differences

BACKGROUND College students experience high levels of stress. Mindfulness meditation delivered via a mobile app may be an appealing, efficacious way to reduce stress in college students. OBJECTIVE We aimed to test the initial efficacy and sustained effects of an 8-week mindfulness meditation mobile app—Calm—compared to a wait-list control on stress, mindfulness, and self-compassion in college students with elevated stress. We also explored the intervention’s effect on health behaviors (ie, sleep disturbance, alcohol consumption [binge drinking], physical activity, and healthy eating [fruit and vegetable consumption]) and the feasibility and acceptability of the app. METHODS This study was a randomized, wait-list, control trial with assessments at baseline, postintervention (8 weeks), and at follow-up (12 weeks). Participants were eligible if they were current full-time undergraduate students and (1) at least 18 years of age, (2) scored ≥14 points on the Perceived Stress Scale, (3) owned a smartphone, (4) were willing to download the Calm app, (5) were willing to be randomized, and (7) were able to read and understand English. Participants were asked to meditate using Calm at least 10 minutes per day. A P value ≤.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS A total of 88 participants were included in the analysis. The mean age (SD) was 20.41 (2.31) years for the intervention group and 21.85 (6.3) years for the control group. There were significant differences in all outcomes (stress, mindfulness, and self-compassion) between the intervention and control groups after adjustment for covariates postintervention (all P<.04). These effects persisted at follow-up (all P<.03), except for the nonreacting subscale of mindfulness (P=.08). There was a significant interaction between group and time factors in perceived stress (P=.002), mindfulness (P<.001), and self-compassion (P<.001). Bonferroni posthoc tests showed significant within-group mean differences for perceived stress in the intervention group (P<.001), while there were no significant within-group mean differences in the control group (all P>.19). Similar results were found for mindfulness and self-compassion. Effect sizes ranged from moderate (0.59) to large (1.24) across all outcomes. A significant group×time interaction in models of sleep disturbance was found, but no significant effects were found for other health behaviors. The majority of students in the intervention group reported that Calm was helpful to reduce stress and stated they would use Calm in the future. The majority were satisfied using Calm and likely to recommend it to other college students. The intervention group participated in meditation for an average of 38 minutes/week during the intervention and 20 minutes/week during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Calm is an effective modality to deliver mindfulness meditation in order to reduce stress and improve mindfulness and self-compassion in stressed college students. Our findings provide important information that can be applied to the design of future studies or mental health resources in university programs. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03891810; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03891810

scholarly journals Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Sexual Self-Efficacy and Marital Satisfaction among Couples with Marital Conflicts

2019 ◽  
pp. 29-36
Keyword(s):  
Marital Satisfaction ◽  
Cognitive Therapy ◽  
Marital Conflict ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Marital Conflicts ◽  
Significant Difference

Background: Marital conflict is a type of lack of ongoing meaningful agreement between spouses. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on sexual self-efficacy and marital satisfaction in couples with marital conflicts. Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was carried out on the intervention and control groups with a pretest/posttest design and follow-up. The study population consisted of 30 females who referred to counseling centers in district 1 of Tehran, Iran, in 2018 through simple random sampling. The participants were randomly divided into two groups, each with 15 members. The intervention group received mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and the control group received no intervention. Data collection tools were the questionnaires of sexual self-efficacy, marital satisfaction, and marital conflicts. The questionnaires were filled out by the participants before and after the intervention and 3 months later. The collected data were analyzed using repeated measurement analysis and analysis of covariance by SPSS software (version 22). Results: The results of the study showed that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy led to increased sexual self-efficacy (P<0.033) and marital satisfaction (P<0.003) in the intervention group; however, in the control group, there was no significant difference in pretest, posttest and follow-up scores. Conclusion: Based on the results, it can be concluded that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy can improve sexual self-efficacy and marital satisfaction in couples with marital conflicts.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of A Multifactorial Intervention in Increasing Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet among Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Type 2: A Controlled and Randomized Study (EMID Study)

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosario Alonso-Domínguez ◽  
Luis García-Ortiz ◽  
Maria Patino-Alonso ◽  
Natalia Sánchez-Aguadero ◽  
Manuel Gómez-Marcos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Randomized Study ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Controlled Clinical Trial ◽  
Multifactorial Intervention ◽  
The Mediterranean

The Mediterranean diet (MD) is recognized as one of the healthiest dietary patterns and has benefits such as improving glycaemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Our aim is to assess the effectiveness of a multifactorial intervention to improve adherence to the MD, diet quality and biomedical parameters. The EMID study is a randomized and controlled clinical trial with two parallel groups and a 12-month follow-up period. The study included 204 subjects between 25–70 years with T2DM. The participants were randomized into intervention group (IG) and control group (CG). Both groups received brief advice about healthy eating and physical activity. The IG participants additionally took part in a food workshop, five walks and received a smartphone application for three months. The population studied had a mean age of 60.6 years. At the 3-month follow-up visit, there were improvements in adherence to the MD and diet quality of 2.2 and 2.5 points, compared to the baseline visit, respectively, in favour of the IG. This tendency of the improvement was maintained, in favour of the IG, at the 12-month follow-up visit. In conclusion, the multifactorial intervention performed could improve adherence to the MD and diet quality among patients with T2DM.

Abstract WP61: Pre-hospital Remote Ischemic Perconditioning - A Promising Neuroprotective Therapy.

Stroke ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina D Hougaard ◽  
Niels Hjort ◽  
Hans-Erik Bø ◽  
Leif H Søen ◽  
Anne Nørd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Neuroprotective Effect ◽  
Randomized Study ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Ratio Test ◽  
Remote Ischemic Perconditioning ◽  
Neuroprotective Therapy

Pre-hospital remote ischemic perconditioning (rPerC) is a potential neuroprotective therapy to patients with suspected acute stroke. We tested the effect of pre-hospital rPerC as an adjunct treatment to intravenous alteplase (rtPA) in patients suspected of acute stroke. The study was conducted as a single-blinded randomized study of rPerC in a 1:1 ratio in 298 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke or TIA of whom 184 were subsequently treated with rtPA and 149 had a 1 month MRI follow-up (81 rPerC, 68 controls). TIA was more frequent (p=0.006) in the intervention group (n=42) than in the control group (n=16). NIHSS on admission was significantly lower (p=0.016) in the intervention group (median 4, IQR 2-7) than in the control group (5, IQR 3-11). Accordingly there was a trend towards smaller volumes of tissue hypoperfusion (PWI 17.35 (1.01-87.18) vs. 16.55 (1.71-170.16), p=0.26) at the time of the initial MRI. Tissue voxels in the volume difference between PWI and DWI at baseline which did not proceed to infarction on follow-up T2-FLAIR MRI were identified and adjusted for baseline values of PWI and DWI. This voxel based logistic regression analysis takes any imbalance in baseline severity of DWI and PWI and any patient-specific effects into account to determine tissue-level infarct risks. The results were analysed according to baseline vessel status and recanalisation at 24 h. The likelihood ratio test for effect of rPerC in the whole group was p=0.0003. In the subgroups not changing vessel status (occlusion without recanalization and the group without observed occlusion) the tests for effect of rPerC yielded p<0.0001. For the recanalizer subgroup p=0.0002. . The neuroprotective effect of rPerC may have worked already prior to admission.

Efficacy of a Smartphone App Intervention for Reducing Caregiver Stress: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz ◽  
Ben Richardson ◽  
Keriann Little ◽  
Samantha Teague ◽  
Linda Hartley-Clark ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Active Control ◽  
Psychological Intervention ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Self Monitoring

BACKGROUND Caregivers play a pivotal role in maintaining an economically viable health care system, yet they are characterized by low levels of psychological well-being and consistently report unmet needs for psychological support. Mobile app–based (mobile health [mHealth]) interventions present a novel approach to both reducing stress and improving well-being. OBJECTIVE This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a self-guided mobile app–based psychological intervention for people providing care to family or friends with a physical or mental disability. METHODS In a randomized, single-blind, controlled trial, 183 caregivers recruited through the web were randomly allocated to either an intervention (n=73) or active control (n=110) condition. The intervention app contained treatment modules combining daily self-monitoring with third-wave (mindfulness-based) cognitive-behavioral therapies, whereas the active control app contained only self-monitoring features. Both programs were completed over a 5-week period. It was hypothesized that intervention app exposure would be associated with decreases in depression, anxiety, and stress, and increases in well-being, self-esteem, optimism, primary and secondary control, and social support. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, postintervention, and 3-4 months postintervention. App quality was also assessed. RESULTS In total, 25% (18/73) of the intervention participants were lost to follow-up at 3 months, and 30.9% (34/110) of the participants from the wait-list control group dropped out before the postintervention survey. The intervention group experienced reductions in stress (<i>b</i>=−2.07; <i>P</i>=.04) and depressive symptoms (<i>b</i>=−1.36; <i>P</i>=.05) from baseline to postintervention. These changes were further enhanced from postintervention to follow-up, with the intervention group continuing to report lower levels of depression (<i>b</i>=−1.82; <i>P</i>=.03) and higher levels of emotional well-being (<i>b</i>=6.13; <i>P</i>&lt;.001), optimism (<i>b</i>=0.78; <i>P</i>=.007), self-esteem (<i>b</i>=−0.84; <i>P</i>=.005), support from family (<i>b</i>=2.15; <i>P</i>=.001), support from significant others (<i>b</i>=2.66; <i>P</i>&lt;.001), and subjective well-being (<i>b</i>=4.82; <i>P</i>&lt;.001). On average, participants completed 2.5 (SD 1.05) out of 5 treatment modules. The overall quality of the app was also rated highly, with a mean score of 3.94 out of a maximum score of 5 (SD 0.58). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that mHealth psychological interventions are an effective treatment option for caregivers experiencing high levels of stress. Recommendations for improving mHealth interventions for caregivers include offering flexibility and customization in the treatment design. CLINICALTRIAL Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry ACTRN12616000996460; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=371170

scholarly journals Applying the Stages of Change Model in a Nutrition Education Programme for the Promotion of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among People with Severe Mental Disorders (DIETMENT)

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 2105
Author(s):  
Mireia Vilamala-Orra ◽  
Cristina Vaqué-Crusellas ◽  
Quintí Foguet-Boreu ◽  
Marta Guimerà Gallent ◽  
Ruben del Río Sáez
Keyword(s):  
Stages Of Change ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Education Programme ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Change Model ◽  
Stages Of Change Model ◽  
Food Education ◽  
Significant Difference

Despite growing evidence of the benefits of adequate intake of fruit and vegetables (F&V) and the recommendation to consume five servings daily, the adoption of these habits is poor among people with severe mental disorder (SMD). The main aim of the present study is to determine changes in the intake of F&V and motivation to do so among people with SMDs after participating in a food education programme. A community-based randomized controlled trial was conducted in Spain, with the intervention group (IG) participating in a food education programme based on the stages of change model to promote consumption of F&V and the control group (CG) receiving three informative sessions on basic healthy eating. The main outcomes were related to the intake of F&V and stages of change. Data collection was performed at baseline, post intervention, and 12-month follow-up. Seventy-four participants enrolled in the study and sixty completed the 12-month follow-up. An increase in motivation towards the intake of F&V was observed in the IG but not in the CG (McNemar’s test p = 0.016, p = 0.625). No significant difference was observed for the intake of fruit, vegetables, or F&V. Basing food education strategies on the stages of change model shows positive results, increasing the awareness and disposition of people with SMD towards the intake of F&V. More research is needed to identify the most appropriate eating intervention to increase the intake of F&V.

scholarly journals A New Mental Health Mobile App for Well-Being and Stress Reduction in Working Women: Randomized Controlled Trial

10.2196/14269 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. e14269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cássia Canha Coelhoso ◽  
Patricia Renovato Tobo ◽  
Shirley Silva Lacerda ◽  
Alex Heitor Lima ◽  
Carla Regina Camara Barrichello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Working Women ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
World Health ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Work Related

Background Although the availability and use of mobile mental health apps has grown exponentially in recent years, little data are available regarding their efficacy. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an app developed to promote stress management and well-being among working women compared with a control app. Methods Female employees at a private hospital were invited to participate in the study via mailing lists and intranet ads. A total of 653 individuals self-enrolled through the website. Eligible participants were randomized between control (n=240) and intervention (n=250) groups. The well-being mobile app provides an 8-week program with 4 classes per week (including a brief theoretical portion and a 15-min guided practice). The active control app also provided 4 assessments per week that encouraged participants to self-observe how they were feeling for 20 min. We also used the app to conduct Web-based questionnaires (10-item Perceived Stress Scale and 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index) and ask specific questions to assess subjective levels of stress and well-being at baseline (t1), midintervention (t4=4 weeks after t1) and postintervention (t8=8 weeks after t1). Both apps were fully automated without any human involvement. Outcomes from the control and intervention conditions at the 3 time points were analyzed using a repeated measures analysis of variance. Results Among the randomized participants (n=490), 185 participants were excluded at the 4-week follow-up and another 79 at the 8-week follow-up because of noncompliance with the experimental protocol. Participants who did not complete t4 and t8 assessments were equally distributed between groups (t4: control group=34.6% [83/240] and intervention group=40.8% [102/250]; P=.16; t8: control group=29.9% [47/157] and intervention group=21.6% [32/148]; P=.10). Both groups showed a significant increase in general well-being as a function of time (F2,426=5.27; P=.006), but only the intervention group presented a significant increase in work-related well-being (F2,426=8.92; P<.001), as well as a significant reduction in work-related and overall stress (F2,426=5.50; P=.004 and F2,426=8.59; P<.001, respectively). Conclusions The well-being mobile app was effective in reducing employee stress and improving well-being. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02637414; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02637414.

scholarly journals Effect of a Mobile App for the Pharmacotherapeutic Follow-Up of Patients With Cancer on Their Health Outcomes: Quasi-Experimental Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Collado-Borrell ◽  
Vicente Escudero-Vilaplana ◽  
Almudena Ribed ◽  
Cristina Gonzalez-Anleo ◽  
Maite Martin-Conde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Adherence To Treatment ◽  
Quasi Experimental

BACKGROUND Oral antineoplastic agents (OAAs) have revolutionized cancer management. However, they have been reported with adverse side effects and drug-drug interactions. Moreover, patient adherence to OAA treatment is critical. Mobile apps can enable remote and real-time pharmacotherapeutic monitoring of patients, while also promoting patient autonomy in their health care. OBJECTIVE The primary objective was to analyze the effect of using a mobile app for the follow-up of patients with oncohematological malignancies undergoing treatment with OAAs on their health outcomes. The secondary objectives were to analyze the role of the app in communication with health care professionals and patient satisfaction with the app. METHODS We performed a comparative, quasi-experimental study based on a prepost intervention with 101 patients (control group, n=51, traditional pharmacotherapeutic follow-up vs intervention group, n=50, follow-up through e-OncoSalud, a custom-designed app that promotes follow-up at home and the safety of patients receiving OAAs). The effect of this app on drug safety, adherence to treatment, and quality of life was evaluated. RESULTS With regard to drug safety, 73% (37/51) of the patients in the control group and 70% (35/50) of the patients in the intervention group (<i>P</i>=.01) presented with drug-related problems. The probability of detecting an insufficiently treated health problem in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group (<i>P</i>=.04). The proportion of patients who presented with side effects in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group (<i>P</i>&gt;.99). In the control group, 49% (25/51) of the patients consumed some health resources during the first 6 months of treatment compared with 36% (18/50) of the patients in the intervention group (<i>P</i>=.76). Adherence to treatment was 97.6% (SD 7.9) in the intervention group, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (92.9% [SD 10.0]; <i>P</i>=.02). The EuroQol-5D in the intervention group yielded a mean (SD) index of 0.875 (0.156), which was significantly higher than that in the control group (0.741 [0.177]; <i>P</i>&lt;.001). Approximately 60% (29/50) of the patients used the messaging module to communicate with pharmacists. The most frequent types of messages were acknowledgments (77/283, 27.2%), doubts about contraindications and interactions with OAAs (70/283, 24.7%), and consultations for adverse reactions to treatment (39/283, 13.8%). The satisfaction with the app survey conducted in the intervention group yielded an overall mean (SD) score of 9.1 (0.4) out of 10. CONCLUSIONS Use of e-OncoSalud for the real-time follow-up of patients receiving OAAs facilitated the optimization of some health outcomes. The intervention group had significantly higher health-related quality of life and adherence to treatment than the control group. Further, the probability of the intervention group presenting with side effects was significantly lower than that of the control group.

scholarly journals Efficacy of a Smartphone App Intervention for Reducing Caregiver Stress: Randomized Controlled Trial

10.2196/17541 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. e17541
Author(s):  
Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz ◽  
Ben Richardson ◽  
Keriann Little ◽  
Samantha Teague ◽  
Linda Hartley-Clark ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Active Control ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Trial Registration ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Self Monitoring

Background Caregivers play a pivotal role in maintaining an economically viable health care system, yet they are characterized by low levels of psychological well-being and consistently report unmet needs for psychological support. Mobile app–based (mobile health [mHealth]) interventions present a novel approach to both reducing stress and improving well-being. Objective This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a self-guided mobile app–based psychological intervention for people providing care to family or friends with a physical or mental disability. Methods In a randomized, single-blind, controlled trial, 183 caregivers recruited through the web were randomly allocated to either an intervention (n=73) or active control (n=110) condition. The intervention app contained treatment modules combining daily self-monitoring with third-wave (mindfulness-based) cognitive-behavioral therapies, whereas the active control app contained only self-monitoring features. Both programs were completed over a 5-week period. It was hypothesized that intervention app exposure would be associated with decreases in depression, anxiety, and stress, and increases in well-being, self-esteem, optimism, primary and secondary control, and social support. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, postintervention, and 3-4 months postintervention. App quality was also assessed. Results In total, 25% (18/73) of the intervention participants were lost to follow-up at 3 months, and 30.9% (34/110) of the participants from the wait-list control group dropped out before the postintervention survey. The intervention group experienced reductions in stress (b=−2.07; P=.04) and depressive symptoms (b=−1.36; P=.05) from baseline to postintervention. These changes were further enhanced from postintervention to follow-up, with the intervention group continuing to report lower levels of depression (b=−1.82; P=.03) and higher levels of emotional well-being (b=6.13; P<.001), optimism (b=0.78; P=.007), self-esteem (b=−0.84; P=.005), support from family (b=2.15; P=.001), support from significant others (b=2.66; P<.001), and subjective well-being (b=4.82; P<.001). On average, participants completed 2.5 (SD 1.05) out of 5 treatment modules. The overall quality of the app was also rated highly, with a mean score of 3.94 out of a maximum score of 5 (SD 0.58). Conclusions This study demonstrates that mHealth psychological interventions are an effective treatment option for caregivers experiencing high levels of stress. Recommendations for improving mHealth interventions for caregivers include offering flexibility and customization in the treatment design. Trial Registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry ACTRN12616000996460; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=371170

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