scholarly journals Development and Feasibility of a Family-Based Health Behavior Intervention Using Intelligent Personal Assistants: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Carlin ◽  
Caomhan Logue ◽  
Jonathan Flynn ◽  
Marie H Murphy ◽  
Alison M Gallagher
Keyword(s):  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Phase 2 ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
The Family ◽  
Health Related Behaviors ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Personal Assistant ◽  
Personal Assistants ◽  
Intelligent Personal Assistant

BACKGROUND Intelligent personal assistants such as Amazon Echo and Google Home have become increasingly integrated into the home setting and, therefore, may facilitate behavior change via novel interactions or as an adjunct to conventional interventions. However, little is currently known about their potential role in this context. OBJECTIVE This feasibility study aims to develop the Intelligent Personal Assistant Project (IPAP) and assess the acceptability and feasibility of this technology for promoting and maintaining physical activity and other health-related behaviors in both parents and children. METHODS This pilot feasibility study was conducted in 2 phases. For phase 1, families who were attending a community-based weight management project were invited to participate, whereas phase 2 recruited families not currently receiving any additional intervention. Families were randomly allocated to either the intervention group (received a smart speaker for use in the family home) or the control group. The IPAP intervention aimed to promote positive health behaviors in the family setting through utilization of the functions of a smart speaker and its linked intelligent personal assistant. Data were collected on recruitment, retention, outcome measures, intervention acceptability, device interactions, and usage. RESULTS In total, 26 families with at least one child aged 5 to 12 years were recruited, with 23 families retained at follow-up. Across phase 1 of the intervention, families interacted with the intelligent personal assistant a total of 65 times. Although device interactions across phase 2 of the intervention were much higher (312 times), only 10.9% (34/312) of interactions were coded as relevant (related to diet, physical activity or well-being). Focus groups highlighted that the families found the devices acceptable and easy to use and felt that the prompts or reminders were useful in prompting healthier behaviors. Some further intervention refinements in relation to the timing of prompts and integrating feedback alongside the devices were suggested by families. CONCLUSIONS Using intelligent personal assistants to deliver health-related messages and information within the home is feasible, with high levels of engagement reported by participating families. This novel feasibility study highlights important methodological considerations that should inform future trials testing the effectiveness of intelligent personal assistants in promoting positive health-related behaviors. CLINICALTRIAL ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN16792534; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN16792534

scholarly journals Development and Feasibility of a Family-Based Health Behavior Intervention Using Intelligent Personal Assistants: Randomized Controlled Trial

10.2196/17501 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e17501
Author(s):  
Angela Carlin ◽  
Caomhan Logue ◽  
Jonathan Flynn ◽  
Marie H Murphy ◽  
Alison M Gallagher
Keyword(s):  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Phase 2 ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
The Family ◽  
Health Related Behaviors ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Personal Assistant ◽  
Personal Assistants ◽  
Intelligent Personal Assistant

Background Intelligent personal assistants such as Amazon Echo and Google Home have become increasingly integrated into the home setting and, therefore, may facilitate behavior change via novel interactions or as an adjunct to conventional interventions. However, little is currently known about their potential role in this context. Objective This feasibility study aims to develop the Intelligent Personal Assistant Project (IPAP) and assess the acceptability and feasibility of this technology for promoting and maintaining physical activity and other health-related behaviors in both parents and children. Methods This pilot feasibility study was conducted in 2 phases. For phase 1, families who were attending a community-based weight management project were invited to participate, whereas phase 2 recruited families not currently receiving any additional intervention. Families were randomly allocated to either the intervention group (received a smart speaker for use in the family home) or the control group. The IPAP intervention aimed to promote positive health behaviors in the family setting through utilization of the functions of a smart speaker and its linked intelligent personal assistant. Data were collected on recruitment, retention, outcome measures, intervention acceptability, device interactions, and usage. Results In total, 26 families with at least one child aged 5 to 12 years were recruited, with 23 families retained at follow-up. Across phase 1 of the intervention, families interacted with the intelligent personal assistant a total of 65 times. Although device interactions across phase 2 of the intervention were much higher (312 times), only 10.9% (34/312) of interactions were coded as relevant (related to diet, physical activity or well-being). Focus groups highlighted that the families found the devices acceptable and easy to use and felt that the prompts or reminders were useful in prompting healthier behaviors. Some further intervention refinements in relation to the timing of prompts and integrating feedback alongside the devices were suggested by families. Conclusions Using intelligent personal assistants to deliver health-related messages and information within the home is feasible, with high levels of engagement reported by participating families. This novel feasibility study highlights important methodological considerations that should inform future trials testing the effectiveness of intelligent personal assistants in promoting positive health-related behaviors. Trial Registration ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN16792534; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN16792534

scholarly journals Life-Changing Experiences of Mothers with School-Age Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Focusing on Their Health Risk Perceptions and Health-Related Behaviors

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4523
Author(s):  
Hye Jin Yoo ◽  
JaeLan Shim ◽  
Namhee Kim
Keyword(s):  
Health Risk ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
School Age ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
The Family ◽  
Health Related Behaviors ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Prevention Methods

This study aimed to explore health risk perceptions, changes in health-related behaviors, and life experiences of mothers with school-age children during the early coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Data were collected between 16 July and 10 September 2020, by individual interviews and analyzed through qualitative content analysis. After the twelve participants’ experiences were analyzed, four themes and ten sub-themes were derived. The four themes were: “Struggling to identify the substance of COVID-19,” “Taking the initiative to protect the health of the family,” “Frustrated by the brutal reality of no end in sight,” and “Trying to adjust wisely to an inevitable new lifestyle.” The findings suggest that while the world remains in an ongoing battle with COVID-19, national health institutions should prepare a health education system for specific infection prevention methods that can be practiced by individuals in daily life.

Impact of oral-health-related quality of life and self-esteem on patients with missing maxillary lateral incisor after orthodontic space closure: a single-blinded, randomized, controlled trial

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matheus Melo Pithon ◽  
Eduardo Otero Amaral Vargas ◽  
Raildo da Silva Coqueiro ◽  
Rogério Lacerda-Santos ◽  
Orlando Motohiro Tanaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oral Health ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Lateral Incisor ◽  
Phase 2 ◽  
Space Closure ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Maxillary Lateral Incisor

Summary Background The maxillary lateral incisor is one of the teeth most likely to suffer agenesis, resulting in spacing between the central incisor and the canine. Objective To compare maxillary lateral incisor agenesis with space closure treatment versus non-treatment based on measurements of the self-perceived oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and self-esteem of the participants. Subjects and methods A total of 44 people, aged 17–49 years, with missing lateral incisors were randomly assigned to two groups (n = 22 in each)—a treated group in which the space was orthodontically closed (TG) and a control group that remained untreated (CG). Randomization was performed by a researcher who was not involved in the clinical part of the study. The outcomes were assessed using the Oral Health Impact Profile and Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale, which were applied before (phase 1) and after (phase 2) the orthodontic treatment in the TG, and at baseline (phase 1) and 12 months after (phase 2) in the CG. All the data were blindly evaluated, supporting the single-blinded design of the study. Results All participants finished the randomized controlled trial, and the demographic characteristics were similar between the groups. In phase 1, the levels of self-esteem and OHRQoL at baseline were similar (P = 0.079, P = 0.693, respectively). In phase 2, the self-esteem scores of the CG decreased and the OHRQoL increased (P = 0.005, P < 0.001, respectively), while self-esteem increased in the TG and the OHRQoL decreased (P < 0.001). The CG had lower scores than the TG for self-esteem, but the opposite was observed for OHRQoL (P < 0.001). Limitations Information bias may have occurred. Since the questionnaires could not have been applied at the same time in both groups, the time difference between the two assessments may have led to random and systematic error. Conclusions The spacing resulting from missing maxillary lateral incisors had a negative impact on the OHRQoL and self-esteem of the participants, while orthodontically closing those spaces had a positive impact on those aspects. Clinical trial registration This study was not registered. Protocol The protocol was not published before trial commencement.

scholarly journals Fitusiran Treatment Impacts on Health-Related Quality of Life in Subjects with Hemophilia A and B with Inhibitors Assessed with the Haemophilia Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adults (Haem-A-QoL)

Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 23-24
Author(s):  
Sylvia Von Mackensen ◽  
Pratima Chowdary ◽  
Sarah Mangles ◽  
Qifeng Yu ◽  
Baisong Mei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Hemophilia A ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Phase 2 ◽  
Publicly Traded ◽  
Advisory Committees ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Dose Dependent

Background: Fitusiran, an investigational RNA interference treatment for people with hemophilia A or B (PwH), with or without inhibitors, has shown dose-dependent lowering of antithrombin, increase in thrombin generation, and decrease in bleeding frequency in clinical trials. The novel mechanism of action and long pharmacodynamic effect enables once-monthly subcutaneous administration. This sustained hemostatic protection and less burdensome administration may improve patient-reported outcomes (PRO). Objective: To evaluate changes in PRO in terms of patient-relevant improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in PwH with inhibitors (PwHI) on prophylactic fitusiran treatment. Methods: Fitusiran was evaluated in a phase 1 dose-escalation study (NCT02035605) followed by a phase 2 open-label extension (OLE) study (NCT02554773) with monthly subcutaneous fixed doses of 50 mg or 80 mg. HRQoL was assessed using the Haem-A-QoL and the EuroQol 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) questionnaires at baseline and at end of study in a cohort of 17 PwHI (Hemophilia A, n=15; Hemophilia B, n=2) from the phase 1 study. Results: Subjects previously treated on-demand or prophylactically had a mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 34.6 (10.3) years and a mean (SD) number of bleeding episodes in the 6 months before baseline of 16.6 (10.7). Mean (SD) changes from baseline to end of study (day 84 or later) in Haem-A-QoL total (-9.2 [11.2]) and physical health (−12.3 [15.1]) domain scores suggest clinically meaningful improvement (lower scores indicate better HRQoL). Numeric reduction (i.e., improvement) in all other domains appeared to be dose-dependent (greater improvement in the 80 mg group) (Table 1). Changes in EQ-5D utility and EQ-VAS scores were not clinically meaningful. Further analyses in PwH with and without inhibitors from the phase 2 OLE will be presented. Conclusions: Fitusiran prophylaxis may improve HRQoL - particularly the Haem-A-QoL 'Physical health' domain (painful swelling, joint pain, pain with movement, difficulty walking, and time to get ready) as shown in a cohort of 17 PwHI . Additional analyses from ongoing OLE and phase 3 studies are planned to quantify the patient-relevant changes with fitusiran treatment in all hemophilia patients over time. Disclosures Von Mackensen: Sanofi, Bayer, Sobi, Chugai, Kedrion, Spark: Consultancy; Biotest, Sobi, CSL Behring: Honoraria; Novo Nordisk, Sobi: Research Funding. Chowdary:BioMarin: Honoraria; Bayer, CSL Behring, Freeline, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer and Sobi: Research Funding; Chugai, CSL Behring, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Roche, Sobi: Speakers Bureau; Bayer, Chugai, CSL Behring, Freeline, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Shire (Baxalta), Sobi, Spark: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Mangles:Roche, Takeda, Novo Nordisk: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sobi, Octapharma, Novo Nordisk, Shire and Roche/Chugai: Other: travel funding. Yu:Sanofi: Other: was an employee and stockholder of Sanofi, at the time of study; Albireo Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Current Employment. Mei:Sanofi: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Andersson:Sanofi: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Dasmahapatra:Sanofi: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company.

scholarly journals MyHEARTSMAP: development and evaluation of a psychosocial self-assessment tool, for and by youth

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. e000493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Punit Virk ◽  
Samara Laskin ◽  
Rebecca Gokiert ◽  
Chris Richardson ◽  
Mandi Newton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Psychosocial Assessment ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Phase 2 ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Related

BackgroundPaediatric mental health-related visits to the emergency department are rising. However, few tools exist to identify concerns early and connect youth with appropriate mental healthcare. Our objective was to develop a digital youth psychosocial assessment and management tool (MyHEARTSMAP) and evaluate its inter-rater reliability when self-administered by a community-based sample of youth and parents.MethodsWe conducted a multiphasic, multimethod study. In phase 1, focus group sessions were used to inform tool development, through an iterative modification process. In phase 2, a cross-sectional study was conducted in two rounds of evaluation, where participants used MyHEARTSMAP to assess 25 fictional cases.ResultsMyHEARTSMAP displays good face and content validity, as supported by feedback from phase 1 focus groups with youth and parents (n=38). Among phase 2 participants (n=30), the tool showed moderate to excellent agreement across all psychosocial sections (κ=0.76–0.98).ConclusionsOur findings show that MyHEARTSMAP is an approachable and interpretable psychosocial assessment and management tool that can be reliably applied by a diverse community sample of youth and parents.

scholarly journals Understanding side effects of therapy for myasthenia gravis and their impact on daily life

BMC Neurology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Dansie Bacci ◽  
Karin S. Coyne ◽  
Jiat-Ling Poon ◽  
Linda Harris ◽  
Audra N. Boscoe
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Myasthenia Gravis ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Phase 2 ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Current Therapies ◽  
Group Concept ◽  
Two Phases

Abstract Background Myasthenia gravis is a chronic, autoimmune, neuromuscular junction disorder characterized by skeletal muscle weakness. Current therapies for myasthenia gravis are associated with significant side effects. The objective of this study was to characterize the side effects, and associated health-related quality of life and treatment impacts, of traditional myasthenia gravis treatments. Methods This study had two phases; a Phase 1 interview and a 2-part web-based survey in Phase 2 that included brainstorming (Step 1) and rating (Step 2) exercises using group concept mapping. In Phase 1, all 14 participants reported experiencing side effects from myasthenia gravis treatments which had significant impacts on daily life. In Phase 2, 246 participants contributed to Step 1; 158 returned for Step 2. Results The brainstorming exercise produced 874 statements about side effects and their impact, which were reduced to 35 side effects and 23 impact-on-daily life statements. When rating these statements on severity, frequency, and tolerability, blood clots, infections/decreased immunity, weight gain, and diarrhea were the least tolerable and most severely rated. The most frequent and severe impacts were sleep interference and reduced physical and social activities. Conclusions Based on these findings, there appears to be a need for better and more tolerable treatments for myasthenia gravis patients.

Pharmaceutical review using telemedicine – a before and after feasibility study

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise K Poulson ◽  
Lisa Nissen ◽  
Ian Coombes
Keyword(s):  
Phase I ◽  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Phase 2 ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Main Hospital ◽  
Pharmaceutical Activity ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Two Phases

Only 42 of the 116 public hospitals in Queensland employ qualified pharmacists to staff their pharmacies. We undertook a feasibility study to determine if pharmaceutical reviews, undertaken face-to-face by a visiting pharmacist, could be replicated using telemedicine. The study was conducted in two phases, with the same pharmacist coordinating the project from the main hospital to two rural hospitals, which relied on supply nurses for all their pharmaceutical services. All inpatients admitted between October 2006 and May 2007 were included in the study. In Phase I the pharmacist made weekly visits to both facilities, to perform face-to-face pharmaceutical reviews of the current inpatients. In Phase 2, all pharmaceutical reviews were performed remotely by the pharmacist by telephone or videoconference. In Phase 1, 186 pharmaceutical activities were performed (mean 3.9 per patient). Of these, 78 pharmacist-initiated changes were recommended and 47 (60%) were implemented. In Phase 2, a total of 296 activities were performed (mean 3.1 per patient) and of the 140 recommendations made by the remote pharmacist, 74 (53%) were accepted. Of the accepted recommendations, there were 11 major interventions (those with a potential to prevent harm to the patient) in Phase 1 and 32 in Phase 2. There were no significant differences in the pharmaceutical activity rates in the two phases. Telepharmacy therefore may be an effective method of providing pharmaceutical reviews for patients in rural inpatient facilities, without an on-site pharmacist.

Putting the “Me” in endorsement: Understanding and conceptualizing dimensions of self-endorsement using intelligent personal assistants

2020 ◽  
pp. 146144482091219
Author(s):  
Kristy A Hamilton ◽  
Seo Yoon Lee ◽  
Un Chae Chung ◽  
Weizi Liu ◽  
Brittany RL Duff
Keyword(s):  
New Media ◽  
Purchase Intention ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
The Self ◽  
Know How ◽  
Advertising Strategy ◽  
Consumer Interests ◽  
Personal Assistant ◽  
Personal Assistants ◽  
Intelligent Personal Assistant

Self-endorsement—depicting the “self” as an endorser of a brand—represents a potentially powerful advertising strategy made possible by new media. This experiment tests the hypothesis that receiving brand recommendations from an intelligent personal assistant believed to be tailored to one’s own characteristics and consumer interests yields higher brand attitude and purchase intention toward the (self-endorsed) brand than receiving brand recommendations from a typical, but not self-tailored, intelligent personal assistant. Because endorsement is a well-known and highly effective advertising strategy, this is a high bar. We present evidence for self-referencing as an underlying mechanism, and perceived interactivity and identification as boundary conditions of self-endorsing. Consumers may show skepticism toward advertising but may not know how to be skeptical of themselves. As consumers outsource their tasks and decisions to new artificial intelligence (AI)-driven devices, they will need to be attentive to new media biases that threaten productive use of these devices.

scholarly journals Optimal NHS service delivery to care homes: a realist evaluation of the features and mechanisms that support effective working for the continuing care of older people in residential settings

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (29) ◽  
pp. 1-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Goodman ◽  
Sue L Davies ◽  
Adam L Gordon ◽  
Tom Dening ◽  
Heather Gage ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Older People ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
Health Care Provision ◽  
Care Provision ◽  
Phase 2 ◽  
Care Home Staff ◽  
Health Related

BackgroundCare homes are the institutional providers of long-term care for older people. The OPTIMAL study argued that it is probable that there are key activities within different models of health-care provision that are important for residents’ health care.ObjectivesTo understand ‘what works, for whom, why and in what circumstances?’. Study questions focused on how different mechanisms within the various models of service delivery act as the ‘active ingredients’ associated with positive health-related outcomes for care home residents.MethodsUsing realist methods we focused on five outcomes: (1) medication use and review; (2) use of out-of-hours services; (3) hospital admissions, including emergency department attendances and length of hospital stay; (4) resource use; and (5) user satisfaction. Phase 1: interviewed stakeholders and reviewed the evidence to develop an explanatory theory of what supported good health-care provision for further testing in phase 2. Phase 2 developed a minimum data set of resident characteristics and tracked their care for 12 months. We also interviewed residents, family and staff receiving and providing health care to residents. The 12 study care homes were located on the south coast, the Midlands and the east of England. Health-care provision to care homes was distinctive in each site.FindingsPhase 1 found that health-care provision to care homes is reactive and inequitable. The realist review argued that incentives or sanctions, agreed protocols, clinical expertise and structured approaches to assessment and care planning could support improved health-related outcomes; however, to achieve change NHS professionals and care home staff needed to work together from the outset to identify, co-design and implement agreed approaches to health care. Phase 2 tested this further and found that, although there were few differences between the sites in residents’ use of resources, the differences in service integration between the NHS and care homes did reflect how these institutions approached activities that supported relational working. Key to this was how much time NHS staff and care home staff had had to learn how to work together and if the work was seen as legitimate, requiring ongoing investment by commissioners and engagement from practitioners. Residents appreciated the general practitioner (GP) input and, when supported by other care home-specific NHS services, GPs reported that it was sustainable and valued work. Access to dementia expertise, ongoing training and support was essential to ensure that both NHS and care home staff were equipped to provide appropriate care.LimitationsFindings were constrained by the numbers of residents recruited and retained in phase 2 for the 12 months of data collection.ConclusionsNHS services work well with care homes when payments and role specification endorse the importance of this work at an institutional level as well as with individual residents. GP involvement is important but needs additional support from other services to be sustainable. A focus on strategies that promote co-design-based approaches between the NHS and care homes has the potential to improve residents’ access to and experience of health care.FundingThe National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.

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