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OBJECTIVES: Mobile health (mHealth) regimens can improve health through the continuous monitoring of biometric parameters paired with appropriate interventions. However, adherence to monitoring tends to decay over time. Our randomized controlled trial sought to determine: (1) if a mobile app with gamification and financial incentives significantly increases adherence to mHealth monitoring in a population of heart failure patients; and (2) if activity data correlate with disease-specific symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited individuals with heart failure into a prospective 180-day monitoring study with 3 arms. All 3 arms included monitoring with a connected weight scale and an activity tracker. The second arm included an additional mobile app with gamification, and the third arm included the mobile app and a financial incentive awarded based on adherence to mobile monitoring. RESULTS: We recruited 111 heart failure patients into the study. We found that the arm including the financial incentive led to significantly higher adherence to activity tracker (95% vs 72.2%, P = .01) and weight (87.5% vs 69.4%, P = .002) monitoring compared to the arm that included the monitoring devices alone. Furthermore, we found a significant correlation between daily steps and daily symptom severity. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that mobile apps with added engagement features can be useful tools for improving adherence over time and may thus increase the impact of mHealth-driven interventions. Additionally, activity tracker data can provide passive monitoring of disease burden that may be used to predict future events.

INTRODUCTION: Presbyopia, difficulty in seeing close-ups, affects a billion people globally. Mobile financial services (MFS) have been mandated since January 2021 for Bangladesh government social safety net payments, including old age allowance (OAA) and widow allowance (WA). We report the protocol for the Transforming Households with Refraction and Innovative Financial Technology randomised trial assessing the impact on the use of online banking of providing presbyopic safety net beneficiaries with reading glasses, and brief smartphone and mobile banking app training. METHODS AND ANALYSES: Eligible participants (n=484) are OAA (men aged 65-70 years; women aged 62-70) or WA recipients (women aged 48-60) with presbyopia as their only vision problem, passing a smartphone-based test of numeracy, cognition and dexterity, and not currently owning a smartphone or independently using MFS. All participants receive smartphones loaded with a mobile banking app and a transaction-tracking app and are randomised 1:1 to receive immediate free near-vision glasses and half-day training for smartphone and banking app use (intervention), or glasses and training 12 months later (control). The primary outcome is the mean quarterly number of mobile bank transactions over the 12-month follow-up period, comparing study groups, with and without adjustment. Secondary outcomes include food security, healthcare access and social connectedness. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The protocol was approved by ethics committees at Queens University Belfast (reference #MHLS22_69) and BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health (reference #IRB-21 August22-028). The trial is conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and national regulations in Bangladesh, and results will be published in open-access, peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05510687; ClinicalTrials.gov.

Peyronies disease (PD) is an underdiagnosed and undertreated fibroproliferative disorder associated with the formation of plaques that results in penile curvature and discourages some men from seeking medical consultation. The PD self-assessment app, a digital application (app), was developed to increase PD awareness, provide men with a self-screening and educational tool for PD, and help eliminate barriers to seeking consultation with a physician. Prior to deployment, 4 board-certified urologists provided qualitative reviews on the apps usability and utility as a screening tool. The PD self-assessment app features a questionnaire that addresses penile curvature, challenges with penetration, partner distress, and the impact on sexual experiences. The app uses the phones camera lens to perform a live scan employing a mathematical algorithm to determine the degree of curvature of an erect penis. Results include a three-dimensional (3D) penile simulation and a two-dimensional (2D) penile outline, allowing the user to mark plaque locations and determine the maximum curvature without requiring personal photographs. The user can choose to email their answers to the questionnaire and the representative penile simulation results to their physician. The app also includes external links directing users to an educational website focused on PD and to help with finding a treating physician. The app was designed with privacy and security features including optional password protection, encryption of sensitive data, in-app storage of all screening results, and the erasing of all data when the app is uninstalled. Patients will be empowered to self-assess their PD and locate a PD-experienced physician privately and securely. The app is not designed for diagnosing, treating, curing, or preventing any medical conditions, or diseases, nor does it substitute for a medical consultation. For security, scanning technology, rather than personal photography, is adjunctive to the diagnosis process. The app is designed to be flexible and expandable for future updates. It aims to assist men and their partners in learning about PD, tracking penile deformity, and enabling communication with a health care provider (HCP).

INTRODUCTION: Consultation audio recordings improve patient decision-making but are underutilized. Patient-administered recording apps on mobile devices may increase access, but implementation has not been evaluated. METHODS: We conducted a single-arm study delivering education, coaching, and reminders for patients to record their appointment using a mobile recording app. Patients had progressive, advanced prostate cancer and an upcoming appointment where the option of docetaxel would be discussed. We used the RE-AIM framework for evaluation. Reach was the proportion of patients who participated. Effectiveness was change in informed decision-making pre- vs. post-appointment. We used a questionnaire evaluating patient knowledge about docetaxel (0%-100% correct) and the decisional conflict scale-informed subscale (0 = feels extremely uninformed to 100 = extremely informed) to compare means using the paired t-test. Adoption was the proportion of providers agreeing to be recorded. Implementation was coordinator adherence to intervention delivery. We conducted semistructured interviews with patients, caregivers, and providers to assess barriers, facilitators, and suggestions for recording implementation. RESULTS: Of 102 patients approached, 50 (49%) patients participated. Mean age was 75 years, 38 (76%) were Non-Hispanic White, and 43 (86%) had telehealth appointments. Knowledge increased from 44.7% to 49.5% (p = 0.019), particularly about palliative care (42% answering correctly to 60%, p = 0.035). Decisional conflict-informed subscale increased from 48.9 to 70.9 (p

Intrinsically motivated information seeking is an expression of curiosity believed to be central to human nature. However, most curiosity research relies on small, Western convenience samples. Here, we analyze a naturalistic population of 482,760 readers using Wikipedias mobile app in 14 languages from 50 countries or territories. By measuring the structure of knowledge networks constructed by readers weaving a thread through articles in Wikipedia, we replicate two styles of curiosity previously identified in laboratory studies: the nomadic busybody and the targeted hunter. Further, we find evidence for another style-the dancer-which was previously predicted by a historico-philosophical examination of texts over two millennia and is characterized by creative modes of knowledge production. We identify associations, globally, between the structure of knowledge networks and population-level indicators of spatial navigation, education, mood, well-being, and inequality. These results advance our understanding of Wikipedias global readership and demonstrate how cultural and geographical properties of the digital environment relate to different styles of curiosity.

A significant proportion of frontline nurses developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms as a result of working during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of a mindfulness- and acceptance-based smartphone app intervention among nurses traumatized by the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a two-arm, randomized controlled trial. We randomly assigned 60 frontline nurses working in various clinical settings in the United States during the pandemic to either the intervention group (i.e. participants used the mindfulness app for 6 wk) or the wait-list control group. We assessed the apps efficacy through outcome measures of PTSD symptom severity, experiential avoidance, rumination, mindfulness, and resilience, measured at pre-, mid-, and post-intervention periods and a 1-month follow-up. Intervention satisfaction and perceived usability of the app were assessed within the intervention group. There was strong evidence of within-between interaction for PTSD, experiential avoidance, and rumination, implying significant improvement of these outcomes for the intervention group as compared to the control group. We only found a within-group interaction effect for mindfulness, indicating significant improvement of mindfulness within the intervention group only. Participants in the intervention group reported high satisfaction levels and perceived usability with the app. Findings highlight that mindfulness- and acceptance-based smartphone apps can improve PTSD symptoms of nurses traumatized by the pandemic. Healthcare organizations should provide nurses with accessible interventions (e.g. mindfulness apps) to treat and prevent secondary behavioral consequences of the pandemic, such as PTSD.

BackgroundDual use of both e-cigarettes and cigarettes is popular among young adults and may lead to greater nicotine dependence and additive adverse health effects than single-product use. However, existing cessation programs target quitting either e-cigarettes or cigarettes, highlighting a need for interventions to help young adults quit both products (ie, dual tobacco cessation).ObjectiveThis formative study is part of a larger project to develop a smartphone intervention for dual tobacco cessation among young adults. This study aimed to (1) explore desires for and experiences with quitting both e-cigarettes and cigarettes and (2) identify needs and preferences for dual tobacco cessation intervention programming.MethodsSemistructured interviews were conducted to elicit the need for and experience with dual tobacco cessation among 14 young adults (18-29 years old) recruited through Instagram (Meta) advertisements in 2023. We conducted a thematic analysis to identify common themes related to quitting experiences and cessation needs.ResultsParticipants expressed a strong desire for dual tobacco cessation and had attempted to quit both tobacco products, mostly "cold turkey." The priority product for quitting first varied by the individual's perceived harm or level of consumption. Targets for dual tobacco cessation interventions included (1) highlighting the health effects of dual tobacco use compared with single product use, (2) providing cessation support to quit one prioritized product while cutting down the other product with the explicit goal to quit both, (3) emphasizing unique facilitators and barriers to quitting each product (eg, unpleasant smell of cigarettes facilitating smoking cessation and accessibility and flavors of e-cigarettes hindering vaping cessation), and (4) addressing co-use of tobacco with alcohol or cannabis. Participants wanted personalized interventions through smartphone apps that would tailor support to their tobacco use patterns and unique quitting goals and needs. They also suggested presenting intervention content in multimedia (eg, videos, graphic pictures, quizzes, and games) to increase engagement.ConclusionsThis study provides important insights into young adults' experiences, needs, and preferences for dual tobacco product cessation. We highlight important targets for future smartphone apps to deliver personalized and tailored support to meet the heterogeneous needs and preferences of young people who want to quit using both e-cigarettes and cigarettes.

SignificanceA majority of visually impaired older adults were able to learn to proficiently use visual-assistive iPhone applications (apps) following a median 1 hour and/or multiple training sessions, which should be considered when planning vision rehabilitation service delivery, including the option for remote telerehabilitation for those who prefer that modality.PurposeOlder adults with low vision are increasingly using technology to improve their visual functioning. We examined whether age-related comorbidities were potential barriers to success in learning to use visual-assistive apps on a smartphone.MethodsA clinical trial assessed visual-assistive apps in 116 older adults aged 55+ years (mean [standard deviation], 72 [10] years). Subjects were randomized to use an app (SuperVision+, Seeing AI, or Aira) preloaded to a loaner iPhone and completed one-on-one training. App proficiency was measured by the participant's ability to use the iPhone/app without cueing at the end of training sessions. Training time was recorded for the initial session and totaled after subsequent sessions. Multiple regression models explored significant factors associated with training time and proficiency.ResultsMedian initial and total training times were 45 and 60 minutes, respectively. Increased initial and total training times were both significantly related to increased age (p

BackgroundPeople with serious mental illnesses (SMIs) have three-fold higher rates of comorbid insomnia than the general population, which has downstream effects on cognitive, mental, and physical health. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-i) is a safe and effective first-line treatment for insomnia, though the therapy's effectiveness relies on completing nightly sleep diaries which can be challenging for some people with SMI and comorbid cognitive deficits. Supportive technologies such as mobile applications and sleep sensors may aid with completing sleep diaries. However, commercially available CBT-i apps are not designed for individuals with cognitive deficits. To aid with this challenge, we have developed an integrated mobile application, named "Sleep Catcher," that will automatically incorporate data from a wearable fitness tracker and a bed sensor to track nightly sleep duration, overnight awakenings, bed-times, and wake-times to generate nightly sleep diaries for CBT-i.MethodsThe application development process will be described-writing algorithms to generating useful data, creating a clinician web portal to oversee patients and the mobile application, and integrating sleep data from device platforms and user input.ResultsThe mobile and web applications were developed using Flutter, IBM Code Engine, and IBM Cloudant database. The mobile application was developed with a user-centered approach and incremental changes informed by a series of beta tests. Special user-interface features were considered to address the challenges of developing a simple and effective mobile application targeting people with SMI.ConclusionThere is strong potential for synergy between engineering and mental health expertise to develop technologies for specific clinical populations. Digital health technologies allow for the development of multi-disciplinary solutions to existing health disparities in vulnerable populations, particularly in people with SMI.

Background/objectives: This study aimed to evaluate compliance and accuracy in comparison with traditional PD diaries for tracking motor symptoms using a new smartphone application (MyParkinson's) and paper diary strategies. Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with progressive motor symptoms. Treatment becomes more challenging as PD progresses, motor complications in the form of wearing-off phenomenon and levodopa-induced dyskinesia develop. Traditional paper diaries and clinical scales used to evaluate patients may be inadequate in assessing whether the patient is "on" or "off," resulting in less-than-ideal treatment changes. Methods: A randomized crossover design was utilized to examine 22 advanced PD patients who underwent symptomatic assessment with both diaries during two separate 24-h periods seven days apart. The compliance and accuracy of data were assessed by comparing diary entries with the clinical examination notes and WhatsApp queries. LaOerly, patients' diary preferences were also evaluated. Results: The digital diary had significantly beOer compliance and accuracy than the paper diaries, with substantial/almost perfect levels of agreement (κ = 0.615 to 0.818) between logged symptoms and clinical examination notes. 65% of patients preferred the digital diary for follow-ups, and there was no significant difference in ease of use compared to paper diaries. Conclusion: Digital diaries are helpful in the clinical management of PD patients as they minimize recall bias and reduce data errors in appropriately selected patients. Our study suggests a broader adoption of digital health technologies in PD management. Still, additional research is necessary to improve the tools and assess long-term patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to present the creation, challenges and difficulties of four utility apps to increase production on Android handheld devices. The motivation of creating the apps and the problems encountered during creation are highlighted. The first app is a fast emoji app for WhatsApp. The motivation for creating such an app is that usually phone users do not like to type too much; with this app, they can communicate with each other just by sending emojis. The second app is a standalone emoji sender app, which does the same thing as the previous app but uses its own database, not the WhatsApp database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early cognitive training is important to prevent cognitive decline in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. Therefore, developing an application that can provide evidence-based cognitive training is necessary for patients with MCI or dementia. Method: This study aimed to develop and evaluate Smart Brain, an evidence-based application that provides comprehensive cognitive training tailored to this population. The application was developed using an ADDIE (analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation) model. A systematic review of databases, including Ovid-MEDLINE, Ovid-EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL, was conducted up to April 15, 2021, to identify key content areas. Additionally, a survey of 100 participants highlighted the need for features such as cognitive games, health notes, social networking services, and goal achievement. Result: The application was developed with distinct user and administrator interfaces to support engagement and monitoring. Usability testing involved 7 experts and 11 elderly individuals with MCI or dementia from a daycare center. Based on usability feedback, features such as the time limits for cognitive games were refined. The final application integrates cognitive games, physical exercises, emotional support, and health management tools to address user needs comprehensively. Conclusion: Smart Brain holds significant potential to improve the quality of life and cognitive health of elderly individuals with MCI or dementia. Its usability and functionality make it a promising tool for community-based interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of escalating global challenges related to the climate crisis, depletion of natural resources, and growing social inequalities, tourism—one of the fastest-growing industries worldwide—must undergo a transformation toward more responsible travel planning and implementation. In this context, the concepts of the green economy and sustainable tourism provide valuable inspiration. Despite widespread consensus on the validity of these concepts, their implementation across various regions encounters numerous social, political, technological, and cultural challenges. Mobile applications used during tourist activities can play a pivotal role as widespread carriers of values and ideas aligned with the principles of the green economy and sustainable development. This article focuses on two key areas. The first outlines theoretical frameworks for leveraging mobile applications to shape travelers' attitudes in accordance with the green economy and sustainable development principles. The second area refers to original research on user preferences and expectations regarding sustainable solutions in mobile applications. The findings of the research indicate that mobile applications possess a vast potential to influence tourists' decisions and behaviors. In this context, they can serve as a critical factor in supporting the transformation of the tourism industry towards the objectives of sustainable development and the green economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting millions worldwide, leading to cognitive and functional decline. Early detection and intervention are crucial for enhancing the quality of life of patients and their families. Remote Monitoring Technologies (RMTs) offer a promising solution for early detection by tracking changes in behavioral and cognitive functions, such as memory, language, and problem-solving skills. Timely detection of these symptoms can facilitate early intervention, potentially slowing disease progression and enabling appropriate treatment and care. Methods: The RADAR-AD study was designed to evaluate the accuracy and validity of multiple RMTs in detecting functional decline across various stages of AD in a real-world setting, compared to standard clinical rating scales. Our approach involved a univariate analysis using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) to analyze individual features of six RMTs while adjusting for variables such as age, sex, years of education, clinical site, BMI and season. Additionally, we employed four machine learning classifiers – Logistic Regression, Decision Tree, Random Forest, and XGBoost – using a nested cross-validation approach to assess the discriminatory capabilities of the RMTs. Results: The ANCOVA results indicated significant differences between healthy and AD subjects regarding reduced physical activity, less REM sleep, altered gait patterns, and decreased cognitive functioning. The machine-learning-based analysis demonstrated that RMT-based models could identify subjects in the prodromal stage with an Area Under the ROC Curve of 73.0 %. In addition, our findings show that the Amsterdam iADL questionnaire has high discriminatory abilities. Conclusions: RMTs show promise in AD detection already in the prodromal stage. Using them could allow for earlier detection and intervention, thereby improving patients' quality of life. Furthermore, the Amsterdam iADL questionnaire holds high potential when employed remotely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the risk factors for postpartum urinary incontinence. Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) improves pelvic floor dysfunction in puerperal women, but patient compliance is low. Mobile Health (mHealth) is a promising solution. Objective: To investigate PFMT compliance and effects on pelvic floor muscles in GDM puerperal women guided by the mobile fitness app Keep. Methods: This randomized controlled trial included puerperal women with GDM (n = 72) who were delivered at a tertiary general hospital, selected from November 2021 to April 2022 using convenience sampling, and randomly divided into control (n = 36) and experimental (n = 36) groups. The control group performed PFMT based on routine postpartum PFMT training instruction. The experimental group performed PFMT based on Keep. Both groups had a 4-week intervention period. The PFMT compliance, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-SF), Pelvic Muscle Self-efficacy Scale, and the Knowledge, Attitude, Belief, and Practice (KAP) scores of PFMT in puerperal women in the groups were compared pre- and post-intervention. Pelvic floor surface electromyographic biofeedback was used to compare the post-intervention pelvic floor muscle strength between the two groups. Results: Compared with the control group, the test group had higher post-intervention maternal PFMT compliance, pelvic floor muscle strength, pelvic floor muscle self-efficacy, and KAP scores (p < 0.05); incontinence scores were lower (p < 0.05). Pelvic floor muscles in both groups recovered better post-intervention (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The Keep app can improve PFMT adherence, urinary incontinence, KAP scores, self-efficacy, and pelvic floor muscle strength in GDM puerperal women and promote pelvic floor rehabilitation after delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: With technological advancements and the growing prevalence of smartphones, ophthalmology has opportunely harnessed medical technology for visual function assessment as a home monitoring tool for patients. Ophthalmology applications that offer these have likewise become more readily available in recent years, which may be used for early detection and monitoring of eye conditions. To date, no review has been done to evaluate and compare the utility of these apps. This review provides an updated overview of visual functions assessment using mobile applications available on the Apple App and Google Play Stores, enabling eye care professionals to make informed selections of their use in ophthalmology. Methods: We reviewed 160 visual function applications available on Apple iTunes and the Google Play Stores. The parameters surveyed included types of visual function tests, the involvement of healthcare professionals in their development, cost, and download count. Results: Visual tests, including visual acuity and color vision tests, were most common among apps surveyed, and they were comparable to traditional clinical methods. Certain applications were more widely used, some of which have had studies conducted to assess the reliability of test results. Limitations of these apps include the absence of healthcare professionals' involvement in their development, the lack of approval by regulatory authorities and minimal cloud-based features to communicate results to healthcare professionals. Conclusions: The prevalence and easy access of visual function testing applications present opportunities to enhance teleophthalmology through early detection and monitoring of eye conditions. Future development to enhance the quality of the apps should involve regulatory bodies and medical professionals, followed up by research using larger samples with longer follow-up studies to review the reliability and validity of ophthalmology applications. This would potentially enable these applications to be incorporated into the comprehensive assessment and follow-up care of patients' eye health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deprescribing is an evidence‐based intervention to reduce potentially inappropriate medication use. Yet its implementation faces barriers including inadequate resources, training and time. Mobile applications (apps) on app stores could address some barriers by offering educational content and interactive features for medication assessment and deprescribing guidance. A scoping review was undertaken to examine existing deprescribing apps, identifying features including interactive and artificial intelligence (AI) elements. A comprehensive search was conducted in August 2023 to identify mobile apps with deprescribing content within the Apple and Google Play Stores. The apps found were screened for inclusion, and data on their features were extracted. Quality assessment was undertaken using the Mobile App Rating Scale. Six deprescribing‐related apps were identified: the American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria 2023, Dementia Training Australia Medications, Evidence‐Based Medicine Guide, Information Assessment Method Medical Guidelines, MedGPT‐Medical AI App, and Polypharmacy: Manage Medicines. These apps focused primarily on educating both patients/carers and healthcare professionals about deprescribing. Amongst them, two apps included interactive features, with one incorporating AI technology. While these features allowed for search queries and input of patient‐level details, the apps provided limited personalised deprescribing advice. In terms of quality, the apps scored highly on functionality and information, and poorly on engagement and aesthetics. This review found deprescribing apps, despite being educational, have limitations in personalization and user engagement. Future research should prioritize evaluating their feasibility and user experience in clinical settings, and further explore how AI and interactivity could enhance the usefulness of these apps for deprescribing practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of RED - Revista de Educación a Distancia is the property of Universidad de Murcia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of RED - Revista de Educación a Distancia is the property of Universidad de Murcia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) frequently experience impairments in a range of abilities. Due to their poor attention and concentration, they find it challenging to stay focused when learning. They need help to retain the directions given by teachers and are very animated. Focus issues, hyperactivity, and attention problems may hamper learning. The needs and challenges of children with ADHD have been addressed by numerous digital solutions over the years. These solutions support a variety of needs (e.g., diagnosing versus treating), aim to address a variety of goals (e.g., addressing inattention, impulsivity, working memory, executive functions, emotion regulation), and employ a wide range of technologies, including video games, PC, mobile, web, AR, VR, tangible interfaces, wearables, robots, and BCI/neurofeedback, occasionally even in tandem. According to studies on the psychological impacts of serious games, immersive games can potentially be valuable tools for treating ADHD. This research investigates using PC, mobile/tablet applications, augmented reality, virtual reality, and brain–computer interfaces to develop executive functions and metacognitive and emotional competencies in children with ADHD through serious games. Following PRISMA 2020 criteria, this systematic review includes a comprehensive search of the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. The database search provided 784 records, and 30 studies met the inclusion criteria. The results showed that serious games assisted by multiple technologies could significantly improve a wide range of cognitive and socioemotional meta-competencies among children with ADHD, including visuospatial working memory, attention, inhibition control, cognitive flexibility, planning/organizing, problem-solving, social communication, and emotional regulation. The results of this review may provide positive feedback for creating more inclusive digital training environments for the treatment of ADHD children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to create image-processing Android apps to launch on the Google Play Store. Three apps with different usages will be presented for different situations. The first app is a night-vision app on an Android phone that uses OpenCV. The second app is a tooth-brushing assistant application. The app is made for mobile phones and uses advanced image-processing techniques to detect when the tooth is brushed correctly or incorrectly. The main focus is on the direction of the toothbrush movement because this is one of the key aspects of correctly brushing teeth. The direction of movement of the brush is detected using movement vectors. The third app is a lane-detection app on the smartphone. Lane detection is carried out using OpenCV and TensorFlow libraries. The mobile app was implemented on the Android operating system. The app has a live video feed of the surroundings. When in the area of view, there will be a road with a lane. The system detects the lane and draws a green line over it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cancer remains a leading cause of death, underscoring the importance of reliable health apps. This study aims to design and validate a content quality evaluation tool for cancer mobile applications ensuring they provide standard services and features to users. Method: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in steps including identifying mobile application contents, designing and validating evaluation tool. Studies published until February 19, 2023, in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Scientific Information Database (SID) databases, as well as mobile applications in Myket, Bazaar, and Google Play, were searched. Data extraction and expert panel validation followed, leading to four expert sessions to design the tool. Nineteen oncologists, health information management and medical informatics specialties were included in the study as a research community. The tool's face validity, content validity and reliability were assessed using CVR (Content Validity Ratio), CVI (Content Validity Index), and Cronbach's alpha respectively. Results: Out of 242 initial search results in databases and 125 mobile applications in app stores, 25 articles and 20 mobile applications included based on the search limits. The designed tools consist of 8 main themes (prevention, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, education, communication, requests/order and other) with 43 question items. All items received scores above 0.79 in CVI and 0.42 in CVR, leading to their approval and the reliability of the tool was accepted with a score of 0.967. Conclusion: Evaluating cancer mobile applications can be very helpful in developing useful and supportive mobile apps, and assist health policymakers in identifying and recommending high-quality cancer-related apps. This will enable patients to choose the most suitable apps, enhancing the quality of cancer care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotional education is key for primary school children, as it promotes their emotional development and successful socialization. Specialized mobile software, which are integrated into psychological and pedagogical support programmes for primary school students, can help in the development of children's emotional intelligence (EI). The aim of the research was to analyse the effectiveness of using two mobile applications (Emotional, and Bouncy the People Trainer). They were designed to stimulate the EI growth among children aged 6-9. The research methods included psychological methods from the EQ.app kids computer software, emotional education programmes developed on the basis of socio-emotional learning (SEL) methods, mathematical statistics methods (correlation analysis, Pearson correlation coefficient, Student's t-test). Analysis of the dynamics of EI indicators revealed significant differences between the experimental group (EG) and control group (CG) on pre-tests and post-tests. In the EG, a statistically significant improvement (p-value = 0.000) was observed in the indicators of emotional praxis by 8.57 points, in perceptual and language components by 10.63 points. This gives grounds to conclude that working in two mobile applications helped to develop children's EI. At the same time, the CG remained at their pre-test scores, showing no improvement. Research prospects include a deeper study of the impact of different methods of emotional education on the children's mental state and social skills, as well as an analysis of the long-term consequences of such programmes. It is important to study the integration of digital technologies in the process of emotional education, evaluate the effectiveness of various mobile applications, online platforms and other digital tools for the development of EI and social competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Gerokomos is the property of Indemm Farma SL and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In diagnostic radiology, entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) is one of the patient radiation dose quantities, and the effective dose is used as an estimator of possible risk for radiation exposure level. Calculation of the ESAK and effective dose requires both X-ray machine parameters and patient exposure parameters. Due to the high performance of smartphones and the increase in mobile applications, this study aimed to develop a mobile application to estimate the ESAK and effective dose in general radiography. The ESAK calculator was then developed using Android studio software, which is a standalone application operating on Android operating system version 5.0 or higher. X-ray machine parameters are initially required for calculating X-ray output. For the ESAK and effective dose calculation, exposure parameters for each examination are needed. The results showed that the average score of satisfaction was 4.64±0.13, which was very satisfactory. In conclusion, the ESAK calculator could be used for estimating ESAK and effective dose for individual radiographic examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the acceptability of two co-designed mobile applications Mit Sygehus [a knowledge-based solution] and Genoptræn.dk [a self-training solution] to support a cross-sectoral, person-centred and empowering stroke rehabilitation. Setting: The applications were implemented and tested throughout two stroke rehabilitation trajectories in Southern Denmark, comprising two acute, two sub-acute and two municipal stroke rehabilitation settings. Methods, participants and analysis: A process evaluation focusing on acceptability was conducted. Individual and dyadic interviews were performed with ten stroke survivors (three women and seven men, aged 50-84) with moderate stroke and seven significant others (five women and two men, aged 50-78) post-rehabilitation. A constructivist Grounded Theory analysis was used to explore what, why, when, and how the apps worked or did not work throughout the stroke rehabilitation trajectory and if adaptions were needed. Results: Participants found that Mit Sygehus provided adequate and sufficient knowledge and was easy to use, however, acceptability of Mit Sygehus declined throughout the rehabilitation process. Also, knowledge on 'return-to-work' and 're-gaining driver's license/permission to drive' needed to be developed. The content in Genoptræn.dk was perceived as acceptable, through content being person-centred, motivating and meaningful. Genoptræn.dk furthermore, supported the transfer between rehabilitation settings, provided a sense of progress throughout the rehabilitation process, facilitated positive habits regarding self-training, and relieved the burden on significant others. Genoptræn.dk was perceived most acceptable in the sub-acute rehabilitation setting and declined when rehabilitation continued in the municipal setting. Conclusion: Stroke survivors and their significant others found Mit Sygehus and Genoptræn.dk acceptable to support cross-sectoral, person-centred and empowering stroke rehabilitation, however acceptability declined throughout the rehabilitation process. Further investigations are required to determine how cognitive rehabilitation can play a greater role in app-supported stroke rehabilitation and how the need for more long-term follow-up can be supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a low-cost alternative method for mapping the electric field strength from 4G LTE base stations and identifies areas where this mapping is more accurate. A drive test campaign was conducted in the urban environment of Thessaloniki, Greece, using data obtained from three identical smartphones, each connected to a different mobile operator and an exposimeter. The smartphones used a mobile application to record Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) values, while the exposimeter measured the electric field strength in selected frequency bands. In the first part, the variability of the received power over different periods within certain areas was studied, and the reasons for this variability were identified. In the second part, a linear factor was calculated to convert RSRP values into electric field strength using data from both the application and the exposimeter. The converted RSRP values were subsequently compared with the exposimeter data for validation. The results indicate that in areas where the variability of the received power is lower, the linear relationship between smartphone and exposimeter data is statistically stronger resulting in calculated electric field strength values are closer to the measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to evaluate the usability of mobile applications for learning foreign languages. The study examined the effectiveness, efficiency and user satisfaction of the selected applications. The research was conducted using a user-based approach and observed the behavior of real users while using the applications and collected their opinions. The study participants consisted of 10 university students. The participants were selected using the convenience sampling method. This method allowed researchers to quickly reach existing participants. Participants performed five different tasks using applications they had never used before. Applications included Duolingo, Cake and Memrise. In the efficiency dimension, Cake had the highest success rate (54%), while Duolingo had the lowest success rate (34%). In the efficiency dimension, Duolingo had the fastest task completion time, while Cake took the longest. In terms of user satisfaction, Cake received the highest satisfaction rating. Participants reported that Cake was easier to use due to its simple tasks and user-friendly interface. On the other hand, Duolingo's complex interface and repetitive structure made it difficult for users to use the application long-term. Overall, all applications were rated as moderately user-friendly. The study highlights the importance of user-centered design to increase the effectiveness of mobile language learning applications and provides insights into future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The primary caregivers of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) after cardiac surgery at home are often their mothers. Therefore, the quality of life (QoL) and treatment adherence (TA) of mothers are crucial for the prognosis of these children. This study evaluated the impact of a mobile educational application on the QoL and TA in mothers of children with CHD undergoing cardiac surgery.Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 72 mothers of children with CHD referred for cardiac surgery to Children’s Medical Center Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from September 2023 to May 2024. Mothers were randomly assigned to intervention (n=36) and control (n=36) groups. The intervention group received the educational app upon discharge and used it for four weeks, while the control group received standard discharge education, which consisted of face-to-face education. Data were collected using a demographic form, the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the Modanloo Treatment Adherence Questionnaire at baseline and one month post-intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 26, with independent t-test, chi-square, and analysis of covariance. A significance level of P

Study purpose. In physical education and sports lessons, correctly dosing effort is essential for optimising physical performance and adapting effort parameters, including breaks, in line with physiological principles. The study hypothesises that using smart-watches and mobile apps to monitor effort in middle school physical education lessons will reveal significant differences in effort and heart rate between overweight and average BMI students. Modern technology is expected to enhance understanding of students' physical exertion, facilitating adjustments to programs based on health status and fitness level. Material and method. The study involved 45 students (average age 13.5 years) using 15 Xiaomi 8 smart-watches, phones, Wi-Fi, the Mi Fit app, and other devices to analyse body composition. Data on heart rate and BMI were collected during lessons, which followed the same theme and effort dosage. The Mi Fit app provided detailed aerobic and anaerobic exertion analyses. Parental consent was obtained, and data collection was done under routine lesson conditions. The technology aimed to improve performance and customise programs, offering a personalised approach to physical education. Real-time data transfer enabled accurate analysis of physical effort, promoting healthier lifestyles and better lesson adaptation by teachers. Results. A significant interaction between heart rate and BMI steps (p < 0.01) shows different cardiovascular adaptations to exercise based on BMI. MANOVA confirmed the significant impact of these variables on heart rate, and post hoc comparisons showed differences between weight categories, except between overweight and extremely obese groups. These results highlight the need to tailor physical education programs to BMI categories to optimise cardiovascular health and performance. Conclusion. Results suggest that monitoring the effort curve using modern technologies, such as smart-watches and mobile apps, provides valuable information for adjusting and optimising physical education lessons, especially for overweight and obese students.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the usability of mobile applications for learning foreign languages. The study examined the effectiveness, efficiency and user satisfaction of the selected applications. The research was conducted using a user-based approach and observed the behavior of real users while using the applications and collected their opinions. The study participants consisted of 10 university students. The participants were selected using the convenience sampling method. This method allowed researchers to quickly reach existing participants. Participants performed five different tasks using applications they had never used before. Applications included Duolingo, Cake and Memrise. In the efficiency dimension, Cake had the highest success rate (54%), while Duolingo had the lowest success rate (34%). In the efficiency dimension, Duolingo had the fastest task completion time, while Cake took the longest. In terms of user satisfaction, Cake received the highest satisfaction rating. Participants reported that Cake was easier to use due to its simple tasks and user-friendly interface. On the other hand, Duolingo's complex interface and repetitive structure made it difficult for users to use the application long-term. Overall, all applications were rated as moderately user-friendly. The study highlights the importance of user-centered design to increase the effectiveness of mobile language learning applications and provides insights into future research.

Blood is a life saver in many emergencies like accidents or for the patients suffering from deadly diseases such as cancer and thalassemia. Conventionally, blood collection is done in five steps, i.e., recruitment, screening, physical examination, collection, and postdonation care. The huge demand of blood requires the implementation of smart approaches in the field of blood donation, which allows specific, measurable, achievable, and timely outcomes. This paper throws light on various smart approaches to motivate and attract people for blood donation. Gamification, social media, short message service, mobile applications, and other web-based applications are some of these approaches reviewed in this article. A number of platforms are also highlighted where one can seek potential donors or blood banks easily during urgency, avoiding the complex steps followed in traditional blood donation systems.

Floodlight Open was a global, open-access, digital-only study designed to understand the drivers and barriers in deployment and use of a smartphone app in a naturalistic setting and broad study population of people with and without multiple sclerosis (MS). The study utilised the Floodlight Open app: a bring-your-own-device solution that remotely measures a users mood, cognition, hand motor function, and gait and postural stability via smartphone sensor-based tests requiring active user input (active tests). Levels of mobility of study participants (life-space measurement) were passively measured. Study data from these tests were made available via an open-access platform. Data from 1350 participants with self-declared MS and 1133 participants with self-declared non-MS from 17 countries across four continents were included in this report. Overall, MS participants provided active test data for a mean duration of 5.6 weeks or a mean duration of 19 non-consecutive days. This duration increased among MS participants who persisted beyond the first week to a mean of 10.3 weeks or 36.5 non-consecutive days. Passively collected life-space measurement data were generated by MS participants for a mean duration of 9.8 weeks or 50.6 non-consecutive days. This duration increased to 16.3 weeks/85.1 non-consecutive days among MS participants who persisted beyond the first week. Older age, self-declared MS disease status, and clinical supervision as part of concomitant clinical research were all significantly associated with higher persistence of the use of the Floodlight Open app. MS participants performed significantly worse than non-MS participants on four out of seven active tests. The findings from this multinational study inform future research to improve the dynamics of persistence of use of digital monitoring tools and further highlight challenges and opportunities in applying them to support MS clinical care.

Opioid use disorder is a growing public health concern in the United States, causing economic burden and hindered by stigma. New forms of data, including location data, may improve the effectiveness of interventions for preventing and treating opioid use disorder and/or misuse, increase access to treatment and address racial and ethnic disparities. This qualitative study aimed to identify factors that contribute to users experience with a publicly available location-tracking mobile app - and investigate their privacy and ethical concerns. The study was conducted through two 15-minute interviews within a 48-h time frame. Participants were recruited from a pool of past research participants, Facebook ads, and referrals, and had to meet certain inclusion criteria related to opioid use disorder and/or misuse. The study had a final sample of 30 participants, 15 male and 15 female. The study suggests that a simple onboarding process and convenient experience can enhance participant adherence to the study app and other similar location-based research apps. However, the study also found that participants had concerns about privacy and transparency about locational privacy when sharing their location data. To improve the app, researchers suggest incorporating user behavior earlier in the app development stage. The study also highlights the importance of addressing ethical and privacy concerns such as limiting the types of collected data, incorporating data encryption and retention strategies, giving access to research staff only, and not sharing the data with third-party companies or law enforcement agencies to increase user satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: Spelling assessments can provide a valuable marker of cognitive change in Alzheimers disease and related dementias (ADRD) and play an important role in ADRD research. However, most commercial assessments are not well-suited to the needs of researchers or participants; they are expensive and often require face-to-face administration by a trained examiner. To help overcome these barriers and foster progress in ADRD research, the National Institute on Aging (NIA)-funded Mobile Toolbox (MTB) offers a library of cognitive measures that can be self-administered remotely on a participants own smartphone, including a brand-new Spelling test. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this paper is to describe the design, piloting, calibration, and validation of the MTB Spelling test. DESIGN: We describe a pilot study, calibration study, and three validation studies, all of which use a cross-sectional design. SETTING: The pilot study, calibration study, and validation studies 2 and 3 were conducted remotely, while validation study 1 was conducted in the lab. PARTICIPANTS: Participants for all of the studies were recruited from the general population by a thirdparty market research firm and the samples were stratified by age, gender, race, ethnicity, and education to represent the U.S. POPULATION: The pilot sample included 1,950 participants and the calibration study included 1335 participants over the age of 8. Validation study 1 included 92 participants ages 20 to 84, validation study 2 included 1021 participants ages 18 to 90, and validation study 3 included 168 participants ages 28 to 87. MEASUREMENTS: Participants in each of the studies completed the MTB Spelling test. Participants in validation studies 1 and 2 completed measures from the NIH Toolbox including Oral Reading Recognition as a measure of convergent validity, and Visual Reasoning and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning as measures of divergent validity. As an additional measure of convergent validity, participants in study 1 also completed the Spelling subtest from the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, 4th Edition. RESULTS: The MTB Spelling test demonstrated evidence of internal consistency (r=.79 to .83) convergent validity (r=.56 to .81, p.01). CONCLUSION: Findings suggest the MTB Spelling test is a reliable and valid measure of English spelling abilities in general population samples, and has potential in ADRD research.

ObjectivePeople commonly cope with chronic low back pain (cLBP) by ignoring and distraction. Can mindful interoceptive exposure to the pain sensation itself and its phenomenological components be an alternative approach?MethodsSingle-arm feasibility study in patients with cLBP using a 2-minute attention exercise guided by a smartphone app several times per day over 8 weeks. We assessed feasibility, pre/post pain, function, and psychological parameters using mixed methods: standard questionnaires, ecological momentary assessment, and exit interviews that included micro-phenomenology technique and subsequent reflexive thematic qualitative analysis.ResultsWe enrolled 31 participants, mostly female, mean age 48, the majority had pain for >5 years; 29 completed. Mean pain intensity [0-10] improved from 4.8 ±1.7 to 3.1 ±1.9 (p < .0001); mean PEG scores (intensity and interference with daily life; range 0-30) improved from 13.7 ±6.2 to 8.4 ±6.6 (p < .0001); pain impact (9 items incl physical function) 22.3 ±8.7 to 19.7 ±8.1 (p = .0010). Twenty-one of 29 improved PEG score ≥30%. There were significant improvements in PCS Rumination and MAIA Not-Worrying. Participants became aware of their usual habit of avoidance and the challenge of and resistance to focusing on pain. They were surprised how pain sensations varied over time, and that pain intensity and the threat value of pain could diminish by focusing on it. They described a variety of 3D pain shapes (e.g., football, pool ball, rod, nail, brick, stars) with a range of colors, transparency, temperature, and density that for some changed with mindful attention. Most struggled to find appropriate words for sensory awareness and attention regulation and found that the threat value of their pain diminished.ConclusionsMindful interoceptive exposure to the sensations of their cLBP using a 2-minute attention exercise with a phone app-rather than ignoring and distracting from it-may be a beneficial intervention for cLBP.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov #NCT06186193.

BackgroundSmartphone apps may provide an opportunity to deliver mental health resources and interventions in a scalable and cost-effective manner. However, young people from marginalized and underserved groups face numerous and unique challenges to accessing, engaging with, and benefiting from these apps.ObjectiveThis study aims to better understand the acceptability (ie, perceived usefulness and satisfaction with an app) and feasibility (ie, the extent to which an app was successfully used) of mental health apps for underserved young people. A secondary aim was to establish whether adaptations can be made to increase the accessibility and inclusivity of apps for these groups.MethodsWe conducted 2 sequential studies, consisting of a systematic literature review of mental health apps for underserved populations followed by a qualitative study with underserved young male participants (n=20; age: mean 19). Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, an electronic search of 5 databases was conducted in 2021. The search yielded 18,687 results, of which 14 articles met the eligibility criteria.ResultsThe included studies comprised a range of groups, including those affected by homelessness, having physical health conditions, living in low- and middle-income countries, and those with sexual and gender minority identities. Establishing and maintaining user engagement was a pervasive challenge across mental health apps and populations, and dropout was a reported problem among nearly all the included studies. Positive subjective reports of usability, satisfaction, and acceptability were insufficient to determine users' objective engagement.ConclusionsDespite the significant amount of funding directed to the development of mental health apps, juxtaposed with only limited empirical evidence to support their effectiveness, few apps have been deliberately developed or adapted to meet the heterogeneous needs of marginalized and underserved young people. Before mental health apps are scaled up, a greater understanding is needed of the types of services that more at-risk young people and those in limited-resource settings prefer (eg, standard vs digital) followed by more rigorous and consistent demonstrations of acceptability, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness. Adopting an iterative participatory approach by involving young people in the development and evaluation process is an essential step in enhancing the adoption of any intervention, including apps, in "real-world" settings and will support future implementation and sustainability efforts to ensure that marginalized and underserved groups are reached.Trial registrationPROSPERO CRD42021254241; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=254241.

Youth screen media activity is a growing concern, though few studies include objective usage data. Through the longitudinal, U.S.-based Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, youth (mage = 14; n = 1415) self-reported their typical smartphone use and passively recorded three weeks of smartphone use via the ABCD-specific Effortless Assessment Research System (EARS) application. Here we describe and validate passively-sensed smartphone keyboard and app use measures, provide code to harmonize measures across operating systems, and describe trends in adolescent smartphone use. Keyboard and app-use measures were reliable and positively correlated with one another (r = 0.33) and with self-reported use (rs = 0.21-0.35). Participants recorded a mean of 5 h of daily smartphone use, which is two more hours than they self-reported. Further, females logged more smartphone use than males. Smartphone use was recorded at all hours, peaking on average from 8 to 10 PM and lowest from 3 to 5 AM. Social media and texting apps comprised nearly half of all use. Data are openly available to approved investigators ( https://nda.nih.gov/abcd/ ). Information herein can inform use of the ABCD dataset to longitudinally study health and neurodevelopmental correlates of adolescent smartphone use.

BackgroundFrontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a leading cause of dementia in individuals aged