Mobile interventions promoting positive body image are lacking. This study presents a randomized controlled evaluation of BodiMojo, a mobile application (app) intervention grounded in self-compassion to promote positive body image. A sample of 274 adolescents, mean (SD) age = 18.36 (1.34) years, 74% female, were allocated to a control group or used BodiMojo for 6 weeks. Appearance esteem, body image flexibility, appearance comparison, mood, and self-compassion were assessed at baseline, 6, and 12 weeks. Significant time by group interactions emerged for appearance esteem and self-compassion, with appearance esteem and self-compassion increasing in the intervention relative to the control group. These findings provide preliminary support for BodiMojo, a cost-effective mobile app for positive body image.

BackgroundThe increase in global health networks as mechanisms for improving health and affecting social change has been recognized as a key component of the global health landscape today. To successfully raise awareness of shared causes, global health networks need tools to help them plan successful campaigns and evaluate the impact of their work, as well as to coordinate and reinforce each other’s efforts. One global health network, the Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) Global Council, can be credited with raising the profile of the issues of disrespect and abuse (D&A) in childbirth and the need for RMC within global maternal health. We set out to learn from the work of the RMC Global Council and the RMC movement at large to develop a tool—a framework for planning and evaluating awareness-raising efforts—useful for networks focused on global health and human rights.MethodsWe reviewed the literature for theoretical models on awareness raising and, finding a lack of appropriate tools, developed a new, draft framework using components of the Framework for Effective Campaigns, the SpitFire SmartChart 3.0, and Network Theory. We conducted semi-structured interviews with members of the RMC Global Council to validate the draft framework and identify any additional strategies or tactics that were used during their efforts to raise awareness of D&A and RMC. We also interviewed “influenced” individuals to validate inputs from the influencers and determine the key documents, events, individuals, and organizations that made the greatest contribution to the increased awareness of D&A/RMC. Data were analyzed using deductive and inductive qualitative research methods.ResultsThe validated awareness-raising framework includes five strategies that characterize a successful awareness-raising effort. Each strategy has a set of tactics that can operationalize those strategies. Each tactic is classified as essential, helpful, or variable based on the number of key informants who utilized it.ConclusionThis case study offers an example of how global health networks can create a movement that effects change at global and local levels by providing an empirically-grounded framework to help plan, coordinate, and evaluate future campaigns designed to raise awareness and create momentum in global health, human rights, and quality of care.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12978-018-0662-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The aim of the study was to test the feasibility of a mindfulness and self‐compassion based program for adolescents, to be delivered though mobile phones. Twenty racially and ethnically diverse US adolescents enrolled in a study to use the app for 30 days, after which they provided satisfaction data and participated in focus groups to describe their experiences and offer suggestions for improving the app. Usage data were also captured. Results indicated that participants used the app on the majority of days over the intervention period, reported finding it helpful for managing stress, and provided suggestions for substantive areas for improvement. These findings suggest that a mobile app may be a feasible way to disseminate a mindfulness and selfcompassion based program widely among adolescents.

Self-compassion is thought to protect from body image concerns. However, the mechanisms of this effect remain unclear. This study examined three positive dimensions of self-compassion as moderators of the mediated relationship between perceived overweight status, appearance comparison, and appearance esteem. A sample of 232 youth aged 13–18 years, mean = 18.36 (1.5) years, reported on appearance esteem, appearance comparison, perceived weight status, and self-compassion dimensions including self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness. Among boys, mindfulness and common humanity moderated the perceived weight status to appearance comparison pathway of the mediation (ps = .01), such that this relationship was weaker among boys with higher levels of these dimensions of self-compassion. These findings were not replicated among girls. None of the self-compassion dimensions moderated the appearance comparison to appearance esteem pathway. Self-compassion dimensions that decrease the focus on the self may protect against body image concerns among boys.

Challenges with primary care access and overextended providers present opportunities for pharmacists as patient care extenders for chronic disease management. The primary objective was to align primary care pharmacist services with organizational priorities and improve patient clinical outcomes. The secondary objective was to develop a technological strategy for service evaluation. An interdisciplinary workgroup developed primary care pharmacist services focused on improving performance measures and supporting the care team in alignment with ongoing population health initiatives. Pharmacist collaborative practice agreements (CPAs) were developed and implemented. An electronic dashboard was developed to capture service outcome measures. Blood pressure control to <140/90 mmHg was achieved in 74.15% of patients who engaged with primary care pharmacists versus 41.53% of eligible patients electing to follow usual care pathways. Appropriate statin use was higher in patients engaged with primary care pharmacists than in eligible patients electing to follow usual care pathways both for diabetes and ischemic vascular disease (12.4% and 2.2% higher, respectively). Seventeen of 54 possible process and outcome measures were identified and incorporated into an electronic dashboard. Primary care pharmacist services improve hypertension control and statin use. Service outcomes can be measured with discrete data from the electronic health record (EHR), and should align with organizational priorities.