Can healthy people benefit from health apps?

Husain, Iltifat; Spence, Des

doi:10.1136/bmj.h1887

Cited by 46 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Two recent articles addressed these issues and called for more informed use of the health-related apps and more rigorous approaches to developing and evaluating those that affect medical management (eg, diabetes mellitus, hypertension). 249,250 These limitations beg for some innovative changes in intervention studies using mHealth. First, a more rigorous approach to the analytic methods used is needed.…”

Section: Summary Of Representation Of the Studies Reviewedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current Science on Consumer Use of Mobile Health for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

Burke¹,

Ma²,

Azar³

et al. 2015

Circulation

475

389

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A lthough mortality for cardiovascular disease (CVD) has declined for several decades, heart disease and stroke continue to be the leading causes of death, disability, and high healthcare costs. Unhealthy behaviors related to CVD risk (eg, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, and unhealthful eating habits) remain highly prevalent. The high rates of overweight, obesity, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); the persistent presence of uncontrolled hypertension; lipid levels not at target; and the ≈18% of adults who continue to smoke cigarettes pose formidable challenges for achieving improved cardiovascular health.1,2 It is apparent that the performance of healthful behaviors related to the management of CVD risk factors has become an increasingly important facet of the prevention and management of CVD. 3In 2010, the American Heart Association (AHA) made a transformative shift in its strategic plan and added the concept of cardiovascular health.2 To operationalize this concept, the AHA targeted 4 health behaviors in the 2020 Strategic Impact Goals: reduction in smoking and weight, healthful eating, and promotion of regular physical activity. Three health indicators also were included: glucose, blood pressure (BP), and cholesterol. On the basis of the AHA Life's Simple 7 metrics for improved cardiovascular health, <1% of adults in the United States follow a healthful eating plan, only 32% have a normal body mass index, and > 30% have not reached the target levels for lipids or BP. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data revealed that people who met ≥6 of the cardiovascular health metrics had a significantly better risk profile (hazard ratio for all-cause mortality, 0.49) compared with individuals who had achieved only 1 metric or none.2 The studies reviewed in this statement targeted these behaviors (ie, smoking, physical activity, healthful eating, and maintaining a healthful weight) and cardiovascular health indicators (ie, blood glucose, lipids, BP, body mass index) as the primary outcomes in the clinical trials testing mobile health (mHealth) interventions.eHealth, or digital health, is the use of emerging communication and information technologies, especially the Internet, to improve health and health care 4 (Table 1). mHealth, a subsegment of eHealth, is the use of mobile computing and communication technologies (eg, mobile phones, wearable sensors) for health services and information.4,5 mHealth technology uses techniques and advanced concepts from an array of disciplines, for example, computer science, electrical and

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Section: Summary Of Representation Of the Studies Reviewedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current Science on Consumer Use of Mobile Health for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

Burke¹,

Ma²,

Azar³

et al. 2015

Circulation

475

389

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Web-based programs and apps are relatively low cost with the potential for broad reach, however sustained engagement is a key factor constraining effectiveness. To address this, digital nutrition promotion aimed at parents needs to go beyond just providing information about positive dietary changes [89,90], to include the user-desired combination of credentialled information, interactivity, personalisation and tailored feedback. There are opportunities for further development and evaluation, particularly within the app market, to establish long-term efficacy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A systematic evaluation of digital nutrition promotion websites and apps for supporting parents to influence children’s nutrition

Zarnowiecki

Mauch

Middleton

et al. 2020

Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act

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Background: Globally children's diet quality is poor. Parents are primary gatekeepers to children's food intake; however, reaching and engaging parents in nutrition promotion can be challenging. With growth in internet and smartphone use, digital platforms provide potential to disseminate information rapidly to many people. The objectives of this review were to conduct a comprehensive and systematic evaluation of nutrition promotion via websites and apps supporting parents to influence children's nutrition, from three different perspectives: 1) current evidence base, 2) end user (parent) experience and 3) current commercial offerings. Methods: Three systematic reviews were undertaken of (1) studies evaluating the effectiveness for digital platforms for improving nutrition in children and parents, (2) studies conducting user-testing of digital tools with parents, (3) websites and apps providing lunch-provision information to parents. Searches were conducted in five databases for reviews one and two, and systematic search of Google and App Store for review three. Randomised controlled trials, cohort and cross-sectional and qualitative studies (study two only) were included if published in English, from 2013, with the intervention targeted at parents and at least 50% of intervention content focused on nutrition. Search results were double screened, with data extracted into standardised spreadsheets and quality appraisal of included search results. Results: Studies evaluating digital nutrition interventions targeting parents (n = 11) demonstrated effectiveness for improving nutrition outcomes, self-efficacy and knowledge. Six of the included randomised controlled trials reported digital interventions to be equal to, or better than comparison groups. User-testing studies (n = 9) identified that digital platforms should include both informative content and interactive features. Parents wanted evidence-based information from credible sources, practical tools, engaging content and connection with other users and health professionals. Websites targeting lunch provision (n = 15) were developed primarily by credible sources and included information-based content consistent with dietary guidelines and limited interactive features. Lunchbox apps (n = 6), developed mostly by commercial organisations, were more interactive but provided less credible information.(Continued on next page)

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“…The use of pervasive computing for tracking health has many benefits over traditional interventions delivered in a primary care setting, which can be time intensive on the part of the physician. For example, studies have shown that patients retain little of the educational material doctors provide at clinic visits [1]. As an alternative, it has been suggested that, primary caregivers can recommend health apps to deliver education and behaviour change techniques [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, studies have shown that patients retain little of the educational material doctors provide at clinic visits [1]. As an alternative, it has been suggested that, primary caregivers can recommend health apps to deliver education and behaviour change techniques [1]. The utility of apps to deliver effective behaviour change has been demonstrated across a number of behaviour domains improve eating habits and increasing physical activity [2,3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The ground truth is out there: Challenges with using pervasive technologies for behavior change

Cleland

Nugent

Lee

2016

Proceedings of the 10th EAI International Conference on Pervasive Computing Technologies for Healthcare

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The recent flood of wearable technology and mobile apps, focused on quantifying and providing feedback on consumers' lifestyles, has the potential to impact immensely on health and wellbeing. Despite this, limited evidence is available as to how effective these technologies are in promoting sustained behavior change and how these technologies can be integrated into health care. As researchers seek to evaluate and substantiate that these technologies are efficacious and effective, many challenges are emerging which will impact on the future success of such technologies. This paper provides an overview of the research challenges in applying wearable and mobile technology for monitoring and implementing behavior change interventions with a specific focus on sustained engagement. The paper provides an insight as to how researchers in pervasive health are currently aiming to address these issues through a number of case studies. In particular, the paper discusses methods to improve data collection techniques to support context aware applications, behavior change models, and novel feedback and interaction methods to encourage sustained engagement. CCS ConceptsApplied computing→ Life and medical sciences →Health care information systems.

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Can healthy people benefit from health apps?

Cited by 46 publications

References 7 publications

Current Science on Consumer Use of Mobile Health for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

Current Science on Consumer Use of Mobile Health for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

A systematic evaluation of digital nutrition promotion websites and apps for supporting parents to influence children’s nutrition

The ground truth is out there: Challenges with using pervasive technologies for behavior change

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