Potential of an Interactive Drug Prevention Mobile Phone App (Once Upon a High): Questionnaire Study Among Students

Abstract

BackgroundIn recent years, drug prevention networks and drug education programs have started using Web-based or mobile phone apps as novel prevention tools, testing their efficacy compared with face-to-face prevention.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess the potential of an interactive app called Once Upon a High (VoltEgySzer).MethodsThe app approaches drug prevention from 6 different aspects, and it addresses youngsters with 6 different modules: (1) interactive comics/cartoons, telling stories of recovery; (2) quiz game; (3) roleplay game; (4) introduction of psychoactive drugs; (5) information on the somatic and psychological effects of psychoactive substances; (6) list of available treatment units, rehabs, and self-support groups in Hungary. Students of 2 vocational schools and 2 high schools filled out a questionnaire at a baseline (T0) and a 2-month follow-up (T1) data collection session. Students of 1 vocational school and 1 high school downloaded the Once Upon a High app (app group), whereas students from the other vocational school and high school did not (nonapp group). The time points of T0 and T1 questionnaires contained demographic variables, items with regard to substance use characteristics for both legal and illegal substances, including novel psychoactive substance, exercise habits, knowledge about psychoactive substances, attitudes toward substance users and validated instruments measuring the severity of tobacco (Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence), alcohol (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test), cannabis (Cannabis Abuse Screening Test), and synthetic cannabinoid consumption. Beliefs about substance use (Beliefs About Substance Abuse) and perceived self-efficacy (General Perceived Self-Efficacy) were also measured. At T1, members of the app group provided additional evaluation of the app.ResultsThere were 386 students who participated in the T0 session. After dropout, 246 students took part in T1 data collection procedure. Alcohol was the most frequently consumed psychoactive substance (334/364, 91.8% lifetime use), followed by tobacco (252/386, 65.3%, lifetime use) and cannabis (43/323, 13.3% lifetime use). Decreased self-efficacy (beta=−.29, P=.04) and increased daily physical exercise frequencies (beta=.04, P<.001) predicted higher frequencies of past month energy drink consumption, whereas elevated past month alcohol consumption was mainly predicted by a decrease in negative attitudes toward substance users (beta=−.13, P=.04) in the regression models. Once Upon a High was found to be effective only in reducing energy drink consumption (beta=−1.13, P=.04) after controlling for design effect, whereas perceived utility of the app showed correlation with a decreasing alcohol use (rS(44)=.32, P=.03). The roleplay module of the app was found to be the most preferred aspect of the app by the respondents.ConclusionsThe Once Upon a High app can be a useful tool to assist preventive intervention programs by increasing knowledge and self-efficacy; however, its efficacy in reducing or pr...

The use of energy drinks in adolescents: a risky behaviour

“…36 Likewise, the existence of studies in which mobile applications have been shown to be useful in reducing prevalence show the usefulness of tools such as "health education" in this problem. 37 As for the consumer profile, it is closely linked to the masculine gender and sport. There are studies that have demonstrated the presence of ergogenic effect and greater vigour during the exercise or sport, which could explain the success of this type of EDs in the field of sport added to the aggressive marketing campaigns.…”

Cognitive Training for the Treatment of Addictions Mediated by Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

“…The last three studies are conducted between 2018 and 2019, two of them published in Canada and the most recent in the United States. Kapitány-Fövény et al [52] presented an interactive application that focuses on the prevention of psychoactive substance use by developing six modules: (1) interactive comics/cartoons, telling recovery stories; (2) quiz game; (3) role play; (4) introduction of psychoactive drugs; (5) information on the somatic and psychological effects of psychoactive substances; (6) list of available treatment units, rehabilitation and self-help groups in Hungary. Zhu et al [53] concluded that computerized cognitive therapy helps cognitive impairment and impulse control of patients with substance use disorder and invited them to continue with this research line for the understanding of the underlying brain mechanisms of cognitive therapy.…”

Medivoz: Aplicativo De Auxílio Ao Uso De Medicamentos Isentos De Prescrição

“…Os trabalhos desenvolvidos por tecnologia da informação têm mudado o foco das pessoas também para a medicina preventiva. Métodos diagnósticos e de acompanhamento de pacientes utilizando aplicativos de acesso remoto tem se tornado grandes aliados em tratamento de pacientes em diferentes áreas (9,10,16). Tal fato pode ser evidenciado nesse estudo, onde o aplicativo desenvolvido tem como missão o uso da tecnologia no auxílio a correta utilização de MIP, e consequente redução de PRM e melhora da qualidade de vida de pacientes.…”