The feasibility of assessing alcohol use among college students using wireless mobile devices: Implications for health education and behavioural research

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the feasibility of using wireless mobile devices (MDs) to collect daily alcohol information among college students, in particular examining feasibility in the context of costs associated with the use of wireless MDs. This study reports on practical aspects of using MDs to collect alcohol data, including compliance, technical success, user preferences for completing MD-based assessments, and cost. Setting: The study took place at a large, public university in the south-eastern United States. Design: A two-group, randomized design was used. A daily assessment of alcohol use administered using wireless MDs was completed by a group of college students ( n=86) for 30 days and compared to a paper-based (PB) daily assessment of alcohol use completed by a second group of college students ( n=83) over the same time period. Results: Completion rates for the MD assessment (85.8 per cent) were comparable to the PB assessment (97.6 per cent) given the differences in mode of administration. Participants found the MDs easy to use (83.7 per cent), easy to read (94.2 per cent), and on average liked completing the daily MD assessment ( M 4.47, SD 1.16) significantly more than respondents liked completing the PB assessment ( M 3.88, SD 1.08; t [164] 3.84, p < 0.001). Few participants in the MD group reported that they were uncomfortable (9.3 per cent) or nervous (2.3 per cent) completing daily assessments using the MDs. Conclusion: Results indicate that the feasibility of using MDs for data collection may be influenced by user preferences and should be tested on different health behaviours in more diverse populations.

<p>Frequency of Use, Perceptions and Barriers of Information and Communication Technologies Among Latin American Physicians: An Ecuadorian Cross-Sectional Study</p>

“…34 For instance, some studies have found that realtime feedback of users' health status and motivational messages via social media platforms and mobile devices can have a positive impact on controlling behaviors such as alcohol consumption, exercise, diet, and sexual behavior. 35,36 In our study, most physicians agree that ICTs can be useful in the promotion of health and medical services (87.4% and 84.3%, respectively). As eHealth applications continue to grow, they will allow for more personalized patient care, guiding patients when choosing a health professional, while providing relevant health information in the process.…”

Latina Adolescent Sleep and Mood: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Pilot Study

“…EMA offers methodological advantages to recall-based tools, including real-time reporting of mood, behavior, and environment (Forbes et al, 2012;Armey et al, 2011;Shrier et al, 2012;Wenze & Miller, 2010). EMA data are collected via cellular phone but historically collection involved sending automated surveys via handheld devices such as palm pilots (Collins, Kashdan, & Gollnisch, 2003;Shrier, Shih, Hacker, & de Moor, 2007). Adolescent cell phone ownership rates increase each year.…”

M-health and health promotion: The digital cyborg and surveillance society

“…Health promoters have described the use of 'real-time feedback' of users' health status and 'prompts' and 'motivation' messages to 'change unhealthy lifestyle habits' via social media platforms and mobile devices, with reference to controlling behaviours such as smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise, diet and sexual behaviour (Mays et al, 2010;Laakso et al, 2011). One study, for example, reported the use of mobile devices to collect daily information about alcohol consumption among a group of American college students, referring to the devices' ability to administer 'just-intime' interventions to intercept unhealthy behaviours as they happen in real time (Mays et al, 2010). Such researchers frequently make reference to linking healthpreventive strategies using m-health devices with 'acceptance of greater personal consumer responsibility for healthy lifestyles', as Mays et al (2010, p. 311) …”