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Improving Health Management and Well-Being for Young and Older Adults with eHealth and mHealth

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Public Health Statistics and Risk Assessment".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (21 April 2022) | Viewed by 43161

Special Issue Editors

Department of Pyschological, Personality, Evaluation and Treatment, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Interests: mental health applications; quality of life, HCI; usability; ergonomics; user experience; acceptability
Department of Basic Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castellon de la Plana, Spain
Interests: mental health applications; eHealth, chronic pain; emotional disorders
Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy
Interests: constructivism; health psychology; interpersonal relationships; personal construct theory; qualitative methods
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues, 

We are organizing a Special Issue featuring original research and systematic reviews investigating the use of eHealth and mHealth systems to improve the health management and well-being in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. IJERPH is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes different types of papers, including articles, reviews, and communications in the interdisciplinary area of environmental health sciences and public health. For detailed information on the journal, we refer you to: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

How can ICTs help us to improve eHealth and mHealth? Information and communication technologies are shaping the way health and mental health are managed. The aim of this Special Issue is to publish studies concerning efficacy, (cost-)effectiveness, acceptability, usability or user experience issues of systems aimed to improve the quality of life, mental health or eHealth management in young and older adults.  

Special attention will be given to innovative submissions using ICTs to improve the currently health management model. Other manuscript types of interest include systematic reviews, relevant position papers, and brief reports. 

Kind regards,

Dr. Diana Castilla
Dr. Carlos Suso-Ribera
Prof. Dr. Sabrina Cipolletta
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • quality of life
  • eHealth management
  • emotional disorders
  • pain management
  • web-based intervention: promotion, prevention, and treatment
  • mental health applications
  • cost-effectiveness
  • user experience
  • acceptability
  • usability

Published Papers (15 papers)

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25 pages, 6696 KiB  
Article
Challenges in the Adoption of eHealth and mHealth for Adult Mental Health Management—Evidence from Romania
by Andra Ioana Maria Tudor, Eliza Nichifor, Adriana Veronica Litră, Ioana Bianca Chițu, Tamara-Oana Brătucu and Gabriel Brătucu
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9172; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159172 - 27 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1610
Abstract
New methods of connecting physicians and patients have arisen. Technology is playing a crucial role and the concept of hybrid doctor–patient relationship is considered relevant for the competitive health management system. At the same time, the need for knowledge about implementing policies and [...] Read more.
New methods of connecting physicians and patients have arisen. Technology is playing a crucial role and the concept of hybrid doctor–patient relationship is considered relevant for the competitive health management system. At the same time, the need for knowledge about implementing policies and best practices into the system is highly demanding. Digital tools, such as eHealth or mHealth can improve the traditional approach to consulting patients without requiring face-to-face interaction. However, due to the discussion surrounding the adoption of these technologies, the authors performed the study with two marketing research methods. The first is qualitative and is related to the opinions, attitudes, and beliefs of Romanian experts on the use of eHealth and mHealth for the prevention, detection, and treatment of mild mental disorders. The second method quantifies the opinions, attitudes, and behaviours of Romanian adults on their openness to adopt new technologies for mental health management. The main findings of the research highlight three factors that can increase the chances of adults using technology for health-related needs: (1) accessibility (2) data security, and (3) content. These are the main aspects that influence the well-being of both young and older adults, who both need support regarding mental health management. Full article
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15 pages, 503 KiB  
Article
Parent Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Outcomes from the Translational ‘Time for Healthy Habits’ Trial: Secondary Outcomes from a Partially Randomized Preference Trial
by Rebecca J. Wyse, Jacklyn K. Jackson, Megan L. Hammersley, Fiona Stacey, Rachel A. Jones, Anthony Okely, Amanda Green, Sze Lin Yoong, Christophe Lecathelinais, Christine Innes-Hughes, Joe Xu, Karen Gillham and Chris Rissel
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(10), 6165; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19106165 - 19 May 2022
Viewed by 1981
Abstract
Healthy eating and active living interventions targeting parents of young children could have benefits for both children and parents. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of two remotely delivered healthy eating and active living interventions delivered at scale to [...] Read more.
Healthy eating and active living interventions targeting parents of young children could have benefits for both children and parents. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of two remotely delivered healthy eating and active living interventions delivered at scale to parents, in increasing parent vegetable and fruit consumption (pre-specified secondary outcomes). Parents of children aged 2–6 years residing in New South Wales, Australia (n = 458), were recruited to a partially randomized preference trial consisting of three groups (telephone intervention (n = 95); online intervention (n = 218); written material (Control) (n = 145)). This design allowed parents with a strong preference to select their preferred intervention, and once preference trends had been established, all parents that were subsequently recruited were randomized to obtain robust relative effects. Parent vegetable and fruit consumption was assessed via telephone interview at baseline and 9 months later. At follow-up, randomized parents who received the telephone intervention (n = 73) had significantly higher vegetable consumption compared to those who received the written control (n = 81) (+0.41 serves/day, p = 0.04), but there were no differences in parents allocated to intervention groups based on preference. No differences in fruit consumption were found for randomized or preference participants for either the telephone or online intervention. There may be some benefit to parents participating in the Healthy Habits Plus (telephone-based) intervention aimed at improving the eating behaviors of their children. Full article
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15 pages, 1638 KiB  
Article
Attitudes of Patients with Chronic Diseases toward Management eHealth Applications Systems in Post-COVID-19 Times
by Abdullah H. ALsharif
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(7), 4289; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074289 - 03 Apr 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2017
Abstract
Introduction: There has been an increase in the adoption of eHealth technologies and applications by health consumers globally because of the restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the last two years. The sudden change in the users’ attitudes toward eHealth adoption [...] Read more.
Introduction: There has been an increase in the adoption of eHealth technologies and applications by health consumers globally because of the restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the last two years. The sudden change in the users’ attitudes toward eHealth adoption needs to be critically evaluated and understood, as it can be the stepping stone toward rapid digitalization of healthcare operations in Saudi Arabia as a part of Vision 2030. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the attitudes of the patients with chronic diseases toward eHealth applications in post-COVID times. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was adopted using the online questionnaire as a data collection instrument. All the health consumers using eHealth services aged above 18 years and living in Saudi Arabia were included in the survey. The survey was conducted for 3 weeks, resulting in a final sample of 234 participants. Results: Overall, 73.8% of the participants stated that they adopted eHealth only out of necessity, while 37.3% stated that they adopted it because no other services were available. Only 10.3% stated that they adopted eHealth out of interest. In relation to the future use of eHealth, 51.5% of the participants stated that they would definitely not use eHealth applications, and 33.6% stated that they would probably them once the pandemic ends. Only 4.4% of the participants stated that they would very much probably, and 10.5% stated they would probably not use eHealth applications once the pandemic ends. a significant difference in opinions in relation to the future adoption of eHealth applications was observed among the male and female participants, and also between the age groups of younger (age <35 years) and older (age ≥35 years) participants. Conclusions: For the change in attitudes (increased adoption of eHealth) to be sustained, policymakers need to develop relevant strategies promoting the use of eHealth in Saudi Arabia. Full article
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17 pages, 366 KiB  
Article
Practicing Mindfulness through mHealth Applications: Emerging Adults’ Health-Enhancing and Inhibiting Experiences
by Greenberry Taylor, Carma L. Bylund, Amanda Kastrinos, Jordan M. Alpert, Ana Puig, Joanna M. T. Krajewski, Bhakti Sharma and Carla L. Fisher
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(5), 2619; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052619 - 24 Feb 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2597
Abstract
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) and practices (MBPs) can promote better health outcomes. Although MBIs and MBPs were developed to be delivered in-person, mobile health (mHealth) tools such as apps have made these more accessible. Mindfulness apps (MAs) are popular among emerging adults (EAs) who [...] Read more.
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) and practices (MBPs) can promote better health outcomes. Although MBIs and MBPs were developed to be delivered in-person, mobile health (mHealth) tools such as apps have made these more accessible. Mindfulness apps (MAs) are popular among emerging adults (EAs) who have the highest ownership of smartphones and who are also at risk for distress. While adverse effects have been observed with MBIs/MBPs, this has not been examined when mindfulness is practiced using apps. We interviewed EAs (n = 22) to capture their motivations for using these apps and identified health-inhibiting and enhancing experiences. Data were thematically analyzed using the constant comparative method. Motivations for app use included accessibility, convenience, and stress/health management. EAs described health-enhancing outcomes (reduced distress, improved physical symptoms, increased focus) and health-inhibiting outcomes (worsened distress, performance uncertainty, dependency development, worsened physical health). They provided suggestions for improving apps (e.g., feedback option). These findings illustrate benefits and risks that EAs may encounter when practicing mindfulness using apps, which can inform the best practices for app design. Full article
17 pages, 1151 KiB  
Article
A Digital Health Service for Elderly People with Balance Disorders and Risk of Falling: A Design Science Approach
by Andréa Gomes Martins Gaspar and Luís Velez Lapão
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(3), 1855; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031855 - 07 Feb 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2294
Abstract
In this study, a design science research methodology was used aiming at designing, implementing and evaluating a digital health service to complement the provision of healthcare for elderly people with balance disorders and risk of falling. An explanatory sequential mixed methods study allowed [...] Read more.
In this study, a design science research methodology was used aiming at designing, implementing and evaluating a digital health service to complement the provision of healthcare for elderly people with balance disorders and risk of falling. An explanatory sequential mixed methods study allowed to identify and explore the dissatisfaction with electronic medical records and the opportunity for using digital health solutions. The suggested recommendations helped to elaborate and develop “BALANCE”, a digital service implemented on the METHIS platform, which was recently validated for remote monitoring of chronic patients in primary healthcare. “BALANCE” provides clinical and interactive data, questionnaire pre and post-balance rehabilitation, tutorial videos with balance exercises and patient-recorded videos of the exercises. This digital service was demonstrated, including five elderly patients with clinical recommendations for balance rehabilitation at home. Finally, the authors conducted two focus groups with the participants and their caregivers as well as with physicians. The focus groups aimed at exploring their satisfaction level, needs of adjustment in the “BALANCE” service and strategies for applicability. The digital healthcare service evaluation revealed a significant potential for clinical applicability of this digital solution for elderly people with balance disorders and risk of falling. Full article
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18 pages, 1116 KiB  
Article
Opportunities and Barriers of Telemedicine in Rheumatology: A Participatory, Mixed-Methods Study
by Felix Muehlensiepen, Johannes Knitza, Wenke Marquardt, Susann May, Martin Krusche, Axel Hueber, Julian Schwarz, Nicolas Vuillerme, Martin Heinze and Martin Welcker
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(24), 13127; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413127 - 13 Dec 2021
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2986
Abstract
Despite all its promises, telemedicine is still not widely implemented in the care of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). The aim of this study is to investigate opportunities, barriers, acceptance, and preferences concerning telemedicine among RMD patients and professional stakeholders. From November 2017 [...] Read more.
Despite all its promises, telemedicine is still not widely implemented in the care of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). The aim of this study is to investigate opportunities, barriers, acceptance, and preferences concerning telemedicine among RMD patients and professional stakeholders. From November 2017 to December 2019, a participatory, mixed-methods study was conducted, consisting of (1) expert interviews (n = 27) with RMD patients and professional stakeholders, (2) a national paper-based patient survey (n = 766), and (3) focus groups (n = 2) with patient representatives and rheumatologists. The qualitative findings indicate that patients equate personal contact with physical face-to-face contact, which could be reduced by implementing telemedicine, thus negatively influencing the patient–doctor relationship. Correspondingly “no personal contact with the doctor” is the main reason (64%) why 38% of the surveyed patients refuse to try telemedicine. Professional stakeholders expect telemedicine to contribute to the effective allocation of scarce resources in rheumatology care. The main barriers reported by stakeholders were the scarcity of time resources in RMD care, the absence of physical examinations, and organizational challenges associated with the implementation of telemedicine in RMD care. While the exact integration of telemedicine into routine care has yet to be found, the consequences on the patient-physician relationship must be permanently considered. Full article
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22 pages, 1281 KiB  
Article
mHealth for the Monitoring of Brace Compliance and Wellbeing in Adolescents with Idiopathic Scoliosis: Study Protocol for a Feasibility Study
by Verónica Martínez-Borba, Carlos Suso-Ribera, Amanda Díaz-García, Judith Salat-Batlle, Diana Castilla, Irene Zaragoza, Azucena García-Palacios and Judit Sánchez-Raya
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(15), 7767; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18157767 - 22 Jul 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2937
Abstract
Attempts to optimize monitoring of brace adherence prescribed to adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis (IS) have generally relied on sensors. Sensors, however, are intrusive and do not allow the assessment of psychological and physical consequences of brace use that might underlie poor adherence. Mobile [...] Read more.
Attempts to optimize monitoring of brace adherence prescribed to adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis (IS) have generally relied on sensors. Sensors, however, are intrusive and do not allow the assessment of psychological and physical consequences of brace use that might underlie poor adherence. Mobile applications have emerged as alternatives to monitor brace compliance. However, the feasibility and utility of these app-based systems to assess key psychological and physical domains associated with non-adherence remain unexplored. This feasibility study aims to test the usability, acceptability, and clinical utility of an app-based system that monitors brace use and related psychological and physical factors. Forty adolescents with IS daily respond to the app for 90 days. The patient responses may generate clinical alarms (e.g., brace non-adherence, discomfort, or distress) that will be sent daily to the medical team. Primary outcomes will be app usability, acceptability, and response rates. Secondary outcomes will include brace adherence, the number of side effects reported, number and type of clinical alarms, stress, quality of life, perceived health status, and mood. If accepted by patients and clinicians, apps may allow rapid detection and response to undesired events in adolescents undergoing brace treatment. Full article
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21 pages, 2191 KiB  
Article
Characterizing Breakthrough Cancer Pain Using Ecological Momentary Assessment with a Smartphone App: Feasibility and Clinical Findings
by Francisco Villegas, Verónica Martínez-Borba, Carlos Suso-Ribera, Diana Castilla, Irene Zaragoza, Azucena García-Palacios and Carlos Ferrer
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(11), 5991; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18115991 - 03 Jun 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2904
Abstract
Background: mobile applications (apps) facilitate cancer pain ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and provide more reliable data than retrospective monitoring. The aims of this study are (a) to describe the status of persons with cancer pain when assessed ecologically, (b) to analyze the utility [...] Read more.
Background: mobile applications (apps) facilitate cancer pain ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and provide more reliable data than retrospective monitoring. The aims of this study are (a) to describe the status of persons with cancer pain when assessed ecologically, (b) to analyze the utility of clinical alarms integrated into the app, and (c) to test the feasibility of implementing an app for daily oncological pain monitoring. Methods: in this feasibility study, 21 patients (mean age = 56.95 years, SD = 10.53, 81.0% men) responded to an app-based evaluation of physical status (baseline and breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP)) and mental health variables (fatigue, mood, and coping) daily during 30 days. Results: cancer pain characterization with the app was similar to data from the literature using retrospective assessments in terms of BTcP duration and perceived medication effectiveness. However, BTcP was less frequent when evaluated ecologically. Pain, fatigue, and mood were comparable in the morning and evening. Passive coping strategies were the most employed daily. Clinical alarms appear to be useful to detect and address adverse events. App implementation was feasible and acceptable. Conclusion: apps reduce recall bias and facilitate a rapid response to adverse events in oncological care. Future efforts should be addressed to integrate EMA and ecological momentary interventions to facilitate pain self-management via apps. Full article
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18 pages, 899 KiB  
Article
Effectiveness of a Web-Based Intervention on Parental Psychological Flexibility and Emotion Regulation: A Pilot Open Trial
by Juan M. Flujas-Contreras, Azucena García-Palacios and Inmaculada Gómez
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(6), 2958; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18062958 - 13 Mar 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4293
Abstract
“Parenting Forest” is an informed contextual therapy parenting program for improving parental emotion regulation strategies and psychological flexibility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the preliminary effectiveness of a self-guided web-based intervention of the Parenting Forest program. The intervention program consists [...] Read more.
“Parenting Forest” is an informed contextual therapy parenting program for improving parental emotion regulation strategies and psychological flexibility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the preliminary effectiveness of a self-guided web-based intervention of the Parenting Forest program. The intervention program consists of six self-applied sequential modules that use strategies from contextual therapies for providing a parenting style open to experience, mindful and committed to its actions. A pilot controlled open trial was conducted. Eligible parents (n = 12) enrolled in the web-based intervention completed baseline (T1) and post-intervention (T2) assessment instruments. Parental psychological flexibility, avoidance, emotional regulation, parental stress, satisfaction with life, children’s psychological adjustment and client satisfaction were measured to assess the effects of the intervention. Mood, coping, and value-related actions were assessed as measures of progress. The results showed positive effects on the parents’ psychological flexibility and emotion regulation. Parents’ mood and coping skills improved throughout the intervention program. These results provide preliminary evidence of the web-based Parenting Forest’s efficacy, although further research is needed to assess its effectiveness for prevention and in clinical populations. Full article
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12 pages, 828 KiB  
Article
Effects of the Physician–Primary-Healthcare Nurse Telemedicine Model (P-NTM) on Medication Adherence and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of Patients with Chronic Disease at Remote Rural Areas
by Mi Young Kwak, Eun Jeong Hwang and Tae Ho Lee
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(5), 2502; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052502 - 03 Mar 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3257
Abstract
Chronic diseases are a major cause of death and have a negative impact on community health. This study explored the effects of a chronic-disease management program utilizing the physician–primary-healthcare nurse telemedicine model (P–NTM) on medication adherence and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in [...] Read more.
Chronic diseases are a major cause of death and have a negative impact on community health. This study explored the effects of a chronic-disease management program utilizing the physician–primary-healthcare nurse telemedicine model (P–NTM) on medication adherence and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in 113 patients with chronic diseases in remote rural areas. We used a quasi-experimental, nonequivalent-control-group pretest–post-test design. This study used secondary data from the 2018 Pilot Telemedicine Project for Underserved Remote Rural Areas. In this study, 113 subjects participated, in which the patient’s first visit was assigned as a control group for the previous face-to-face hospital care; after three months of receiving the P–NTM program, the same subjects were assigned to be the experiment group for P–NTM. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, a paired t-test, and logistic regression. With regard to the results, subjects showed a 1.76 times higher probability of improving medication adherence after participating in P–NTM compared to hospital care (odds ratio (OR) = 1.76, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.34–2.31). Our findings showed that patients with chronic diseases, especially those who reside in remote rural areas, should be provided with effective health services, utilizing various strategies to enhance a healthy life. Full article
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15 pages, 600 KiB  
Article
Predictors of Adherence in Three Low-Intensity Intervention Programs Applied by ICTs for Depression in Primary Care
by Adoración Castro, Azucena García-Palacios, Yolanda López-Del-Hoyo, Fermín Mayoral, María Ángeles Pérez-Ara, Rosa Mª Baños, Javier García-Campayo, María M. Hurtado, Cristina Botella, Alberto Barceló-Soler, Amelia Villena, Miquel Roca and Margalida Gili
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(4), 1774; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041774 - 11 Feb 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2761
Abstract
Depression is one of the most common disorders in psychiatric and primary care settings, and is associated with disability, loss in quality of life, and economic costs. Internet-based psychological interventions have been shown to be effective in depression treatment but present problems with [...] Read more.
Depression is one of the most common disorders in psychiatric and primary care settings, and is associated with disability, loss in quality of life, and economic costs. Internet-based psychological interventions have been shown to be effective in depression treatment but present problems with a low degree of adherence. The main aim of this study is to analyze the adherence predictors in three low-intensity interventions programs applied by Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for depression. A multi-center, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted with 164 participants with depression, who were allocated to: Healthy Lifestyle Program, Positive Affect Promotion Program or Mindfulness Program. Sociodemographic characteristics, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Visual Analog Scale, Short Form Health Survey, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire, Pemberton Happiness Index and Treatment Expectancy Questionnaire were used to study adherence. Results showed that positive affect resulted in a predictor variable for Healthy Lifestyle Program and Positive Affect Promotion Program. Perceived health was also a negative adherence predictor for the Positive Affect Promotion Program. Our findings demonstrate that there are differences in clinical variables between treatment completers and non-completers and we provide adherence predictors in two intervention groups. Although new additional predictors have been examined, further research is essential in order to improve tailored interventions and increase adherence treatment. Full article
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11 pages, 600 KiB  
Article
Illness Experiences and Attitudes towards Medication in Online Communities for People with Fibromyalgia
by Sabrina Cipolletta, Silvia Caterina Maria Tomaino, Eliana Lo Magno and Elena Faccio
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(22), 8683; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17228683 - 23 Nov 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2342
Abstract
Fibromyalgia is a chronic disabling syndrome, and the legitimacy of its diagnosis is still debated. Internet and online communities may become a relevant resource for affected people. This present study aims to understand the role of online communities relating to fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) [...] Read more.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic disabling syndrome, and the legitimacy of its diagnosis is still debated. Internet and online communities may become a relevant resource for affected people. This present study aims to understand the role of online communities relating to fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) patients’ illness experiences and their attitudes towards medication. A qualitative content analysis based on the grounded theory approach was conducted on 19 conversations from an online forum, and 14 online interviews. Illness experience, lack of reference points, online communities, personal role and attitude towards medication were the five categories identified, with the search for recognition as the core category. The study highlighted that online communities represent a resource that allows users to express and share their needs, especially in terms of legitimacy and recognition. Full article
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12 pages, 510 KiB  
Systematic Review
The Role of Digital Technology in Curbing COVID-19
by Noha S. Alghamdi and Saeed M. Alghamdi
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(14), 8287; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148287 - 07 Jul 2022
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3490
Abstract
Introduction: Using digital technology to provide support, medical consultations, healthcare services, and to track the spread of the coronavirus has been identified as an important solution to curb the transmission of the virus. This research paper aims to (1) summarize the digital technologies [...] Read more.
Introduction: Using digital technology to provide support, medical consultations, healthcare services, and to track the spread of the coronavirus has been identified as an important solution to curb the transmission of the virus. This research paper aims to (1) summarize the digital technologies used during the COVID-19 pandemic to mitigate the transmission of the COVID-19; (2) establish the extent to which digital technology applications have facilitated mitigation of the spread of COVID-19; and (3) explore the facilitators and barriers that impact the usability of digital technologies throughout the pandemic. Methods: A rapid electronic search following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was conducted of available records up to June 2022 on the medical databases PubMed, Ovid, Embase, CINHAIL, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Results: An increasing number and variety of digital health applications have been available throughout the pandemic, such as telehealth, smartphone mobile health apps, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Each technology has played a particular role in curbing COVID-19 transmission. Different users have gained benefits from using digital technology during the COVID-19 pandemic and different determinants have contributed to accelerating the wheel of digital technology implementation during the pandemic. Conclusion: Digital health during the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved very rapidly, with different applications and roles aimed at curbing the pandemic. Full article
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21 pages, 1844 KiB  
Systematic Review
Using Artificial Intelligence to Enhance Ongoing Psychological Interventions for Emotional Problems in Real- or Close to Real-Time: A Systematic Review
by Patricia Gual-Montolio, Irene Jaén, Verónica Martínez-Borba, Diana Castilla and Carlos Suso-Ribera
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(13), 7737; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19137737 - 24 Jun 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3876
Abstract
Emotional disorders are the most common mental disorders globally. Psychological treatments have been found to be useful for a significant number of cases, but up to 40% of patients do not respond to psychotherapy as expected. Artificial intelligence (AI) methods might enhance psychotherapy [...] Read more.
Emotional disorders are the most common mental disorders globally. Psychological treatments have been found to be useful for a significant number of cases, but up to 40% of patients do not respond to psychotherapy as expected. Artificial intelligence (AI) methods might enhance psychotherapy by providing therapists and patients with real- or close to real-time recommendations according to the patient’s response to treatment. The goal of this investigation is to systematically review the evidence on the use of AI-based methods to enhance outcomes in psychological interventions in real-time or close to real-time. The search included studies indexed in the electronic databases Scopus, Pubmed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. The terms used for the electronic search included variations of the words “psychotherapy”, “artificial intelligence”, and “emotional disorders”. From the 85 full texts assessed, only 10 studies met our eligibility criteria. In these, the most frequently used AI technique was conversational AI agents, which are chatbots based on software that can be accessed online with a computer or a smartphone. Overall, the reviewed investigations indicated significant positive consequences of using AI to enhance psychotherapy and reduce clinical symptomatology. Additionally, most studies reported high satisfaction, engagement, and retention rates when implementing AI to enhance psychotherapy in real- or close to real-time. Despite the potential of AI to make interventions more flexible and tailored to patients’ needs, more methodologically robust studies are needed. Full article
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25 pages, 2743 KiB  
Case Report
Client’s Experiences Using a Location-Based Technology ICT System during Gambling Treatments’ Crucial Components: A Qualitative Study
by Laura Diaz-Sanahuja, Ignacio Miralles, Carlos Granell, Adriana Mira, Alberto González-Pérez, Sven Casteleyn, Azucena García-Palacios and Juana Bretón-López
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(7), 3769; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19073769 - 22 Mar 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1735
Abstract
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the treatment of choice for Gambling Disorder (GD), with stimulus control (SC) and exposure with response prevention (ERP) being its two core components. Despite their efficacy, SC and ERP are not easy to deliver, so it is important to [...] Read more.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the treatment of choice for Gambling Disorder (GD), with stimulus control (SC) and exposure with response prevention (ERP) being its two core components. Despite their efficacy, SC and ERP are not easy to deliver, so it is important to explore new ways to enhance patient compliance regarding SC and ERP. The aim of this study is to describe and assess the opinion of two patients diagnosed with problem gambling and GD that used the Symptoms app, a location-based ICT system, during SC and ERP. A consensual qualitative research study was conducted. We used a semi-structured interview, developed ad-hoc based on the Expectation and Satisfaction Scale and System Usability Scale. A total of 20 categories were identified within six domains: usefulness, improvements, recommendation to other people, safety, usability, and opinion regarding the use of the app after completing the intervention. The patients considered the app to be useful during the SC and ERP components and emphasized that feeling observed and supported at any given time helped them avoid lapses. This work can offer a starting point that opens up new research paths regarding psychological interventions for gambling disorder, such as assessing whether location-based ICT tools enhance commitment rates. Full article
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