Search Results (76)

Understanding how drivers respond to feedback and incentives is crucial for designing data-driven interventions that enhance road safety. This study investigates driver profiling and behavioral change using high-resolution telematics data collected through the OSeven DrivingStar smartphone application within the O7Insurance project. The naturalistic driving experiment was divided into two main phases: a baseline period with personalized feedback (Phase A) and an incentive-based phase (Phase B) comprising two gamified driving challenges with distinct reward criteria. Using data from 86 active participants, K-means clustering identified three driver profiles—Low-Exposure Cautious, Balanced/Average, and High-Risk Drivers—based on exposure, harsh events, speeding, and mobile phone use. The Balanced/Average group exhibited statistically significant improvements during both challenges, reducing speeding frequency and intensity (e.g., from 4.8% to 3.7%, p < 0.01), while High-Risk Drivers achieved moderate reductions in speeding intensity (from 6.4 to 5.3 km/h, p < 0.05). Low-Exposure Cautious Drivers maintained stable, low-risk performance throughout. These findings demonstrate that incentive-based telematics schemes can effectively influence driving behavior, particularly among drivers with moderate risk levels. The study contributes to the growing body of research on gamified driver feedback by linking behavioral clustering with responsiveness to incentives, providing a foundation for adaptive and personalized road safety interventions. Full article

Background: Innovative interventions, such as social media platforms and telemedicine, were implemented during the COVID-19 lockdown period for HIV prevention and treatment services. However, limited studies have reported on the facilitators and barriers of these innovations for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) service continuity. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the barriers and facilitators of the implemented PrEP innovative interventions during COVID-19 among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). Methods: A qualitative exploratory design was used to conduct semi-structured interviews with twelve stakeholders in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, North West Province of South Africa. Participants included various TB HIV Care programme stakeholders, comprising professional nurses, case managers, peer educators, and counsellors. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) 2.0 domains and constructs guided the interview questions and the analysis process. Additionally, all interviews were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed through thematic analysis. The facilitators and barriers of the PrEP innovative interventions were categorized according to the five CFIR domains. Results: The findings showed that despite the COVID-19 disruptions in healthcare services, the implemented innovative PrEP interventions enhanced the HIV prevention services. Facilitators included sufficient mobile data, teamwork, clear communication from managers, resilience, and existing media pages that supported social media-based PrEP service continuity. The implementation barriers included service users’ lack of cell phone devices, incorrect personal information, fear of contracting COVID-19, and limited individual movements. Conclusion: Social media and digital technologies played a crucial role in the continuation of HIV PrEP services among AGYW. These evaluations also illustrated the potential of social media platforms to be leveraged for HIV service delivery during periods of disruption, such as the COVID-19 lockdown period, for HIV service delivery. Furthermore, lessons learned from this study are significant and offer practical considerations for sustaining PrEP during service disruptions. Full article

In school settings, nomophobia—a newly identified form of problematic mobile phone use characterized by anxiety and discomfort experienced when an individual is unable to use or access their smartphone—poses significant challenges to students’ learning and daily life. Prior research on nomophobia has predominantly adopted a variable-centered perspective. However, if nomophobia is heterogeneous across subgroups, acknowledging this heterogeneity may inform the advancement of more tailored and productive therapeutic methods. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted separately among high school students (N = 446) and college students (N = 667) to identify potential subgroup heterogeneity in nomophobia. To examine cross-group similarities in nomophobia profiles, a multi-group LPA was employed. Based on multiple model fit criteria, a three-profile solution—high nomophobia, moderate nomophobia, and low nomophobia—was identified for both groups. However, the multi-group LPA provided only partial support for the similarity of nomophobia profiles across educational stages, specifically in terms of configural and dispersion similarity. While similar nomophobia profiles emerged across groups, the partial equivalence suggests that intervention strategies for nomophobia may not be universally applicable across different educational levels. Additional studies should investigate the mechanisms underlying students’ nomophobia profiles and to inform differentiated interventions for educators, institutions, and policymakers. Full article

The rapid increase in global smartphone usage and the range of capabilities they offer have resulted in an overdependence on them, leading to the term nomophobia. Nomophobia refers to the psychological discomfort or anxiety experienced when an individual is unable to use or does not have access to their mobile phone, and it is a phenomenon that warrants research attention due to its psychological and social implications. The aim of the current study was to examine the relationship between nomophobia and the time spent on mobile usage, attachment in close romantic relationships, and loneliness. Participants included 300 adults from Cyprus who were recruited through convenience and snowball sampling methods. Data were gathered using an internet-based questionnaire that assessed participants’ time spent on mobile usage, their attachment styles in close relationships, and their level and type of loneliness. The results suggest that (a) anxiety dimension and time spent on mobile phone are significant predictors of nomophobia, (b) higher levels of nomophobia are associated with an insecure attachment style, (c) more severe levels of nomophobia are associated with higher levels of loneliness, and (d) increased time spent on mobile usage is linked to higher levels of nomophobia. The findings suggest that the widespread emergence of nomophobia raises important concerns, highlighting the need for the development of educational programs that promote balanced mobile usage and encourage direct social interaction. The significance of targeted interventions that address mobile phone regulation and attachment-related vulnerabilities is emphasized. Full article

Current research on addressing mobile phone addiction primarily focuses on mitigating the influence of psychopathological factors. In the present work, we conducted three studies to investigate a novel hypothesis that forgiveness, as a form of psychological compensation, may offer a previously underappreciated protective effect against mobile phone addiction in the aftermath of interpersonal transgressions. Study 1 (N = 391), a cross-sectional survey, established an association between negative life events and mobile phone addiction. Utilizing a recall methodology, Study 2 (N = 256) demonstrated that higher levels of forgiveness mitigated the adverse effect of interpersonal transgressions on mobile phone addiction. Moreover, forgiveness was particularly effective in reducing mobile phone addiction in cases involving mild—as opposed to severe—transgressions. Subsequently, in Study 3 (N = 175), we employed a scenario-based approach to investigate the mechanisms through which forgiveness mitigates mobile phone addiction following interpersonal transgressions. The results indicated that social bonding—specifically, reduced social distance and increased positive affect toward transgressors—mediated the relationship between forgiveness and mobile phone addiction. In future research and practice, forgiveness-based interventions may be leveraged to reduce mobile phone addiction. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly influenced urban planning and disease management in residential areas. Focusing on Beijing as a case study (3898 communities), this research develops a big data analytics framework integrating anonymized mobile phone signals (China Mobile), location-based services (AMAP.com), and municipal health records to quantify COVID-19 transmission dynamics. Using logistic regression, we analyzed 15 indicators across four dimensions: mobility behavior, host demographics, spatial characteristics, and facility accessibility. Our analysis reveals three key determinants: (1) Population aged 65 and above (OR = 62.8, p < 0.001) and (2) housing density (OR = 9.96, p = 0.026) significantly increase transmission risk, while (3) population density exhibits a paradoxical negative effect (β = −3.98, p < 0.001) attributable to targeted interventions in high-density zones. We further construct a validated risk prediction model (AUC = 0.7; 95.97% accuracy) enabling high-resolution spatial targeting of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). The framework provides urban planners with actionable strategies—including senior activity scheduling and ventilation retrofits—while advancing scalable methodologies for infectious disease management in global urban contexts. Full article

There is limited evidence on key implementation outcomes for mHealth interventions that target maternal and newborn health. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness of a mobile phone messaging-based message-framing intervention. A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 397 mothers who participated in the mobile phone messaging-based intervention. Multivariate general linear modeling was carried out to identify factors that were associated with the acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness of the intervention. The statistical significance level was declared at a 95% confidence interval and p-value of <0.05. The mean scores of acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness were 27.9, 23.8, and 22.5, respectively. Acceptability was significantly affected by living in a rural area, being rich, receiving messages at night, self-efficacy, and engagement. Feasibility was affected by living in rural area, educational status, being a merchant, being rich, receiving messages at night, self-efficacy, engagement, and satisfaction. Meanwhile, appropriateness was influenced by living in a rural area, being a merchant, being a government employee, and satisfaction. The mobile phone messaging-based intervention was highly acceptable, feasible, and appropriate. Focusing on self-efficacy, engagement, satisfaction, the timing for sending messages, and sociodemographic factors would facilitate the implementation and utilization of mobile phone messaging-based interventions. Full article

Background: Adolescents’ use of step tracker mobile applications (apps) could be influenced by their assessment of the mobile app used. Objectives: To analyze differences in the dropout rate, app assessment, and problematic mobile phone use based on prior physical activity levels and the app used. Methods: A study with a quasi-experimental design was carried out with the participation of 240 adolescents, who were further categorized as either active or inactive. The adolescents carried out a 10-week intervention promoted as a part of the physical education curriculum, three days a week, in which they randomly used the Pokémon Go, MapMyWalk, Pacer, or Strava mobile apps after school for cardiorespiratory training. Results: The results showed a higher dropout rate from Pokémon Go in the group of inactive adolescents (p = 0.012). No differences were found in the assessment of apps based on the level of activity of the adolescents, neither overall nor when analyzing this question based on the app used (p > 0.05). As for problematic mobile phone use, only previously inactive adolescents assigned to the Pacer group significantly increased their final score after the intervention (p = 0.044), with no changes being identified in the other groups or apps (p > 0.05). Furthermore, the active adolescents showed a positive relationship between the volume of training and problematic mobile phone use (p = 0.023), specifically with the conflicting use of this device (p = 0.017). Conclusions: The inactive adolescents had a higher dropout rate when using Pokémon Go. There were no differences in app assessment between the active and the inactive participants. However, the active adolescents showed a link between their training volume and problematic mobile phone use. Full article

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) affect millions worldwide, significantly increasing the risk of amputation, mortality, and reduced quality of life. While conventional interventions such as specialized footwear and podiatric care can mitigate ulceration risks, they do not address the biomechanical factors contributing to ulcer recurrence. Emerging evidence suggests that lower limb exercises may play a role in secondary DFU prevention. This scoping review aims to synthesize available research on home-based lower limb exercise programs for individuals with diabetes mellitus, focusing on feasibility, adherence, and their impact on foot biomechanics and ulcer prevention. Methods: A search was conducted across six electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, EBSCO, Scopus, and ScienceDirect) for studies published between January 2014 and December 2024. Eligible studies included those assessing home-based lower limb exercises in diabetic individuals, with interventions lasting at least four weeks. Studies focusing on supervised exercises, pharmacological interventions, or non-diabetic populations were excluded. Results: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria, featuring a range of home-based exercise interventions, such as muscle strengthening, stretching routines, proprioceptive training, functional mobility exercises, and range-of-motion activities. These interventions demonstrated notable effectiveness, leading to improved foot biomechanics, more even plantar pressure distribution, enhanced balance, and reduced ulcer recurrence (in some cases). One study, for instance, reported a significant decrease in ulcer recurrence, with only 16% of participants in the intervention group experiencing relapse compared to 72% in the control group after 24 weeks. Adherence rates varied across studies but were generally higher when programs included structured guidance through educational booklets, mobile applications, or consistent phone follow-ups ranging from 41% to 92.5%. Nonetheless, the findings tend to be tempered by methodological differences between studies and a lack of robust long-term follow-up data. Conclusions: Home-based lower limb exercises show promise in improving foot function and preventing DFU recurrence. Further research is needed to standardize protocols, enhance adherence, and confirm long-term effectiveness. Full article

Pedestrian safety is a growing global concern, particularly in urban areas, where rapid urbanization and increased mobile device usage have led to an increase in distracted walking. This study investigates the impact of technological distractions, specifically mobile usage (MU), on pedestrian behavior and safety at signalized urban intersections. Data were collected from 11 signalized intersections in New Delhi, India, using video recordings. Key inputs to the modeling process include pedestrian demographics (age, gender, group size) and behavioral variables (crossing speed, waiting time, compliance behaviors). The outputs of the models focus on predicting mobile usage behavior and its association with compliance behaviors such as crosswalk and signal adherence. The results show that 6.9% of the pedestrians used mobile phones while crossing the road. Advanced machine learning models, including Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), Long Short-Term Memory networks (LSTM), and Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN), have been applied to analyze and predict MU behavior. Key findings reveal that younger pedestrians and females are more likely to exhibit distracted behavior, with pedestrians crossing alone being the most prone to mobile usage. MU was significantly associated with increased levels of crosswalk violation. Among the machine learning models, the CNN demonstrated the highest prediction accuracy (94.93%). The findings of this study have a practical application in urban planning, traffic management, and policy formulation. Recommendations include infrastructure improvements, public awareness campaigns, and technology-based interventions to mitigate pedestrian distractions and to enhance road safety. These findings contribute to the development of data-driven strategies to improve pedestrian safety in rapidly urbanizing regions. Full article

The Cholera-Hospital-based-Intervention-for-7-Days (CHoBI7) mobile health (mHealth) program is a targeted water treatment and hygiene (WASH) program for the household members of diarrhea patients, initiated in the healthcare facility with a single in-person visit and reinforced through weekly voice and text messages for 3 months. A recent randomized controlled trial of the CHoBI7 mHealth program in urban Dhaka, Bangladesh, found that this intervention significantly increased WASH behaviors and reduced diarrhea prevalence. The objective of this present study was to conduct formative research using an implementation science framework to adapt the CHoBI7 mHealth program for scalable implementation in rural Bangladesh, and to promote construction of self-made handwashing stations (CHoBI7 Scale-up program). We conducted a 3-month multi-phase pilot with 275 recipients and 25 semi-structured interviews, 10 intervention planning workshops, and 2 focus group discussions with intervention recipients and program implementers. High appropriateness, acceptability, and adoption of the CHoBI7 Scale-up program was observed, with most recipients constructing self-made handwashing stations (90%) and chlorinating drinking water (63%) and 50% of participants observed handwashing with soap in the final pilot phase. At the recipient level, facilitators included weekly voice and text messages with videos on handwashing station construction, which served as reminders for the promoted water treatment and hand hygiene behaviors. Barriers included perceptions that self-made iron filters commonly used in households also removed microbial contamination from water and therefore chlorine treatment was not needed, and mobile messages not always being shared among household members. At the implementer level, facilitators for program implementation included follow-up phone calls to household members not present at the healthcare facility at the time of intervention delivery, and the promotion of multiple self-made handwashing station designs. Barriers included high patient volume in healthcare facilities, as well as the high iron in groundwater in the area that reduced chlorination effectiveness. These findings provide valuable evidence for adapting the CHoBI7 mHealth program for a rural setting, with a lower-cost, scalable design, and demonstrated the important role of formative research for tailoring WASH programs to new contexts. Full article

Optimising outcomes after shoulder interventions requires objective shoulder range of motion (ROM) assessments. This narrative review examines video-based pose technologies and markerless motion capture, focusing on their clinical application for shoulder ROM assessment. Camera pose-based methods offer objective ROM measurements, though the accuracy varies due to the differences in gold standards, anatomical definitions, and deep learning techniques. Despite some biases, the studies report a high consistency, emphasising that methods should not be used interchangeably if they do not agree with each other. Smartphone cameras perform well in capturing 2D planar movements but struggle with that of rotational movements and forward flexion, particularly when thoracic compensations are involved. Proper camera positioning, orientation, and distance are key, highlighting the importance of standardised protocols in mobile phone-based ROM evaluations. Although 3D motion capture, per the International Society of Biomechanics recommendations, remains the gold standard, advancements in LiDAR/depth sensing, smartphone cameras, and deep learning show promise for reliable ROM assessments in clinical settings. Full article

Objectives: We aimed to review the effect of lifestyle interventions in women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) based on the participants and intervention characteristics. Methods: We systematically searched seven databases for RCTs of lifestyle interventions published up to 24 July 2024. We included 30 studies that reported the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or body weight. A random effects model was used to calculate the relative risk and mean difference with a 95% confidence interval. Subgroup analyses were conducted for participants’ characteristics (age, body mass index (BMI)) and intervention characteristics according to the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR). Results: A greater T2DM risk reduction was seen in trials that started within one year postpartum, in participants with a mean baseline BMI of 30 kg/m² or more, or based on behavioral change theory. For body weight reduction, studies on participants with a mean baseline BMI of 25 kg/m² or more or ones that included electronic/mobile delivery (text message, web, phone call) were more effective. Conclusions: Diabetes prevention trials in women with a history of GDM are more effective when commencing within one year postpartum, underpinned by behavior change theory, and in participants with overweight or obesity. Full article

Background: Pregnancy termination (PT) is a major public health concern in low-and middle-income countries like Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors of PT using the nationally representative Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey data 2017–2018. Materials and Methods: A weighted population-based sample of 8759 ever-married reproductive-aged women (15–49 years) was included in the study. The outcome variable was PT in any of the following forms: miscarriage, induced abortion, and stillbirth. A univariate analysis for mean, frequency, and percentage and multiple logistical regression were used to determine the factors associated with PT. Results: Around 18% of the women were found to have PT. The mean age of the women in the study was 25.79 years; 65.1% lived in the rural areas, and the majority of them were Muslims. Advanced age of the women (AOR:3.49, p = 0.004), residence in the countryside (AOR:0.81, p = 0.002), higher education (AOR:0.72, p = 0.027), not being a Muslim (AOR:0.74, p = 0.010), higher socio-economic status (AOR:1.28, p = 0.027), having a job (AOR:1.15, p = 0.041), being married at the age of >22 years (AOR:0.71, p = 0.036), and using a mobile phone (AOR:1.22, p = 0.002) were significant factors of PT. This study did not find any association between PT and contraceptive use. Conclusions: Age, living region, education, religion, wealth index, working status, marital age, and mobile phone use are the determinants of PT. Interventions including these factors need to be made to reduce PT in Bangladeshi women. These findings could be helpful in undertaking further epidemiological studies to understand the actual causes of PT in various rural and urban settings among different socio-demographic groups in Bangladesh. Full article

Background/Objectives: The aim of the narrative review is to identify information on the impact of technological interventions (such as telehealth and mobile health) on the health promotion of cardiac patients from diverse populations. Methods: The online databases of PubMed and the Cochrane Library were searched for articles in the English language regarding technological interventions for health promotion in cardiac patients. In addition, a methodological quality control process was conducted. Exclusion was based on first reading the abstract, and then the full manuscript was scanned to confirm that the content was not related to cardiac patients and technological interventions. Results: In all, 11 studies were included in this review after quality control analysis. The sample size reported in these studies ranged from 12 to 1424 subjects. In eight studies mobile phones, smartphones, and apps were used as mHealth interventions with tracking and texting components; two studies used videoconferencing as a digital intervention program, while three studies focused on using physical activity trackers. Conclusions: This review highlights the positive aspects of patient satisfaction with the technological interventions including, but not limited to, accessibility to health care providers, sense of security, and well-being. The digital divide becomes apparent in the articles reviewed, as individuals with limited eHealth literacy and lack of technological knowledge are not motivated or able participate in these interventions. Finding methods to overcome these barriers is important and can be solved to some extent by providing the technology and technical support. Full article