Health Information Technology
Before and During Pandemic Telemedicine Use: An Analysis of Rural and Urban Safety-Net Clinics
Differences in face-to-face and telemedicine visits before and during the COVID-19 pandemic among rural and urban safety-net clinic patients were evaluated. In addition, this study investigated whether rural patients were as likely to utilize telemedicine for primary care during the pandemic as urban patients.Longer-Term Efficacy of a Digital Life-Skills Training for Substance Use Prevention
The main objective of this study was to test the longer-term and differential efficacy of a mobile phone‒based life-skills training program designed to prevent substance use among adolescents.Telemedicine Familiarity and Post-Disaster Utilization of Emergency and Hospital Services for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions
In this study, we examined the association between telemedicine use before a disaster and utilization of emergency or hospital services for ambulatory care sensitive conditions post-disaster.Mobile Health Applications and Medication Adherence of Patients With Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Current evidence has revealed the beneficial effects of mobile health applications on systolic and diastolic blood pressure. However, there is still no solid evidence of the underlying factors for these outcomes, and hypertension treatment is performed mainly by medication intake. This study aims to analyze the impacts of health applications on medication adherence of patients with hypertension and understand the underlying factors.Effects of Gamified Smartphone Applications on Physical Activity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to examine the impacts of standalone gamified smartphone application-delivered interventions on physical activity.Video Telehealth Access and Changes in HbA1c Among People With Diabetes
Video telehealth can offer people convenient, real-time access to clinicians without arranging transportation or time off work. Among people with diabetes, this study examines the association between video telehealth access and changes in HbA1c.Social Determinants in Machine Learning Cardiovascular Disease Prediction Models: A Systematic Review
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and cardiovascular disease burden is increasing in low-resource settings and for lower socioeconomic groups. Machine learning algorithms are being developed rapidly and incorporated into clinical practice for cardiovascular disease prediction and treatment decisions. Significant opportunities for reducing death and disability from cardiovascular disease worldwide lie with accounting for the social determinants of cardiovascular outcomes.Medical Assistant Protocol Improves Disparities in Depression Screening Rates
Depression is a prevalent condition for which screening rates remain low and disparities in screening exist. This study examines the impacts of a medical assistant screening protocol on the rates of depression screening, overall and by sociodemographic groups, in a primary care setting.Optimizing Texting Interventions for Melanoma Prevention and Early Detection: A Latin Square Crossover RCT
Text messaging is an effective way to reach large populations with health promotion support. This study aims to establish the optimal text messaging intervention to achieve behavior change in young adults at risk of skin cancer.Characteristics of Patients Engaging in Quitline Counseling After an Electronic Referral
Proactive, electronic referral of primary care patients to quitlines has great potential to provide evidence-based tobacco-cessation assistance to tobacco users. However, the quitline contact rates and engagement of individuals beyond 1 counseling call are poor. This study examines the characteristics of electronically referred patients who engage with the quitline.A Pilot Study Examining the Efficacy of Delivering Colorectal Cancer Screening Messages via Virtual Health Assistants
Patients are more likely to complete colorectal cancer screening when recommended by a race-concordant healthcare provider. Leveraging virtual healthcare assistants to deliver tailored screening interventions may promote adherence to colorectal cancer screening guidelines among diverse patient populations. The purpose of this pilot study is to determine the efficacy of the Agent Leveraging Empathy for eXams virtual healthcare assistant intervention to increase patient intentions to talk to their doctor about colorectal cancer screening.Use of Machine Learning to Determine the Information Value of a BMI Screening Program
Childhood obesity continues to be a significant public health issue in the U.S. and is associated with short- and long-term adverse health outcomes. A number of states have implemented school-based BMI screening programs. However, these programs have been criticized for not being effective in improving students’ BMI or reducing childhood obesity. One potential benefit, however, of screening programs is the identification of younger children at risk of obesity as they age.Pediatric Resident Training in Tobacco Control and the Electronic Health Record
Given the dangers posed by tobacco use and tobacco smoke exposure, pediatricians should address tobacco use and exposure with patients and parents at every opportunity, but this is not consistently done in practice. One reason may be that many medical residents do not receive education on how to address tobacco use and tobacco smoke exposure with patients and their parents. In a 2012 survey of U.S. pediatric program directors, 65% of programs reported covering tobacco control in their curricula, but most training programs focused on tobacco's health effects and not intervention strategies for clinical practice.Adding Financial Incentives to Online Group-Based Behavioral Weight Control: An RCT
Internet-delivered behavioral weight control is promising for expanding the reach and availability of weight management, but online programs produce lower weight losses than typically achieved in person. Financial incentives have been shown to increase weight losses. This study examined whether adding financial incentives for self-monitoring and achieving target weight losses increases weight losses attained in a fully online, group-based behavioral weight management program compared with the same program alone.Assessing an App-Based Child Restraint System Use Intervention in China: An RCT
While child restraint systems are effective in protecting children from crash-related injuries and deaths, their use in China is extremely low. This study assessed the effectiveness of child restraint system education with and without behavioral skills training on improved use and explored participants’ views regarding content and delivery of an onsite intervention and online (WeChat) boosters.A Comparison of Smoking History in the Electronic Health Record With Self-Report
Knowing patients’ smoking history helps guide who may benefit from preventive services such as lung cancer screening. The accuracy of smoking history electronic health records remains unclear.A Methodologic Systematic Review of Mobile Health Behavior Change Randomized Trials
Mobile health helps providers offer accessible, affordable, tailored behavior change interventions. However, research assessing mobile health interventions may feature methodologic shortcomings and poor reporting. This review aims to summarize the characteristics, methods, and intervention reporting of RCTs evaluating mobile health behavior change interventions.Efficacy of an m-Health Physical Activity and Sleep Health Intervention for Adults: A Randomized Waitlist-Controlled Trial
Interventions that improve both physical activity and sleep quality may be more effective in improving overall health. The purpose of the Synergy Study is to test the efficacy of a mobile health combined behavior intervention targeting physical activity and sleep quality.Novel Smartphone Game Improves Physical Activity Behavior in Type 2 Diabetes
Many type 2 diabetes patients show insufficient levels of physical activity and are often unmotivated to change physical activity behaviors. This study investigated whether a newly developed smartphone game delivering individualized exercise and physical activity promotion through an elaborate storyline can generate sustained improvements in daily physical activity (steps/day).Mobile Health Applications in Weight Management: A Systematic Literature Review
Weight management is an effective strategy for controlling chronic disease and maintaining physical health, and research on this topic has risen dramatically over the past four decades. The present systematic literature review aimed to identify existing evidence on the efficacy of mobile health technology in facilitating weight management behaviors, such as healthy food consumption and physical activity.A Machine Learning Approach to Identify NIH-Funded Applied Prevention Research
To fulfill its mission, the NIH Office of Disease Prevention systematically monitors NIH investments in applied prevention research. Specifically, the Office focuses on research in humans involving primary and secondary prevention, and prevention-related methods. Currently, the NIH uses the Research, Condition, and Disease Categorization system to report agency funding in prevention research. However, this system defines prevention research broadly to include primary and secondary prevention, studies on prevention methods, and basic and preclinical studies for prevention.Effectiveness of an App and Provider Counseling for Obesity Treatment in Primary Care
Obesity treatment is less successful for socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, particularly when delivered in primary care. Digital health strategies can extend the reach of clinical obesity treatments to care settings serving patients at highest risk.Health Warning Labels Correct Parents’ Misperceptions About Sugary Drink Options
Noncarbonated sugar-sweetened beverages, such as fruit drinks, sports drinks, and sweetened teas are increasingly promoted to and consumed by youth. These beverages may be perceived as healthier options than soda. To educate consumers about beverages high in added sugar, several cities and states have proposed policies mandating health warning labels on sugar-sweetened beverages.Results of an RCT in Two Pediatric Emergency Departments to Evaluate the Efficacy of an m-Health Educational App on Car Seat Use
The growing interest in incorporating prevention into emergency health care make it timely to examine the use of computer technology to efficiently deliver effective education in this setting.Effectiveness of User- and Expert-Driven Web-based Hypertension Programs: an RCT
The effectiveness of self-guided Internet-based lifestyle counseling (e-counseling) varies, depending on treatment protocol. Two dominant procedures in e-counseling are expert- and user-driven. The influence of these procedures on hypertension management remains unclear. The objective was to assess whether blood pressure improved with expert-driven or user-driven e-counseling over control intervention in patients with hypertension over a 4-month period.
