Dataset Information

A Culturally Relevant Smartphone-Delivered Physical Activity Intervention for African American Women: Development and Initial Usability Tests of Smart Walk.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Smart Walk is a culturally relevant, social cognitive theory-based, smartphone-delivered intervention designed to increase physical activity (PA) and reduce cardiometabolic disease risk among African American (AA) women. OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to describe the development and initial usability testing results of Smart Walk. METHODS:Smart Walk was developed in 5 phases. Phases 1 to 3 focused on initial intervention development, phase 4 involved usability testing, and phase 5 included intervention refinement based on usability testing results. In phase 1, a series of 9 focus groups with 25 AA women (mean age 38.5 years, SD 7.8; mean BMI 39.4 kg/m2, SD 7.3) was used to identify cultural factors associated with PA and ascertain how constructs of social cognitive theory can be leveraged in the design of a PA intervention. Phase 2 included the analysis of phase 1 qualitative data and development of the structured PA intervention. Phase 3 focused on the technical development of the smartphone app used to deliver the intervention. Phase 4 consisted of a 1-month usability trial of Smart Walk (n=12 women; mean age 35.0 years, SD 8.5; mean BMI 40 kg/m2, SD 5.0). Phase 5 included refinement of the intervention based on the usability trial results. RESULTS:The 5-phase process resulted in the development of the Smart Walk smartphone-delivered PA intervention. This PA intervention was designed to target social cognitive theory constructs of behavioral capability, outcome expectations, social support, self-efficacy, and self-regulation and address deep structure sociocultural characteristics of collectivism, racial pride, and body appearance preferences of AA women. Key features of the smartphone app included (1) personal profile pages, (2) multimedia PA promotion modules (ie, electronic text and videos), (3) discussion boards, and (4) a PA self-monitoring tool. Participants also received 3 PA promotion text messages each week. CONCLUSIONS:The development process of Smart Walk was designed to maximize the usability, cultural relevance, and impact of the smartphone-delivered PA intervention.

SUBMITTER: Joseph RP

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7076402 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A Culturally Relevant Smartphone-Delivered Physical Activity Intervention for African American Women: Development and Initial Usability Tests of Smart Walk.

Joseph Rodney P RP Keller Colleen C Vega-López Sonia S Adams Marc A MA English Rebekah R Hollingshead Kevin K Hooker Steven P SP Todd Michael M Gaesser Glenn A GA Ainsworth Barbara E BE

JMIR mHealth and uHealth 20200302 3

<h4>Background</h4>Smart Walk is a culturally relevant, social cognitive theory-based, smartphone-delivered intervention designed to increase physical activity (PA) and reduce cardiometabolic disease risk among African American (AA) women.<h4>Objective</h4>This study aimed to describe the development and initial usability testing results of Smart Walk.<h4>Methods</h4>Smart Walk was developed in 5 phases. Phases 1 to 3 focused on initial intervention development, phase 4 involved usability testin ...[more]

PMID: 32130198

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Project description:BackgroundRegular aerobic physical activity (PA) is an important component of healthy aging. However, only 27%-40% of African American women achieve national PA guidelines. Available data also show a clear decline in PA as African American women transition from young adulthood (ie, 25-44 years) into midlife. This decline in PA during midlife coincides with an increased risk for African American women developing cardiometabolic disease conditions, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Thus, effective efforts are needed to promote PA among sedentary African American women during midlife.ObjectiveThis study aims to examine the acceptability and feasibility of a culturally tailored, smartphone-delivered PA intervention, originally developed to increase PA among African American women aged 24-49 years, among a slightly older sample of midlife African American women aged 50-65 years.MethodsA single-arm pretest-posttest study design was implemented. In total, 20 insufficiently active African American (ie, ≤60 min per week of PA) women between the ages of 50-65 years participated in the 4-month feasibility trial. The Smart Walk intervention was delivered through the study Smart Walk smartphone app and text messages. Features available on the Smart Walk app include personal profile pages, multimedia PA promotion modules, discussion board forums, and an activity tracking feature that integrates with Fitbit activity monitors. Self-reported PA and social cognitive theory mediators targeted by the intervention (ie, self-regulation, behavioral capability, outcome expectations, self-efficacy, and social support) were assessed at baseline and at 4 months. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed using a postintervention satisfaction survey that included multiple-choice and open-ended questions evaluating participant perceptions of the intervention and suggestions for intervention improvement. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to examine pre- and postintervention changes in the PA and social cognitive theory variables. The effect size estimates were calculated using the Pearson r test statistic.ResultsParticipants increased moderate-to-vigorous PA (median 30 minutes per week increase; r=0.503; P=.002) and reported improvements in 2 theoretical mediators (self-regulation: r=0.397; P=.01; behavioral capability: r=0.440; P=.006). Nearly all participants (14/15, 93% completing the satisfaction survey) indicated that they would recommend the intervention to a friend. Participants' suggestions for improving the intervention included enhancing the intervention's provisions of social support for PA.ConclusionsThe results provide preliminary support for the feasibility of the smartphone-based approach to increase PA among midlife African American women. However, before larger-scale implementation among midlife African American women, enhancements to the social support components of the intervention are warranted.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04073355; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04073355.

Project description:BackgroundAfrican American women report insufficient physical activity and are disproportionally burdened by associated disease conditions; indicating the need for innovative approaches to promote physical activity in this underserved population. Social media platforms (i.e. Facebook) and text messaging represent potential mediums to promote physical activity. This paper reports the results of a randomized pilot trial evaluating a theory-based (Social Cognitive Theory) multi-component intervention using Facebook and text-messages to promote physical activity among African American women.MethodsParticipants (N = 29) were randomly assigned to receive one of two multi-component physical activity interventions over 8 weeks: a culturally-relevant, Social Cognitive Theory-based, intervention delivered by Facebook and text message (FI) (n = 14), or a non-culturally tailored print-based intervention (PI) (n = 15) consisting of promotion brochures mailed to their home. The primary outcome of physical activity was assessed by ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers. Secondary outcomes included self-reported physical activity, physical activity-related psychosocial variables, and participant satisfaction.ResultsAll randomized participants (N = 29) completed the study. Accelerometer measured physical activity showed that FI participants decreased sedentary time (FI = -74 minutes/week vs. PI = +118 minute/week) and increased light intensity (FI = +95 minutes/week vs. PI = +59 minutes/week) and moderate-lifestyle intensity physical activity (FI = + 27 minutes/week vs. PI = -34 minutes/week) in comparison to PI participants (all P's < .05). No between group differences for accelerometer measured moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity were observed (P > .05). Results of secondary outcomes showed that in comparison to the PI, FI participants self-reported greater increases in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (FI = +62 minutes/week vs. PI = +6 minutes/week; P = .015) and had greater enhancements in self-regulation for physical activity (P < .001) and social support from family for physical activity (P = .044). Satisfaction with the FI was also high: 100% reported physical activity-related knowledge gains and 100% would recommend the program to a friend.ConclusionsA culturally-relevant Facebook and text message delivered physical activity program was associated with several positive outcomes, including decreased sedentary behavior, increased light- and moderate-lifestyle intensity physical activity, enhanced psychosocial outcomes, and high participant satisfaction. Future studies with larger samples are warranted to further explore the efficacy of technology-based approaches to promote physical activity among African American women.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02372565 . Registered 25 February 2015.

Project description:External cueing is a potentially effective strategy to reduce freezing of gait (FOG) in persons with Parkinson's disease (PD). Case reports suggest that three-dimensional (3D) cues might be more effective in reducing FOG than two-dimensional cues. We investigate the usability of 3D augmented reality visual cues delivered by smart glasses in comparison to conventional 3D transverse bars on the floor and auditory cueing via a metronome in reducing FOG and improving gait parameters. In laboratory experiments, 25 persons with PD and FOG performed walking tasks while wearing custom-made smart glasses under five conditions, at the end-of-dose. For two conditions, augmented visual cues (bars/staircase) were displayed via the smart glasses. The control conditions involved conventional 3D transverse bars on the floor, auditory cueing via a metronome, and no cueing. The number of FOG episodes and percentage of time spent on FOG were rated from video recordings. The stride length and its variability, cycle time and its variability, cadence, and speed were calculated from motion data collected with a motion capture suit equipped with 17 inertial measurement units. A total of 300 FOG episodes occurred in 19 out of 25 participants. There were no statistically significant differences in number of FOG episodes and percentage of time spent on FOG across the five conditions. The conventional bars increased stride length, cycle time, and stride length variability, while decreasing cadence and speed. No effects for the other conditions were found. Participants preferred the metronome most, and the augmented staircase least. They suggested to improve the comfort, esthetics, usability, field of view, and stability of the smart glasses on the head and to reduce their weight and size. In their current form, augmented visual cues delivered by smart glasses are not beneficial for persons with PD and FOG. This could be attributable to distraction, blockage of visual feedback, insufficient familiarization with the smart glasses, or display of the visual cues in the central rather than peripheral visual field. Future smart glasses are required to be more lightweight, comfortable, and user friendly to avoid distraction and blockage of sensory feedback, thus increasing usability.

Project description:BackgroundSmartphone-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is becoming more common, but research on the topic remains in its infancy. Little is known about how people typically engage with smartphone CBT or which engagement and mobility patterns may optimize treatment. Passive smartphone data offer a unique opportunity to gain insight into these knowledge gaps.ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine passive smartphone data across a pilot course of smartphone CBT for body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), a psychiatric illness characterized by a preoccupation with a perceived defect in physical appearance, to inform hypothesis generation and the design of subsequent, larger trials.MethodsA total of 10 adults with primary diagnoses of BDD were recruited nationally and completed telehealth clinician assessments with a reliable evaluator. In a 12-week open pilot trial of smartphone CBT, we initially characterized natural patterns of engagement with the treatment and tested how engagement and mobility patterns across treatment corresponded with treatment response.ResultsMost participants interacted briefly and frequently with smartphone-delivered treatment. More frequent app usage (r=-0.57), as opposed to greater usage duration (r=-0.084), correlated strongly with response. GPS-detected time at home, a potential digital marker of avoidance, decreased across treatment and correlated moderately with BDD severity (r=0.49).ConclusionsThe sample was small in this pilot study; thus, results should be used to inform the hypotheses and design of subsequent trials. The results provide initial evidence that frequent (even if brief) practice of CBT skills may optimize response to smartphone CBT and that mobility patterns may serve as useful passive markers of symptom severity. This is one of the first studies to examine the value that passively collected sensor data may contribute to understanding and optimizing users' response to smartphone CBT. With further validation, the results can inform how to enhance smartphone CBT design.

Project description:PurposeTo assess the usability and image quality of a smartphone adapter for direct slit lamp imaging.MethodsA single-center, prospective, clinical study conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland. The smartphone group consisted of 26 medical staff (consultants, residents, and students). The control group consisted of one ophthalmic photographer. Both groups took images of the anterior and the posterior eye segment of the same proband. The control group used professional photography equipment. The participant group used an Apple iPhone 11 mounted on a slit lamp via a removable SlitREC smartphone adapter (Custom Surgical GmbH, Munich, Germany). The image quality was graded independently by two blinded ophthalmologists on a scale from 0 (low) to 10 (high quality). Images with a score ≥ 7.0/10 were considered as good as the reference images. The acquisition time was measured. A questionnaire on usability and experience in smartphone and slit lamp use was taken by all of the participants.ResultsEach participant had three attempts at the same task. The overall smartphone quality was 7.2/10 for the anterior and 6.4/10 for the posterior segment. The subjectively perceived difficulty decreased significantly over the course of three attempts (Kendall's W). Image quality increased as well but did not improve significantly from take 1 to take 3. However, the image quality of the posterior segment was significantly, positively correlated (Spearman's Rho) with work experience. The mean acquisition time for anterior segment imaging was faster in the smartphone group compared to the control group (156 vs. 206 s). It was vice versa for the posterior segment (180 vs. 151 s).ConclusionSlit lamp imaging with the presented smartphone adapter provides high-quality imaging of the anterior segment. Posterior segment imaging remains challenging in terms of image quality. The adapter constitutes a cost-effective, portable, easy-to-use solution for recording ophthalmic photos and videos. It can facilitate clinical documentation and communication among colleagues and with the patient especially outside normal consultation hours. Direct slit lamp imaging allows for time to be saved and increases the independence of ophthalmologists in terms of patient mobility and the availability of photographic staff.

Dataset Information

A Culturally Relevant Smartphone-Delivered Physical Activity Intervention for African American Women: Development and Initial Usability Tests of Smart Walk.

Publications

A Culturally Relevant Smartphone-Delivered Physical Activity Intervention for African American Women: Development and Initial Usability Tests of Smart Walk.

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