mHealth Apps in the Digital Marketplace for Pediatric Patients With Cancer: Systematic Search and Analysis.

Background: The substantial increase in smartphone ownership has led to a rise in mobile health (mHealth) app use. Developing tailored features through mHealth apps creates a pathway to address the health care needs of pediatric patients with cancer and their families who have complex care needs. However, few apps are designed specifically to integrate with pediatric cancer care. Objective: This study reports a systematic search and analysis of mHealth apps available on the Apple App (iOS) and Google Play (Android) stores designed for pediatric cancer through a list of features that serve (1) patients, (2) caregivers, or (3) both audiences. Methods: Following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, we reviewed apps for pediatric patients with cancer and caregivers available as of January 30, 2024. We searched the Apple App and Google Play stores with a list of keyword combinations focusing on pediatric cancer care. The inclusion criteria were (1) specifically apps targeted toward pediatric patients with cancer, their families, or both; (2) available in either app store; and (3) available in English. Apps were assessed using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS). The MARS is a quality assessment for mHealth apps, including components of engagement, functionality, aesthetics, and informational quality (5-point Likert scale items-1: low and 5: high quality). Results: In total, 22 apps were identified and 17 of those apps were available on both platforms. The most popular features (n=12) were resource sharing, symptom tracking, reminders, care team connections, journaling, community support, medication tracking, data visualizations, and appointment tracking. Features and interfaces were designed for caregivers (n=9) more frequently than the patients (n=7) while a subset of apps created options for both users (n=6). A total of 16 apps received positive reviews (mean 4.4, SD 0.59; Min=3.1, Max=5.0). A small subset (n=3) achieved over 5000 downloads; however, the majority (n=15) had fewer than 500. More than half (n=12) of the apps were not available in English. Apps requested access to a range of device functionalities to operate (mean 2.72, SD 3.13; Min=0, Max=10). Out of 22, a total of 17 apps were publicly accessible. The mean MARS scores for the apps ranged from 1.71 (SD 0.75) to 4.33 (SD 0.82). Overall, apps scored high on functionality (mean 3.72, SD 0.54) but low on engagement (mean 3.02, SD 0.93). Conclusions: Our review highlights the promising yet underdeveloped potential of mHealth apps in pediatric oncology care, underscoring the need for more inclusive, comprehensive, and integrative digital health solutions. Future developments should actively involve key stakeholders from the pediatric oncology community, including patients, families, and health care professionals, to ensure the apps meet specific needs while addressing linguistic and cultural barriers.

Pseudoreality and Technology: Smartphone-Related Factors Impacting Mental Health.

This article explores the intricate relationship between smartphone usage and mental health and the unintended consequences of the rapid integration of this technology into daily life. It explores the ways in which smartphones disrupt opportunities for introspection and self-reflection, decrease engagement in external reality, increase engagement with realities of the virtual world, precipitate ego destabilization, and interfere with sleep and dreaming. The author explores ways in which the split between the real self and the ideal self is impacted by social media. The influence of smartphones on mental health is a complex and evolving issue, demanding ongoing research, understanding, and a heightened awareness of the potentially deleterious consequences of overusing technology in our ever-changing world.

Co-worker phubbing: A qualitative exploration of smartphone use during work breaks.

INTRODUCTION: The present study qualitatively explores co-worker "phubbing" (from "phone" and "snubbing") during communal work breaks. Phubbing, or ignoring others by paying attention to one's phone, has been linked to a range of negative interpersonal and intrapersonal outcomes. Although most research has targeted private relationships, there are indications that lateral work relationships may be similarly affected, with potential consequences at the individual, group, and organizational levels. METHODS: Interviews were conducted with 25 Swedish employees in the electrical trade (n = 13) and health care (n = 12), groups that typically work alongside colleagues and regularly take communal breaks. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Five main themes were identified: (1) phubbing as a social barrier, (2) the socially integrated smartphone, (3) intentional and unintentional phubbing, (4) navigating phubbing norms, and (5) generational differences in phubbing behavior and attitudes. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that work break phubbing could potentially undermine interpersonal aspects of the psychosocial work environment. However, this was also seen as contingent on social norms and individual needs and preferences. Discussing phubbing in the workplace may be a way of mitigating negative effects by bridging disparate expectations.

Decimeter-Level Accuracy for Smartphone Real-Time Kinematic Positioning Implementing a Robust Kalman Filter Approach and Inertial Navigation System Infusion in Complex Urban Environments.

New smartphones provide real-time access to GNSS pseudorange, Doppler, or carrier-phase measurement data at 1 Hz. Simultaneously, they can receive corrections broadcast by GNSS reference stations to perform real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning. This study aims at the real-time positioning capabilities of smartphones using raw GNSS measurements as a conventional method and proposes an improvement to the positioning through the integration of Inertial Navigation System (INS) measurements. A U-Blox GNSS receiver, model ZED-F9R, was used as a benchmark for comparison. We propose an enhanced ambiguity resolution algorithm that integrates the traditional LAMBDA method with an adaptive thresholding mechanism based on real-time quality metrics. The RTK/INS fusion method integrates RTK and INS measurements using an extended Kalman filter (EKF), where the state vector x includes the position, velocity, orientation, and their respective biases. The innovation here is the inclusion of a real-time weighting scheme that adjusts the contribution of the RTK and INS measurements based on their current estimated accuracy. Also, we use the tightly coupled (TC) RTK/INS fusion framework. By leveraging INS data, the system can maintain accurate positioning even when the GNSS data are unreliable, allowing for the detection and exclusion of abnormal GNSS measurements. However, in complex urban areas such as Qazvin City in Iran, the fusion method achieved positioning accuracies of approximately 0.380 m and 0.415 m for the Xiaomi Mi 8 and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra smartphones, respectively. The subsequent detailed analysis across different urban streets emphasized the significance of choosing the right positioning method based on the environmental conditions. In most cases, RTK positioning outperformed Single-Point Positioning (SPP), offering decimeter-level precision, while the fusion method bridged the gap between the two, showcasing improved stability accuracy. The comparative performance between the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and Xiaomi Mi 8 revealed minor differences, likely attributed to variations in the hardware design and software algorithms. The fusion method emerged as a valuable alternative when the RTK signals were unavailable or impractical. This demonstrates the potential of integrating RTK and INS measurements for enhanced real-time smartphone positioning, particularly in challenging urban environments.

Smartphone Assessment of the Sitting Heel-Rise Test.

The study presents a new approach for assessing plantarflexor muscles' function using a smartphone. The test involves performing repeated heel raises for 60 s while seated. The seated heel-rise test offers a simple method for assessing plantarflexor muscles' function in those with severe balance impairment who are unable to complete tests performed while standing. The study aimed to showcase how gyroscopic data from a smartphone placed on the lower limb can be used to assess the test. Eight participants performed the seated heel-rise test with each limb. Gyroscope and 2D video analysis data (60 Hz) of limb motion were used to determine the number of cycles, the average rise (T-rise), lowering (T-lower), and cycle (T-total) times. The number of cycles detected matched exactly when the gyroscope and kinematic data were compared. There was good time domain agreement between gyroscopic and video data (T-rise = 0.0005 s, T-lower = 0.0013 s, and T-total = 0.0017 s). The 95% CI limits of agreement were small (T-total -0.1118, 0.1127 s, T-lower -0.1152, 0.1179 s, and T-total -0.0763, 0.0797 s). Results indicate that a smartphone placed on the thigh can successfully assess the seated heel-rise test. The seated heel-rise test offers an attractive alternative to test plantarflexor muscles' functionality in those unable to perform tests in standing positions.

Feasibility of Measuring Smartphone Accelerometry Data During a Weekly Instrumented Timed Up-and-Go Test After Emergency Department Discharge: Prospective Observational Cohort Study.

Background: Older adults discharged from the emergency department (ED) face elevated risk of falls and functional decline. Smartphones might enable remote monitoring of mobility after ED discharge, yet their application in this context remains underexplored. Objective: This study aimed to assess the feasibility of having older adults provide weekly accelerometer data from an instrumented Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) test over an 11-week period after ED discharge. Methods: This single-center, prospective, observational, cohort study recruited patients aged 60 years and older from an academic ED. Participants downloaded the GaitMate app to their iPhones that recorded accelerometer data during 11 weekly at-home TUG tests. We measured adherence to TUG test completion, quality of transmitted accelerometer data, and participants' perceptions of the app's usability and safety. Results: Of the 617 approached patients, 149 (24.1%) consented to participate, and of these 149 participants, 9 (6%) dropped out. Overall, participants completed 55.6% (912/1639) of TUG tests. Data quality was optimal in 31.1% (508/1639) of TUG tests. At 3-month follow-up, 83.2% (99/119) of respondents found the app easy to use, and 95% (114/120) felt safe performing the tasks at home. Barriers to adherence included the need for assistance, technical issues with the app, and forgetfulness. Conclusions: The study demonstrates moderate adherence yet high usability and safety for the use of smartphone TUG tests to monitor mobility among older adults after ED discharge. Incomplete TUG test data were common, reflecting challenges in the collection of high-quality longitudinal mobility data in older adults. Identified barriers highlight the need for improvements in user engagement and technology design.

Usage, Attitudes, Facilitators, and Barriers Toward Digital Health Technologies in Musculoskeletal Care: Survey Among Primary Care Physiotherapists in Norway.

BACKGROUND: Work burden increases for physiotherapists in the primary health care sector as the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) increases. Digital health technologies (DHTs) are proposed as a viable solution to secure the sustainability of the health care system and have shown promising results in a range of conditions. However, little is known about use of DHTs among physiotherapists in the primary health care sector in Norway. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the use of and attitudes toward DHTs among physiotherapists treating patients with MSDs in primary care, and potential facilitators or barriers for adopting DHTs in clinical practice. METHODS: An author-developed web-based questionnaire was distributed to physiotherapists in all Norwegian municipalities in March 2023. The questionnaire included items regarding use of technologies, attitudes, suitability, and factors influencing adoption of DHT. Suitability and agreement on statements were scored on an 11-point numeric rating scale (0=very unsuitable or strongly disagree, 10=very suitable or strongly agree). Differences across employment sites and users versus nonusers of DHT were analyzed using the χ2 test, Fisher exact test, Student t test, and Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Approximately 5000 physiotherapists were invited to participate, of which 6.8% (338) completed the questionnaire. A total of 46.2% (156/338) offered DHTs in their practice, of which 53.2% (83/156) used it on a weekly basis, mostly telephone consultations (105/156, 67.3%). A higher proportion of physiotherapists in private practice offered DHT compared with those employed by municipalities (95/170, 55.9% vs 61/168, 36.3%; P<.001). A majority (272/335, 81.2%) were positive about recommending DHTs to their patients. Suitability of DHTs in physiotherapy was rated an average of 6 (SD 2.1). Apps for smartphones or tablets were rated most suitable (mean rating 6.8, SD 2.4). The most frequently reported advantages were flexibility in how physiotherapy is offered (278/338, 82.3%) and reduced travel time for the patient (235/338, 70%). The highest rated disadvantages were limited scope for physical examination (252/338, 74.6%) and difficulty in building rapport with the patient (227/338, 67.2%). The main facilitators and barriers included a functioning (median rating 10, IQR 8-10) or lack of functioning (median rating 9, IQR 8-10) internet connection, respectively. Lack of training in DHTs was prominent regarding evaluation, diagnosing, and treatment (median rating 0, IQR 0-2), with minor, but significant, differences between nonusers and users (median rating 0, IQR 0-1 vs median rating 1, IQR 0-4); P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Physiotherapists in Norwegian primary care treating patients with MSDs are positive about using DHTs, and almost 50% (156/338) have adopted them in clinical practice. Concerns are related to lack of a physical examination and technical aspects. Training in the use of DHTs should be addressed in implementation processes.

Using Text Messaging Surveys in General Practice Research to Engage With People From Low-Income Groups: Multi-Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: SMS text messages through mobile phones are a common means of interpersonal communication. SMS text message surveys are gaining traction in health care and research due to their feasibility and patient acceptability. However, challenges arise in implementing SMS text message surveys, especially when targeting marginalized populations, because of barriers to accessing phones and data as well as communication difficulties. In primary care, traditional surveys (paper-based and online) often face low response rates that are particularly pronounced among disadvantaged groups due to financial limitations, language barriers, and time constraints. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the potential of SMS text message-based patient recruitment and surveys within general practices situated in lower socioeconomic areas. This study was nested within the Reducing Alcohol-Harm in General Practice project that aimed to reduce alcohol-related harm through screening in Australian general practice. METHODS: This study follows a 2-step SMS text message data collection process. An initial SMS text message with an online survey link was sent to patients, followed by subsequent surveys every 3 months for consenting participants. Interviews were conducted with the local primary health network organization staff, the participating practice staff, and the clinicians. The qualitative data were analyzed using constructs from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. RESULTS: Out of 6 general practices, 4 were able to send SMS text messages to their patients. The initial SMS text message was sent to 8333 patients and 702 responses (8.2%) were received, most of which were not from a low-income group. This low initial response was in contrast to the improved response rate to the ongoing 3-month SMS text message surveys (55/107, 51.4% at 3 months; 29/67, 43.3% at 6 months; and 44/102, 43.1% at 9 months). We interviewed 4 general practitioners, 4 nurses, and 4 administrative staff from 5 of the different practices. Qualitative data uncovered barriers to engaging marginalized groups including limited smartphone access, limited financial capacity (telephone, internet, and Wi-Fi credit), language barriers, literacy issues, mental health conditions, and physical limitations such as manual dexterity and vision issues. Practice managers and clinicians suggested strategies to overcome these barriers, including using paper-based surveys in trusted spaces, offering assistance during survey completion, and offering honoraria to support participation. CONCLUSIONS: While SMS text message surveys for primary care research may be useful for the broader population, additional efforts are required to ensure the representation and involvement of marginalized groups. More intensive methods such as in-person data collection may be more appropriate to capture the voice of low-income groups in primary care research. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR2-10.3399/BJGPO.2021.0037.

Access to the internet and mobile applications in a mixed population emergency department: A repeated cross-sectional survey.

Objective: This study aimed to assess patients' interest in education content delivered through electronic modalities and identify trends in internet access and use among emergency department patients of various socioeconomic statuses. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional survey with 50 questions was completed by 241 English and Spanish-speaking patients in 2014 and repeated with 253 participants in 2019 at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center's Emergency Department (UCIMCED). Results: Internet access increased from 83.8 % in 2014 to 88.1 % in 2019. Most internet-using patients owned smartphones (80.1 % in 2014, 89.7 % in 2019). Patients used electronic devices, such as fit bits and activity trackers, to obtain health information. Email was the preferred method for receiving discharge instructions. Conclusions: As of 2019, 88.1 % of UCIMCED patients have access to the internet or email, making electronic media a reasonable venue for patient education. Given that we have a predominantly low-income patient population-61 % and 32 % of respondents in 2014 and 2019, respectively, reporting an income of less than $25,000-these results are provide new avenues to reach patients of all socioeconomic statuses. Innovation: The implications of this study can be used to develop electronic resources tailored to educate emergency department patients about their healthcare beyond the confines of a hospital.

The Hidden Pain: Understanding Smartphone Pinky Awareness and Risk Perception in the Eastern Province Population.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE:  The detrimental effects of smartphone addiction impair hand functions and pinch strength. One prominent issue is the occurrence of "smartphone pinky," which leads to dysfunction and pain in the fifth finger. This study aims to assess the level of awareness regarding smartphone pinky and its associated risk factors among the population of the Eastern Provinces. METHODS:  This cross-sectional study was carried out on 500 participants from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Participants voluntarily took part in the research, which spanned from July 2023 to February 2024. Data collection was carried out using a semi-structured questionnaire designed to gauge awareness of smartphone pinky and its contributing factors within the Eastern Province population. RESULTS:  The study included 500 participants. This study showed that about half of the participants (48.8%) use smartphones for five to eight hours during the day. Moreover, about two-thirds of them (64.6%) held the smartphone in the wrong way. The majority of participants 74.4% have not heard about the smartphone pinky. Also, the results reveal that less than half of the participants (45.8%) think that the smartphone pinky can affect daily life. CONCLUSIONS:  This study concluded that the majority of participants have not heard about smartphone pinky and do not have awareness of the risk factors of smartphone use.

Automated Pain Spots Recognition Algorithm Provided by a Web Service-Based Platform: Instrument Validation Study.

Background: Understanding the causes and mechanisms underlying musculoskeletal pain is crucial for developing effective treatments and improving patient outcomes. Self-report measures, such as the Pain Drawing Scale, involve individuals rating their level of pain on a scale. In this technique, individuals color the area where they experience pain, and the resulting picture is rated based on the depicted pain intensity. Analyzing pain drawings (PDs) typically involves measuring the size of the pain region. There are several studies focusing on assessing the clinical use of PDs, and now, with the introduction of digital PDs, the usability and reliability of these platforms need validation. Comparative studies between traditional and digital PDs have shown good agreement and reliability. The evolution of PD acquisition over the last 2 decades mirrors the commercialization of digital technologies. However, the pen-on-paper approach seems to be more accepted by patients, but there is currently no standardized method for scanning PDs. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of PD analysis performed by a web platform using various digital scanners. The primary goal was to demonstrate that simple and affordable mobile devices can be used to acquire PDs without losing important information. Methods: Two sets of PDs were generated: one with the addition of 216 colored circles and another composed of various red shapes distributed randomly on a frontal view body chart of an adult male. These drawings were then printed in color on A4 sheets, including QR codes at the corners in order to allow automatic alignment, and subsequently scanned using different devices and apps. The scanners used were flatbed scanners of different sizes and prices (professional, portable flatbed, and home printer or scanner), smartphones with varying price ranges, and 6 virtual scanner apps. The acquisitions were made under normal light conditions by the same operator. Results: High-saturation colors, such as red, cyan, magenta, and yellow, were accurately identified by all devices. The percentage error for small, medium, and large pain spots was consistently below 20% for all devices, with smaller values associated with larger areas. In addition, a significant negative correlation was observed between the percentage of error and spot size (R=-0.237; P=.04). The proposed platform proved to be robust and reliable for acquiring paper PDs via a wide range of scanning devices. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that a web platform can accurately analyze PDs acquired through various digital scanners. The findings support the use of simple and cost-effective mobile devices for PD acquisition without compromising the quality of data. Standardizing the scanning process using the proposed platform can contribute to more efficient and consistent PD analysis in clinical and research settings.

Transforming Digital Phenotyping Raw Data Into Actionable Biomarkers, Quality Metrics, and Data Visualizations Using Cortex Software Package: Tutorial.

As digital phenotyping, the capture of active and passive data from consumer devices such as smartphones, becomes more common, the need to properly process the data and derive replicable features from it has become paramount. Cortex is an open-source data processing pipeline for digital phenotyping data, optimized for use with the mindLAMP apps, which is used by nearly 100 research teams across the world. Cortex is designed to help teams (1) assess digital phenotyping data quality in real time, (2) derive replicable clinical features from the data, and (3) enable easy-to-share data visualizations. Cortex offers many options to work with digital phenotyping data, although some common approaches are likely of value to all teams using it. This paper highlights the reasoning, code, and example steps necessary to fully work with digital phenotyping data in a streamlined manner. Covering how to work with the data, assess its quality, derive features, and visualize findings, this paper is designed to offer the reader the knowledge and skills to apply toward analyzing any digital phenotyping data set. More specifically, the paper will teach the reader the ins and outs of the Cortex Python package. This includes background information on its interaction with the mindLAMP platform, some basic commands to learn what data can be pulled and how, and more advanced use of the package mixed with basic Python with the goal of creating a correlation matrix. After the tutorial, different use cases of Cortex are discussed, along with limitations. Toward highlighting clinical applications, this paper also provides 3 easy ways to implement examples of Cortex use in real-world settings. By understanding how to work with digital phenotyping data and providing ready-to-deploy code with Cortex, the paper aims to show how the new field of digital phenotyping can be both accessible to all and rigorous in methodology.

Contextual Acceptance of COVID-19 Mitigation Mobile Apps in the United States: Mixed Methods Survey Study on Postpandemic Data Privacy.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic gave rise to countless user-facing mobile apps to help fight the pandemic ("COVID-19 mitigation apps"). These apps have been at the center of data privacy discussions because they collect, use, and even retain sensitive personal data from their users (eg, medical records and location data). The US government ended its COVID-19 emergency declaration in May 2023, marking a unique time to comprehensively investigate how data privacy impacted people's acceptance of various COVID-19 mitigation apps deployed throughout the pandemic. OBJECTIVE: This research aims to provide insights into health data privacy regarding COVID-19 mitigation apps and policy recommendations for future deployment of public health mobile apps through the lens of data privacy. This research explores people's contextual acceptance of different types of COVID-19 mitigation apps by applying the privacy framework of contextual integrity. Specifically, this research seeks to identify the factors that impact people's acceptance of data sharing and data retention practices in various social contexts. METHODS: A mixed methods web-based survey study was conducted by recruiting a simple US representative sample (N=674) on Prolific in February 2023. The survey includes a total of 60 vignette scenarios representing realistic social contexts that COVID-19 mitigation apps could be used. Each survey respondent answered questions about their acceptance of 10 randomly selected scenarios. Three contextual integrity parameters (attribute, recipient, and transmission principle) and respondents' basic demographics are controlled as independent variables. Regression analysis was performed to determine the factors impacting people's acceptance of initial data sharing and data retention practices via these apps. Qualitative data from the survey were analyzed to support the statistical results. RESULTS: Many contextual integrity parameter values, pairwise combinations of contextual integrity parameter values, and some demographic features of respondents have a significant impact on their acceptance of using COVID-19 mitigation apps in various social contexts. Respondents' acceptance of data retention practices diverged from their acceptance of initial data sharing practices in some scenarios. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that people's acceptance of using various COVID-19 mitigation apps depends on specific social contexts, including the type of data (attribute), the recipients of the data (recipient), and the purpose of data use (transmission principle). Such acceptance may differ between the initial data sharing and data retention practices, even in the same context. Study findings generated rich implications for future pandemic mitigation apps and the broader public health mobile apps regarding data privacy and deployment considerations.

A Handheld Tool for the Rapid Morphological Identification of Mosquito Species (VectorCam) for Community-Based Malaria Vector Surveillance: Summative Usability Study.

BACKGROUND: Malaria impacts nearly 250 million individuals annually. Specifically, Uganda has one of the highest burdens, with 13 million cases and nearly 20,000 deaths. Controlling the spread of malaria relies on vector surveillance, a system where collected mosquitos are analyzed for vector species' density in rural areas to plan interventions accordingly. However, this relies on trained entomologists known as vector control officers (VCOs) who identify species via microscopy. The global shortage of entomologists and this time-intensive process cause significant reporting delays. VectorCam is a low-cost artificial intelligence-based tool that identifies a mosquito's species, sex, and abdomen status with a picture and sends these results electronically from surveillance sites to decision makers, thereby deskilling the process to village health teams (VHTs). OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the usability of the VectorCam system among VHTs by assessing its efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction. METHODS: The VectorCam system has imaging hardware and a phone app designed to identify mosquito species. Two users are needed: (1) an imager to capture images of mosquitos using the app and (2) a loader to load and unload mosquitos from the hardware. Critical success tasks for both roles were identified, which VCOs used to train and certify VHTs. In the first testing phase (phase 1), a VCO and a VHT were paired to assume the role of an imager or a loader. Afterward, they swapped. In phase 2, two VHTs were paired, mimicking real use. The time taken to image each mosquito, critical errors, and System Usability Scale (SUS) scores were recorded for each participant. RESULTS: Overall, 14 male and 6 female VHT members aged 20 to 70 years were recruited, of which 12 (60%) participants had smartphone use experience. The average throughput values for phases 1 and 2 for the imager were 70 (SD 30.3) seconds and 56.1 (SD 22.9) seconds per mosquito, respectively, indicating a decrease in the length of time for imaging a tray of mosquitos. The loader's average throughput values for phases 1 and 2 were 50.0 and 55.7 seconds per mosquito, respectively, indicating a slight increase in time. In terms of effectiveness, the imager had 8% (6/80) critical errors and the loader had 13% (10/80) critical errors in phase 1. In phase 2, the imager (for VHT pairs) had 14% (11/80) critical errors and the loader (for VHT pairs) had 12% (19/160) critical errors. The average SUS score of the system was 70.25, indicating positive usability. A Kruskal-Wallis analysis demonstrated no significant difference in SUS (H value) scores between genders or users with and without smartphone use experience. CONCLUSIONS: VectorCam is a usable system for deskilling the in-field identification of mosquito specimens in rural Uganda. Upcoming design updates will address the concerns of users and observers.

Development, Feasibility, and Acceptability of the Electronic Patient Benefit Index for Psoriasis in Clinical Practice: Mixed Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcomes are relevant in clinical practice showing patient benefits, supporting clinicians' decision-making, and contributing to the delivery of high standards of care. Digital monitoring of patient-reported outcomes is still rare. The Patient Benefit Index (PBI) measures benefits and goals from patients' views and may be relevant for regular documentation and shared decision-making. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop electronic versions of the PBI to examine their feasibility and acceptability in clinical practice for patients with psoriasis. METHODS: We developed an app and a web version of the existing, valid PBI using focus groups and cognitive debriefings with patients before conducting a quantitative survey on its feasibility and acceptability. Conduction took part in an outpatient dermatology care unit in Germany. Descriptive and subgroup analyses were conducted. RESULTS: A total of 139 patients completed the electronic PBIs (ePBIs) and took part in the survey. The ePBI was understandable (n=129-137, 92.8%-98.6%) and feasible, for example, easy to read (n=135, 97.1%) and simple to handle (n=137, 98.5%). Acceptability was also high, for example, patients can imagine using and discussing the ePBI data in practice (n=91, 65.5%) and documenting it regularly (n=88, 63.3%). They believe it could support treatment decisions (n=118, 84.9%) and improve communication with their physician (n=112, 81.3%). They can imagine filling in electronic questionnaires regularly (n=118, 84.9%), even preferring electronic over paper versions (n=113, 81.2%). Older and less educated people show less feasibility, but the latter expected the relationship with their physician to improve and would be more willing to invest time or effort. CONCLUSIONS: The app and web version of the PBI are usable and acceptable for patients offering comprehensive documentation and patient participation in practice. An implementation strategy should consider patients' needs, barriers, and facilitators but also physicians' attitudes and requirements from the health care system.

Problematic Use of Smartphones and Sleep Quality Among Healthcare Workers in Qassim, Saudi Arabia.

Background and objectives Problematic use of smartphones among healthcare workers can affect their performance, patient care, safety, care outcomes, and patient satisfaction. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of problematic use of smartphones and the relationship between the problematic use of smartphones and sleep quality among healthcare workers in Qassim, Saudi Arabia. Methods We enrolled 393 healthcare workers conveniently selected online for this cross-sectional survey. We assessed the problematic use of smartphones using the short version of the Smartphone Addiction Scale. For sleep quality, we used the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Linear regression was used to assess the association of problematic use of smartphones with sleep quality. IBM SPSS Statistics, version 23.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY) was used for analyses. Results The prevalence of smartphone addiction (SMA) was 59.0%, and 30.5% were at high risk for addiction. The mean PSQI score was 11.56 ± 2.1 out of 21. It was found that female gender was associated with poor sleep quality (adjusted B = 0.45, p-value = 0.049). On the other hand, SMA was also significantly associated with poor sleep quality (adjusted B = 0.90, p-value = 0.016). Conclusion There is a high prevalence of problematic use of smartphones among healthcare workers, which is associated with poor sleep quality. Given the significant occurrence of problematic smartphone use among healthcare professionals and its detrimental effects on sleep quality, it is crucial for public health initiatives to devise and execute suitable preventive measures, such as smartphone use policies at work and education of workers.

MoodCapture: Depression Detection Using In-the-Wild Smartphone Images.

MoodCapture presents a novel approach that assesses depression based on images automatically captured from the front-facing camera of smartphones as people go about their daily lives. We collect over 125,000 photos in the wild from N=177 participants diagnosed with major depressive disorder for 90 days. Images are captured naturalistically while participants respond to the PHQ-8 depression survey question: "I have felt down, depressed, or hopeless". Our analysis explores important image attributes, such as angle, dominant colors, location, objects, and lighting. We show that a random forest trained with face landmarks can classify samples as depressed or non-depressed and predict raw PHQ-8 scores effectively. Our post-hoc analysis provides several insights through an ablation study, feature importance analysis, and bias assessment. Importantly, we evaluate user concerns about using MoodCapture to detect depression based on sharing photos, providing critical insights into privacy concerns that inform the future design of in-the-wild image-based mental health assessment tools.

Educating Japanese elementary students on proper smartphone use and social media risks: Reflecting on post-COVID-19 crime trends.

Smartphone ownership and social media use are increasing worldwide, and children are not exempt from these trends. Past studies on this issue have mainly focused on educational campaigns to prevent the prolonged use of smartphones, social media, and video games. Recently, harm to children from engagement with bad actors through social media has become a major problem in Japan, and preventive measures need to be based on close analysis of the facts. The present study was performed descriptive epidemiology and comparison between two groups. This study investigated the number of children in Japan who fell victim to criminal offense through their use of social media, categorized by level of schooling, type of offense, and means of accessing social media over the 8-year period from 2016 to 2023. The 8-year period was divided into 2016-2019 (4 years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic) and 2020-2023 (4 years during the pandemic). Statistical analysis was conducted to compare these periods. The number of elementary school students victimized by criminal offense through social media in Japan increased significantly in 4 years during the pandemic. Furthermore, in 4 years during the pandemic, there was also a notable rise in felony-related incidents, and an increase in the number of victims accessing social media via smartphones. Schools, parents/guardians, and personnel and organizations in relevant fields need to collaborate in addressing and educating students about the proper use of smartphones and the risks of social media starting at the elementary school age.

Comparative Evaluation of the Performance of a Mobile Device Camera and a Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera in Close-Range Photogrammetry Applications.

The comparative evaluation of the performance of a mobile device camera and an affordable full-frame mirrorless camera in close-range photogrammetry applications involves assessing the capabilities of these two types of cameras in capturing images for 3D measurement purposes. In this study, experiments are conducted to compare the distortion levels, the accuracy performance, and the image quality of a mobile device camera against a full-frame mirrorless camera when used in close-range photogrammetry applications in various settings. Analytical methodologies and specialized digital tools are used to evaluate the results. In the end, generalized conclusions are drawn for using each technology in close-range photogrammetry applications.