Mobile App Use in Adults with Comorbid Type 2 Diabetes and Depression.

The purpose of this preliminary study was to determine smartphone usage, expressed level of interest, and intent to use mHealth apps among adults with comorbid type 2 diabetes (T2D) and depression. A convenience sample of adults (N=35) completed a Demographic and Mobile App Survey and the CESD-R-10. A majority reported using mobile apps (n=23, 65.7%) and felt comfortable or very comfortable using mobile apps (n=14, 46.7%). However, few respondents used a health app (n=6, 17.1%) or a diabetes-specific app for diabetes management (n=3, 8.6%). Adjusted, age and education were the two variables that independently impacted app use; those aged less than 55 years as well as those with a graduate degree were more likely to use apps. Being younger and having an advanced degree increased the odds of using a diabetes-specific app. The findings suggest that adults with T2D are amenable to using mHealth apps to manage diabetes.

Partnering with new mothers to develop a smart phone app to prevent maternal mortality after hospital discharge: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: In the United States, approximately 700 women die annually from pregnancy-related complications in the first year after birth; a significant number of the deaths occur after hospital discharge. Although postpartum monitoring is important, the standard practice is for one healthcare evaluation at 6 weeks post-birth. Most women are not aware of signs of postpartum complications. AIM: The aim of the pilot study was to develop a prototype of a mobile app aimed at increasing a new mother's ability to monitor her own health after childbirth. DESIGN: The design used mixed methods and procedures from human-centred design in an iterative process. METHODS: Data were collected by the researchers from January - May 2019 in a hospital that serves primarily low income and underserved women in the southern US. Three groups of women provided data related to health education preferences or their reaction to a mock-up or prototype mobile app. Several women completed the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS; N = 22). RESULTS: Themes from interviews indicated that women (N = 5) preferred electronic health education and that they used apps to monitor their pregnancies. Other new mothers (n-5) described their overall reaction to the proposed features of the app which was incorporated into the design of the app that was tested by the third group of new mothers (N = 22) who were positive about interactions with the app. The MARS scores for the app were positive. CONCLUSIONS: New mothers indicated that they would be willing to use an app to monitor their own postpartum health. IMPACT: Data from the pilot study informed the development of a prototype mobile app that can now be used in a clinical trial with new mothers to monitor their own health and report concerns to healthcare providers.

Do New Mothers Understand the Risk Factors for Maternal Mortality?

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe new mothers' knowledge related to maternal mortality. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design, new mothers were recruited from a postpartum unit of an academic health sciences center where the population was predominately low-income women. Before hospital discharge, they answered questions on their knowledge of potential postpartum complications that could lead to maternal mortality. Questions were based on recommendations from an expert nursing panel. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. RESULTS: One hundred twenty new mothers participated. Results indicated that most new mothers knew that they should watch for heavy bleeding, a severe headache, and swelling after hospital discharge. However, fewer participants knew that a new mother could experience feelings that she could harm herself or her baby, have blood clots larger than a baby's hand, a temperature of 100.4 °F or higher, and odor with vaginal discharge. Courses of action new mothers would take if experiencing any of the warning signs included 18% of mothers would take no action, 76.7% would tell their boyfriend/husband/partner, 72.5% would inform their mother. Only 60% who would call the labor and delivery unit. Only 38% of the sample knew that pregnancy-related complications can occur for up to 1 year after birth, and 13% of mothers reported not knowing that complications can occur for up to 6 weeks postpartum. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Our findings provide a foundation to enhance postpartum education for new mothers and their families and to potentially decrease rates of maternal mortality in the United States.

Parent Education is Changing: A Review of Smartphone Apps.

PURPOSE: The purpose was to critique existing parenting apps using established criteria and health literacy guidelines. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive methodology was used. METHODS: The Apple App Store was searched using the terms parenting, child health, and infant health. To be included, the apps had to have relevant content (parenting, child health, or infant health), be in English, and contain parent education. After eliminating apps that failed to meet inclusion criteria from the original 203 apps, 46 apps were reviewed. The Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool was used to evaluate the health literacy subscales called Understandability and Actionability. Content analysis included Authority, Objectivity, Accuracy, Timeliness, and Usability. RESULTS: The majority of the apps (70%) were in English only. The price ranged from free to $4.99. The purpose, target audience, and topics varied. Although all included apps were for parents, some were for more targeted groups of parents. The source of the information was not presented in 26% of the apps. Most apps took the user to a Web site or an article to read. Functionality of the apps was limited, with none of them providing a customized experience. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Much development and research is needed before mobile health (mHealth) solutions can be recommended by nurses caring for new parents. It is critical that consumers and interdisciplinary professionals be involved in the early design phase of the product to ensure that the end product is acceptable and usable and that it will lead to healthy behaviors.