Supporting Adolescent Engagement with Artificial Intelligence-Driven Digital Health Behavior Change Interventions.

Understanding and optimizing adolescent-specific engagement with behavior change interventions will open doors for providers to promote healthy changes in an age group that is simultaneously difficult to engage and especially important to affect. For digital interventions, there is untapped potential in combining the vastness of process-level data with the analytical power of artificial intelligence (AI) to understand not only how adolescents engage but also how to improve upon interventions with the goal of increasing engagement and, ultimately, efficacy. Rooted in the example of the INSPIRE narrative-centered digital health behavior change intervention (DHBCI) for adolescent risky behaviors around alcohol use, we propose a framework for harnessing AI to accomplish 4 goals that are pertinent to health care providers and software developers alike: measurement of adolescent engagement, modeling of adolescent engagement, optimization of current interventions, and generation of novel interventions. Operationalization of this framework with youths must be situated in the ethical use of this technology, and we have outlined the potential pitfalls of AI with particular attention to privacy concerns for adolescents. Given how recently AI advances have opened up these possibilities in this field, the opportunities for further investigation are plenty.

Dream Teens: Adolescents-Led Participatory Project in Portugal in the Context of the Economic Recession.

This article describes the implementation process of a nationwide project to enhance young people's participation and active citizenship in the context of Portugal's economic recession. This project used an innovative Positive Youth Development approach that engaged Portuguese youth (aged 11-18 years) through social media tools to facilitate their civic engagement and development. Participants from all over the country were empowered (1) to design and conduct research activities on topics of their choice and about their life contexts and (2) to create ways to improve youth civic participation in their communities, while developing supportive interactions with adults and peers. Overall, youth were engaged in their activities, felt their voices were heard, and felt that they were viewed as experts of their own well-being and living contexts. Youth research actions and preliminary findings were then compiled in a set of recommendations that was formally received by a high commissioner of the Ministry of Health. The article concludes with a discussion of the next steps for the project and its limitations so far.

Use of theory in computer-based interventions to reduce alcohol use among adolescents and young adults: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol use and binge drinking among adolescents and young adults remain frequent causes of preventable injuries, disease, and death, and there has been growing attention to computer-based modes of intervention delivery to prevent/reduce alcohol use. Research suggests that health interventions grounded in established theory are more effective than those with no theoretical basis. The goal of this study was to conduct a literature review of computer-based interventions (CBIs) designed to address alcohol use among adolescents and young adults (aged 12-21 years) and examine the extent to which CBIs use theories of behavior change in their development and evaluations. This study also provides an update on extant CBIs addressing alcohol use among youth and their effectiveness. METHODS: Between November and December of 2014, a literature review of CBIs aimed at preventing or reducing alcohol in PsychINFO, PubMed, and Google Scholar was conducted. The use of theory in each CBI was examined using a modified version of the classification system developed by Painter et al. (Ann Behav Med 35:358-362, 2008). RESULTS: The search yielded 600 unique articles, 500 were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria. The 100 remaining articles were retained for analyses. Many articles were written about a single intervention; thus, the search revealed a total of 42 unique CBIs. In examining the use of theory, 22 CBIs (52 %) explicitly named one or more theoretical frameworks. Primary theories mentioned were social cognitive theory, transtheoretical model, theory of planned behavior and reasoned action, and health belief model. Less than half (48 %), did not use theory, but mentioned either use of a theoretical construct (such as self-efficacy) or an intervention technique (e.g., manipulating social norms). Only a few articles provided detailed information about how the theory was applied to the CBI; the vast majority included little to no information. CONCLUSIONS: Given the importance of theory in guiding interventions, greater emphasis on the selection and application of theory is needed. The classification system used in this review offers a guiding framework for reporting how theory based principles can be applied to computer based interventions.

Does screening for and intervening with multiple health compromising behaviours and mental health disorders amongst young people attending primary care improve health outcomes? A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Adolescence and young adulthood are important developmental periods. Screening for health compromising behaviours and mental health disorders during routine primary care visits has the potential to assist clinicians to identify areas of concern and provide appropriate interventions. The objective of this systematic review is to investigate whether screening and subsequent interventions for multiple health compromising behaviours and mental health disorders in primary care settings improves the health outcomes of young people. METHODS: Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, literature searches were conducted in Medline, PsycINFO, Scopus and Cochrane Library databases (Prospero registration number CRD42013005828) using search terms representing four thematic concepts: primary care, young people, screening, and mental health and health compromising behaviour. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to: include a measure of health outcome; include at least 75 % of participants aged under 25 years; use a screening tool that assessed more than one health domain; and be conducted within a primary care setting. Risk of bias was assessed using the Quality Rating Scale. RESULTS: From 5051 articles identified, nine studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were reviewed: two randomised controlled trials (RCTs), one pilot RCT, two clustered RCTs, one randomised study with multiple intervention groups and no control group, one cluster RCT with two active arms, one longitudinal study and one pre-post study. Seven studies, including two RCTs and one clustered RCT, found positive changes in substance use, diet, sexual health or risky sexual behaviour, alcohol-related risky behaviour, social stress, stress management, helmet use, sleep and exercise. Of only two studies reporting on harms, one reported a negative health outcome of increased alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS: There is some evidence that the use of screening and intervention with young people for mental health disorder or health compromising behaviours in clinical settings improves health outcomes. Along with other evidence that young people value discussions of health risks with their providers, these discussions should be part of the routine primary care of young people. Further quality studies are needed to strengthen this evidence.

Adolescence and the social determinants of health.

The health of adolescents is strongly affected by social factors at personal, family, community, and national levels. Nations present young people with structures of opportunity as they grow up. Since health and health behaviours correspond strongly from adolescence into adult life, the way that these social determinants affect adolescent health are crucial to the health of the whole population and the economic development of nations. During adolescence, developmental effects related to puberty and brain development lead to new sets of behaviours and capacities that enable transitions in family, peer, and educational domains, and in health behaviours. These transitions modify childhood trajectories towards health and wellbeing and are modified by economic and social factors within countries, leading to inequalities. We review existing data on the effects of social determinants on health in adolescence, and present findings from country-level ecological analyses on the health of young people aged 10-24 years. The strongest determinants of adolescent health worldwide are structural factors such as national wealth, income inequality, and access to education. Furthermore, safe and supportive families, safe and supportive schools, together with positive and supportive peers are crucial to helping young people develop to their full potential and attain the best health in the transition to adulthood. Improving adolescent health worldwide requires improving young people's daily life with families and peers and in schools, addressing risk and protective factors in the social environment at a population level, and focusing on factors that are protective across various health outcomes. The most effective interventions are probably structural changes to improve access to education and employment for young people and to reduce the risk of transport-related injury.

Albert Bandura (1925-2021).

Memorializes Albert Bandura (1925-2021). Bandura is internationally recognized as one of the world's most influential psychologists. Often compared in significance to Skinner, Freud, and Piaget, he is one of the most frequently cited psychologists of all time. His social cognitive theory of human functioning, emphasizing an agentic perspective toward self-development, adaptation, and change has had a profound effect across psychology, revolutionizing theories of behavior change and shaping education, public health, parenting, clinical health practice, and public policy. He served as President of the American Psychological Association (APA) in 1974 at a time when psychologists were facing negative publicity about the dangers of behavior modification and Nixon administration cuts in funding. He presided over the founding of the Association for the Advancement of Psychology, seeing it as a vehicle to utilize psychological knowledge in developing public policy. Bandura died on July 26, 2021, at his family home. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Adolescent Technology-use Rules and Sleep in a Large Representative Sample.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the prevalence of technology-use rules, typical sleep habits, and associations between rules and sleep using the representative 2017-2018 California Health Interview Survey adolescent sample. METHODS: Adolescents aged 12-17 years completed the California Health Interview Survey, including queries of (1) rules at home regarding times to turn off or put away electronics and (2) school-night bedtime and rise time. Rates of rules and associations between rules and sleep were investigated using descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: Seventy-two percent reported technology-use rules. Rates were comparable across subgroups. Rules and sleep were not significantly associated after adjusting for covariates. Reported time in bed fell below National Sleep Foundation guidelines for 38% of participants. CONCLUSIONS: Most adolescents reported technology-use rules at home. Associations between rules and bedtime were mixed, suggesting that further exploration of contextual and developmental factors is needed. Many reported inadequate sleep duration, supporting sleep as a key topic in adolescent health.

Delivering Anticipatory Guidance About Technology Use to Adolescents in Primary Care: Rates in a Representative California Sample.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate rates of anticipatory guidance about technology use in primary care, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics Bright Futures Guidelines, in a representative sample of California adolescents. METHODS: Adolescents 12-17 years of age were interviewed as part of the California Health Interview Survey, the largest state health surveillance survey in the U.S. Participants who reported seeing a doctor for a physical examination or checkup in the prior year were asked if their doctor had talked to them about technology use. RESULTS: Overall, 29.7% of the 742 participants reported that their doctor talked to them about technology use. There were no statistically significant differences in rates by age, sex, race/ethnicity, household income, or family type. CONCLUSIONS: While the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that providers deliver anticipatory guidance about technology use to adolescents in primary care, less than one-third of adolescents surveyed reported having conversations about this topic with their doctor. Given concerns about potential impacts of technology use on adolescent health, medical education should facilitate provider screening and counseling of adolescents about technology use in primary care settings.

Leveraging Technology to Improve Health in Adolescence: A Developmental Science Perspective.

As technologies continue to evolve at exponential rates, online platforms are becoming an increasingly salient social context for adolescents. Adolescents are often early adopters, savvy users, and innovators of technology use. This not only creates new vulnerabilities but also presents new opportunities for positive impact-particularly, the use of technology to promote healthy learning and adaptation during developmental windows of opportunity. For example, early adolescence appears to represent a developmental inflection point in health trajectories and in technology use in ways that may be strategically targeted for prevention and intervention. The field of adolescent health can capitalize on technology use during developmental windows of opportunity to promote well-being and behavior change in the following ways: (1) through a deeper understanding of the specific ways that developmental changes create new opportunities for motivation and engagement with technologies; (2) by leveraging these insights for more effective use of technology in intervention and prevention efforts; and (3) by combining developmental science-informed targeting with broader-reach technologic approaches to health behavior change at the population level (e.g., leveraging and changing social norms). Collaboration across disciplines-including developmental science, medicine, psychology, public health, and computer science-can create compelling innovations to use digital technology to promote health in adolescents.

Digital Health Technology to Enhance Adolescent and Young Adult Clinical Preventive Services: Affordances and Challenges.

The lives of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) have become increasingly intertwined with technology. In this scoping review, studies about digital health tools are summarized in relation to five key affordances-social, cognitive, identity, emotional, and functional. Consideration of how a platform or tool exemplifies these affordances may help clinicians and researchers achieve the goal of using digital health technology to enhance clinical preventive services for AYAs. Across these five affordances, considerable research and development activity exists accompanied by signs of high promise, although the literature primarily reflects demonstration studies of acceptability or small sample experiments to discern impact. Digital health technology may afford an array of functions, yet its potential to enhance AYA clinical preventive services is met with three key challenges. The challenges discussed in this review are the disconnectedness between digital health tools and clinical care, threats to AYA privacy and security, and difficulty identifying high-value digital health products for AYA. The data presented are synthesized in calls to action for the use of digital health technology to enhance clinical preventive services and to ensure that the digital health ecosystem is relevant, effective, safe, and purposed for meeting the health needs of AYA.

Fostering Engagement in Health Behavior Change: Iterative Development of an Interactive Narrative Environment to Enhance Adolescent Preventive Health Services.

PURPOSE: Accidents and unintentional injuries account for the greatest number of adolescent deaths, often involving use of alcohol and other substances. This article describes the iterative design and development of Interactive Narrative System for Patient-Individualized Reflective Exploration (INSPIRE), a narrative-centered behavior change environment for adolescents focused on reducing alcohol use. INSPIRE is designed to serve as an extension to clinical preventive care, engaging adolescents in a theoretically grounded intervention for health behavior change by leveraging 3D game engine and interactive narrative technologies. METHODS: Adolescents were engaged in all aspects of the iterative, multiyear development process of INSPIRE through over 20 focus groups and iterative pilot testing involving more than 145 adolescents. Qualitative findings from focus groups are reported, as well as quantitative findings from small-scale pilot sessions investigating adolescent engagement with a prototype version of INSPIRE using a combination of questionnaire and interaction trace log data. RESULTS: Adolescents reported that they found INSPIRE to be engaging, believable, and relevant to their lives. The majority of participants indicated that the narrative's protagonist character was like them (84%) and that the narrative featured virtual characters that they could relate to (79%). In the interactive narrative, the goals most frequently chosen by adolescents were "stay in control" (60%) and "do not get in trouble" (55%). CONCLUSIONS: With a strong theoretical framework (social-cognitive behavior change theory) and technology advances (narrative-centered learning environments), the field is well positioned to design health behavior change systems that can realize significant impacts on behavior change for adolescent preventive health.

Assessing the effectiveness of a patient-centred computer-based clinic intervention, Health-E You/Salud iTu, to reduce health disparities in unintended pregnancies among Hispanic adolescents: study protocol for a cluster randomised control trial.

INTRODUCTION: Teen pregnancy rates in the USA remain higher than any other industrialised nation, and pregnancies among Hispanic adolescents are disproportionately high. Computer-based interventions represent a promising approach to address sexual health and contraceptive use disparities. Preliminary findings have demonstrated that the Health-E You/Salud iTu, computer application (app) is feasible to implement, acceptable to Latina adolescents and improves sexual health knowledge and interest in selecting an effective contraceptive method when used in conjunction with a healthcare visit. The app is now ready for efficacy testing. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe patient-centred approaches used both in developing and testing the Health-E You app and to present the research methods used to evaluate its effectiveness in improving intentions to use an effective method of contraception as well as actual contraceptive use. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study is designed to assess the effectiveness of a patient-centred computer-based clinic intervention, Health-E You/Salud iTu, on its ability to reduce health disparities in unintended pregnancies among Latina adolescent girls. This study uses a cluster randomised control trial design in which 18 school-based health centers from the Los Angeles Unified School District were randomly assigned, at equal chance, to either the intervention (Health-E You app) or control group. Analyses will examine differences between the control and intervention group's knowledge of and attitudes towards contraceptive use, receipt of contraception at the clinic visit and self-reported use of contraception at 3-month and 6-month follow-ups. The study began enrolling participants in August 2016, and a total of 1400 participants (700 per treatment group) are expected to be enrolled by March 2018. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval was obtained through the University of California, San Francisco Institutional Review Board. Results of this trial will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals. This study is registered with the US National Institutes of Health. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02847858.

Research on Clinical Preventive Services for Adolescents and Young Adults: Where Are We and Where Do We Need to Go?

We reviewed research regarding system- and visit-level strategies to enhance clinical preventive service delivery and quality for adolescents and young adults. Despite professional consensus on recommended services for adolescents, a strong evidence base for services for young adults, and improved financial access to services with the Affordable Care Act's provisions, receipt of preventive services remains suboptimal. Further research that builds off successful models of linking traditional and community clinics is needed to improve access to care for all youth. To optimize the clinical encounter, promising clinician-focused strategies to improve delivery of preventive services include screening and decision support tools, particularly when integrated into electronic medical record systems and supported by training and feedback. Although results have been mixed, interventions have moved beyond increasing service delivery to demonstrating behavior change. Research on emerging technology-such as gaming platforms, mobile phone applications, and wearable devices-suggests opportunities to expand clinicians' reach; however, existing research is based on limited clinical settings and populations. Improved monitoring systems and further research are needed to examine preventive services facilitators and ensure that interventions are effective across the range of clinical settings where youth receive preventive care, across multiple populations, including young adults, and for more vulnerable populations with less access to quality care.

Teen Preferences for Clinic-Based Behavior Screens: Who, Where, When, and How?

PURPOSE: Previous research examining computer-based adolescent risk behavior screening was done before widespread adoption of smartphones and merits updating. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional survey among 115 adolescents seeking primary care age 12-18 years. It is a diverse sample with 59% female, 51% white, 18% African-American, and 27% Latino. Respondents were asked level of comfort and honesty (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree) when answering health behavior questions by paper, interview, or electronic device. Differences in the level of agreement were tested using a Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS: Adolescents reported a higher level of comfort and honesty for screening conducted via electronic device versus paper (90% vs. 57%, p < .001; 89% vs. 61%, p < .001). Sixty-two percent adolescents prefer waiting room electronic screening versus at home (4.7%) or by provider in the examination room (11.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Electronic same-day risk behavior screening is the preferred method for adolescents and should be incorporated into preventive services.

Provider self-efficacy and the screening of adolescents for risky health behaviors.

PURPOSE: To examine the extent to which providers' perceived self-efficacy to deliver adolescent preventive services relates to their screening practices. METHODS: Screening rates were determined by both provider self-reported screening practices and the independent report of the adolescent patient. First, 66 pediatric providers (pediatricians and nurse-practitioners), working in three pediatric clinics within a managed care organization, completed surveys assessing: (a) self-efficacy for screening adolescent patients in the areas of tobacco use, alcohol use, sexual behavior, seat belt use, and helmet use; and (b) self-reported screening of adolescents during well-visits over the past month. Second, a sample of patients, aged 14 years to 16 years, reported on whether their clinicians screened them for these behaviors during a well-visit. Adolescents completed reports (N = 323) immediately following the well visit. Data were analyzed using Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients. RESULTS: Provider self-efficacy to deliver preventive services was correlated with self-reported screening in each of the five content areas, ranging from r = .24 (p < .05) for seat belt use to r = .51 (p < .001) for helmet use. Provider self-efficacy was significantly related to adolescent reports of screening in three of the five content areas; r = .25 (p < .05) for sexual behavior and tobacco use; and r = .23 (p = .06) for alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS: Providers' self-efficacy to screen adolescents for risky behaviors was significantly related to both clinician self-report and independent adolescent reports of screening during well-visits. These findings point to the importance of enhancing clinicians' sense of competence to deliver adolescent preventive services.

Implementing a brief evidence-based HIV intervention: a mixed methods examination of compliance fidelity.

Dissemination of HIV behavioral prevention programs has increased the reach of evidence-based interventions, but there is a paucity of data on implementation and diffusion. The present mixed methods study focused on RESPECT, a brief counseling and testing intervention, examining compliance fidelity and the extent to which Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) policies and training have diffused to practice settings. Using client exit surveys (N = 830) and counselor interviews (N = 64), we examined implementation in 26 community-based agencies (CBOs) and public health departments (DPHs) in the USA. Multivariate analyses showed that at-risk clients, ethnic minority clients, and those who were primarily seeking services other than HIV/STI testing, were more likely to receive the program with fidelity. Counselor data suggested that multiple factors (e.g., client characteristics, agency structure) impact program adaptations. RESPECT is being delivered with good fidelity and reaching at-risk clients. The data provide support for CDC diffusion efforts. Future studies should continue to examine compliance fidelity and program sustainability.

Functions of non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents and young adults with Borderline Personality Disorder symptoms.

Rates of deliberate non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) increase during adolescence and young adulthood, particularly in clinical samples, making these important developmental stages for understanding the functions of NSSI. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) symptoms also begin to emerge in adolescence, though little research has examined relationships between BPD symptoms and the functions of NSSI in youth, the primary goal of the present study. Adolescents and young adults recruited from an outpatient psychotherapy clinic (N=36) endorsed a range of NSSI functions on the Inventory of Statements about Self-Injury (Klonsky and Glenn, 2009). Participants engaged in NSSI to serve intrapersonal functions (e.g., regulate affect, punish oneself) more frequently than interpersonal functions (e.g., bond with peers, establish autonomy). As predicted, linear regression analyses indicated that BPD affective dysregulation symptoms were associated with the intrapersonal but not the interpersonal functions of NSSI. In contrast, BPD interpersonal dysfunction symptoms were differentially associated with the interpersonal rather than intrapersonal functions of NSSI. These preliminary data indicate that clusters of BPD symptoms show unique relationships with functions of NSSI in treatment-seeking adolescents and young adults, relationships that can be used to target specific functions of NSSI in treatment planning.

Receipt of preventive health services in young adults.

PURPOSE: To examine self-reported rates and disparities in delivery of preventive services to young adults. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional analysis, of 3,670 and 3,621 young adults aged 18-26 years who responded to California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) in 2005 and CHIS 2007, respectively. The main outcome measures were self-reported receipt of flu vaccination, sexually transmitted disease (STD) screening, cholesterol screening, diet counseling, exercise counseling, and emotional health screening. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine how age, gender, race/ethnicity, income, insurance, and usual source of care influence the receipt of preventive services. RESULTS: Delivery rates ranged from 16.7% (flu vaccine) to 50.6% (cholesterol screening). Being female and having a usual source of care significantly increased receipt of services, with female participants more likely to receive STD screening (p < .001), cholesterol screening (p < .01), emotional health screening (p < .001), diet counseling (p < .01), and exercise counseling (p < .05) than male participants after controlling for age, race/ethnicity, income, insurance, and usual source of care. Young adults with a usual source of care were more likely to receive a flu vaccine (p < .05), STD screening (p < .01), cholesterol screening (p < .001), diet counseling (p < .05), and exercise counseling (p < .05) than those without a usual source of care after adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, income, and insurance. CONCLUSIONS: Rates of preventive services delivery are generally low. Greater efforts are needed to develop guidelines for young adults to increase the delivery of preventive care to this age-group, and to address the gender and ethnic/racial disparities in preventive services delivery.

Young adult preventive health care guidelines: there but can't be found.

OBJECTIVES: To (1) identify adolescent and adult clinical preventive services guidelines relevant to the young adult age group; (2) review, compare, and synthesize these guidelines, with emphasis on the extent to which professional guidelines are consistent with evidence-based guidelines developed by the US Preventive Services Task Force; and (3) recommend the next steps in the establishment and integration of preventive care guidelines for young adults. DESIGN: Nonexperimental: an Internet search was conducted to identify relevant preventive care guidelines for the young adult group. SETTING: The search included federal agencies and professional organizations that focus on health areas linked to the care of young adults or that provide health care to adolescents and young adults. PARTICIPANTS: National organizations, federal agencies, health professional associations, and medical societies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Preventive services guidelines for adolescents and adults that intersect with the age range of 18 to 26 years. RESULTS: When the ages of 18 to 26 years are carved out of established professional guidelines across specialty groups, there is a broad number of recommendations, with many supported by sufficient evidence to receive a US Preventive Services Task Force grade of A or B that can inform the care of young adults. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend the establishment of young adult preventive health guidelines that reflect the current evidence-based recommendations that overlap with the young adult age group; we suggest clinician and health care system supports to facilitate the delivery of preventive services to young adults; and we emphasize prioritizing research in prevention areas in which sufficient evidence does not exist.