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- Alexandrou, Christina, et al.
(författare)
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User experiences of an app-based mHealth intervention (MINISTOP 2.0) integrated in Swedish primary child healthcare among Swedish-, Somali- and Arabic-speaking parents and child healthcare nurses: A qualitative study
- 2023
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Ingår i: Digital Health. - : Sage Publications. - 2055-2076. ; 9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Preventive and scalable interventions, accessible to all, to counteract childhood obesity are urgently needed. We have recently developed a novel, digital parental intervention (MINISTOP 2.0 app) available in Swedish, Somali, Arabic and English. We have previously reported its positive effects on children's health behaviors and on parental self-efficacy. However, before introducing the app at scale in primary child healthcare, implementation aspects also need to be explored.Aim: This study aims to explore and describe user experiences as well as acceptability and feasibility of the MINISTOP 2.0 app-based intervention in a diverse group of parents (end-users) and Swedish child healthcare nurses (implementers).Methods: Individual interviews were conducted with Swedish- (n = 9), Somali- (n = 9), Arabic- (n = 5) and English-speaking (n = 1) parents as well as Swedish primary child healthcare nurses (n = 15). Data was analyzed using content analysis with an inductive latent approach.Results: Parents described how the app facilitated behavior change through increased awareness regarding current diet and physical activity behaviors. Furthermore, the evidence-based app content further facilitated trust and behavior change. Both parents and nurses acknowledged the app's preventive potential and the potential for reaching parents with diverse backgrounds or in need of extra support.Conclusion: The MINISTOP 2.0 app was perceived as a useful tool for health promotion both by parents and healthcare professionals, especially since it was adapted to several languages. These findings coupled with the previously shown beneficial effects on health behaviors support the large-scale implementation of the app in primary child healthcare.
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| 2. |
- Ek, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Physical Activity and Mobile Phone Apps in the Preschool Age: Perceptions of Teachers and Parents
- 2019
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Ingår i: JMIR mhealth and uhealth. - : JMIR Publications. - 2291-5222. ; 7:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND:Physical activity (PA) is already beneficial at the preschool age. In many countries, young children spend most of their days in the preschool setting, making it a common arena for PA interventions. Mobile health tools are becoming increasingly popular to promote PA in different populations; however, little is known about the interest for and how the preschool setting could incorporate such a tool.OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to examine how teachers and parents perceive PA in preschool-aged children in general and their perceptions of how a mobile phone app could be used to promote PA in the preschool setting.METHODS:Semistructured interviews were conducted with 15 teachers (93%, [14/15] women, mean age 43.5 years, 47%, [7/15] with a university degree and 10 parents [91%, 9/10] women, mean age 38.9 years, all with a university degree) recruited from 2 urban preschools in central Sweden. The interviews were recorded, fully transcribed, coded, and analyzed using thematic analysis by means of an inductive approach.RESULTS:The analysis revealed 4 themes: (1) children are physically active by nature, (2) the environment as a facilitator or a barrier, (3) prerequisites of the adult world, and (4) an app in the preschool setting-challenges and possibilities. Parents and teachers perceived preschoolers as being spontaneously physically active; however, high-intensity PA was perceived as low. The PA was specifically performed during the day in the preschool. Identified facilitators of PA were access to safe and engaging outdoor environments such as forests, spacious indoor areas, and adult involvement. Adult involvement was considered especially important for children preferring sedentary activities. Identified barriers for PA were restricted indoor and outdoor space, rules for indoor activities, and lack of adult involvement because of time constraints. The teachers perceived that they had limited skills and experiences using apps in general, although they also acknowledged the increasing role of technological tools in the curriculum. Thus, the teachers expressed an interest for an app designed as a support tool for them, especially for situations when PA was limited because of perceived barriers. They suggested the app to include accessible information regarding the health benefits of PA in children linked to a library of activities for different settings and seasons. Parents suggested interactive app features including problem-solving tasks and music and dance, but not video clips as they made children passive.CONCLUSIONS:Vigorous PA was perceived as low in preschool-aged children. Future tailoring of interventions in the preschool setting should work around barriers and support facilitators to PA, especially PA of high intensity. In such work, an app could serve as a source of inspiration for PA in different ages, settings, and seasons and thus reduce environmental and structural inequalities in the preschool setting.
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| 3. |
- Lindqvist, Anna-Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Active School Transportation in Winter Conditions: Biking Together Is Warmer
- 2019
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Ingår i: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - : MDPI. - 1661-7827 .- 1660-4601. ; 16:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There has been a decline in children’s use of active school transportation (AST) while there is also limited research concerning AST in winter conditions. This study aimed to explore the prerequisites and experiences of schoolchildren and parents participating in an empowerment- and gamification-inspired intervention to promote students’ AST in winter conditions. Methods: Thirty-five students, who were aged 12–13 years, and 34 parents from the north of Sweden participated in the study. Data were collected using photovoice and open questions in a questionnaire and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: The results show that involvement and togetherness motivated the students to use AST. In addition, during the project, the parents changed to have more positive attitudes towards their children’s use of AST. The students reported that using AST during wintertime is strenuous but rewarding and imparts a sense of pride. Conclusion: Interventions for increasing students’ AST in winter conditions should focus on the motivational aspects for both children and parents. For overcoming parental hesitation with regards to AST during winter, addressing their concerns and empowering the students are key factors. To increase the use of AST all year around, targeting the challenges perceived during the winter is especially beneficial.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Lindqvist, Anna-Karin, et al.
(författare)
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User Perception of a Smartphone App to Promote Physical Activity through Active Transportation : An Inductive Qualitative Content Analysis within the Smart City Active Mobile Phone Intervention (SCAMPI) Study
- 2020
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Ingår i: JMIR mhealth and uhealth. - : JMIR Publications. - 2291-5222. ; 8:8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Physical inactivity is globally recognized as a major risk factor for morbidity, particularly the incidence of non-communicable diseases, and mortality. Engaging in active transportation (AT) is a viable approach toward increasing physical activity (PA) on a daily basis. Mobile (mHealth) interventions enable promoting AT to a larger population. The Smart City Active Mobile Phone Intervention (SCAMPI) study is a randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate a smartphone application (app)’s ability to motivate participants to increase their PA by engaging in AT.Objective: This qualitative study examines the acceptance and usability of the SCAMPI app from the participants’ perspectives.Methods: Seventeen residents of Stockholm county (13 women; age range 25-61 years), who had completed the three-month, app-based behavioral change program in the SCAMPI randomized controlled trial during 2018 agreed to participate in a semi-structured telephone-based interview. These 17 participants were well representative of the whole intervention group (n = 127) in terms of baseline characteristics such as age, sex, and area of residence. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using inductive qualitative content analysis.Results: The content analysis revealed two themes and four subcategories. The first theme “Main motivators: monitoring and messages” highlighted that monitoring AT and being able to set weekly goals using the app were the primary motivators reported among study participants. The second theme “Acceptable but modifiable” reflects that the app was well accepted and effectively encouraged many participants to use more AT. Nevertheless, there were functions in the app that require modification. For example, while the automated travel tracking feature was appreciated, participants found it time-consuming and unreliable at times.Conclusions: This study contributes novel insight into healthy adults’ experiences of using a mobile app to promote the use of AT. The results showed that the app was well-accepted and that self-monitoring and goal setting were the main motivators to engage in more AT. The automated tracking of AT was appreciated; however, it was also reported to be energy- and time-consuming when it failed to work. Thus, this feature should be improved going forward.
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| 6. |
- Sandborg, Johanna, et al.
(författare)
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Participants’ Engagement and Satisfaction With a Smartphone App Intended to Support Healthy Weight Gain, Diet, and Physical Activity During Pregnancy : Qualitative Study Within the HealthyMoms Trial
- 2021
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Ingår i: JMIR mhealth and uhealth. - : JMIR publications. - 2291-5222. ; 9:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background:Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) is common and associated with negative health outcomes for both mother and child. Mobile health–delivered lifestyle interventions offer the potential to mitigate excessive GWG. The effectiveness of a smartphone app (HealthyMoms) was recently evaluated in a randomized controlled trial. To explore the users’ experiences of using the app, a qualitative study within the HealthyMoms trial was performed.Objective:This qualitative study explored participants’ engagement and satisfaction with the 6-month usage of the HealthyMoms app.Methods:A total of 19 women (mean age: 31.7, SD 4.4 years; mean BMI: 24.6, SD 3.4 kg/m2; university degree attainment: 13/19, 68%; primiparous: 11/19, 58%) who received the HealthyMoms app in a randomized controlled trial completed semistructured exit interviews. The interviews were audiorecorded and fully transcribed, coded, and analyzed using thematic analysis with an inductive approach.Results:Thematic analysis revealed a main theme and 2 subthemes. The main theme, “One could suit many: a multifunctional tool to strengthen women’s health during pregnancy,” and the 2 subthemes, “Factors within and beyond the app influence app engagement” and “Trust, knowledge, and awareness: aspects that can motivate healthy habits,” illustrated that a trustworthy and appreciated health and pregnancy app that is easy to use can inspire a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy. The first subtheme discussed how factors within the app (eg, regular updates and feedback) were perceived to motivate both healthy habits and app engagement. Additionally, factors beyond the app were described to both motivate (eg, interest, motivation, and curiosity) and limit (eg, pregnancy-related complications, lack of time) app engagement. The second subtheme reflected important aspects, such as high trustworthiness of the app, increased knowledge, and awareness from using the app, which motivated participants to improve or maintain healthy habits during pregnancy.Conclusions:The HealthyMoms app was considered a valuable and trustworthy tool to mitigate excessive GWG, with useful features and relevant information to initiate and maintain healthy habits during pregnancy.
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