scholarly journals User -centered design and prioritization of features for mobile phone applications for families in a federal nutrition program for low-income women, infants, and children (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Summer J Weber ◽  
Elyse Shearer ◽  
Shelagh A Mulvaney ◽  
Douglas Schmidt ◽  
Chris Thompson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Infants And Children ◽  
User Centered Design ◽  
Nutrition Program ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Mobile Phone Applications ◽  
Low Income Women ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
User Centered

BACKGROUND The Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a federal nutrition program that provides nutritious foods, education, and healthcare referrals to low income women, infants, and children until age 5 years. Although WIC is associated with positive health outcomes for each participant category, modernization and efficiency are needed at both the clinic and shopping levels to increase program satisfaction and participation rates. New technologies, such as electronic benefits transfer (EBT), online nutrition education, and mobile phone applications (“apps”), for WIC can provide opportunities to improve the WIC experience for participants. OBJECTIVE Using user-centered design principles, this formative study aimed to inform the layout and prioritization of features in mobile apps for low-income families participating in the WIC program. METHODS To identify and give priority to desirable app features, caregivers (n=22) of children enrolled in WIC participated in individual semi-structured interviews with a card sorting activity. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using constant comparative analysis for emerging themes. App features were ranked and placed into natural groupings by each participant. The sum and average of the rankings were calculated to understand which features were a priority to users. Natural groupings of features were labeled according to participant description. RESULTS Natural groupings focused on the following categories: clinic/appointments, shopping/store, education/assessments, location, and recipes/food. Themes from the interviews triangulated the results from the ranking activity. Priority app features were balance, item scanner, and appointment scheduling. Other app features discussed and ranked included: appointment reminders, nutrition training and quizzes, shopping list, clinic and store locators, recipe gallery, produce calculator, and dietary preferences/allergies. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates how a user-centered design process can aid the development of an app for low-income families participating in WIC to inform the effective design of the app features and user interface. CLINICALTRIAL n/a

scholarly journals Mobile Phone Apps for Low-Income Participants in a Public Health Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): Review and Analysis of Features (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Summer J Weber ◽  
Daniela Dawson ◽  
Haley Greene ◽  
Pamela C Hull
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Low Income ◽  
The United States ◽  
Infants And Children ◽  
Nutrition Program ◽  
User Reviews ◽  
User Input ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
Electronic Benefits Transfer

BACKGROUND Since 1972, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has been proven to improve the health of participating low-income women and children in the United States. Despite positive nutritional outcomes associated with WIC, the program needs updated tools to help future generations. Improving technology in federal nutrition programs is crucial for keeping nutrition resources accessible and easy for low-income families to use. OBJECTIVE This review aimed to analyze the main features of publicly available mobile phone apps for WIC participants. METHODS Keyword searches were performed in the app stores for the 2 most commonly used mobile phone operating systems between December 2017 and June 2018. Apps were included if they were relevant to WIC and excluded if the target users were not WIC participants. App features were reviewed and classified according to type and function. User reviews from the app stores were examined, including ratings and categorization of user review comments. RESULTS A total of 17 apps met selection criteria. Most apps (n=12) contained features that required verified access available only to WIC participants. Apps features were classified into categories: (1) shopping management (eg, finding and redeeming food benefits), (2) clinic appointment management (eg, appointment reminders and scheduling), (3) informational resources (eg, recipes, general food list, tips about how to use WIC, links to other resources), (4) WIC-required nutrition education modules, and (5) other user input. Positive user reviews indicated that apps with shopping management features were very useful. CONCLUSIONS WIC apps are becoming increasingly prevalent, especially in states that have implemented electronic benefits transfer for WIC. This review offers new contributions to the literature and practice, as practitioners, software developers, and health researchers seek to improve and expand technology in the program.

INFANT FORMULA MAKERS REPENT (UNDER PRESSURE)

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. A26-A26
Author(s):  
Student
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Infant Formula ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Infants And Children ◽  
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ◽  
Supplemental Nutrition ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Women And Children ◽  
Low Income Women ◽  
Nutrition Assistance

[New York] state's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program now serves 61,500 low-income women, infants and children. Companies that produce infant formula—and overcharged for it—have promised an $18 million rebate. Together with $43 million in state funds, an additional 4,000 women and children can be served this year.

scholarly journals Analysis of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies in America-Example of an energy assistance program for low-income families

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuxi Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Fuel Subsidies ◽  
Fossil Fuel Subsidies ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
Energy Assistance

<p>TheWeinefficientfossilfuelsubsidiesself-reportlistedexistingfossilfuelsubsidiesincluding subsidiesfor<br />theexploration,Development,Extractionoffossilfuels,subsidiesforfossilFuelsemployedintheresidentialSector(represented<br />bytheLow-incomeHome Energyassistanceprogram).Thispaperchooseslow-incomeHome<br />energyAssistanceprogram(liheap)asacasestudy.Theresultsshowso: ① discriminatorypricesTofossil<br />fuelsinliheapledtoexcessiveFossilfuelconsumption.Comparedwith 2013, thenumber<br />ofheatingSubsidiesbyrecipienthouseholdsreducedby2.89%0in 2014, whileTotalExpenditureroseby19.23%0; ②<br />DuringFY1993toFY1995,FY1999toFY2001,FY$ toFY2007,<br />andFY2008toFYno.,Weatherizationbenefitsandcrisisbenefitsshowed asynchronousgrowth; ③<br />liheaprecipienthouseholdstendedtoconsumeMorefossilFuelthanLow-incomeandOthertypesTohouseholds,particularlyin<br />theSouthArea.Finally,Thispaperanalyzes"ExternalinstitutionalsystemThenInternalEnergyStructureof,theUSinefficientfos<br />silFuelsubsidiesReform,thusprovidessomepolicyImplications</p>

scholarly journals Mobile Health for All: Public-Private Partnerships Can Create a New Mental Health Landscape

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. e26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dror Ben-Zeev
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Mobile Technology ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
The U.S

Research has already demonstrated that different mHealth approaches are feasible, acceptable, and clinically promising for people with mental health problems. With a robust evidence base just over the horizon, now is the time for policy makers, researchers, and the private sector to partner in preparation for the near future. The Lifeline Assistance Program is a useful model to draw from. Created in 1985 by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Lifeline is a nationwide program designed to help eligible low-income individuals obtain home phone and landline services so they can pursue employment, reach help in case of emergency, and access social services and healthcare. In 2005, recognizing the broad shift towards mobile technology and mobile-cellular infrastructure, the FCC expanded the program to include mobile phones and data plans. The FCC provides a base level of federal support, but individual states are responsible for regional implementation, including engagement of commercial mobile phone carriers. Given the high rates of disability and poverty among people with severe mental illness, many are eligible to benefit from Lifeline and research has shown that a large proportion does in fact use this program to obtain a mobile phone and data plan. In the singular area of mobile phone use, the gap between people with severe mental illness and the general population in the U.S. is vanishing. Strategic multi-partner programs will be able to grant access to mHealth for mental health programs to those who will not be able to afford them—arguably, the people who need them the most. Mobile technology manufacturing costs are dropping. Soon all mobile phones in the marketplace, including the more inexpensive devices that are made available through subsidy programs, will have “smart” capabilities (ie, internet connectivity and the capacity to host apps). Programs like Lifeline could be expanded to include mHealth resources that capitalize on “smart” functions, such as secure/encrypted clinical texting programs and mental health monitoring and illness-management apps. Mobile phone hardware and software development companies could be engaged to add mHealth programs as a standard component in the suite of tools that come installed on their mobile phones; thus, in addition to navigation apps, media players, and games, the new Android or iPhone could come with guided relaxation videos, medication reminder systems, and evidence-based self-monitoring and self-management tools. Telecommunication companies could be encouraged to offer mHealth options with their data plans. Operating system updates pushed out by the mobile carrier companies could come with optional mHealth applications for those who elect to download them. In the same manner in which the Lifeline Assistance Program has helped increase access to fundamental opportunities to so many low-income individuals, innovative multi-partner programs have the potential to put mHealth for mental health resources in the hands of millions in the years ahead.

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