scholarly journals Pilot Evaluations of Two Bluetooth Contact Tracing Approaches on a University Campus: Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler Shelby ◽  
Tyler Caruthers ◽  
Oren Y Kanner ◽  
Rebecca Schneider ◽  
Dana Lipnickas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Contact Interactions ◽  
University Campus

BACKGROUND Many have proposed the use of Bluetooth technology to help scale up contact tracing for COVID-19. However, much remains unknown about the accuracy of this technology in real-world settings, the attitudes of potential users, and the differences between delivery formats (mobile app vs carriable or wearable devices). OBJECTIVE We pilot tested 2 separate Bluetooth contact tracing technologies on a university campus to evaluate their sensitivity and specificity, and to learn from the experiences of the participants. METHODS We used a convergent mixed methods study design, and participants included graduate students and researchers working on a university campus during June and July 2020. We conducted separate 2-week pilot studies for each Bluetooth technology. The first was for a mobile phone app (“app pilot”), and the second was for a small electronic “tag” (“tag pilot”). Participants validated a list of Bluetooth-identified contacts daily and reported additional close contacts not identified by Bluetooth. We used these data to estimate sensitivity and specificity. Participants completed a postparticipation survey regarding appropriateness, usability, acceptability, and adherence, and provided additional feedback via free text. We used tests of proportions to evaluate differences in survey responses between participants from each pilot, paired <i>t</i> tests to measure differences between compatible survey questions, and qualitative analysis to evaluate the survey’s free-text responses. RESULTS Among 25 participants in the app pilot, 53 contact interactions were identified by Bluetooth and an additional 61 by self-report. Among 17 participants in the tag pilot, 171 contact interactions were identified by Bluetooth and an additional 4 by self-report. The tag had significantly higher sensitivity compared with the app (46/49, 94% vs 35/61, 57%; <i>P</i>&lt;.001), as well as higher specificity (120/126, 95% vs 123/141, 87%; <i>P</i>=.02). Most participants felt that Bluetooth contact tracing was appropriate on campus (26/32, 81%), while significantly fewer participants felt that using other technologies, such as GPS or Wi-Fi, was appropriate (17/31, 55%; <i>P</i>=.02). Most participants preferred technology developed and managed by the university rather than a third party (27/32, 84%) and preferred not to have tracing apps on their personal phones (21/32, 66%), due to “concerns with privacy.” There were no significant differences in self-reported adherence rates across pilots. CONCLUSIONS Convenient and carriable Bluetooth technology may improve tracing efficiency while alleviating privacy concerns by shifting data collection away from personal devices. With accuracy comparable to, and in this case, superior to, mobile phone apps, such approaches may be suitable for workplace or school settings with the ability to purchase and maintain physical devices.

scholarly journals Pilot Evaluations of Two Bluetooth Contact Tracing Approaches on a University Campus: A Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)

10.2196/31086 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler Shelby ◽  
Tyler Caruthers ◽  
Oren Kanner ◽  
Rebecca Schneider ◽  
Dana Lipnickas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
University Campus

Determining Emotional Tone and Verbal Behavior in Patients With Tinnitus and Hyperacusis: An Exploratory Mixed-Methods Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 660-672
Author(s):  
Suzanne H. Kimball ◽  
Toby Hamilton ◽  
Erin Benear ◽  
Jonathan Baldwin
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Verbal Behavior ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Emotional Tone ◽  
Explanatory Mixed Methods ◽  
Quantitative Results

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the emotional tone and verbal behavior of social media users who self-identified as having tinnitus and/or hyperacusis that caused self-described negative consequences on daily life or health. Research Design and Method An explanatory mixed-methods design was utilized. Two hundred “initial” and 200 “reply” Facebook posts were collected from members of a tinnitus group and a hyperacusis group. Data were analyzed via the LIWC 2015 software program and compared to typical bloggers. As this was an explanatory mixed-methods study, we used qualitative thematic analyses to explain, interpret, and illustrate the quantitative results. Results Overall, quantitative results indicated lower overall emotional tone for all categories (tinnitus and hyperacusis, initial and reply), which was mostly influenced by higher negative emotion. Higher levels of authenticity or truth were found in the hyperacusis sample but not in the tinnitus sample. Lower levels of clout (social standing) were indicated in all groups, and a lower level of analytical thinking style (concepts and complex categories rather than narratives) was found in the hyperacusis sample. Additional analysis of the language indicated higher levels of sadness and anxiety in all groups and lower levels of anger, particularly for initial replies. These data support prior findings indicating higher levels of anxiety and depression in this patient population based on the actual words in blog posts and not from self-report questionnaires. Qualitative results identified 3 major themes from both the tinnitus and hyperacusis texts: suffering, negative emotional tone, and coping strategies. Conclusions Results from this study suggest support for the predominant clinical view that patients with tinnitus and hyperacusis have higher levels of anxiety and depression than the general population. The extent of the suffering described and patterns of coping strategies suggest clinical practice patterns and the need for research in implementing improved practice plans.

scholarly journals Codeveloping a multibehavioural mobile phone app to enhance social and emotional well-being and reduce health risks among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women during preconception and pregnancy: a three-phased mixed-methods study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. e052545
Author(s):  
Michelle Kennedy ◽  
Ratika Kumar ◽  
Nicole M Ryan ◽  
Jessica Bennett ◽  
Gina La Hera Fuentes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Phase 2 ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Phase 3 ◽  
Aboriginal Community ◽  
Aboriginal Women

ObjectiveDescribe the development and pretest of a prototype multibehavioural change app MAMA-EMPOWER.DesignMixed-methods study reporting three phases: (1) contextual enquiry included stakeholder engagement and qualitative interviews with Aboriginal women, (2) value specification included user-workshop with an Aboriginal researcher, community members and experts, (3) codesign with Aboriginal researchers and community members, followed by a pretest of the app with Aboriginal women, and feedback from qualitative interviews and the user-Mobile Application Rating Scale (U-MARS) survey tool.SettingsAboriginal women and communities in urban and regional New South Wales, Australia.ParticipantsPhase 1: interviews, 8 Aboriginal women. Phase 2: workshop, 6 Aboriginal women. Phase 3: app trial, 16 Aboriginal women. U-MARS, 5 Aboriginal women.ResultsPhase 1 interviews revealed three themes: current app use, desired app characteristics and implementation. Phase 2 workshop provided guidance for the user experience. Phase 3 app trial assessed all content areas. The highest ratings were for information (mean score of 3.80 out of 5, SD=0.77) and aesthetics (mean score of 3.87 with SD of 0.74), while functionality, engagement and subjective quality had lower scores. Qualitative interviews revealed the acceptability of the app, however, functionality was problematic.ConclusionsDeveloping a mobile phone app, particularly in an Aboriginal community setting, requires extensive consultation, negotiation and design work. Using a strong theoretical foundation of behavioural change technique’s coupled with the consultative approach has added rigour to this process. Using phone apps to implement behavioural interventions in Aboriginal community settings remains a new area for investigation. In the next iteration of the app, we aim to find better ways to personalise the content to women’s needs, then ensure full functionality before conducting a larger trial. We predict the process of development will be of interest to other health researchers and practitioners.

scholarly journals Acceptability of a Mobile Phone App for Measuring Time Use in Breast Cancer Survivors (Life in a Day): Mixed-Methods Study

JMIR Cancer ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. e9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Cole Ainsworth ◽  
Dori Pekmezi ◽  
Heather Bowles ◽  
Diane Ehlers ◽  
Edward McAuley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Time Use ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Measuring Time

scholarly journals Patient Adherence to a Mobile Phone–Based Heart Failure Telemonitoring Program: A Longitudinal Mixed-Methods Study (Preprint)

10.2196/13259 ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Ware ◽  
Mala Dorai ◽  
Heather J Ross ◽  
Joseph A Cafazzo ◽  
Audrey Laporte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Patient Adherence ◽  
Mixed Methods Study

scholarly journals Outcomes of Visual Self-Expression in Virtual Reality on Psychosocial Well-Being With the Inclusion of a Fragrance Stimulus: A Pilot Mixed-Methods Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Girija Kaimal ◽  
Katrina Carroll-Haskins ◽  
Arun Ramakrishnan ◽  
Susan Magsamen ◽  
Asli Arslanbek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Art Making ◽  
Creative Agency ◽  
The Impact

AimsIn this pilot mixed-methods study, we examined the participants experiences of engaging in virtual drawing tasks and the impact of an olfactory stimulus (calming fragrance blend) on outcomes of affect, stress, self-efficacy, anxiety, creative agency, and well-being (satisfaction with life).MethodsThis study used a parallel mixed-methods, simple block randomization design. The study participants included 24 healthy adults aged 18 to 54 years, including 18 women and six men. The participants completed two 1-h immersive virtual art making sessions and were randomly assigned to receive either a fragrance or a non-fragrance condition for the first session. Quantitative (standardized self-report measures) and qualitative (open-ended survey responses and virtual artwork) datasets were collected concurrently and integrated during data analysis.ResultsThe quantitative results indicated that the fragrance condition demonstrated a significant reduction in negative affect (e.g., feeling hostile, jittery, upset, distressed, etc.), namely, reduced feelings of negativity when compared to the non-fragrance condition. A trend toward improvement in self-efficacy was also seen in the fragrance condition. No significant changes were found for fragrance or non-fragrance conditions for positive affect, anxiety, and creative agency. The qualitative findings included five themes related to art making experiences in virtual reality in both conditions: fun and joy; novelty of virtual media, experimentation, and play; relaxation and calm; learning curve; and physical discomfort and disorientation. Four themes were identified for virtual art content and visual qualities: nature imagery, references to memories and personal symbols, fantasy and play within imagery, and depiction of everyday objects.ConclusionsOverall, the participants reported positive responses to the novel virtual art making experiences which were further heightened by the inclusion of the fragrance stimulus for negative affect. These preliminary findings need to be replicated with larger sample sizes to confirm the outcomes and the trends that were seen in this pilot study. Further research is recommended to examine the differences between experiences of virtual and traditional art media and to examine different olfactory stimuli promoting focus and concentration.

scholarly journals Fidelity assessment of nurse-led non-pharmacological package of care for knee pain in the package development phase of a feasibility randomised controlled trial based in secondary care: a mixed methods study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. e045242
Author(s):  
Polykarpos Angelos Nomikos ◽  
Michelle Hall ◽  
Amy Fuller ◽  
Bonnie Millar ◽  
Reuben Ogollah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Knee Pain ◽  
Secondary Care ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Research Nurse ◽  
Pharmacological Intervention ◽  
Percentage Agreement ◽  
Walking Aids ◽  
Fidelity Assessment

ObjectivesTo evaluate fidelity of delivery of a nurse-led non-pharmacological complex intervention for knee pain.SettingSecondary care. Single-centre study.Study designMixed methods study.ParticipantsEighteen adults with chronic knee pain.Inclusion criteriaAge >40 years, knee pain present for longer than 3 months, knee pain for most days of the previous month, at least moderate pain in two of the five domains of Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index pain scale.InterventionsNurse-led non-pharmacological intervention comprising assessment, education, exercise, use of hot/cold treatments, footwear modification, walking aids and weight-loss advice (if required).Outcome(s)Primary: fidelity of delivery of intervention, secondary: nurses’ experience of delivering intervention.MethodsEach intervention session with every participant was video recorded and formed part of fidelity assessment. Fidelity checklists were completed by the research nurse after each session and by an independent researcher, after viewing the video-recordings blinded to nurse ratings. Fidelity scores (%), percentage agreement and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) were calculated. Two semi-structured interviews were conducted with the research nurse.ResultsFourteen participants completed all visits. 62 treatment sessions took place. Nurse self-report and assessor video rating scores for all 62 treatment sessions were included in fidelity assessment. Overall fidelity was higher on nurse self-report (97.7%) than on objective video-rating (84.2%). Percentage agreement between nurse self-report and video-rating was 73.3% (95% CI 71.3 to 75.3). Fidelity was lowest for advice on footwear and walking aids. The nurse reported difficulty advising on thermal treatments, footwear and walking aids, and did not feel confident negotiating achievable and realistic goals with participants.ConclusionsA trained research nurse can deliver most components of a non-pharmacological intervention for knee pain to a high degree of fidelity. Future research should assess intervention fidelity in a routine clinical setting, and examine its clinical and cost-effectiveness.Trial registration numberNCT03670706.

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