Search Results (176)

Background and Objectives: Sick-day medication guidance involves patients self-adjusting medications during sick days to prevent adverse events and minimise exacerbation of their disease states. This review aimed to summarise and synthesise all sick-day interventions provided by healthcare professionals (HCPs) for patients with chronic illnesses, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease (CKD), adrenal insufficiency (AI), rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma. Materials and Methods: A search of Embase, Medline, International Pharmaceutical Abstract, Scopus, Google Scholar, and the grey literature was conducted until July 2025. The review followed the methodological framework according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews. Data were extracted using a modified TIDieR checklist, and the findings were summarised descriptively and presented thematically. Results: The search included 6932 documents, and 97 met the inclusion criteria: 57 published guidelines/education resources and 40 pieces of original research. Seventy-four interventions were identified for diabetes (18), asthma (32), AI (8), CKD (6), AKI prevention (4), COPD (4), and mixed conditions (2). The most common type of intervention was written information (action plans and information sheets), with education mostly provided by multidisciplinary teams. Novel interventions included 24h phone support and an educational mobile application. Participants showed interest in sick-day interventions and HCPs viewed these interventions as effective, important, and easy to provide. However, interventions did not always translate to improved clinical outcomes, with studies reporting mixed outcomes regarding healthcare utilisation. Nonetheless, some interventions showed improved patient knowledge and satisfaction with care. Conclusions: Multiple interventions are available for asthma and diabetes, with fewer targeting CKD or acute kidney injury (AKI) prevention. While demand for these interventions from consumers and HCPs is high, implementation challenges and inconsistent benefits remain. Further primary research is needed to clarify which intervention features are most effective in yielding meaningful clinical outcomes. Full article

In school settings, nomophobia—a newly identified form of problematic mobile phone use characterized by anxiety and discomfort experienced when an individual is unable to use or access their smartphone—poses significant challenges to students’ learning and daily life. Prior research on nomophobia has predominantly adopted a variable-centered perspective. However, if nomophobia is heterogeneous across subgroups, acknowledging this heterogeneity may inform the advancement of more tailored and productive therapeutic methods. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted separately among high school students (N = 446) and college students (N = 667) to identify potential subgroup heterogeneity in nomophobia. To examine cross-group similarities in nomophobia profiles, a multi-group LPA was employed. Based on multiple model fit criteria, a three-profile solution—high nomophobia, moderate nomophobia, and low nomophobia—was identified for both groups. However, the multi-group LPA provided only partial support for the similarity of nomophobia profiles across educational stages, specifically in terms of configural and dispersion similarity. While similar nomophobia profiles emerged across groups, the partial equivalence suggests that intervention strategies for nomophobia may not be universally applicable across different educational levels. Additional studies should investigate the mechanisms underlying students’ nomophobia profiles and to inform differentiated interventions for educators, institutions, and policymakers. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study investigates the relationship between maternal media access and childhood immunization status in Nigeria using the Levesque Framework for Healthcare Access. Methods: Utilizing data from the 2021 MICS-NICS survey, the study analyzes sociodemographic and media/ICT variables through logistic regression and geospatial mapping. Results: The results indicate that region is the strongest predictor of immunization status, with significant disparities in access to media and healthcare services across Nigeria. Television exposure was associated with improved immunization outcomes, while mobile phone ownership was not. Conclusions: The findings emphasize the importance of equitable media access and tailored health communication strategies to improve healthcare accessibility. The study highlights the need for region-specific interventions and continued monitoring of media access trends to support universal health coverage goals. Full article

The rapid increase in global smartphone usage and the range of capabilities they offer have resulted in an overdependence on them, leading to the term nomophobia. Nomophobia refers to the psychological discomfort or anxiety experienced when an individual is unable to use or does not have access to their mobile phone, and it is a phenomenon that warrants research attention due to its psychological and social implications. The aim of the current study was to examine the relationship between nomophobia and the time spent on mobile usage, attachment in close romantic relationships, and loneliness. Participants included 300 adults from Cyprus who were recruited through convenience and snowball sampling methods. Data were gathered using an internet-based questionnaire that assessed participants’ time spent on mobile usage, their attachment styles in close relationships, and their level and type of loneliness. The results suggest that (a) anxiety dimension and time spent on mobile phone are significant predictors of nomophobia, (b) higher levels of nomophobia are associated with an insecure attachment style, (c) more severe levels of nomophobia are associated with higher levels of loneliness, and (d) increased time spent on mobile usage is linked to higher levels of nomophobia. The findings suggest that the widespread emergence of nomophobia raises important concerns, highlighting the need for the development of educational programs that promote balanced mobile usage and encourage direct social interaction. The significance of targeted interventions that address mobile phone regulation and attachment-related vulnerabilities is emphasized. Full article

Current research on addressing mobile phone addiction primarily focuses on mitigating the influence of psychopathological factors. In the present work, we conducted three studies to investigate a novel hypothesis that forgiveness, as a form of psychological compensation, may offer a previously underappreciated protective effect against mobile phone addiction in the aftermath of interpersonal transgressions. Study 1 (N = 391), a cross-sectional survey, established an association between negative life events and mobile phone addiction. Utilizing a recall methodology, Study 2 (N = 256) demonstrated that higher levels of forgiveness mitigated the adverse effect of interpersonal transgressions on mobile phone addiction. Moreover, forgiveness was particularly effective in reducing mobile phone addiction in cases involving mild—as opposed to severe—transgressions. Subsequently, in Study 3 (N = 175), we employed a scenario-based approach to investigate the mechanisms through which forgiveness mitigates mobile phone addiction following interpersonal transgressions. The results indicated that social bonding—specifically, reduced social distance and increased positive affect toward transgressors—mediated the relationship between forgiveness and mobile phone addiction. In future research and practice, forgiveness-based interventions may be leveraged to reduce mobile phone addiction. Full article

Mental health conditions affect many young people in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where stigma is high and access to care is limited. Digital tools accessible on basic mobile phones offer a scalable way to promote mental health, but evidence on their effectiveness in SSA is limited. This study evaluated the reach, feasibility, acceptability, and knowledge outcomes of Digital MindSKILLZ, an interactive voice response (IVR) mental health intervention implemented in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia. Over seven months, 700,138 people called the platform, and 425,395 (61%) listened to at least one message. Of these users, 63.6% were under 25 and 68.3% were from rural areas. The three content branches—mental health information, mental health skills, and soccer quizzes—were accessed by 36.5%, 46.4%, and 50.9% of users, respectively. Among users who accessed the mental health branch of the intervention, the mean number of messages completed was 7.6 out of 18 messages. In a follow-up survey, 91% of users understood the content, 85% would recommend the intervention, and 38% found the mental health content most helpful. Average knowledge scores were 62%, with lower scores on common disorders and stigma. The intervention showed strong reach and acceptability, but content and implementation improvements are needed to boost engagement and retention. Full article

Background/Objectives: Screen-related parenting practices (e.g., restriction, coviewing) influence the way children use screen devices. Although children start using screen devices (e.g., televisions [TV], tablets) in the first few years of life, rigorously developed measures of screen-related parenting practices for parents of toddlers do not exist. The objective of this study was to develop culturally and contextually relevant survey measures of screen-related parenting practices for use in Mexican American families with toddlers. Methods: Measures were developed using an exploratory sequential mixed methods (qualitative → quantitative) approach. Mexican American mothers of toddlers (15–26 months of age) participated in semi-structured interviews. Using the interview findings, domains of parenting practices across screen device types were identified, and survey items were developed. Items were administered by phone to 384 Mexican American mothers. Analyses included evaluation of the factor structure and psychometric properties of nine domains of parenting practices and evaluations of correlations between each scale and demographic characteristics. Results: Factor analyses supported a one-factor solution for each parenting practice as follows: Restrict TV Time (8 items), Coview TV (10 items), Behavioral Regulation with TV (12 items), Restrict Mobile Device Time (8 items); Coview Mobile Devices (10 items); Behavioral Regulation with Mobile Devices (16 items), Restrict Screen Content (8 items), Allow Screen Use Around Sleep (6 items), and Allow Screen Use While Eating (6 items). The reliabilities were acceptable (Cronbach’s alphas > 0.80). Hispanic acculturation, maternal age, and child age were correlated with many of the scales of parenting practices. Conclusions: The measures developed in this study offer a way to evaluate the use and impact of screen-related parenting practices in Mexican American families with toddlers. The use of these measures will enable investigators to identify relationships among parenting practices, screen use, and child well-being, which could inform the design of early childhood interventions promoting healthy screen use in this population. Full article

Mobile phone waste management is a growing environmental challenge, with improper disposal contributing to resource depletion, pollution and missed opportunities for material recovery. This study presents the findings of a dual-purpose survey (11,163 respondents) conducted in a wide academic context in Italy, aimed at both assessing mobile phones disposal behaviors and knowledge and raising awareness through structured educational prompts about sustainable e-waste management. The results reveal significant behavioral patterns and knowledge gaps across demographic groups. While most respondents (90.6%) own one phone, males tend to have more than females. Phones are replaced every 3–5 years by 48.8% of users and every 1–3 years by 36.7%, with students tending to replace them earlier. Only 20.2% replace their phone when irreparable while 46% replace them due to high repair costs. A large majority (92.3%) store old devices at home, forming an estimated urban mine of 29,799 unused phones. The awareness of hazardous components is higher than that of critical raw materials, with males more informed than females and students in scientific fields displaying greater awareness than those in humanities and health disciplines. The awareness of official take-back programs is particularly low, especially among younger generations. Notably, 90% reported increased awareness from the educational survey and 93.1% expressed willingness to use an on-campus e-waste collection system. These results highlight the role of universities as catalysts for sustainable behavior, supporting the design of targeted educational strategies and policy actions in line with circular economy principles and Sustainable Development Goal 12 “Responsible consumption and production”. Full article

Pedestrian behaviour and safety are essential components of urban sustainability. They are influenced by a complex interplay between various factors from different perspectives, particularly in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. This study presents a comprehensive overview of the factors influencing pedestrian behaviour and safety with a focus on CALD communities. By synthesizing the existing literature, the study identifies six key groups of influencing factors: social–psychological, cultural, risk perceptions, environmental, technological distractions, and demographic differences. It discovers that well-designed interventions, such as tailored education campaigns and programs, may effectively influence pedestrian behaviour. These interventions emphasize the importance of targeted messaging to address specific risks (e.g., using mobile phones while crossing the road) and engage vulnerable groups, including children, seniors, and CALD communities. The study reveals that CALD communities face higher risks of pedestrian injuries and fatalities due to language barriers, unfamiliarity with local road rules, and different practices and approaches to road safety due to cultural differences. This study underlines the importance of developing and promoting tailored road safety education programs to address the unique challenges faced by CALD communities to help promote safer pedestrian environments for all. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly influenced urban planning and disease management in residential areas. Focusing on Beijing as a case study (3898 communities), this research develops a big data analytics framework integrating anonymized mobile phone signals (China Mobile), location-based services (AMAP.com), and municipal health records to quantify COVID-19 transmission dynamics. Using logistic regression, we analyzed 15 indicators across four dimensions: mobility behavior, host demographics, spatial characteristics, and facility accessibility. Our analysis reveals three key determinants: (1) Population aged 65 and above (OR = 62.8, p < 0.001) and (2) housing density (OR = 9.96, p = 0.026) significantly increase transmission risk, while (3) population density exhibits a paradoxical negative effect (β = −3.98, p < 0.001) attributable to targeted interventions in high-density zones. We further construct a validated risk prediction model (AUC = 0.7; 95.97% accuracy) enabling high-resolution spatial targeting of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). The framework provides urban planners with actionable strategies—including senior activity scheduling and ventilation retrofits—while advancing scalable methodologies for infectious disease management in global urban contexts. Full article

There is limited evidence on key implementation outcomes for mHealth interventions that target maternal and newborn health. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness of a mobile phone messaging-based message-framing intervention. A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 397 mothers who participated in the mobile phone messaging-based intervention. Multivariate general linear modeling was carried out to identify factors that were associated with the acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness of the intervention. The statistical significance level was declared at a 95% confidence interval and p-value of <0.05. The mean scores of acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness were 27.9, 23.8, and 22.5, respectively. Acceptability was significantly affected by living in a rural area, being rich, receiving messages at night, self-efficacy, and engagement. Feasibility was affected by living in rural area, educational status, being a merchant, being rich, receiving messages at night, self-efficacy, engagement, and satisfaction. Meanwhile, appropriateness was influenced by living in a rural area, being a merchant, being a government employee, and satisfaction. The mobile phone messaging-based intervention was highly acceptable, feasible, and appropriate. Focusing on self-efficacy, engagement, satisfaction, the timing for sending messages, and sociodemographic factors would facilitate the implementation and utilization of mobile phone messaging-based interventions. Full article

Introduction: The feasibility of enrolling and retaining diverse kidney transplant (KT) seekers in remote studies is sparsely reported. Aims: This study examined the use of a mobile communication strategy to enroll and retain participants within a clinical trial of an automated digital intervention to promote self-learning for kidney transplant access. Materials and Methods: Adult KT-seekers were identified from an administrative database at a transplant center and recruited by email or text supplemented by verbal prompts. Multivariable logistic regression was used to explore participant- and study-level characteristics associated with enrollment and response rates. Results: Between April 2022 and June 2023, 743 patients were invited to participate, and 422 were enrolled. Enrollers were more likely to be younger (aOR 1.02; p < 0.001). Early enrollment was associated with text message invitation (OR 2.69, p ≤ 0.014). Survey completion at 1 month was similar across patient sociodemographic, clinical, and study characteristics; however, participants self-reporting Black race were underrepresented at month 6 (OR 0.55, p = 0.015) and month 12 (aOR 0.37, p = 0008), and males were underrepresented at month 12 (aOR 0.45, p = 0.028). Conclusion: Mobile communication methods are viable for enrolling diverse KT-seeking patients and collecting survey data remotely. More work is needed to learn how to best recruit older people and retain diverse groups long-term. Full article

Background: After the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, abusive use of the internet and new information and communication technologies (ICT) among university students was detected. Our research questions were as follows: what has been the impact on the academic performance of university students, and how did the pandemic affect students’ relationship with ICTs? The aim of this research was to explore the use of cell phones and the internet in students from different cultures (Spanish and Japanese) after the pandemic. Methods: This descriptive and exploratory study analysed 206 university students from Spanish and Japanese cultures to understand their perceptions of academic performance after the pandemic, their general use of ICT, and their abusive use of the internet and mobile phones. Instruments included the Internet Overuse Scale (IOS) and the Cell-Phone Overuse Scale (COS), adapted for both Spanish and Japanese populations. Differences between quantitative variables were analyzed using the non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test for independent samples (Spanish and Japanese students or by sex). Contingency tables were created to record and analyse relationships between qualitative variables using the chi-squared test, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Approximately 29.6% of participants displayed excessive internet use, while 25.2% showed pathological mobile phone use. A strong association was found between high internet and mobile phone usage. Significant cultural and gender differences were observed, with higher problematic use among Japanese students and female participants. Conclusions: Excessive ICT use remains a concern in university settings, with gender and cultural factors playing key roles. These findings highlight the need for targeted digital well-being interventions. Full article

Background: Adolescents’ use of step tracker mobile applications (apps) could be influenced by their assessment of the mobile app used. Objectives: To analyze differences in the dropout rate, app assessment, and problematic mobile phone use based on prior physical activity levels and the app used. Methods: A study with a quasi-experimental design was carried out with the participation of 240 adolescents, who were further categorized as either active or inactive. The adolescents carried out a 10-week intervention promoted as a part of the physical education curriculum, three days a week, in which they randomly used the Pokémon Go, MapMyWalk, Pacer, or Strava mobile apps after school for cardiorespiratory training. Results: The results showed a higher dropout rate from Pokémon Go in the group of inactive adolescents (p = 0.012). No differences were found in the assessment of apps based on the level of activity of the adolescents, neither overall nor when analyzing this question based on the app used (p > 0.05). As for problematic mobile phone use, only previously inactive adolescents assigned to the Pacer group significantly increased their final score after the intervention (p = 0.044), with no changes being identified in the other groups or apps (p > 0.05). Furthermore, the active adolescents showed a positive relationship between the volume of training and problematic mobile phone use (p = 0.023), specifically with the conflicting use of this device (p = 0.017). Conclusions: The inactive adolescents had a higher dropout rate when using Pokémon Go. There were no differences in app assessment between the active and the inactive participants. However, the active adolescents showed a link between their training volume and problematic mobile phone use. Full article

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) affect millions worldwide, significantly increasing the risk of amputation, mortality, and reduced quality of life. While conventional interventions such as specialized footwear and podiatric care can mitigate ulceration risks, they do not address the biomechanical factors contributing to ulcer recurrence. Emerging evidence suggests that lower limb exercises may play a role in secondary DFU prevention. This scoping review aims to synthesize available research on home-based lower limb exercise programs for individuals with diabetes mellitus, focusing on feasibility, adherence, and their impact on foot biomechanics and ulcer prevention. Methods: A search was conducted across six electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, EBSCO, Scopus, and ScienceDirect) for studies published between January 2014 and December 2024. Eligible studies included those assessing home-based lower limb exercises in diabetic individuals, with interventions lasting at least four weeks. Studies focusing on supervised exercises, pharmacological interventions, or non-diabetic populations were excluded. Results: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria, featuring a range of home-based exercise interventions, such as muscle strengthening, stretching routines, proprioceptive training, functional mobility exercises, and range-of-motion activities. These interventions demonstrated notable effectiveness, leading to improved foot biomechanics, more even plantar pressure distribution, enhanced balance, and reduced ulcer recurrence (in some cases). One study, for instance, reported a significant decrease in ulcer recurrence, with only 16% of participants in the intervention group experiencing relapse compared to 72% in the control group after 24 weeks. Adherence rates varied across studies but were generally higher when programs included structured guidance through educational booklets, mobile applications, or consistent phone follow-ups ranging from 41% to 92.5%. Nonetheless, the findings tend to be tempered by methodological differences between studies and a lack of robust long-term follow-up data. Conclusions: Home-based lower limb exercises show promise in improving foot function and preventing DFU recurrence. Further research is needed to standardize protocols, enhance adherence, and confirm long-term effectiveness. Full article