Variations in the Use of mHealth Tools: The VA Mobile Health Study

BackgroundMobile health (mHealth) technologies exhibit promise for offering patients and their caregivers point-of-need tools for health self-management. This research study involved the dissemination of iPads containing a suite of mHealth apps to family caregivers of veterans who receive care from...

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Main Author: Frisbee, Kathleen L
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JMIR Publications 2016-07-01
Series:JMIR mHealth and uHealth
Online Access:http://mhealth.jmir.org/2016/3/e89/
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author Frisbee, Kathleen L
author_facet Frisbee, Kathleen L
author_sort Frisbee, Kathleen L
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundMobile health (mHealth) technologies exhibit promise for offering patients and their caregivers point-of-need tools for health self-management. This research study involved the dissemination of iPads containing a suite of mHealth apps to family caregivers of veterans who receive care from the Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Administration and have serious physical or mental injuries. ObjectiveThe goal of the study was to identify factors and characteristics of veterans and their family caregivers that predict the use of mHealth apps. MethodsVeteran/family caregiver dyads (N=882) enrolled in VA’s Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers program were recruited to participate in an mHealth pilot program. Veterans and caregivers who participated and received an iPad agreed to have their use of the apps monitored and were asked to complete a survey assessing Caregiver Preparedness, Caregiver Traits, and Caregiver Zarit Burden Inventory baseline surveys. ResultsOf the 882 dyads, 94.9% (837/882) of caregivers were women and 95.7% (844/882) of veteran recipients were men. Mean caregiver age was 40 (SD 10.2) years and mean veteran age was 39 (SD 9.15) years, and 39.8% (351/882) lived in rural locations. Most (89%, 788/882) of the caregivers were spouses. Overall, the most frequently used app was Summary of Care, followed by RX Refill, then Journal, Care4Caregivers, VA Pain Coach, and last, VA PTSD Coach. App use was significantly predicted by the caregiver being a spouse, increased caregiver computer skills, a rural living location, lower levels of caregiver preparedness, veteran mental health diagnosis (other than posttraumatic stress disorder), and veteran age. ConclusionsThis mHealth Family Caregiver pilot project effectively establishes the VA’s first patient-facing mHealth apps that are integrated within the VA data system. Use varied considerably, and apps that were most used were those that assisted them in their caregiving responsibilities.
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spelling doaj.art-086a7a10fa3a47e58cf3e8466613554d2022-12-21T20:06:45ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR mHealth and uHealth2291-52222016-07-0143e8910.2196/mhealth.3726Variations in the Use of mHealth Tools: The VA Mobile Health StudyFrisbee, Kathleen LBackgroundMobile health (mHealth) technologies exhibit promise for offering patients and their caregivers point-of-need tools for health self-management. This research study involved the dissemination of iPads containing a suite of mHealth apps to family caregivers of veterans who receive care from the Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Administration and have serious physical or mental injuries. ObjectiveThe goal of the study was to identify factors and characteristics of veterans and their family caregivers that predict the use of mHealth apps. MethodsVeteran/family caregiver dyads (N=882) enrolled in VA’s Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers program were recruited to participate in an mHealth pilot program. Veterans and caregivers who participated and received an iPad agreed to have their use of the apps monitored and were asked to complete a survey assessing Caregiver Preparedness, Caregiver Traits, and Caregiver Zarit Burden Inventory baseline surveys. ResultsOf the 882 dyads, 94.9% (837/882) of caregivers were women and 95.7% (844/882) of veteran recipients were men. Mean caregiver age was 40 (SD 10.2) years and mean veteran age was 39 (SD 9.15) years, and 39.8% (351/882) lived in rural locations. Most (89%, 788/882) of the caregivers were spouses. Overall, the most frequently used app was Summary of Care, followed by RX Refill, then Journal, Care4Caregivers, VA Pain Coach, and last, VA PTSD Coach. App use was significantly predicted by the caregiver being a spouse, increased caregiver computer skills, a rural living location, lower levels of caregiver preparedness, veteran mental health diagnosis (other than posttraumatic stress disorder), and veteran age. ConclusionsThis mHealth Family Caregiver pilot project effectively establishes the VA’s first patient-facing mHealth apps that are integrated within the VA data system. Use varied considerably, and apps that were most used were those that assisted them in their caregiving responsibilities.http://mhealth.jmir.org/2016/3/e89/
spellingShingle Frisbee, Kathleen L
Variations in the Use of mHealth Tools: The VA Mobile Health Study
JMIR mHealth and uHealth
title Variations in the Use of mHealth Tools: The VA Mobile Health Study
title_full Variations in the Use of mHealth Tools: The VA Mobile Health Study
title_fullStr Variations in the Use of mHealth Tools: The VA Mobile Health Study
title_full_unstemmed Variations in the Use of mHealth Tools: The VA Mobile Health Study
title_short Variations in the Use of mHealth Tools: The VA Mobile Health Study
title_sort variations in the use of mhealth tools the va mobile health study
url http://mhealth.jmir.org/2016/3/e89/
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