Kara P. Wiseman

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of racial and ethnic minorities to poor health outcomes. The Hispanic/Latino population was particularly impacted by increased incidence, disease severity, and mortality rates. Lack of access to healthcare and resources, poor housing conditions, and economic vulnerability are some of the social determinants that make this group vulnerable. Therefore, we co-developed a mobile healthcare app, Cuidando Tu Bienestar (CTB), to track symptoms and identify severe disease, provide patient education, and connect community members with health resources and social services with the goal of reducing COVID-related morbidity and mortality in this population. CTB implements COVID-19 symptom monitoring through daily “check-ins” by participants, provides informational links to local resources, and facilitates communication with CTB staff. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility and acceptability of CTB. METHODS CTB was evaluated in a pre-post pilot trial among 17 adults who had tested positive for COVID-19 within one healthcare system. Participants were asked to complete a baseline survey, use CTB for 14 days, and complete a 2-week follow-up survey. Surveys included COVID-19 knowledge checks, health status and CTB usability (Systems Usability Scale, SUS). Survey responses and app use information were used to assess the initial feasibility and acceptability of CTB. RESULTS Participants were on average 27.8 years old (SD: 8.9 years) and 76.5% were female. The mean number of check-ins per participant was 10.5 (SD: 4.3). The most commonly reported symptoms within CTB were headaches, loss of smell, and fatigue. The CTB app was able to detect warning signs or symptoms of severe disease in 88.2% of participants, among whom 47.1% required emergency evaluation at a hospital or clinic. CTB identified 10 participants (58.8%) who needed referrals for local assistance programs or social services. Overall, satisfaction with CTB was high. The mean SUS score was 91.5 (SD: 9.63). CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that the CTB mobile application appears to be useful in monitoring symptoms, detecting warning signs, and connecting patients to necessary local health and social resources while being easy to navigate. Future research is needed to determine the applicability of CTB on both endemic and emerging respiratory infections (such as, seasonal and novel influenza, respectively) and to determine how CTB may impact both disease outcomes and patient quality of life in a randomized clinical trial.

Supplementary Table 5 shows the study outcomes recoding framework, detailing outcome categories, definitions, and example measures used to classify message evaluation, product perceptions, intermediate cognitive and affective responses, policy support, behavioral intentions, and other study outcomes.

Public health messaging is a key strategy for raising awareness of the alcohol–cancer link. This review summarizes research on messages communicating this link. Eligible studies were in English, involved human participants, and assessed messages about alcohol and cancer. A systematic search was conducted in July 2021 and updated in July 2023 across seven databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, CINHAL, Web of Science, and PsycInfo) using keywords for alcohol, cancer, and messaging. Two coders independently screened and extracted data from eligible studies using Covidence. We identified 121 studies from 104 articles, yielding 236 alcohol–cancer messages. Most studies were published within the past decade (n = 80, 66%) and assessed alcohol beverage warning labels referencing cancer (n = 75, 62%). Most studies included adults who consumed alcohol (n = 85, 70%). Men comprised less than 50% of the sample in half of the studies. Breast cancer was the most mentioned cancer in messages (n = 85, 36%). Messages commonly used probabilistic causal language expressing uncertainty in the outcome [e.g., “alcohol increases cancer risk” (n = 149, 63%)]. Understanding public awareness of cancer-relevant health behaviors is critical to cancer prevention and control. Messages about the carcinogenic effects of alcohol can be an effective public health strategy if rigorously tested across broad populations.

Supplementary Table 4 shows the comprehensive evidence table summarizing all included studies, detailing authors, study characteristics, sample demographics, message types, control conditions, and whether drinking behavior was measured as an outcome.

Supplementary Table 2 shows the detailed search strategies used across all databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINAHL Plus, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycInfo, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, and Google Scholar, along with search dates, concepts, and full query strings for each platform.

Supplementary Table 3 shows the charting tool used for data extraction, outlining study, participant, and message characteristics collected across included studies, including design features, sample demographics, message content, exposure details, and outcome measures.

Supplementary Table 1 shows the full PRISMA-ScR checklist detailing each reporting item, its description, and the corresponding manuscript page number where it is addressed.

Augmented reality (AR) is an advanced technology that has emerged as a helpful tool in mobile health interventions for substance use treatment. By superimposing virtual drug-related cues in one's real-world environment, AR could expand the delivery of extinction-based cue exposure therapies while mitigating costs and risks. Previous findings from our team show AR smoking cues elicit cravings like in vivo cues, with evidence of extinction after repeated AR exposure trials. Based on these findings, we developed an AR smoking cessation smartphone app to test as an adjuvant to a state tobacco quitline in an ongoing large-scale randomized controlled trial (NCT06088498). This article describes AR technology and its theoretical relevance to cue exposure therapies, as well as challenges related to app development, trial enrollment, and app engagement. Although some challenges and recommendations unique to AR are discussed (e.g., development of smoking-related AR images), most are relevant to the broader application of other advanced mobile health technologies. Examples include finding and collaborating with industry partners, such as app developers, with sufficient expertise in the relevant technology and in research; potential for selection bias based on smartphone capabilities and participants' technological abilities and affinities; explaining the novel treatment rationale within the app; and maximizing app engagement. Where relevant, these points will be illustrated with data collected during the randomized controlled trial. Recommendations offered may have utility for investigators and clinicians interested in AR and other advanced technologies (e.g., virtual reality, geo-mapping, wearables) to improve the reach and efficacy of treatments for substance use disorders. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Public health messaging is a key strategy for raising awareness of the alcohol–cancer link. This review summarizes research on messages communicating this link. Eligible studies were in English, involved human participants, and assessed messages about alcohol and cancer. A systematic search was conducted in July 2021 and updated in July 2023 across seven databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, CINHAL, Web of Science, and PsycInfo) using keywords for alcohol, cancer, and messaging. Two coders independently screened and extracted data from eligible studies using Covidence. We identified 121 studies from 104 articles, yielding 236 alcohol–cancer messages. Most studies were published within the past decade (n = 80, 66%) and assessed alcohol beverage warning labels referencing cancer (n = 75, 62%). Most studies included adults who consumed alcohol (n = 85, 70%). Men comprised less than 50% of the sample in half of the studies. Breast cancer was the most mentioned cancer in messages (n = 85, 36%). Messages commonly used probabilistic causal language expressing uncertainty in the outcome [e.g., “alcohol increases cancer risk” (n = 149, 63%)]. Understanding public awareness of cancer-relevant health behaviors is critical to cancer prevention and control. Messages about the carcinogenic effects of alcohol can be an effective public health strategy if rigorously tested across broad populations.