Smartphone app intervention – Public Health Expert, University of Otago, New Zealand

Promoting physical activity through the prescription of smartphone apps in primary care: Likely to produce health gains and cost-savings

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2022 | carra86p | No Comments

Dr Leah Grout, Kendra Telfer, Dr Cristina Cleghorn, Prof Nick Wilson, Dr Anja Mizdrak*

Over 40% of NZ adults are insufficiently physically active. In this blog we summarise our recently published modelling work that suggests that the prescription of smartphone apps for physical activity promotion in primary care could benefit health and save millions in health sector costs for NZ. Nevertheless, this type of intervention should ideally occur in conjunction with societal-wide shifts that support more walking and cycling, as these are likely to generate much larger health gains and cost-savings.

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Lessons learned from a remote blood pressure lowering trial in Aotearoa

Thursday, September 16th, 2021 | carra86p | 2 Comments

Helen Eyles, Jacqui Grey, Elaine Umali, Cliona Ni Mhurchu

Technologies such as smartphone apps, Wi-Fi-enabled data collection devices, and web-based data management systems offer the opportunity to deliver and assess the impact of clinical trials remotely, something which researchers are becoming increasingly drawn to. However, there are drawbacks, and even experienced teams will encounter challenges. In this blog we share the lessons we learnt during the conduct of SALTS, a remote blood pressure lowering trial in Aotearoa, New Zealand, where a smartphone app was part of the intervention package. Our aim in sharing these lessons is to help other researchers considering the use of technology in research to be aware of some of the lesser-known challenges they may face.

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Promoting physical activity through the prescription of smartphone apps in primary care: Likely to produce health gains and cost-savings

Lessons learned from a remote blood pressure lowering trial in Aotearoa

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