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Usability and Feasibility of PmEB: A Mobile Phone Application for Monitoring Real Time Caloric Balance

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Abstract

Obesity is a major public health challenge with over 65% of US adults either overweight or obese. Estimated annual costs of obesity are $78.5 billion. Self-monitoring is a critical skill for successful weight management. However, self-monitoring is labor-intensive, and compliance is often difficult. In this paper, the authors describe the Patient-Centered Assessment and Counseling Mobile Energy Balance (PmEB) mobile phone application that allows users to self-monitor caloric balance in real time. The application was developed and applied in a four-phase iterative research and development methodology. A usability study and a preliminary feasibility study were conducted. The 1 month feasibility study measured compliance and satisfaction among a sample of 15 participants randomized to one of three groups: (1) a paper diary group, (2) a PmEB group with one daily prompt, and (3) a PmEB group with three daily prompts. PmEB scored highly on usability, compliance, and satisfaction. In addition, mobile phone group users scored PmEB the same as or better than Paper Group members scored the paper diary in nearly all categories. Thematic analysis of comments revealed very positive reviews of PmEB as well as areas for improvement. PmEB is both usable and feasible for weight management self-monitoring, and the iterative pilot study methodology was effective in improving its usability.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Decision Systems Group, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Christopher C. Tsai

  2. SCIL Group, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

    Gunny Lee

  3. Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, 92122, USA

    Fred Raab, Gregory J. Norman & Kevin Patrick

  4. Computer Science and Engineering, University of California, San Diego, CA, 92122, USA

    Timothy Sohn & William G. Griswold

Authors
  1. Christopher C. Tsai
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  2. Gunny Lee
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  3. Fred Raab
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  4. Gregory J. Norman
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  5. Timothy Sohn
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  6. William G. Griswold
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  7. Kevin Patrick
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christopher C. Tsai.

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Tsai, C.C., Lee, G., Raab, F. et al. Usability and Feasibility of PmEB: A Mobile Phone Application for Monitoring Real Time Caloric Balance. Mobile Netw Appl 12, 173–184 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11036-007-0014-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11036-007-0014-4

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