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“Everyday technologies” have long been suggested as digital tools to improve life for and enhance care of persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Within this realm, there is a need to balance potential drawbacks of technologies with their ability to positively impact patient and care partner centered outcomes. To facilitate this goal, we endeavored to provide a common language and conceptual structure to understand digital technology use in ADRD care. Specifically, we describe the pathways by which researchers might develop and deploy technology, including via Cognitive offloading, Automation, Remote monitoring, Emotional/social support, and Symptom treatment (CARES). In addition, we highlight emerging issues in technology‐based care research and provide relevant caveats regarding application of digital technologies in the real world. This discussion provides a framework to organize science on the application of technologies to ADRD care in the future. Highlights “Everyday technologies” have long been suggested as digital tools to improve life for and enhance care of persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). However, the potential benefits of digital technologies must be balanced against their possible drawbacks. We describe the pathways by which researchers might develop and deploy technology that CARES, including via Cognitive offloading, Automation, Remote monitoring, Emotional/social support, and Symptom treatment. This discussion provides a framework to organize science on the application of digital technologies to ADRD care in the future.

Overdose deaths continue to reach new records in New York City and nationwide, largely driven by adulterants such as fentanyl and xylazine in the illicit drug supply. Unknowingly consuming adulterated substances dramatically increases risks of overdose and other health problems, especially when individuals consume multiple adulterants and are exposed to a combination of drugs they did not intend to take. Although test strips and more sophisticated devices enable people to check drugs for adulterants including fentanyl and xylazine prior to consumption and are often available free of charge, many people who use drugs decline to use them. We sought to better understand why people in the New York City area do or do not check drugs before use. We plan to use study findings to inform the development of technology-based interventions to encourage consistent drug checking. In summer 2023, team members who have experience working with people who use drugs conducted 22 semistructured qualitative interviews with a convenience sample of people who reported illicit drug use within the past 90 days. An interview guide examined participants' knowledge of and experience with adulterants including fentanyl, xylazine, and benzodiazepines; using drug testing strips; and whether they had ever received harm reduction services. All interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for emerging themes. Most participants lacked knowledge of adulterants, and only a few reported regularly checking drugs. Reasons for not checking included lacking convenient access to test supplies, or a place to check samples out of the public's view, as well as time considerations. Some participants also reported a strong belief that they were not at risk from fentanyl, xylazine, or other adulterants because they exclusively used cocaine or crack, or that they were confident the people they bought drugs from would not sell them adulterated substances. Those who did report testing their drugs described positive interactions with harm reduction agency staff. New forms of outreach are needed not only to increase people's knowledge of adulterated substances and awareness of the increasing risks they pose but also to encourage people who use drugs to regularly check their substances prior to use. This includes new intervention messages that highlight the importance of drug checking in the context of a rapidly changing and volatile drug supply. This messaging can potentially help normalize drug checking as an easily enacted behavior that benefits public health. To increase effectiveness, messages can be developed with, and outreach can be conducted by, trusted community members including people who use drugs and, potentially, people who sell drugs. Pairing this messaging with access to no-cost drug-checking supplies and equipment may help address the ongoing spiral of increased overdose deaths nationwide.

This article presents a quantitative approach of a systematic literature review, namely a meta-analysis, using 19 technology-based phonological awareness interventions carried out over the last decade, aiming at technology-mediated reading acquisition and focusing specifically on the capabilities of phonological awareness. The study showed consistent positive effects when compared with non-technological intervention programmes in preschoolers. The selected interventions fall into quasi-experimental designs with post-intervention measurements, and experimental and control groups. Aspects related to the participants, intervention or programme, methodology, and external factors to the research itself were coded and controlled. Associations found for the moderating variables were the type of technology used, the age of the participant, and the duration of the programme. We conclude by recognising the usefulness of a meta-analysis as an appropriate method that is capable of distinguishing among the various studies on the presence of effective factors in the development of phonological awareness instruction.

This comprehensive meta-analysis aimed to assess the effectiveness of digital interventions in improving developmental skills for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We conducted a systematic literature search based on three databases. A pre-test adjusted between-group standardized effect size was computed for effect size synthesis. We utilized a robust variance estimation model to analyze overall treatment effect. Moderator analyses and publication bias were also addressed. Twenty-eight studies (150 effect sizes) using randomized control trials (RCT; n = 22) or quasi-experimental designs (QED; n = 6) were included. Most studies (n = 22) included social-emotional skills as primary outcomes. The meta-analysis revealed a medium to large overall effect size, with Hedges' g = 0.62, 95% CI [0.36, 0.88], p < 0.001. We found that digital interventions have a statistically significantly large effect on enhancing social-emotional skills compared with language and communication skills, cognitive skills, daily living skills, and physical skills. The results of moderator analyses indicated that computer-based interventions have larger effect sizes in comparison to tablet/smartphone-based interventions. No statistically significant differences were observed between studies utilizing RCT and those using QED. We recommended the integration of digital interventions as supplemental resources in behavioral and educational interventions. Further research needs to focus on more females, young children, and adolescents with ASD in digital intervention research.

IntroductionTechnology-based interventions (TBIs), including computer and Internet-based interventions, mobile interventions, health applications, social media interventions, and interventions using technological devices, could become a useful, effective, accessible, and cost-effective approach (Berry et al., 2016; Firth, 2016) to complement conventional interventions for psychosisObjectivesto compare TBIs with conventional interventions for psychosis, focusing mainly on functioning and quality of life.MethodsThe systematic review preceding this work was based on 58 RCT of TBIs for psychosis. We selected the studies that analyzed functioning (N = 23) and quality of life (N = 15). We calculated the standardized mean change (SMC) and applied a three-level model because there were several effect sizes within the same study.ResultsThere were significant differences between TBIs and conventional interventions for functioning (d = 0.25, SE = 0.09, z = 2.72, p = <.01), but not for quality of life (d = 0.14, SE = 0.08, z = 1.78, p = .076) in patients with psychosis.ConclusionsOn average, patients who received TBIs performed better in functioning, but not in quality of life. Functioning is impaired in patients with psychosis, so TBIs should be considered a complement and efficacious intervention, highlighting the power of these type of interventions in improving some outcomes.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has become a significant issue in mental healthcare over the past decades as the number of people engaging in excessive and unhealthy gaming increases with each year. Despite its inclusion in the 5th Edition of Diagnostic Statistical Manual and the development of a number of treatment methods that have been designed and tested for IGD, treatment remains a challenge. This review attempts to give an overview of the current state of IGD and its treatment with a specific focus on the potential of technology-based solutions, such as web-based programs, mobile applications, and virtual reality. The review also highlights the need for additional work in the area of treatment development for IGD and the preliminary evidence for the usefulness and importance of technology-based treatment methods which offer unique advantages, such as accessibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness, over other existing treatment options.

To synthesize randomized controlled trial evidence on technology-based interventions' (TBIs) effectiveness for substance use among emerging adults (EA)/college students (CS). Nine electronic databases were searched. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed evidence quality. We used robust variance estimation in meta-regression for effect size synthesis and moderator analysis. Based on 130 studies, the overall between-group effect size was 0.23 (95% CI= 0.18, 0.28). The effect sizes for comparing TBIs with no treatment, standard care, and non-technology interventions were 0.25 (CI=0.19, 0.31), 0.23 (CI=0.15, 0.32), and 0.12 (CI= -0.02, 0.25), respectively. Older participants showed significantly larger effect sizes, and interventions using multiple technologies had larger effects than smartphone-based ones. TBIs are effective in reducing substance use in EA/CS, with outcomes comparable to non-technology interventions and advantages over no treatment and standard care. Future research should address drug-related outcomes, multi-technology approaches, age-appropriate designs, and cultural diversity.

(1) Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most frequent causes of disability among older people. Recently, virtual reality and exergaming have been emerged as promising tools for gait and balance rehabilitation in PD patients. Our purpose is to evaluate an innovative treatment for older patients with PD, based on non-immersive virtual reality exergames, improving gait and balance and reducing falling risk. (2) Methods: Thirty PD patients were recruited and randomly divided into two groups, to receive a traditional rehabilitation (CG) or a technological rehabilitation (TG). (3) Results: A statistical improvement of balance at the end of treatments was observed in both groups (CG: 12.4 ± 0.7 vs. 13.5 ± 0.8, p = 0.017; TG: 13.8 ± 0.5 vs. 14.7 ± 0.4, p = 0.004), while the overall risk of falling was significantly reduced only in the TG (POMA Total: 24.6 ± 0.9 vs. 25.9 ± 0.7, p = 0.010). The results between groups shows that all POMA scores differ in a statistically significant manner in the TG, emphasizing improvement not only in balance but also in gait characteristics (9.7 ± 0.8 vs. 11.4 ± 0.2, p = 0.003). Moreover, TG also improves the psychological sphere, measured thorough MSC-(17.1 ± 0.4 vs. 16.5 ± 0.4, p = 0.034). Although an improvement in FES-I and Gait Speed can be observed, this increase does not turn out to be significant. (4) Conclusions: Results suggest how non-immersive virtual reality exergaming technology offers the opportunity to effectively train cognitive and physical domains at the same time.

Although tobacco use has significantly declined in the general population, traditional tobacco use treatment uptake and success rates remain disproportionately low among people who identify as African American/Black, Hispanic/Latina/o, and American Indian/Alaska Native. Technology-based interventions (TBIs) for tobacco use are promising alternatives to traditional tobacco use treatments. This scoping review aims to investigate the extent to which the use of digital TBIs in tobacco use treatment research promotes health equity among people who identify as African American/Black, Hispanic/Latina/o, and American Indian/Alaska Native. This scoping review identifies US-based studies (between January 2000 and March 2021) that enlist TBIs for tobacco use treatment and include people who identify as African American/Black, Hispanic/Latina/o, and American Indian/Alaska Native at ≥50% of the sample when combined; features studies that are also race and ethnicity conscious; and highlights health equity-promoting insights from included studies. In 85% (22/26) of the studies, the largest proportion of the sample was African American/Black, most participants had low socioeconomic status, and recruitment was most commonly from medical settings. In total, 58% (15/26) of the studies were race and ethnicity conscious, and 67% (10/15) of these studies sought to partner with potential end users. An array of TBIs were represented; however, SMS text messaging was most prevalent. Most TBIs were combined with other evidence-based intervention components (eg, nicotine replacement therapy). Approximately one-third of the studies (8/26, 31%) required participants to have their own device or internet access. The majority were underpowered to detect substantial differences. The modest number of studies, particularly for persons who identify as Hispanic/Latina/o and American Indian/Alaska Native, demonstrates the limited application of TBIs for tobacco use and that additional research is needed to determine the extent to which TBIs for tobacco use promote health equity among these populations. RR2-10.2196/34508.

In the United States, racial and ethnic disparities in substance use treatment outcomes are persistent, especially among underrepresented minority (URM) populations. Technology-based interventions (TBIs) for substance use treatment show promise in reducing barriers to evidence-based treatment, yet no studies have described how TBIs may impact racial or ethnic health equity. This study explored whether TBIs in substance use treatment research promote health equity among people who identify as African American or Black, Hispanic or Latino, and American Indian or Alaska Native through their inclusion in research. We explored whether research that includes the aforementioned groups consciously considers race and/or ethnicity beyond including these populations as participants. We conducted a scoping review of 5 electronic databases to identify TBIs in substance use treatment studies published in English between January 2000 and March 2021. Studies were included if ≥50% of participants identified as African American or Black, Hispanic or Latino, or American Indian or Alaska Native when combined. Included studies were evaluated for conscious consideration of race and ethnicity in at least one manuscript section. Finally, we conducted a critical appraisal of each study's potential to facilitate insights into the impact of a TBI for members of specific URM groups. Of 6897 titles and abstracts screened and 1158 full-text articles assessed for eligibility, nearly half (532/1158, 45.9%) of the full-text articles were excluded due to the absence of data on race, ethnicity, or not meeting the aforementioned demographic eligibility criteria. Overall, 110 studies met the inclusion criteria. Study designs included 39.1% (43/110) randomized trials, and 35.5% (39/110) feasibility studies. In total, 47.3% (52/110) of studies used computer-based interventions, including electronic screening, brief interventions, and referrals to treatment, whereas 33.6% (37/110) used interactive voice response, ecological momentary assessment or interventions, or SMS text messaging via mobile phones. Studies focused on the following substances: alcohol or drugs (45/110, 40.9%), alcohol alone (26/110, 23.6%), opioids (8/110, 7.3%), cannabis (6/110, 5.5%), cocaine (4/110, 3.6%), and methamphetamines (3/110, 2.7%). Of the studies that consciously considered race or ethnicity (29/110, 26.4%), 6.4% (7/110) explicitly considered race or ethnicity in all manuscript sections. Overall, 28.2% (31/110) of the studies were critically appraised as having a high confidence in the interpretability of the findings for specific URM groups. While the prevalence of TBIs in substance use treatment has increased recently, studies that include and consciously consider URM groups are rare, especially for American Indian or Alaska Native and Hispanic or Latino groups. This review highlights the limited research on TBIs in substance use treatment that promotes racial and ethnic health equity and provides context, insights, and direction for researchers working to develop and evaluate digital technology substance use interventions while promoting health equity.