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Methodological challenges in systematic reviews of mHealth interventions: Survey and consensus-based recommendations.

Lopez-Alcalde, Jesus; Wieland, L Susan; Barth, Jürgen; Grainger, Rebecca; Baxter, Nancy; Heron, Neil; Triantafyllidis, Andreas; Carrion, Carme; Trecca, Eleonora M C; Holl, Felix; Wägner, Ana Maria; Edney, Sarah; Yan, Yuqian; Campos-Asensio, Concepción; Villanueva, Gemma; Ramsey, Rachelle R; Witt, Claudia M

Authors

Jesus Lopez-Alcalde

L Susan Wieland

Jürgen Barth

Rebecca Grainger

Nancy Baxter

Neil Heron

Andreas Triantafyllidis

Carme Carrion

Eleonora M C Trecca

Felix Holl

Ana Maria Wägner

Sarah Edney

Yuqian Yan

Concepción Campos-Asensio

Gemma Villanueva

Rachelle R Ramsey

Claudia M Witt



Abstract

Mobile Health (mHealth) refers to using mobile devices to support health. This study aimed to identify specific methodological challenges in systematic reviews (SRs) of mHealth interventions and to develop guidance for addressing selected challenges. Two-phase participatory research project. First, we sent an online survey to corresponding authors of SRs of mHealth interventions. On a five-category scale, survey respondents rated how challenging they found 24 methodological aspects in SRs of mHealth interventions compared to non-mHealth intervention SRs. Second, a subset of survey respondents participated in an online workshop to discuss recommendations to address the most challenging methodological aspects identified in the survey. Finally, consensus-based recommendations were developed based on the workshop discussion and subsequent interaction via email with the workshop participants and two external mHealth SR authors. We contacted 953 corresponding authors of mHealth intervention SRs, of whom 50 (5 %) completed the survey. All the respondents identified at least one methodological aspect as more or much more challenging in mHealth intervention SRs than in non-mHealth SRs. A median of 11 (IQR 7.25-15) out of 24 aspects (46 %) were rated as more or much more challenging. Those most frequently reported were: defining intervention intensity and components (85 %), extracting mHealth intervention details (71 %), dealing with dynamic research with evolving interventions (70 %), assessing intervention integrity (69 %), defining the intervention (66 %) and maintaining an updated review (65 %). Eleven survey respondents participated in the workshop (five had authored more than three mHealth SRs). Eighteen consensus-based recommendations were developed to address issues related to mHealth intervention integrity and to keep mHealth SRs up to date. mHealth SRs present specific methodological challenges compared to non-mHealth interventions, particularly related to intervention integrity and keeping SRs current. Our recommendations for addressing these challenges can improve mHealth SRs. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.]

Citation

Lopez-Alcalde, J., Wieland, L. S., Barth, J., Grainger, R., Baxter, N., Heron, N., …Witt, C. M. (2024). Methodological challenges in systematic reviews of mHealth interventions: Survey and consensus-based recommendations. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 184, Article 105345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2024.105345

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jan 18, 2024
Online Publication Date Jan 29, 2024
Publication Date 2024-04
Deposit Date Feb 26, 2024
Journal International journal of medical informatics
Print ISSN 1386-5056
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 184
Article Number 105345
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2024.105345
Keywords Survey, Systematic reviews, Meta-analysis, Digital health, eHealth



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