Joshua H. West

Brigham Young University

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Cougar Hall

Brigham Young University

Benjamin T. Crookston

Brigham Young University

Scott Torres

RTI International

Kirk A. Dearden

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

Mary Linehan

Brigham Young University

Cameron Lister

University of Louisville

Taylor H. Hoj

Brigham Young University

Carl L. Hanson

Brigham Young University

Rosemary Thackeray

Brigham Young University

Randy M. Page

Brigham Young University

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Brigham Young University

146

University of California, San Diego

San Diego State University

University of Utah

Universidad de Las Américas

Harvard University

Virginia Commonwealth University

Emory University

Utah Department of Health

University of the Americas

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Using technology to access health information: greater WASH knowledge/behaviors in Indonesian mothers

European Journal of Public Health (2020)

Emmalene Beckstead Heidi Jane Niedfeldt Emily Chahalis Mindy Jensen Britton Reher

Abstract Background Despite attention, childhood stunting in Indonesia persists. Proper WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) practices help lower childhood stunting. As internet access in Indonesia grows, seeking health information online is increasing. However, research on using technology to increase WASH knowledge and behaviors in Indonesia is limited. The purpose of this study is to assess whether Indonesian women using technology to access health information have higher WASH knowledge and behaviors. Methods 1,740 mothers with children under the age of two were randomly selected with three-stage cluster sampling. They were surveyed and interviewed about handwashing and sanitary defecation benefits, steps, and practices. Adjusted and unadjusted logistic and linear regression models were used to compare WASH outcomes between those who used technology to access health information and the control group. The models controlled for mother's age, mother's education, and total household income. Results Participants who used technology to access health information were more likely to know the benefits (OR = 2.603; CI = 1.666-4.067) and five critical times (OR = 1.217; CI=.969-1.528) of proper handwashing. Mothers were more likely to know the risks of open defecation (OR = 1.627; CI = 1.170-2.264) and understand disease transmission from stool (OR = 1.894; CI = 1.438-2.495). Those using technology to access health information were more likely to report using a gooseneck, squat toilet, septic tank, or closed ground to discard feces than the control group (OR = 3.858; CI = 2.628-5.665). Conclusions Using technology to access health information was associated with increased handwashing and defecation knowledge and safe elimination of feces. It was not associated with an increase in handwashing with soap. Technology can be used to increase WASH knowledge and behavior, but further research is needed to effectively use technology to increase optimal handwashing behaviors. Key messages Increasing technology access may encourage good water, sanitation and hygiene behavior change. Using technology to access health information yielded safer defecation practices but not better handwashing practices. Further research is needed.

Open defecation

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.686

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Citations (1)

Three-month Mortality Outcomes Of Patients With Acute Heart Failure According To Urinary Sodium Excretion

Journal of Cardiac Failure (2025)

Janét Cole Michele Golino Joshua H. West Emily Federmann Roshanak Markley

10.1016/j.cardfail.2024.10.291

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C U L8ter: YouTube Distracted Driving PSAs Use of Behavior Change Theory

American Journal of Health Behavior (2013)

Mindy Steadman Melanie S. Chao Jessica T. Strong M. Sharon Maxwell Joshua H. West

To examine the inclusion of health behavior theory in distracted driving PSAs on YouTube.com.Two-hundred fifty PSAs were assessed using constructs from 4 prominent health behavior theories. A total theory score was calculated for each video. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with higher theory scores.PSAs were generally lacking in theoretical content. Video length, use of rates/statistics, driving scenario depiction, and presence of a celebrity were positively associated with theory inclusion.Collaboration between health experts and PSA creators could be fostered to produce more theory-based distracted driving videos on YouTube.com.

Distracted driving

Depiction

Health behavior

10.5993/ajhb.38.1.1

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Citations (11)

Mountain biker attitudes and perceptions of eMTBs (electric-mountain bikes)

Sport Sciences for Health (2019)

Robert A. Chaney Cougar Hall Ashley R. Crowder Benjamin T. Crookston Joshua H. West

Acknowledgement

Popularity

Visitor pattern

Confusion

10.1007/s11332-019-00555-z

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There’s an App for That: Content Analysis of Paid Health and Fitness Apps

Journal of Medical Internet Research (2012)

Joshua H. West Cougar Hall Carl L. Hanson Michael Barnes Christophe Giraud-Carrier

Background: The introduction of Apple's iPhone provided a platform for developers to design third-party apps, which greatly expanded the functionality and utility of mobile devices for public health. Objective: This study provides an overview of the developers' written descriptions of health and fitness apps and appraises each app's potential for influencing behavior change. Methods: Data for this study came from a content analysis of health and fitness app descriptions available on iTunes during February 2011. The Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT) and the Precede-Proceed Model (PPM) were used as frameworks to guide the coding of 3336 paid apps. Results: Compared to apps with a cost less than US $0.99, apps exceeding US $0.99 were more likely to be scored as intending to promote health or prevent disease (92.55%, 1925/3336 vs 83.59%, 1411/3336; P<.001), to be credible or trustworthy (91.11%, 1895/3336 vs 86.14%, 1454/3349; P<.001), and more likely to be used personally or recommended to a health care client (72.93%, 1517/2644 vs 66.77%, 1127/2644; P<.001). Apps related to healthy eating, physical activity, and personal health and wellness were more common than apps for substance abuse, mental and emotional health, violence prevention and safety, and sexual and reproductive health. Reinforcing apps were less common than predisposing and enabling apps. Only 1.86% (62/3336) of apps included all 3 factors (ie, predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing). Conclusions: Development efforts could target public health behaviors for which few apps currently exist. Furthermore, practitioners should be cautious when promoting the use of apps as it appears most provide health-related information (predisposing) or make attempts at enabling behavior, with almost none including all theoretical factors recommended for behavior change.

mHealth

10.2196/jmir.1977

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Citations (316)

Determinants of better health: a cross-sectional assessment of positive deviants among women in West Bengal

BMC Public Health (2013)

Katelyn N.G. Long Lisa H. Gren Chris A. Rees Joshua H. West Cougar Hall

Rural women in West Bengal have been found to have low rates of formal education, poor health knowledge, high rates of malnutrition and anemia, and low levels of empowerment. Despite these difficult circumstances, some women have positive health outcomes compared to women with similarly disadvantaged backgrounds. The purpose of this study is to identify factors associated with positive health outcomes among women with primary education or less. Multivariable regression models were built for outcomes of positive deviance to better characterize the factors in a woman's life that most impact her ability to deviate from the status quo. Positive deviants in this context are shown to be women who are able to earn an income, who have access to information through media sources, and who, despite little schooling, have marginally higher levels of formal education that lead to improved health outcomes. Study findings indicate that positive deviant women in disadvantaged circumstances can achieve positive outcomes amidst a host of contextual barriers that would predict poor health outcomes. Focusing on areas such as enhancing access to media sources, facilitating self-help groups for married women, and promoting prolonged education and delayed marriage for girls may improve health knowledge and behavior among married women with low levels of education.

Biostatistics

Disadvantaged

Positive deviance

10.1186/1471-2458-13-372

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Citations (18)

Adolescent Receptivity to Tobacco Marketing by Racial/Ethnic Groups in California

American Journal of Preventive Medicine (2007)

Joshua H. West Romina A. Romero Dennis R. Trinidad

Tobacco Industry

Odds

Receptivity

10.1016/j.amepre.2007.03.014

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Share Videos, Not Pills: A Content Analysis of Prescription Drug Videos on YouTube for Presence of Behavior Change Theory

Health (2014)

Joshua H. West Cameron Lister Jayne A. Perry Jessica Lyn Church David L. Vance

Objective: To identify the extent to which YouTube.com videos targeting prescription drug abuse include health behavior theory in their content and design. Methods: This study used a content analysis of 209 YouTube.com videos. Coders used an established theory-based instrument to rate each video’s inclusion of theoretical constructs from four prominent health behavior theories. Each YouTube.com video was coded for twenty-two theoretical items, which were summed to create a total theory score. Results: The mean theory score of videos was 3.26 out of a possible 22. Among the top 10% of videos with highest theory scores, social cognitive theory constructs were coded most often and transtheoretical constructs were coded least often. Conclusion: It is not unexpected that YouTube.com videos are largely void of theoretical content since these videos are made by a variety of organizations and sources that may not be trained in the application of health behavior theories. There is an opportunity for the organizations that create these videos to collaborate with health and behavior change experts in creating videos with more theoretical constructs, possibly resulting in better health outcomes.

Transtheoretical model

Content (measure theory)

Pill

10.4236/health.2014.611154

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Multi-country, cross-national comparison of youth suicide ideation: Findings from Global School-based Health Surveys

School Psychology International (2013)

Randy M. Page Jacqueline Saumweber Cougar Hall Benjamin T. Crookston Joshua H. West

This study describes the prevalence of suicide ideation in 109 Global School-based Health Surveys (GSHS) conducted from 2003–2010 representing 49 different countries and 266,694 school-attending students aged 13–15 years primarily living in developing areas of the World. Prevalence of suicide ideation varied widely among and between countries, regions, and by gender, with an overall mean prevalence of suicide ideation of 15.3%. When grouped by region, Africa had the highest percentage of participants reporting suicide ideation (19.8%). The wide variability in the prevalence of suicide ideation found in this study confirms that school psychologists and counselors must be prepared to deal with the unique needs and characteristics of the specific populations of youth they serve, as the needs are likely to vary substantially from locality to locality, and country to country.

Ideation

Suicide ideation

10.1177/0143034312469152

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Citations (49)

OBSERVATIONS ON INJURIES OF THE HEAD.

The Lancet (1862)

Joshua H. West

10.1016/s0140-6736(02)58575-5

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