Using Ecological Momentary Assessment to Study Tobacco Behavior in Urban India: There's an App for That.

摘要: Background: Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) uses real-time data collection to assess participants’ behaviors and environments. This paper explores the strengths limitations of using EMA examine social environmental exposure tobacco in urban India among older adolescents adults. Objective: Objectives this study were (1) describe methods used an use a mobile phone app for collection, (2) determine feasibility chosen setting by drawing on participant completion compliance rates with protocol, (3) provide recommendations implementing research other low- middle-income countries. Methods: Via phones Internet, two surveys: survey, sent multiple times per day at random participants, which asked about their (smoked smokeless) pro- antitobacco messaging location, 2) end-of-day survey end each day. Trained from Hyderabad Kolkata, India, reported over 10 consecutive days. examined compliance, exploring factors related successful surveys validity data. Results: The sample included 205 majority whom male (135/205, 65.9%). Almost half smoked less than daily (56/205, 27.3%) or (43/205, 21.0%), 4.4% (9/205) smokeless products. Participants completed returned 46.87% 73.02% surveys, respectively. Significant predictors employment surveys. End-of-day was only significantly predicted completion. Conclusions: first offers promising results, although more is needed how increase compliance. completion, has lower burden, may be appropriate approach understanding such as within vulnerable populations challenging locations. Compliance also improved increasing number visits, checks, opportunities retraining participants before during collection. [JMIR Res Protoc 2015;4(2):e76]