Improving Predictability and Effectiveness in Preventive Digital Health Interventions: Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Public Health Interventions
• Health Behavior Change

Background:

• Lifestyle diseases pose significant public health challenges, increasing mortality and healthcare costs.
• Preventive digital health interventions (P-DHIs) show potential but have mixed results and implementation barriers.
• Scaling P-DHIs for predictable outcomes remains a challenge due to adoption and implementation factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance understanding of increasing outcome predictability for P-DHIs.
• To improve the effectiveness of large-scale P-DHI implementations.
• Focus on physical activity and diet behaviors within P-DHIs.

Main Methods:

• Multidisciplinary scoping review guided by PRISMA-ScR methodology.
• Searched Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar for relevant English-language articles.
• Utilized information systems theory, public health, and mHealth literature to develop the P-DHI investment model.

Main Results:

• 203 articles met eligibility criteria, employing diverse research methodologies.
• The developed P-DHI investment model identifies key constructs for improving outcome predictability.
• The model highlights factors crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of large-scale P-DHI implementations.

Conclusions:

• Reporting empirical studies with the P-DHI investment model's constructs can improve outcome predictability.
• The P-DHI investment model can guide evaluation and design for more effective large-scale implementations.
• Cost-effectiveness of large-scale P-DHI implementations is uncertain due to complexity and lack of coordinated control.