Momentary Factors and Study Characteristics Associated With Participant Burden and Protocol Adherence: Ecological...

Area of Science:

• Mobile Health
• Public Health Research
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is a mobile health study design for understanding dynamic environments.
• Numerous EMA design choices can increase participant burden and affect adherence, limiting data usability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify study design, participant attributes, and momentary factors influencing self-reported burden and adherence in EMA studies.
• To identify key factors for optimizing EMA implementation in diverse populations.

Main Methods:

• Examined EMA data from the Phase 1 Family Matters Study (n=150 diverse caregivers).
• Assessed daily burden using a Likert scale and adherence by completion of signal-, event-, and end-of-day surveys.
• Utilized time-series models to evaluate correlates of end-of-day study burden, including stress, mood, and sociodemographic factors.

Main Results:

• Average burden was low (1.2/4), but higher for caregivers with chronic stress, in immigrant households, and non-English speaking homes.
• Nonadherence correlated with increased burden, decaying by the second day.
• Momentary factors like depressed mood and increased stress positively associated with burden.

Conclusions:

• EMA can capture momentary experiences in diverse, immigrant populations with minimal burden.
• Tailoring EMA to caregiver language and considering sociodemographics are crucial for data quality.
• Momentary stress and mood significantly impact EMA burden and adherence, highlighting the need for careful study design.