Preventing the Obesity Epidemic by Second Generation Tailored Health Communication: An Interdisciplinary Review

The basis of the powerful operation of the brain is the variability of neuron operation, i.e., it can be digital or analog, and the logic operation of a neuron-based system can be parallel and series. The challenge is to set up an artificial intelligent architecture that mimics neuro-biological architectures present in the nervous system. Our proposed new active device (phonon transistor = phonsistor) and thermal electric logic circuit (TELC) seem to be appropriate devices for neuron modeling. Key elements of the phonsistor and TELC are memristors realized by VO₂ phase change output resistors integrated with dissipating elements as inputs. These components are coupled to each other by thermal and/or electrical effects. On short distances, the information can be carried by heat diffusion and on longer distances by electrical signals. This is a similarity with human neurons where the information is carried by diffusing neurotransmitter molecules on short distances and electrically by the axons on longer distances. For example, very new ideas are presented of neuromorphic circuits for mimicking the biological neuron synapse operation and the action potential generation. Further similarities with biological neural systems are the auto-oscillation phenomenon with chaotic properties, the ability of integrating subthreshold excitations within the thermal time constant, and the memory effect of the memristive components. The TELC should be compatible with CMOS technology, as the realization of both systems utilizes conventional thin-film technology steps at similar temperature ranges. The physical appearance and construction of the TELC gate are also similar to the neuron.

Journal of Medical Internet Research - International Scientific Journal for Medical Research, Information and Communication on the Internet #Preprint #PeerReviewMe: Warning: This is a unreviewed preprint. Readers are warned that the document has not been peer-reviewed by expert/patient reviewers or an academic editor, may contain misleading claims, and is likely to undergo changes before final publication, if accepted, or may have been rejected/withdrawn. Readers with interest and expertise are encouraged to sign up as peer-reviewer, if the paper is within an open peer-review period. Please cite this preprint only for review purposes or for grant applications and CVs (if you are the author). Background: Health literacy research seems to lack a consensus on what aspects to include into ‘literacy’ in the context of health, and on how to operationalize these concepts for measurement purposes. In addition to health literacy, several other concepts, such as eHealth literacy and mental health literacy, have been developed across disciplines. This study examines how these different concepts are used when studying health related competencies in online contexts. Objective: This study systematically reviews health literacy concepts and definitions, and their operationalization in studies focused on online environments. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in April 2016 in six electronic databases with a limitation to articles in English published between January 2011 and April 2016. Altogether, 1289 unique records were identified and screened according to the predefined inclusion criteria: (a) original, peer-reviewed research articles written in English, (b) the topic of the article concerned literacy in the context of health, (c) informants of the study were lay people, not health professionals or students of the field, and (d) the focus of the study was placed on an online environment. In total, 180 full-texts were screened, of which 68 were included in the review. The studies were analyzed with an emphasis on the used health literacy concepts and measures. Results: Based on the included studies, several concepts are in use when studying health related literacy in online environments, eHealth literacy and health literacy being the most common ones. The reviewed studies represent a variety of disciplines, but mostly medical sciences. Typically, quantitative research methods are used. Based on the definitions for health literacy, three thematic categories were identified: general and skills-based, multidimensional, and domain-specific health literacy. Most studies adopted a domain-specific concept, followed by the ones that used a general and skill-based concept. Multidimensional concepts occurred least frequently. The general health literacy concepts were usually operationalized with reading comprehension measures, the domain-specific concepts with self-efficacy measures, and multidimensional concepts with several types of measures. However, inconsistencies in operationalization were identified. Conclusions: The results show that in studies conducted in online environments, several different health literacy concepts are in use, and there is no clear consensus on the definitions for these concepts. Future studies should place emphasis on the conceptual development of health literacy in online contexts to gain better results on operationalization for measurement. Researchers are encouraged to provide clear operational definitions for the concepts they use to ensure transparency in reporting.

Background: Inactive and unhealthy lifestyles are common among adolescent men. The planned intervention examines the effectiveness of an interactive, gamified activation method, based on tailored health information, peer networks and participation, on physical activity, health and wellbeing in young men. We hypothesize that following the intervention the physical activation group will have an improved physical activity, as well as self-determined and measured health compared with the controls. Methods/design: Conscription-aged men (18 years) attending compulsory annual call-ups for military service in the city of Oulu in Finland (n = 1500) will be randomized to a 6-months intervention (n = 640) or a control group (n = 640) during the fall 2013. A questionnaire on health, health behaviour, diet and wellbeing is administered in the beginning and end of the intervention. In addition, anthropometric measures (height, weight and waist circumference), body composition, grip strength, heart rate variability and aerobic fitness will be measured. The activation group utilizes an online gamified activation method in combination with communal youth services, objective physical activity measurement, social networking, tailored health information and exercise programs according to baseline activity level and the readiness of changes of each individual. Daily physical activity of the participants is monitored in both the activation and control groups. The activation service rewards improvements in physical activity or reductions in sedentary behaviour. The performance and completion of the military service of the participants will also be followed. Discussion: The study will provide new information of physical activity, health and health behaviour of young men. Furthermore, a novel model including methods for increasing physical activity among young people is developed and its effects tested through an intervention. This unique gamified service for activating young men can provide a translational model for community use. It can also be utilized as such or tailored to other selected populations or age groups. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01376986

This cross-sectional population-based study aims at identifying differences in the aspects of everyday health information literacy among young healthy men and adults with an increased risk for metabolic syndrome. Data were collected with a self-assessment-based 10-item screening tool administered at the Finnish Defence Force’s call-ups (n=2507, response rate 59%) and at health intervention study (n=571, response rate 98%). Adults with increased risk for metabolic syndrome seemed to value health information but had more difficulty in knowing who to believe in health issues and understanding the terminology used. The difficulties applied especially to respondents 35 years old or over. Men, and especially young men, had lower motivation than women to seek health information. Although the results are indicative, the everyday health information literacy screening tool seems to be useful in revealing areas that health communication should be focused on among different populations.