Data Deficiency

Hi everyone, 

Week 4 has brought a few more updates that I’m excited to share with you guys! As I mentioned in previous blog posts, a shift from introducing just one app to multiple apps in the veterans’ addiction recovery process has changed the premise of my project, but the methodology is almost the same. Through our approach involving individual consultations, app demos, and weekly demos, we have been starting off with collecting data. My first app demo was last week with a veteran using Insomnia Coach, and I will be checking in with him this week. I am also making another trip to the VA on Wednesday in order to conduct a sort of “office hours” session where I can show multiple more veterans how to use their respective apps. With more data collected, we can find self-reported baseline observations, app usage metrics, and qualitative feedback from participants.

The data we have right now provides indications of engagement levels and early impressions of app effectiveness, but it does not yet allow us to draw definitive conclusions regarding the long-term impact of the apps on rehabilitation outcomes. To confirm or refute our hypothesis about the effectiveness of the selected apps in enhancing addiction rehabilitation for veterans, we need additional data over an extended period. 

Specifically, I need longitudinal data – a more extended period will enable us to track changes in veterans’ behavior, sleep patterns, anger management skills, and mindfulness practices. This will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the apps’ sustained effects on rehabilitation outcomes. In addition to qualitative feedback, we need quantitative metrics to assess the apps’ efficacy objectively. This includes measures of sleep quality, anger management techniques utilization, mindfulness practice frequency, and overall well-being indicators. By quantifying these outcomes, we can more accurately evaluate the apps’ impact on veterans’ rehabilitation progress. Additionally, comparative analysis, or comparing data across different app groups and with control groups (e.g., veterans not using the apps), will help us assess the relative effectiveness of each app and identify any unique benefits or limitations. This will provide insights into which apps are most beneficial for specific rehabilitation goals.