Utilizing a Smartphone Application to Improve Health & Wellness within Young Adults

Disciplines

Health Policy | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration

Abstract (300 words maximum)

Background: The Cobb and Douglas counties’ youth population have three paramount health and wellness priorities 1.) Stress management or mental health 2.) Nutrition 3.) Physical activity. Unfortunately, there are barriers to these priorities for the youth population. Cost is the primary obstacle, and for some, cost prohibits them from seeking medical attention, eating healthier foods, or administering self-care. Cobb and Douglas counties offer programs to help this population eliminate barriers, but there is a lack of awareness of where and how to receive these benefits. Purpose: This research intends to assess the youth population’s perspective on health and wellness in Cobb and Douglas counties. This assessment provides essential findings to develop a cohesive strategy to remove the constraints and barriers due to the lack of program awareness of the youth population. Method: Cobb and Douglas Public Health (CDPH) conducted focus groups and asked health and wellness questions to a sample group of youth ages 18–28 years old. CDPH shared the qualitative data to help advance this evaluation project. Results: With the youth population, there is a strong distrust of media, insurance companies, government regulations, and pharmaceutical companies. The participants expressed a need for factual and relevant health and wellness information through various media and event channels. In 2019, 96% of people aged 18–29 used smartphones in the United States (Pew Research Center, 2019). The development of an interactive smartphone app would create engagement and awareness of health and wellness services and activities for the youth population and beyond. This awareness could provide a digital platform for continuous innovative growth of programs benefiting the community’s varying demographics.

Academic department under which the project should be listed

WCHHS - Social Work and Human Services

Primary Investigator (PI) Name

Dr. Darlene Xiomara Rodriguez

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Utilizing a Smartphone Application to Improve Health & Wellness within Young Adults

Background: The Cobb and Douglas counties’ youth population have three paramount health and wellness priorities 1.) Stress management or mental health 2.) Nutrition 3.) Physical activity. Unfortunately, there are barriers to these priorities for the youth population. Cost is the primary obstacle, and for some, cost prohibits them from seeking medical attention, eating healthier foods, or administering self-care. Cobb and Douglas counties offer programs to help this population eliminate barriers, but there is a lack of awareness of where and how to receive these benefits. Purpose: This research intends to assess the youth population’s perspective on health and wellness in Cobb and Douglas counties. This assessment provides essential findings to develop a cohesive strategy to remove the constraints and barriers due to the lack of program awareness of the youth population. Method: Cobb and Douglas Public Health (CDPH) conducted focus groups and asked health and wellness questions to a sample group of youth ages 18–28 years old. CDPH shared the qualitative data to help advance this evaluation project. Results: With the youth population, there is a strong distrust of media, insurance companies, government regulations, and pharmaceutical companies. The participants expressed a need for factual and relevant health and wellness information through various media and event channels. In 2019, 96% of people aged 18–29 used smartphones in the United States (Pew Research Center, 2019). The development of an interactive smartphone app would create engagement and awareness of health and wellness services and activities for the youth population and beyond. This awareness could provide a digital platform for continuous innovative growth of programs benefiting the community’s varying demographics.