Papers by Manuel Armayones
Tobacco Prevention and Cessation, Dec 10, 2021
is an open access, peer-reviewed online journal that encompasses all aspects of tobacco use, prev... more is an open access, peer-reviewed online journal that encompasses all aspects of tobacco use, prevention and cessation that can promote a tobacco free society. The aim of the journal is to foster, promote and disseminate research involving tobacco use, prevention, policy implementation at a regional, national or international level, disease development-progression related to tobacco use, tobacco use impact from the cellular to the international level and finally the treatment of tobacco attributable disease through smoking cessation.
JMIR mental health, Oct 15, 2021
Background: Telepsychology is increasingly being incorporated in clinical practice, being offered... more Background: Telepsychology is increasingly being incorporated in clinical practice, being offered in many psychotherapy centers, especially after the impact of the pandemic. However, there seems to be a remarkable discrepancy between the offer, or interest in, and real-world uptake of e-mental health interventions among the population. A critical precondition is clients' willingness to accept and use telepsychology, although this issue has thus far been overlooked in research. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine people's acceptance and use of telepsychology by adopting an extended model of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) that integrates perceived telepsychology advantages and barriers, usefulness perceptions, behavioral intention, and telepsychology use. Methods: An online survey was conducted with a convenience sample of 514 participants. Structural equation models were computed to test a mediation model. Results: Results supported the UTAUT model to explain participants' acceptance and use of telepsychology. They showed a causal chain in which perceived telepsychology advantages and barriers were related to telepsychology use through the perceived usefulness of and intention to use telepsychology. Conclusions: Telepsychology use may be explained according to the UTAUT model when coupled with participants' perceptions of telepsychology advantages and barriers. Mental health stakeholders could consider these factors in order to increase the acceptance and use of telepsychology.
Frontiers in Psychology, Jul 6, 2022
Background: Currently, most people who might need mental health care services do not receive them... more Background: Currently, most people who might need mental health care services do not receive them due to a number of reasons. Many of these reasons can be overcome by telepsychology, in other words, the use of ICT technologies for therapy (e.g., phone, videoconferencing, and apps); given that it facilitates access to specialized interventions. In fact, telepsychology is currently offered as an active service in many psychotherapy centers. However, its usage, how it is perceived, and who uses it are still largely unknown. Objective: The aim of this study was (1) to determine if any pattern exists in the usage of telepsychology and face-to-face psychology, (2) to clarify people's perception of telepsychology in terms of the advantages, barriers and efficacy of online psychotherapy, and (3) to examine usage patterns in terms of individual characteristics and identify patients' profiles. Methods: An online survey was conducted on a convenience sample of 514 subjects recluted by using an online advertisement. The inclusion criteria were: (1) to be older than 18 years old and (2) to answer completely the questionnaire. Cluster analysis, ANOVAs, and discriminant analysis were performed to test our research objectives. Results: Three usage clusters were found: (1) face-to-face psychotherapy (57%; n = 292); (2) non-therapy (36.8%; n = 189); and (3) combined face-to-face psychotherapy and telepsychology (6.4%; n = 33). In addition, the perception of telepsychology varied among usage clusters, but a common perception emerged about the main telepsychology advantages, barriers and efficacy. Finally, the results showed that personal characteristics differentiated people in each of these clusters. Conclusion: The most common form of access to psychotherapy is the face-to-face form but the second way of delivery was a combination between face to face and online psychotherapy (research objective 1). People who combine face to face with online psychotherapy perceives this last as more efficient and with less barriers to access (research objective 2). Finally, some characteristic as eHealth experience and sociodemographic variables can help to identify people that will attend telepsychology initiatives (research objective 3). These clusters provide insight into opportunities for face-to-face and online patient engagement strategies.
Frontiers in Psychology, Jan 25, 2023
Introduction: People with disabilities experience loneliness to a greater extent than people with... more Introduction: People with disabilities experience loneliness to a greater extent than people without disabilities. To better understand this problem, we have conducted a systematic review of studies that involved disability and loneliness. The aims are to research what loneliness is and to conceptualize and define it in the context of disability, and the intervention strategies that have been developed. Methods: The research protocol is based on the PRISMA guidelines. Two hundred and eighty-one papers were screened and 75 reports were assessed for eligibility. Results: We have not found whether loneliness in disability is a single construct or a collection of various subtypes. We have found that there are protective factors against loneliness in disabled people, such as having a job or living in an environment without physical barriers. Discussion: In terms of the interventions for people with disabilities, the same strategies have been adopted as for the non-disabled: social skills training, enhanced social support, opportunities for interactions, and cognitive training.
Frontiers in Psychology
IntroductionPeople with disabilities experience loneliness to a greater extent than people withou... more IntroductionPeople with disabilities experience loneliness to a greater extent than people without disabilities. To better understand this problem, we have conducted a systematic review of studies that involved disability and loneliness. The aims are to research what loneliness is and to conceptualize and define it in the context of disability, and the intervention strategies that have been developed.MethodsThe research protocol is based on the PRISMA guidelines. Two hundred and eighty-one papers were screened and 75 reports were assessed for eligibility.ResultsWe have not found whether loneliness in disability is a single construct or a collection of various subtypes. We have found that there are protective factors against loneliness in disabled people, such as having a job or living in an environment without physical barriers.DiscussionIn terms of the interventions for people with disabilities, the same strategies have been adopted as for the non-disabled: social skills training, ...
BackgroundUnsafe sex is one of the main morbidity and mortality risk factors associated with sexu... more BackgroundUnsafe sex is one of the main morbidity and mortality risk factors associated with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in young people. Behavioral change interventions for promoting safe sex have lacked specificity and theoretical elements about behavior in their designs, which may have affected the outcomes for HIV/AIDS and STI prevention, as well as for safe sex promotion. This study offers an analysis of the barriers and facilitators that, according to the university students who participated in the focus groups, impede or promote the success of interventions promoting a healthy sexuality from the perspective of the actions stakeholders should undertake. In turn, this study proposes intervention hypotheses based on the Behavior Change Wheel which appears as a useful strategy for the design of intervention campaigns. MethodsTwo focus groups were organized with students from Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH). The focus groups gathered information about the perce...
Vaccination prevents an estimated 2.5 million deaths worldwide each year (European Commision and ... more Vaccination prevents an estimated 2.5 million deaths worldwide each year (European Commision and World Health Organization, 2019). Nowadays in countries with high vaccination levels, parents ponder about vaccinating their children (Domínguez et al., 2018; Moran, Lucas, Everhart, Morgan, & Prickett, 2016). This is a global problem that risks 90% national minimum vaccination coverage (95% for measles) (WHO Library Cataloguing-in-Publication, 2013). It involves a hazard for children and adults' life who cannot be vaccinated as well as for those people who reject vaccination. Non-vaccination advocacy people strive to persuade hesitant parents through online videos, a communication source whose consumption is increasing. This research aims to unveil persuasive traits in provaccination and anti-vaccination Youtube videos to provide some hints for future online campaigns to counteract vaccine hesitancy. We will go through nine analysis layers of the content of the videos with pro-vacci...
This report documents the findings of the study on the potential of ICT in supporting the provisi... more This report documents the findings of the study on the potential of ICT in supporting the provision of domiciliary care in Spain, with particular attention to the case of immigrant care workers and informal caregivers. This country study was launched by JRC-IPTS in 2008 in parallel with two complementary country studies, assessing the situation in Germany and the UK, with the same focus and objectives. All three studies were prompted by the findings of a previous exploratory study on the use of ICT by immigrant care workers in Italy. In Spain, the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) for health and social care is playing an increasingly important role in the context of the demographic changes. As, on the one hand, people are getting older and the need for care is increasing, and, on the other hand, the number of formal and informal caregivers is decreasing, technical devices are seen as a possible solution to this dilemma. At the same time, people in need of care and ...
Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, 2019
Background: Given the inherent complexity of rare paediatric diseases and the sensitive emotional... more Background: Given the inherent complexity of rare paediatric diseases and the sensitive emotional context of the situations they create (due to the patients' age and the tense uncertainty surrounding the progression of the disease), communication between the adults involved is a key tool in the efforts to provide these children and youths a better quality of life. We conducted ten interviews with families of children with rare diseases, in the aim of exploring how communication between doctors and patients affect their daily lives. All participants, members of FEDER (a Spanish federation of associations of patients with rare diseases) were invited by phone or email to participate in a semi-structured interview including questions on clinical information, communication experiences with healthcare professionals, and the impact these had on the interviewees' relationships with them. To analyse these interviews, we used the 'grounded theory' methodology and open and axial text coding techniques, in addition to those identifying the properties and dimensions of the categories formulated. Results: The core category we have proposed is 'adjustment of mutual trust', with said category describing the attitude and behaviour of doctors who inspire trust in the parents of paediatric patients diagnosed with a rare disease. More specifically, said behaviours or sources of trust are: appearing human, sensitive and empathetic; showing transparency and communicative openness; being supportive of parental proactivity; and being available to families at all times. Conclusions: Trust is the cornerstone of parent-doctor communication in the field of children with rare diseases. If the sources of trust are present, they create a degree of trust that bolsters both parties in the search for a common goal: providing the child with the best possible care.
Gaceta Sanitaria, 2013
Objetivo: Conocer las características de los grupos de Facebook relacionados con la alimentación ... more Objetivo: Conocer las características de los grupos de Facebook relacionados con la alimentación saludable. Método: Estudio observacional transversal en Internet. Mediante el API de Facebook se seleccionaron los grupos abiertos en español relacionados con alimentación saludable. Variables estudiadas: nombre, descripción, categoría, número y sexo de los usuarios, fecha de creación, número de posts, contenido de los primeros 20 posts y última actualización. Resultados: Se identificaron 281 grupos abiertos, pero se excluyeron 125 por no haber posts en el muro o no estar relacionados con alimentación saludable. Finalmente se incluyeron 156 grupos con 14.619 usuarios (10.373 mujeres [71%] y 3919 hombres [26,8%]). El 40% de los grupos promocionaban productos dietéticos. Conclusiones: Facebook se utiliza como medio de comunicación y para compartir información sobre alimentación. Se encontró un gran número de grupos que promocionan la venta de productos dietéticos, que hacen dudar de su utilidad para la educación en salud. Las entidades sanitarias deberían participar en las redes sociales.
Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), Sep 1, 2019
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Papers by Manuel Armayones