# Optimizing Self-Monitoring Smartphone App to Promote Adherence to COVID-19 Preventative Behaviors in African Americans

> **NIH NIH R01** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $370,183

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
As the United States faces a rise in known COVID-19 cases, an innovative strategy that expands community
adherence to CDC recommended preventative behaviors (e.g., hand washing and social distancing) is crucial
to controlling the COVID-19 pandemic and saving lives. Given the vaccine and specific antiviral treatment for
COVID-19 will take months or years to finalize, preventive behaviors remain the most effective strategy thus
far.
Adapted from the ecological momentary assessment (EMA) used in the parent R01 for smartphones, we plan
to develop a self-monitoring EMA (SM-EMA) intervention to collect real-time behavior data and promote
adherence to COVID-19 preventative behaviors. The central hypothesis of this study is that tailored-feedback
messages via SM-EMA, a theory-based intervention, will improve knowledge and self-efficacy, which will
consequently lead to self-guided implementation of CDC-recommended preventative behaviors.
The proposed research addresses the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on African Americans who are a
particularly vulnerable population. It is innovative in its large-scale testing of a novel SM-EMA to reinforce
preventive behaviors and its examination of the sustainability of engagement. The mobile-enabled SM-EMA
intervention will involve tapering pop-up messages, behavioral self-monitoring and tailored-feedback. SM-EMA
development has begun during the preparation of this application, so our team is well-prepared to immediately
implement the study once funded.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10156961
- **Project number:** 3R01AG056587-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Chao Hsing Yeh
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $370,183
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-08-01 → 2023-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10156961

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10156961, Optimizing Self-Monitoring Smartphone App to Promote Adherence to COVID-19 Preventative Behaviors in African Americans (3R01AG056587-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10156961. Licensed CC0.

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