title: Effects of prompts on the frequency of app use: A stress management app for perinatal mental health

authors: Singh, Sukrita

abstract: E-interventions such as smartphone apps may facilitate an alternative treatment for mental health issues. However, often apps are not used after a certain period of time, which limits the potential effectiveness of app intervention programmes. Addition of prompts in app-based programmes may potentially enhance user engagement with apps. ‘Positively Pregnant’ is a smartphone, self-help, interactive app for pregnant women that aims to reduce anxiety, stress and other related problems during the perinatal period. The primary aim of the current study was to test the effectiveness of prompts to increase the app use and also to determine participants’ satisfaction with this stress management app using two groups (guided and non-guided activity). A two-group experimental study design was used on a sample of 88 participants within the New Zealand population. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The guided activity messages were sent to the participants in guided activity group once every day for 44 days; however, both (experimental and control) groups received ‘tip of the day’ (a general positive quote) every day. Participants completed a pre-assessment questionnaire at the time of recruitment. Further assessments were completed at 24 weeks gestation, at 36 weeks gestation and at 1-month postnatal period. Data from ‘satisfaction and app use’ questionnaire for 24-week gestation was analyzed for this study. No significant difference was found in regards to frequency of app use between two groups. On average, participants in the guided activity group did not report using more components of the app than the participants in non-guided group. No significant differences were found on satisfaction with the app, or on willingness to recommend the app to a friend. Results of this study suggest that the prompts may not be an effective tool to enhance user engagement with this sort of app; however, technical factors may have affected results in this pilot study; therefore, replication is desirable, may be considering the use of direct measures to determine if they correspond with the reported measures used in the study.

text: Effects of prompts on the frequency of app use: A stress management app for perinatal mental health E-interventions such as smartphone apps may facilitate an alternative treatment for mental health issues. However, often apps are not used after a certain period of time, which limits the potential effectiveness of app intervention programmes. Addition of prompts in app-based programmes may potentially enhance user engagement with apps. ‘Positively Pregnant’ is a smartphone, self-help, interactive app for pregnant women that aims to reduce anxiety, stress and other related problems during the perinatal period. The primary aim of the current study was to test the effectiveness of prompts to increase the app use and also to determine participants’ satisfaction with this stress management app using two groups (guided and non-guided activity). A two-group experimental study design was used on a sample of 88 participants within the New Zealand population. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The guided activity messages were sent to the participants in guided activity group once every day for 44 days; however, both (experimental and control) groups received ‘tip of the day’ (a general positive quote) every day. Participants completed a pre-assessment questionnaire at the time of recruitment. Further assessments were completed at 24 weeks gestation, at 36 weeks gestation and at 1-month postnatal period. Data from ‘satisfaction and app use’ questionnaire for 24-week gestation was analyzed for this study. No significant difference was found in regards to frequency of app use between two groups. On average, participants in the guided activity group did not report using more components of the app than the participants in non-guided group. No significant differences were found on satisfaction with the app, or on willingness to recommend the app to a friend. Results of this study suggest that the prompts may not be an effective tool to enhance user engagement with this sort of app; however, technical factors may have affected results in this pilot study; therefore, replication is desirable, may be considering the use of direct measures to determine if they correspond with the reported measures used in the study.

year: 2018

title: New Zealand designs law: The case for reform

authors: Kingsbury, Anna

subjects: law

abstract: This article is about New Zealand designs law, considered in an international and comparative context. It argues that New Zealand designs law is unsustainable and in need of reform. New Zealand is a small jurisdiction with a relatively small manufacturing industry, and New Zealand is a net importer of technology. Yet New Zealand operates a designs regime which is more protective of design than jurisdictions with proportionately much larger manufacturing and design based industries. Designs regimes in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom and Europe are all less protective and more conducive to competition and innovation than the existing New Zealand regime. New Zealand operates a designs law regime which is over-protective, which excessively interferes with healthy competition to the disadvantage of consumers, and which imposes excessive burdens on second-comers and follow-on innovation. New Zealand's designs regime also significantly disadvantages New Zealand designers as compared with non-resident designers, and creates obstacles to exporters. The article reviews the international law framework for designs protection, and the regimes in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom and Europe. It argues that reform of the New Zealand designs regime is now overdue, and reviews the reform proposals and processes that have been undertaken over the last two decades.

text: New Zealand designs law: The case for reform This article is about New Zealand designs law, considered in an international and comparative context. It argues that New Zealand designs law is unsustainable and in need of reform. New Zealand is a small jurisdiction with a relatively small manufacturing industry, and New Zealand is a net importer of technology. Yet New Zealand operates a designs regime which is more protective of design than jurisdictions with proportionately much larger manufacturing and design based industries. Designs regimes in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom and Europe are all less protective and more conducive to competition and innovation than the existing New Zealand regime. New Zealand operates a designs law regime which is over-protective, which excessively interferes with healthy competition to the disadvantage of consumers, and which imposes excessive burdens on second-comers and follow-on innovation. New Zealand's designs regime also significantly disadvantages New Zealand designers as compared with non-resident designers, and creates obstacles to exporters. The article reviews the international law framework for designs protection, and the regimes in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom and Europe. It argues that reform of the New Zealand designs regime is now overdue, and reviews the reform proposals and processes that have been undertaken over the last two decades.

year: 2009

title: Ngā waka o tawhiti

authors: Tuaupiki, Jackie Whetumarama

abstract: Mai anō ngā terenga waka a te Māori, ko ōna kōrero tuku iho i whakatauira tuatahingia e ngā atua tonu, taka mai ki te iwi tāngata o Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa. Tā tēnei tuhinga, he wānanga i te mana o te kōrero tuku iho e haupū nei ngā pūrākau terenga waka onamata i takoto ai te tūāpapa mātauranga whakatere mō ngā waka tūpuna i heke iho i Hawaiki ki Aotearoa. Nō reira, ka riariakina ngā pūtoi whakatauiratanga waka a te Māori i ōna atua me ōna tūpuna me te ahunga mai o ana terenga mātāmua, ka aromātai hoki i te takiwā o ngā tau i tauria ai e ōna takere Te Ika-a-Māui e takoto nei.

text: Ngā waka o tawhiti Mai anō ngā terenga waka a te Māori, ko ōna kōrero tuku iho i whakatauira tuatahingia e ngā atua tonu, taka mai ki te iwi tāngata o Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa. Tā tēnei tuhinga, he wānanga i te mana o te kōrero tuku iho e haupū nei ngā pūrākau terenga waka onamata i takoto ai te tūāpapa mātauranga whakatere mō ngā waka tūpuna i heke iho i Hawaiki ki Aotearoa. Nō reira, ka riariakina ngā pūtoi whakatauiratanga waka a te Māori i ōna atua me ōna tūpuna me te ahunga mai o ana terenga mātāmua, ka aromātai hoki i te takiwā o ngā tau i tauria ai e ōna takere Te Ika-a-Māui e takoto nei.

year: 2017