Modeling human health behavior with a new index that measures connectivity.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Health behavior is an important determinant of health. Adherence to medication and abstinence from harmful substances are two critical health behaviors. Although conceptually related, both are assessed using disparate measures. The goal of this study was to develop and test a new index, gamma, which models health behavior by quantifying the connectedness of discrete incidents of health behavior.

Study design and setting

We derive gamma from first principles and use it to reanalyze data from a published trial of treatment for alcohol use disorders. We model a primary endpoint, changes in binge drinking, using gamma and a traditional measure: change in number of monthly binges. The original trial was conducted in an urban hospital emergency department in the U.S.

SUBMITTER: Bernstein SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10201843 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature