Feasibility and acceptability of intensive, real-time biobehavioral data collection using ecological momentary assessment, salivary biomarkers, and accelerometers among middle-aged African Americans.

The study included only 12 employed African American adults aged 30 to 55 who already owned smartphones, so it may not apply to patients without phones, shift workers, older adults, or people with conditions that affect saliva or stress hormones. It tested data collection methods, not a treatment, so it cannot show that monitoring stress, saliva, or physical activity improves health. All participants received training, reminders, text-message support, and payments, which may not be available in routine care. Men had a lower survey response rate than women, and some accelerometer data were missing, so adherence may not be uniform. The sample was recruited through church and community leaders in one Connecticut area, so it may not represent other African American communities.

One author, D. A. G., is founder and chief scientific and strategy advisor at Salimetrics LLC and Salivabio LLC; other authors declared no conflicts of interest. The article text does not name a funder.

Do not read the high satisfaction and adherence rates as evidence that this monitoring improves health or that it will work without research staff support. This was a 12-person feasibility pilot with payments, reminders, and technical assistance.