Page 59 - JSOM Summer 2024

FIGURE 8 Individual and group average cognitive ability test scores (administered weekly): (A) cognitive inhibition (Stroop test), (B) reaction
time (Simple reaction time test), (C) visual attention (Trail Making Test), (D) spatial memory (Spatial Span test), (E) motor capability (Tapping
Speed test). (F) Shows repeated cognitive inhibition scores across time comparing one individual versus the group average.
(A)
(B) (C)

(D)
(E) (F)

family measures in line with the POTFF program, which is par- individuals who need educational intervention through digital
ticularly important to military populations. This measurement education and therapies using novel methodologies like ma-
of disparate and key factors associated with Servicemember chine learning and artificial intelligence (AI). 23
health and human performance is a novel finding.
Many consumer devices now have medical-grade diagnostics
In addition to the known fact that individuals within the same that enable the measurement of health and human perfor-
Battalion or Special Forces group vary by age and military ex- mance. Arrhythmia detection, oxygen sensing, and fall detec-
perience, the study found variability in their defining person- tion provide early identification of health conditions that are
ality attributes. The study also found important cross-group either symptomatic or asymptomatic. These features use soft-
similarities and differences in these same characteristics. Indi- ware and devices that alert the user and medical teams that a
viduals set similar goals in aggregate, dominated by improved safety event has occurred so that rapid triage and treatment
sleep, nutrition, and fitness. can be available. Providing this knowledge to individuals al-
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lows them to be the first to detect an issue, which can drive
The study is timely, as the wearable fitness tracker market is behavior change and improve understanding of an impending
growing and expected to continue to grow by 20% yearly, health event. This is a paradigm shift for healthcare, which usu-
with most of that growth in wearable technology. The study ally waits for the full expression of a syndrome before pushing
21
showed that this hardware can be elevated from a fitness forward with diagnostics or intervention. Consumer technol-
tracker to a user-facing healthcare diagnostic, educational, and ogy was utilized in managing COVID-19 prior to symptom ex-
22
delivery system when coupled with custom-built software. pression and infectious status by identifying early biomarkers
The study was also able to identify individuals at the mar- of infection, such as sleep disruption, elevated heart rate, or
gins who expressed high levels of generalized anxiety, PTSD, breathing and oxygen changes that allowed for earlier isola-
and concern relative to their chronic pain. These insights are tion. The ability to monitor a patient’s status at home with
critical because they deliver digital therapies and education wearable sensors was also beneficial in limiting exposure of
to help mitigate those symptoms through education, track- infectious patients in the hospital setting. 24,25
ing, and overall awareness. Additionally and importantly, the
application can showcase how anxiety, for example, impacts Finally, the application and data provided a means for Service-
physiologic metrics like sleep, fitness training, daily stress, members, during the study duration, to keep a rolling log of
or connectedness to family and peers. These data could help their holistic loads over time. Ultimately, this type of personal
individuals understand how certain feelings or behaviors im- health record could greatly assist Servicemembers as they as-
pact them holistically in real time. It could also allow com- sess their health over the course of their military career, and
mand structures to understand individual needs and tailor this rich record can be accessed and provide an important re-
resources to those that need them. These insights could tar- source when making future decisions. 26
get the allotment of resources to those in need and reduce
waste. Future Studies
The next version of Digital cORA (2.0) will feature enhanced
If the study tools and methodology are made available to larger digital content and provide further individualization and depth
groups of military personnel, it could enable leadership to ob- to the individual insights by leveraging the data from Digi-
tain a real-time snapshot of the mental and physical status of tal cORA 1.0. This version will include tailored short-form
those under their command. An interesting issue is whether the educational videos made for and by the military community.
data collected need to be identified or can be kept anonymous It will test whether that form of engagement and on-demand
when they are shared with command or other team members. education drives improved adherence to the app along with
The benefits of de-identified data include the preservation of behavioral change. It will also integrate other wearable sen-
privacy and a higher incidence of accurate disclosure. It may sors so that Servicemembers can “bring their own device”
be possible to maintain de-identification and still target those (BYOD) and will incorporate measures of metabolic function

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