ePST
5.00
App Reviews /
Serenita Review
Credibility
2.67 / 5.00
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Detailsfor
Serenita
Overall Score: 8/15
Consumer Ratings: 1/2
Proposed Goal: 2/2
Evidence Based Content: 1/1
Software Updates: 1/2
Clinical Input in Development: 1/1
Research on Development Process: 1/1
Efficacy of Other Products: 0/1
Research Independence and Review: 1/2
Research Base: 0/3
Rating Date: August 2020
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User Experience
4.10 / 5.00
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Engagement: 4.40 Functionality: 4.00 Aesthetics: 4.00 Information: 4.00 Subjective quality score: 4.00 Perceived impact score: 3.92 Rating date: November 2018 Rated by: Queensland University
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Professional Review
Not Yet AvailableSerenita is designed to help users track and manage their stress. The ‘Stress Check’ feature of the app measures stress levels through the user’s phone camera. Exercises are provided to help reduce stress or increase focus. The ‘Interactive Relax’ exercise begins with gauging stress levels and breathing patterns with a 50-second stress check. A breathing exercise involves a visual guide to show the user when to inhale, hold, and exhale the breath. The user keeps their finger over the camera so that stress levels and breathing patterns across the exercise can be measured. Points are awarded when the user correctly follows the breathing exercise. The ‘Interactive Focus’ exercise works in the same way, but the goal is to improve focus rather than reduce stress, so a different guided breathing pattern is used. The length of the exercises can be customized, up to 5 minutes. Following the exercise, the app provides information on the increase or reduction of stress levels across the exercise. A number of audio tracks can be downloaded; six breathing exercises (ranging from one to 15-minutes) and five meditation exercises (ranging from 12 to 30-minutes). The ‘trend’ feature provides a graph of the user’s progress on each exercise over time, and some general tips on stress management are also provided. There are five sessions of each exercise included in the free app; additional sessions are associated with a paid subscription. Users are required to create an account to start using the app. There are options to set up a daily reminder for the exercises.
Technical Details
Available for: Requires iOS 8.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Requires Android 4.2 and up.
Developer: ECO-FUSION NORTH AMERICA, INC
Type of Treatment: Mindfulness, Symptom Tracking/Self-Monitoring
Targeted Conditions: Stress and Anxiety
Target Audience: Not Specified
Designed to be used in conjunction with a professional? No
Languages Available: English, Hebrew, Traditional Chinese
Cost: Free with in-app purchases
Get it on: Apple App Store, Google Play
Research on this App
A prospective study assessed the effect of Serenita in the care of type 2 diabetes patients. Serenita encourages deep diaphragmatic breathing and coherence breathing. The single-arm pilot study included 9 adults (18 years of age or older) who had type 2 diabetes for at least 1 year. Collected measures included HbA1c, triglycerides (TG), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 7-point daily glycemic profile, weight, and blood from baseline to week 8. Compliance with app use was also monitored in addition to completing the SF-12 questionnaire, which examines lifestyle. Baseline assessment included a physical and gathering the patient’s medical history. Dietary counseling was provided in accordance to the American Diabetes Associations (ADA) guidelines by a registered dietician. The patients received weekly check-in calls over the course of 8 weeks, and monthly calls until 16 weeks. At 16 weeks, patients returned to the clinic where anthropometric measures, blood tests, and 7-point glucose measurements were reassessed. It was found that the patients had an improvement in weight, blood pressure, and glycemic profile while receiving standard care and using the Serenita app. (Munster-Segev, Fuerst, Kaplan, & Cahn. 2017. https://mhealth.jmir.org/2017/5/e75/)
