Participant App Settings

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Welcome to Avicenna! This guide will help you get started with the Avicenna participant app, from installation to daily usage. Whether you’re participating in a research study or just want to understand how the app works, this guide covers everything you need to know.

Getting Started

The Avicenna participant app is designed to make your research participation experience smooth and engaging. The app allows researchers to collect data through surveys, activities, and passive data collection from your device (all with your permission).

What You’ll Need

• A smartphone (iOS 12.0+ or Android 8.0+)
• A stable internet connection
• An email address for account creation
• The study invitation code from your researcher

Installing the App

Follow the steps below to install the app on your device:

iOS (iPhone/iPad)

1. Open the App Store on your iOS device

2. Search for “Avicenna Research” in the search bar

3. Tap “Get” button

4. Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your Apple ID password

5. Wait for the download to complete

6. Tap “Open” when the installation is finished

   

Android

1. Open the Google Play Store on your Android device

2. Search for “Avicenna Research” in the search bar

3. Tap “Install”

4. Accept permissions if prompted

5. Wait for the download to complete

6. Tap “Open” when the installation is finished

   

Alternative Installation (Android)

If you can’t find the app on Google Play Store, your researcher may provide you with an APK file:

1. Enable “Unknown Sources” in your device settings
   Go to Settings > Security > Unknown Sources
   Toggle the switch to allow installation from unknown sources

2. Download the APK file from the link provided by your researcher

3. Tap the downloaded APK file to install

4. Follow the installation prompts

Creating Your Account

Get started by setting up your account with the following steps:

First Launch

1. Open the Avicenna app on your device

2. Tap “Sign Up” to create a new account

3. Select “I am a Participant” when prompted

4. Enter your information

   • First name

   • Last name

   • Email address

   • Password

   • Confirm password

5. Tap “Create Account”

   

Signing In

1. Enter your email and password

2. Tap “Log in”

Joining a Study

To join a study, use your invitation code and follow the steps below

Using an Invitation Code

1. Log in to your Avicenna account

2. Enter the registration code provided by your researcher

3. Complete the eligibility survey

4. Review the study information and consent form

5. Tap Participate

   

Accepting Email Invitations

1. Check your email for a study invitation from Avicenna

2. Click the invitation link in the email

3. Sign in to your Avicenna account

4. Review and accept the consent form

Using the App

Next, learn how to complete surveys from your home screen, the home screen shows:

• Activities: Where you can view and track your study activities.

• Notifications Bar: Which displays alerts from the app.

• Settings Icon: Provides quick access to the app’s settings and customization options. You can find information by going to this.

  

Completing Surveys

You can complete the surveys by following steps below:

1. Tap on a survey button

2. Answer each question

3. Tap “Submit” to complete the survey

   

Participant App Settings

The Settings page in the Avicenna participant app allows you to manage your account, customize your experience, control your data preferences, and more. To access the Settings page, tap on the gear icon in the top-right corner of the app.

[!note] Below, we will explain each of the available options in detail.

Join Study

The Join Study option allows you to enroll in research studies. After selecting, you will be prompted to enter a registration code. Once done, you will be added to the study, and will be able to begin participating.

Sync Data Completed

The Sync Data Completed notification indicates that your data has been successfully synced in the system. Selecting this option will also synchronize all data, ensuring that everything is up to date. Once the process is complete, you can continue using the app with confidence that your information has been saved.

My Studies

The My Studies tab provides an overview of all the studies you are currently enrolled in. Here, you can view study information and drop out from a study.

Color Theme

Supported in Android and iOS.

Avicenna allows you to personalize your experience by choosing from a selection of color themes within the mobile app. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Open the Avicenna app on your mobile device

2. Go to the Settings page

3. Tap/click on Color Theme

4. Select your preferred theme from the available options

Once you select a color theme, the app’s appearance will immediately update to reflect your choice throughout the app, including menus, buttons, and icons.

[!note]
Color theme changes are device-specific and will not sync across multiple devices.

The Avicenna app offers several visually distinct color themes, each with its own color palette.

• Ocean

• Forest

• Sunset

• Turquoise

• Violette

  

Account Information

In Account Information, you can review and update your profile details, such as your Email address, and phone number.

Email Address

Your email address is used as the main contact point for account access and notifications. If the address has not yet been verified, you will see a warning message.

To Verify your Email address:

1. Select Verify

2. Enter your password

3. You will receive a verification code via email

4. Enter the Verification code to finish the process

You can also update your email address by tapping Change. This requires re-entering your password to confirm your identity before the new address is saved.

Phone Number

Adding a phone number is essential if you want to receive SMS notifications or enable security features such as Two-Factor Authentication.

To add your phone number:

1. Tap Add

2. Verify your password

3. And then enter your phone number

4. You will receive a verification code on your phone

5. Enter the verification code

   

Supported Countries

The Avicenna app supports phone numbers from the following countries:

Europe

Albania	Andorra	Austria
Belarus	Belgium	Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria	Croatia	Cyprus
Czech Republic	Denmark	Estonia
Faroe Islands	Finland	France
Germany	Gibraltar	Greece
Guernsey/Jersey	Hungary	Iceland
Ireland	Isle of Man	Italy
Kosovo	Latvia	Liechtenstein
Lithuania	Luxembourg	Malta
Moldova	Monaco	Montenegro
Netherlands	North Macedonia	Norway
Poland	Portugal	Romania
San Marino	Serbia	Slovakia
Slovenia	Spain	Sweden
Switzerland	Turkey	Ukraine
United Kingdom	Vatican City

Americas

Canada	Chile	United States

Other Regions

Australia	South Africa

Note: If your country is not listed above, you won’t be able to add your phone number. For assistance, please contact your researcher or Avicenna support.

Language

The Language setting allows you to choose the display language. Select from the available options to interact with the system in the language of your choice.

Notifications

The Notifications tab allows you to manage how and when you receive reminders related to your studies. You can customize the notification types, choose the delivery medium, and verify your contact details to ensure you never miss important updates.

Survey Notifications
Enabling this option ensures that Avicenna will notify you whenever a new survey is available or when a scheduled survey is due. These notifications act like reminders, helping you stay on track with your study tasks.

Sticky Notifications
If you prefer uninterrupted access while completing your surveys, you can enable Sticky Notifications. This feature allows you to perform study-related tasks directly without being interrupted by other notifications on your phone.

Mediums
Studies may use different communication channels to send notifications. Within this section, you can decide which mediums you want to enable or disable, depending on your preferences.

Email
Here, you can set your email address as a notification channel. Please note that your email must be verified to receive updates. If your email address is not verified, you will see a message prompting you to complete the verification process. Select Verify to receive a verification email and follow the instructions to complete the process.

SMS
To receive SMS notifications, you need to have a verified phone number linked to your account. If your phone number has not yet been added, you will be directed to the Account Information tab to complete this step. Once verified, SMS will be enabled as a valid channel for your notifications

Upload via Wi-Fi Only

By enabling Upload via Wi-Fi Only, your data will be synchronized exclusively when connected to a Wi-Fi network. This prevents the use of mobile data and helps manage connectivity costs.

Allow Data Collection

The Allow Data Collection option enables the system to gather the information required for your participation in studies. You can control this setting at any time depending on your privacy preferences.

Account Deletion

For a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to permanently delete your participant account and all associated data and what happens after, please refer to the Account Deletion documentation.

Sign Out

Selecting Sign Out will log you out of your account. You will need to re-enter your login credentials the next time you wish to enter your account.

Introduction Pages and Onboarding Alerts

When participants first log in to the Avicenna app or join a study, they go through two distinct onboarding experiences: Introduction Pages and Onboarding Alerts. Each of them is explained in detail below.

Introduction Pages

Introduction pages are informational screens that appear immediately after a participant signs up or logs in to the Avicenna app for the first time. These pages help participants understand the app’s features, their rights, and what to expect during their study participation. These pages are a series of welcome screens that educate new participants about:

• Welcome To Avicenna: Introduces the app’s purpose, which is to allow users to participate in scientific research studies.

• Join A Study: Explains that participation begins by entering a unique registration code provided by a research team.

• Read Before Consent: Prompts the user to carefully review the study’s consent form, focusing on data usage, duration, and purpose.

• Own Your Data: Informs the user of their rights to control their data, including stopping collection, leaving the study, or deleting data at any time.

  
  
  
  

Onboarding Alerts

Onboarding alerts are action-oriented prompts that guide participants to complete necessary setup steps for their specific study. These alerts require participants to take specific actions to ensure proper data collection and study compliance. They are study-specific notifications that prompt participants to:

• Grant necessary permissions (GPS, sensors, notifications, etc.)

• Verify contact information (email address, phone number)

• Adjust device settings (battery optimization, background app refresh)

• Connect wearable devices (Fitbit, Garmin, WHOOP, etc.)

• And enable other required features for the study

When a participant joins a study that requires specific permissions or setup, a pink banner appears at the top of the study homepage with the message, “Your study setup is incomplete.” Upon tapping the Continue button on the banner, participants are presented with a list of actions needed to complete their setup, and each alert can be addressed individually by following the prompts.

Onboarding alerts ask participants to complete various settings. Below is a list of the settings required to complete the onboarding process.

Location and Sensors

Alert Type	Description	Platform
GPS	Requests permission to collect GPS location data. On iOS, GPS permission also allows Avicenna to keep the app running in the background for longer periods.	Android, iOS
Activity Recognition	Requests permission to collect motion sensor data for activity tracking.	Android, iOS
Location Service	Prompts participants to enable location services on their device.	Android, iOS

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Wearable Devices

Alert Type	Description	Platform
Garmin	Requests permission to connect to a Garmin account and access Garmin Health data.	Android, iOS, Web
Fitbit	Requests permission to connect to a Fitbit account and access Fitbit data.	Android, iOS, Web
WHOOP	Requests permission to connect to a WHOOP account and access WHOOP data.	Android, iOS, Web
HealthKit	Requests permission to access Apple HealthKit data.	iOS only
SensorKit	Requests permission to access Apple SensorKit data (device usage, ambient sound, etc.).	iOS only

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Notifications and Background Operation

Alert Type	Description	Platform
Notifications	Requests permission to send push notifications to the participant.	Android, iOS
Survey Notifications	Ensures survey notifications are enabled.	Android, iOS
Sticky Notifications	Enables persistent notifications that remain visible during survey completion.	Android, iOS
Time-Sensitive Notification	Requests permission to send time-sensitive notifications that bypass Focus modes.	iOS only
Persistent Notification Banner	Enables persistent notification banners that stay visible on the screen.	iOS only
Background App Refresh	Prompts participants to enable background app refresh so the app can collect data when not actively in use.	iOS only
Schedule Alerts	Requests permission to schedule notifications and alarms.	Android only

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Battery and Power Management

Alert Type	Description	Platform
Battery Optimization	Prompts participants to disable battery optimization for the Avicenna app, ensuring continuous background data collection.	Android only
Battery Optimization (Device Specific)	Special battery optimization settings for certain manufacturers (Sony, Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi, OnePlus).	Android only

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Connectivity

Alert Type	Description	Platform
Bluetooth	Prompts participants to turn on Bluetooth.	Android, iOS
WiFi	Prompts participants to turn on WiFi.	Android, iOS

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Data Collection

Alert Type	Description	Platform
App Usage	Requests permission to collect app usage data (which apps are used and for how long).	Android, iOS
Audio Capture	Requests permission to record audio from the device microphone.	Android, iOS

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Account Verification

Alert Type	Description	Platform
Email Validation	Prompts participants to verify their email address.	Android, iOS, Web
Phone Validation	Prompts participants to verify their phone number.	Android, iOS, Web

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App Maintenance

Alert Type	Description	Platform
Application Update	Notifies participants when a new version of the app is available on the app store.	Android, iOS

Study-Specific Onboarding Alerts

The onboarding alerts that participants see depend entirely on the study configuration. For example:

Example 1: GPS and Pedometer Study

If a researcher creates a study that collects GPS and pedometer data, participants will see onboarding alerts for:

• GPS permission - To allow location tracking

• Battery Optimization (Android) - To ensure continuous background data collection

  
  

Example 2: Fitbit Integration Study

If a researcher creates a study that collects Fitbit data, participants will see onboarding alerts for:

• Fitbit permission - To connect their Fitbit account

  

Troubleshooting and Common Issues

App Won’t Open

• Restart your device and try again

• Check for app updates in the app store

• Reinstall the app if the problem persists

Can’t Sign In

• Verify your email and password are correct

• Check your internet connection

• Try “Forgot Password” if you can’t remember your password

• Contact support if the issue continues

Surveys Not Loading

• Check your internet connection

• Close and reopen the app

• Try refreshing the survey page

• Contact your researcher if the problem persists

Notifications Not Working

• Check app permissions in your device settings

• Verify notification settings in the app

• Restart the app to refresh notification services

Privacy and Data

Your Rights

• You control your data - you can withdraw from studies at any time

• Your information is protected by strict privacy policies

• You can request data deletion at any time

Data Security

• All data is encrypted during transmission and storage

• Your personal information is kept confidential

• Researchers only see anonymized or aggregated data

• Your identity is protected throughout the research process

Tips for Better Participation

Stay Engaged

• Set daily reminders for study activities

• Complete surveys promptly when notified

• Keep the app updated for the best experience

• Check notifications regularly for important updates

Maximize Data Quality

• Answer surveys honestly - there are no wrong answers

• Complete activities fully when possible

• Report any issues to your researcher

• Keep your device charged for continuous participation

Communication

• Respond to researcher messages when possible

• Ask questions if something is unclear

• Report technical problems promptly

• Provide feedback on your experience

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I miss a survey or activity?

Don’t worry! Most studies allow you to complete missed activities later. Check your app for any overdue items.

How long do studies typically last?

Study duration varies widely - from a few days to several months. Your researcher will inform you of the expected timeline.

Can I withdraw from a study?

Yes, you can withdraw from any study at any time without penalty. Your data will be handled according to the study’s withdrawal policy.

Is my data safe?

Yes, Avicenna follows strict data protection standards and complies with relevant privacy regulations. Your data is encrypted and protected.

Need More Help?

If you have questions that aren’t covered in this guide:

• Check the FAQ section

• Contact your researcher for study-specific questions

• Email Avicenna support at support@avicennaresearch.com

• Visit our help center at forum.avicennaresearch.com

Thank you for participating in research with Avicenna! Your contribution helps advance scientific knowledge and improve health outcomes for everyone.