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Marsilio M, Calcaterra V, Infante G, Pisarra M, Zuccotti G. The digital readiness of future physicians: nurturing the post-pandemic medical education. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:885. [PMID: 39095757 PMCID: PMC11297791 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-11365-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the integration of digital technologies in the healthcare sector. Telemedicine has notably emerged as a significant tool, offering a range of benefits. However, various barriers, such as healthcare professionals' insufficient technological skills and competencies, can hinder its effective implementation. Scholars have examined the readiness of future physicians, with some studies exploring their readiness before or during the COVID-19 crisis. There is, however, a noteable gap in the literature concerning the post-pandemic period. This study aims to identify gaps in current medical education programs by examining two primary aspects: (1) technical readiness (encompassing general and health-related digital competencies) and (2) behavioural readiness, which includes prior experiences and future intentions related to telemedicine education and implementation among medical students and residents. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted using a web-based questionnaire administered to medical students and residents at a major Northern Italian university. The survey responses were analyzed to ascertain whether their distributions varied across demographic variables such as gender and level of education. RESULTS The most commonly owned technologies were laptops and smartphones, with smartphones perceived as the easiest to use, while desktop computers presented more challenges. Approximately 38% of respondents expressed apprehension about applying digital health information in decision-making processes. There was a significant lack of both personal and academic experience, with only 16% of students and residents having used telemedicine in a university setting. Despite this, 83% of participants expressed a desire for training in telemedicine, and 81% were open to experimenting with it during their academic journey. Moreover, 76% of respondents expressed interest in incorporating telemedicine into their future clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the need for medical students and residents to receive specific education in digital health and telemedicine. Introducing curricula and courses in this domain is critical to addressing the challenges of digital healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Marsilio
- Department of Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods (DEMM), University of Milan, Milan, 20122, Italy
| | - Valeria Calcaterra
- Pediatric and Adolescent Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, 27100, Italy
- Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, 20154, Italy
| | - Gabriele Infante
- Department of Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods (DEMM), University of Milan, Milan, 20122, Italy
| | - Martina Pisarra
- Department of Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods (DEMM), University of Milan, Milan, 20122, Italy
| | - Gianvincenzo Zuccotti
- Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, 20154, Italy.
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via GB Battista n. 74, Milano, 20157, Italy.
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Chung WK, Huh KY, Park J, Oh J, Yu KS. Establishment of Advanced Regulatory Innovation for Clinical Trials Transformation (ARICTT): a multi-stakeholder public-private partnership-based organization to accelerate the transformation of clinical trials. Transl Clin Pharmacol 2024; 32:30-40. [PMID: 38586121 PMCID: PMC10990728 DOI: 10.12793/tcp.2024.32.e1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Clinical trials have evolved with digital technologies and tend towards patient-centricity. A multi-stakeholder approach is needed to address the emerging complexities in clinical trials. In particular, the introduction of digital technologies and an emphasis on patient-centricity are the major trends in clinical trials. In response, we established a public-private partnership-based organization named Advanced Regulatory Innovation for Clinical Trials Transformation (ARICTT). Eleven organizations in total, from academia, industry, and regulatory agencies, participate in ARICTT. Based on multi-stakeholder collaboration from academia, industry, and government/regulatory bodies, we collected and prioritized current topics in clinical trials based on an internal survey. We established a three-year roadmap with axes that were termed trend, goal, structure, theme, topic, and method. In addition, we planned the development of recommendations based on real-world cases with feasibility studies. We developed appropriate organizational structure to fulfill the roadmap of ARICTT. The selected topics were decentralized clinical trials during the first year, followed by the three topics that were awarded the highest priority according to the internal survey: advances in the informed consent process, supporting sites using digital technology, and an effective recruitment strategy. We developed a case-based recommendation paper presenting an overview of the regulatory landscape and practical considerations with explanatory cases. We also designed and conducted fully decentralized trials to evaluate considerations in real-world settings for the selected topics. Overall engagement and communication were supported by the online platform and annual symposiums. In conclusion, we established a multi-stakeholder, public-private partnership-based organization to accelerate the transformation of clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woo Kyung Chung
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ki Young Huh
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jiyeon Park
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jaeseong Oh
- Department of Pharmacology, Jeju National University College of Medicine, Jeju, Korea
| | - Kyung-Sang Yu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Hospital, Seoul, Korea
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Ostherr K. The future of translational medical humanities: bridging the data/narrative divide. MEDICAL HUMANITIES 2023; 49:529-536. [PMID: 38114273 PMCID: PMC10803967 DOI: 10.1136/medhum-2023-012627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
This essay argues that emerging forms of translational work in the field of medical humanities offer valuable methods for engaging with communities outside of academic settings. The first section of the essay provides a synthetic overview of definitions and critical engagements with the concept of 'translation' in the context of medical humanities, a field that, in the wake of the COVID pandemic, can serve as an exemplar for other fields of the humanities. The second section explains the 'data/narrative' divide in medicine and health to demonstrate the need for new translational methodologies that can address this nexus of concern, particularly in collaboration with constituencies outside of academic settings. The third section maps out the sites and infrastructures where digital medical humanities is poised to make significant translational interventions. The final section of the essay considers data privacy and health ecology as conceptual frameworks that are necessary for bridging the data/narrative divide. Examples are drawn from the 'Translational Humanities for Public Health' website, which aggregates projects worldwide to demonstrate these emerging methodologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten Ostherr
- Medical Humanities Research Institute, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
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Lagoumintzis G, Patrinos GP. Triangulating nutrigenomics, metabolomics and microbiomics toward personalized nutrition and healthy living. Hum Genomics 2023; 17:109. [PMID: 38062537 PMCID: PMC10704648 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-023-00561-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The unique physiological and genetic characteristics of individuals influence their reactions to different dietary constituents and nutrients. This notion is the foundation of personalized nutrition. The field of nutrigenetics has witnessed significant progress in understanding the impact of genetic variants on macronutrient and micronutrient levels and the individual's responsiveness to dietary intake. These variants hold significant value in facilitating the development of personalized nutritional interventions, thereby enabling the effective translation from conventional dietary guidelines to genome-guided nutrition. Nevertheless, certain obstacles could impede the extensive implementation of individualized nutrition, which is still in its infancy, such as the polygenic nature of nutrition-related pathologies. Consequently, many disorders are susceptible to the collective influence of multiple genes and environmental interplay, wherein each gene exerts a moderate to modest effect. Furthermore, it is widely accepted that diseases emerge because of the intricate interplay between genetic predisposition and external environmental influences. In the context of this specific paradigm, the utilization of advanced "omic" technologies, including epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and microbiome analysis, in conjunction with comprehensive phenotyping, has the potential to unveil hitherto undisclosed hereditary elements and interactions between genes and the environment. This review aims to provide up-to-date information regarding the fundamentals of personalized nutrition, specifically emphasizing the complex triangulation interplay among microbiota, dietary metabolites, and genes. Furthermore, it highlights the intestinal microbiota's unique makeup, its influence on nutrigenomics, and the tailoring of dietary suggestions. Finally, this article provides an overview of genotyping versus microbiomics, focusing on investigating the potential applications of this knowledge in the context of tailored dietary plans that aim to improve human well-being and overall health.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Lagoumintzis
- Division of Pharmacology and Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, 26504, Patras, Greece.
| | - George P Patrinos
- Division of Pharmacology and Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, 26504, Patras, Greece.
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
- Zayed Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
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Mazumder H, Faizah F, Gain EP, Sharmin Eva I, Ferdouse Mou K, Saha N, Rahman F, Das J, Islam AMK, Nesa F, Hossain MM. Effectiveness of mental health interventions for older adults in South Asia: A scoping review. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0287883. [PMID: 37418368 PMCID: PMC10328249 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Mental health problems among older adults are becoming a growing public health concern in South Asia due to continued changes in population dynamics caused by declining fertility rates and increasing life expectancy. This scoping review aimed to explore and summarize evidence about mental health interventions and their impacts on geriatric mental health and highlight gaps and areas for future research. METHODS We searched six electronic databases and additional sources for experimental/non-experimental studies evaluating the effectiveness of geriatric mental health interventions in eight countries in the South Asia region from the date of inception of each database up to August 5, 2022. Following the preliminary screening, we extracted data from the eligible articles using a Microsoft Excel data extraction worksheet. We followed Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines for this scoping review and reported evidence adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. RESULTS From a total of 3432 potential articles retrieved, 19 were included in this review following pre-determined eligibility criteria. Across studies, mental health interventions can be broadly categorized into the following types- 1) traditional Yoga, Tai chi, or other meditative movements; 2) behavioral, occupational, or learning-based interventions; 3) tech-based interventions; 4) music therapy; and 5) new healthcare model. The evidence was predominantly based on India (n = 16), whereas three articles were identified from Pakistan. No article was found from six other South Asian countries. Depression and anxiety were the most frequent mental health outcomes, followed by quality of life, cognitive function, self-esteem, physical performance, and many more. CONCLUSION Although limited, this review found various interventions that have varying effects on different geriatric mental health outcomes. A handful of evidence on mental health intervention in South Asia indicates a lack of acknowledgment that may develop a serious paucity of geriatric mental health practice. Therefore, future researchers are encouraged to conduct empirical studies to understand disease burden, including associated factors of geriatric mental health, which may help to construct contextually appropriate mental health interventions in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoimonty Mazumder
- Division of Global Health, Research Initiative for Health Equity (RiHE), Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - Farah Faizah
- Division of Global Health, Research Initiative for Health Equity (RiHE), Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - Easter Protiva Gain
- Division of Global Health, Research Initiative for Health Equity (RiHE), Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - Irfath Sharmin Eva
- Response Plan, United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) Bangladesh, Ukhiya, Bangladesh
| | - Kaniz Ferdouse Mou
- Division of Global Health, Research Initiative for Health Equity (RiHE), Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - Nobonita Saha
- Institute of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Farzana Rahman
- Department of Biochemistry, Armed Forces Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Jyoti Das
- Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - A. M. Khairul Islam
- Division of Nutrition and Clinical Service, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Fazilatun Nesa
- Division of Global Health, Research Initiative for Health Equity (RiHE), Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - M. Mahbub Hossain
- Division of Global Health, Research Initiative for Health Equity (RiHE), Khulna, Bangladesh
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