Developing a Mobile App for Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Injuries

COMPUTER SYSTEMS TO AID IN WOUND HEALING: SCOPE REVIEW

Objective: To investigate studies that present computational systems to aid healing and systems which refer to the use of low-level laser.Method: Scope review that aimed to answer the question: Which computer systems help in wound healing? A subquestion was: Which of the computer systems refer to the use of low-level laser? Results: From the search, applying the eligibility criteria, 49 articles made up the final sample. The systems served multiple purposes in support of wound healing; the majority presented the health professional as a user of the system; medicine was the most mentioned professional area despite nursing being involved in the management of care for people with wounds. Innovation in care using the computer system was frequently reported, demonstrating the importance of this type of tool for clinical practice. There was a high frequency of the mobile platform, showing that this is a current trend. Conclusion:Computer systems have been used as tools to support patients and especially professionals in wound healing. Regarding the systems aimed at the low intensity laser, there was a shortage of computer systems for this purpose, with a study.

SISTEMAS COMPUTACIONAIS PARA AUXÍLIO NA CICATRIZAÇÃO DE FERIDAS: REVISÃO DE ESCOPO

Objetivo:Investigar estudos que apresentem sistemas computacionais de auxílio à cicatrização de feridas e quais sistemas se referem ao uso de laser de baixa intensidade. Método: Revisão de escopo que visou responder à questão de pesquisa: Quais sistemas computacionais auxiliam na cicatrização de feridas? Uma subquestão foi: quais sistemas computacionais se referem ao uso do laser de baixa intensidade? Resultados: A partir da busca, aplicando os critérios de elegibilidade, 49 artigos compuseram a amostra final. Os sistemas apresentaram várias finalidades de apoio à cicatrização de feridas, em que a maioria apresentou como usuário do sistema o profissional de saúde, sendo a medicina a área profissional mais mencionada, embora a enfermagem esteja envolvida com o manejo do cuidado às pessoas com feridas. Foi relatada com frequência a inovação na assistência a partir do uso do sistema computacional, o que demonstra a importância desse tipo de ferramenta para a prática clínica. Verificou-se com frequência o uso de plataforma mobile, como tendência da atualidade. Conclusão: Os sistemas computacionais têm sido utilizados como ferramentas para apoiar pacientes e principalmente profissionais na cicatrização de feridas. Quanto ao laser de baixa intensidade, houve escassez de sistemas computacionais com essa finalidade, com apenas um estudo.

Factors Affecting Medical Students’ Continuance Intention to Use Mobile Health Applications

Background

With the dramatic growth in smartphones, mobile health applications (apps) in the field of healthcare or medicine, which are characterized by strong operability, flexibility and interactivity, provide a supplementary approach to medical learning. The aims of this study were to awaken medical students to pay more attention to the learning function of mobile health app and gain deeper insight into our understanding of the factors influencing medical students’ mobile health apps continuance intention for enhancing practical utilization.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a self-designed questionnaire administered to medical students at Chongqing Medical University. Data were collected from 450 participants from March to April 2019. SPSS V.25 was used for the descriptive statistical analysis of the results. Smart PLS 3.2.7 was used to construct a structural equation modelling framework to estimate the influencing factors of medical students’ continuance intention to use mobile health apps.

Results

The external characteristics of mobile health apps had a positive influence on perceived ease of use (β = 0.378, P < 0.001). Perceived ease of use had a positive impact on perceived usefulness (β = 0.573, P < 0.001). Perceived ease of use (β = 0.195, P = 0.011), perceived usefulness (β = 0.450, P < 0.001) and subjective norms (β = 0.255, P < 0.001) had a positive impact on attitude towards using mobile health apps. Additionally, perceived usefulness (β = 0.202, P < 0.001) and attitude (β = 0.730, P < 0.001) had a remarkable influence on continuance intention. Furthermore, the mediating effect of attitude between perceived usefulness and continuance intention was significant (β = 0.329, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Both perceived usefulness and attitude have a significant effect on medical students’ mobile health apps continuance intention. So, we suggest apps providers and developers evoking and maintaining users’ interest in mobile health apps and perfecting apps’ features from various aspect. Also, more attention should be paid on social relationship to introduce medical students to familiarize mobile health apps and strengthen adhesiveness of medical students.

Mobile app for patient education about breast cancer surgical treatment

Abstract Introduction: Breast cancer is a relevant public health problem with high incidence, morbidity and mortality. Patients experience a feeling of uncertain future, low self-esteem, fear of death and mutilation. In this situation, the rational absorption of information is compromised and technology can help. Objective: To develop and validate a mobile application (app) for patient education on the surgical treatment of breast cancer. Patient education in breast cancer helps set patients’ preoperative expec-tations and satisfaction with the surgical experience and outcomes. Methods: The app was created in five stages: 1. analysis - situational diagnosis and integrative literature review; 2. design - planning and creation of didactic content; 3. development - definition of the app navigation; 4. implementation - configuration of tools and creation of an environment to download the app from the internet; 5. testing - application of usability, performance, compatibility, and functional tests. The developed app was validated by 13 doctors experienced in the treatment of breast cancer and 19 female breast cancer patients, using the Delphi technique. Results: Consensus was achieved, with an excellent overall content validity index of 1.00, both among the doctors and the patients in the first round of consultation. Conclusion: The app, named OncoMasto Cirurgia App, was developed after an integrative literature review, tested and validated for content by specialist doctors and by breast cancer patients, showing great agreement among the study participants.

Validation of Algorithms for Donning and Doffing Personal Protective Equipment during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction The prolonged or incorrect use of facial masks, respirators and glasses or visors results in friction, pressure and shear forces that constantly act on the facial skin, leading to lesions and dermatitis.

Objective To develop and validate algorithms to guide health professionals in the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and indicate preventive measures against skin injuries caused by inappropriate use during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods For the develoment of the algorithms, an integrative literature review was performed using the following databases: PubMed, SciELO, and LILACS. The algorithms were evaluated by 59 health professionals (nurses, doctors, and physiotherapists), using the Delphi technique. A content validity index (CVI) was used for the statistical analysis.

Results The experts classified the items of the algorithms from fully inadequate to fully adequate in the first round of consultations, and from partially adequate to fully adequate in the second round. The overall CVI values were of 0.83 and 1.0 in the first and second rounds respectively.

Conclusion The algorithms validated by the expert panel can be used by health professionals when donning and doffing PPE, and to prevent the facial-skin lesions caused by their use.

A Mobile Application to Guide Healthcare Professionals in the Correct Technique for Personal Protective Equipment Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objectives The present study aimed to develop an application to guide healthcare professionals on using personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic and prevent and treat skin lesions caused by these devices.

Methods This is a study on technological production. The framework for application development consisted in the following phases: Phase 1–“Design: identification of application development requirements;” Phase 2–“Application prototype development”: including an integrative literature review in major databases; Phase 3–“Application construction”: elaboration of the decision tree, algorithm, database structuring, and software development; Phase 4–“Transition”: application functionality test.

Result Our application Simplifica EPI is an innovative technology; this software is a tool to assist healthcare professionals in using PPE. In addition, it describes how to prevent and care for skin lesions caused by PPE. Simplifica EPI has 25 screens and 32 images. It will be available on the Google Play Store after its registration with the Brazilian National Institute of Industrial Property.

Conclusions After an integrative literature review, the application Simplifica EPI was developed as an innovative technology with great potential for use by healthcare professionals.

A new APP for prevention and treatment of complications of intestinal peristomal skin

Objectives To develop an application program for prevention and treatment of complications of intestinal peristomal skin.

Method The framework of the application software development were: Phase 1 – “Design, identification of the needs for the application development”: In this phase, the authors identified during their clinical practice that some professionals and caregivers find it difficult to provide care for at-risk ostomized patients or those with some kind of peristomal skin complication; Phase 2 – “Application prototype development”: this phase included the integrative literature review in the main databases; Phase 3 – “Creating the application”: this phase was intended to generate a decision tree algorithms, structure the database, and develop the software; Phase 4 – “Transition”: performing the application functionality testing.

Results The application “Dermatite Periestoma App” has 36 screens and 21 figures describing the procedures for prevention and treatment of complications of intestinal peristomal skin. It is freely available from the Play Store and has been registered with the Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial Ministério do Desenvolvimento, indústria e Comércio Exterior (Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, National Institute of Industrial Property).

Conclusion This study made it possible to describe the stages of planning and development of the mobile application “Dermatite Periestoma App”. The steps taken indicate that the “Dermatite Periestoma App” has great potential for clinical practice in the evaluation of patients with stomal complications or at risk for developing peristomal skin complications, preventive measures, therapeutic approaches, and for nursing education through the use of technology.

Booklet on the use of personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic: preventing facial skin injuries

Abstract Introduction: In the year 2020, Brazilian and global public health systems were overwhelemend by COVID-19, a pandemic highly transmissible by droplets and contact, mainly in enclosed areas and hospital environments. Objective: Create a booklet to instruct health professionals on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and preventive measures for facial skin injuries during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Methods: The study was conducted from June to September 2020, adopting the following steps: situational diagnosis; literature review of the main health science databases; content selection and survey; drafting texts; creating illustrations; and diagramming the manual. Results: After the literature review, 26 articles were selected for the booklet. The material was prepared by the authors of this article and reviewed by a professional in the biomedical field, with expertise in standardizing procedures and tissue injury innovations. The final version contains four chapters and three algorithms, one with step-by-step instructions on donning PPE, one on removal and one containing preventive measures for PPE-related injuries. Conclusion: After an interactive review of the literature, a booklet was created that provides theoretical and practical foundations for health professionals on PPE donning and removal techniques, with a view to preventing facial injuries and COVID-19 infection.

Algorithms for prevention and treatment of incontinence-associated dermatitis

Objective: To build and validate algorithms for prevention and treatment of incontinence-associated dermatitis. Method: A methodological study. An integrative review of articles published from 2009 to 2019 was carried out after a literature search in the main Health Sciences databases for the construction of the algorithms. The algorithms were evaluated by 27 nurses using the Delphi technique. The content validity index was used for data analysis. Results: The judges evaluated the algorithms from inadequate to adequate in the first round of consultation, and from adequate to totally adequate in the second round of consultation. The global content validity index was 0.923 in the first consultation and 1.0 in the second consultation. Conclusion: After reviewing the literature, the algorithms were constructed and validated by professionals with experience in the area, reaching agreement among the judges in the second round of consultation.

Algoritmos para prevenção e tratamento de dermatite associada à incontinência

Objetivo: Construir e validar algoritmos para a prevenção e o tratamento da dermatite associada à incontinência. Método: Estudo metodológico. Para o desenvolvimento dos algoritmos, foi realizada revisão integrativa de artigos publicados de 2009 a 2019 encontrados nas principais bases de dados em ciências da saúde. A avaliação dos algoritmos foi realizada com 27 enfermeiros, utilizando a técnica de Delphi. Para a análise de dados, foi adotado o índice de validade de conteúdo. Resultados: Os juízes consideraram os algoritmos entre inadequados e adequados na primeira avaliação e entre adequados e totalmente adequados na segunda avaliação. O índice de validade de conteúdo geral foi de 0,923 na primeira avaliação e 1,0 na segunda avaliação. Conclusão: Após revisão da literatura, os algoritmos foram construídos e validados por profissionais com experiência na área, obtendo concordância entre os juízes na segunda avaliação.