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Liu JC, Cheng CY, Cheng TH, Liu CN, Chen JJ, Hao WR. Unveiling the Potential: Remote Monitoring and Telemedicine in Shaping the Future of Heart Failure Management. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:936. [PMID: 39202678 PMCID: PMC11355081 DOI: 10.3390/life14080936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Heart failure (HF) remains a significant burden on global healthcare systems, necessitating innovative approaches for its management. This manuscript critically evaluates the role of remote monitoring and telemedicine in revolutionizing HF care delivery. Drawing upon a synthesis of current literature and clinical practices, it delineates the pivotal benefits, challenges, and personalized strategies associated with these technologies in HF management. The analysis highlights the potential of remote monitoring and telemedicine in facilitating timely interventions, enhancing patient engagement, and optimizing treatment adherence, thereby ameliorating clinical outcomes. However, technical intricacies, regulatory frameworks, and socioeconomic factors pose formidable hurdles to widespread adoption. The manuscript emphasizes the imperative of tailored interventions, leveraging advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning, to address individual patient needs effectively. Looking forward, sustained innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and strategic investment are advocated to realize the transformative potential of remote monitoring and telemedicine in HF management, thereby advancing patient-centric care paradigms and optimizing healthcare resource allocation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju-Chi Liu
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Shuang Ho Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 23561, Taiwan;
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City 11002, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Yao Cheng
- Department of Medical Education, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100225, Taiwan;
| | - Tzu-Hurng Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung City 404333, Taiwan;
| | - Chen-Ning Liu
- Center of Integrated, Shuang Ho Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 23561, Taiwan;
| | - Jin-Jer Chen
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine and Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung 115201, Taiwan;
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Rui Hao
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Shuang Ho Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 23561, Taiwan;
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City 11002, Taiwan
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Hurvitz N, Ilan Y. The Constrained-Disorder Principle Assists in Overcoming Significant Challenges in Digital Health: Moving from "Nice to Have" to Mandatory Systems. Clin Pract 2023; 13:994-1014. [PMID: 37623270 PMCID: PMC10453547 DOI: 10.3390/clinpract13040089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The success of artificial intelligence depends on whether it can penetrate the boundaries of evidence-based medicine, the lack of policies, and the resistance of medical professionals to its use. The failure of digital health to meet expectations requires rethinking some of the challenges faced. We discuss some of the most significant challenges faced by patients, physicians, payers, pharmaceutical companies, and health systems in the digital world. The goal of healthcare systems is to improve outcomes. Assisting in diagnosing, collecting data, and simplifying processes is a "nice to have" tool, but it is not essential. Many of these systems have yet to be shown to improve outcomes. Current outcome-based expectations and economic constraints make "nice to have," "assists," and "ease processes" insufficient. Complex biological systems are defined by their inherent disorder, bounded by dynamic boundaries, as described by the constrained disorder principle (CDP). It provides a platform for correcting systems' malfunctions by regulating their degree of variability. A CDP-based second-generation artificial intelligence system provides solutions to some challenges digital health faces. Therapeutic interventions are held to improve outcomes with these systems. In addition to improving clinically meaningful endpoints, CDP-based second-generation algorithms ensure patient and physician engagement and reduce the health system's costs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yaron Ilan
- Hadassah Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, POB 1200, Jerusalem IL91120, Israel;
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Barbaric A, Munteanu C, Ross H, Cafazzo JA. A Voice App Design for Heart Failure Self-management: Proof-of-Concept Implementation Study. JMIR Form Res 2022; 6:e40021. [PMID: 36542435 DOI: 10.2196/40021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Voice user interfaces are becoming more prevalent in health care and are commonly being used for patient engagement. There is a growing interest in identifying the potential this form of interface has on patient engagement with digital therapeutics (DTx) in chronic disease management. Making DTx accessible through an alternative interaction model also has the potential to better meet the needs of some patients, such as older adults and those with physical and cognitive impairments, based on existing research. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate how participants with heart failure interacted with a voice app version of a DTx, Medly, through a proof-of-concept implementation study design. The objective was to understand whether the voice app would enable the participants to successfully interact with the DTx, with a focus on acceptability and feasibility. METHODS A mixed methods concurrent triangulation design was used to better understand the acceptability and feasibility of the use of the Medly voice app with the study participants (N=20) over a 4-week period. Quantitative data included engagement levels, accuracy rates, and questionnaires, which were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data included semistructured interviews and were analyzed using a qualitative descriptive approach. RESULTS The overall average engagement level was 73% (SD 9.5%), with a 14% decline between results of weeks 1 and 4. The biggest difference was between the average engagement levels of the oldest and youngest demographics, 84% and 43%, respectively, but these results were not significant-Kruskal-Wallis test, H(2)=3.8 (P=.14). The Medly voice app had an overall accuracy rate of 97.8% and was successful in sending data to the clinic. From an acceptability perspective, the voice app was ranked in the 80th percentile, and overall, the users felt that the voice app was not a lot of work (average of 2.1 on a 7-point Likert scale). However, the overall average score for whether users would use it in the future declined by 13%. Thematic analysis revealed the following: the theme feasibility of clinical integration had 2 subthemes, namely users adapted to the voice app's conversational style and device unreliability, and the theme voice app acceptability had 3 subthemes, namely the device integrated well within household and users' lives, users blamed themselves when problems arose with the voice app, and voice app was missing specific, desirable user features. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, participants were largely successful in using the Medly voice app despite some of the barriers faced, proving that an app such as this could be feasible to be deployed in the clinic. Our data begin to piece together the patient profile this technology may be most suitable for, namely those who are older, have flexible schedules, are confident in using technology, and are experiencing other medical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Barbaric
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, Techna Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Cosmin Munteanu
- Institute for Communication, Culture, Information, and Technology, University of Toronto, Mississauga, ON, Canada.,Technologies for Aging Gracefully Lab, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Heather Ross
- Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Joseph A Cafazzo
- Centre for Digital Therapeutics, Techna Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Healthcare Human Factors, Techna Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Maritime Telemedicine: Design and Development of an Advanced Healthcare System Called Marine Doctor. J Pers Med 2022; 12:jpm12050832. [PMID: 35629254 PMCID: PMC9147873 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12050832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The availability of better healthcare services is critical for onboard seafarers. The development of expert systems can help ships with limited medical facilities, which allow the shipside doctors to properly refer symptoms to remote doctors. This allows clinicians to make a correct diagnosis from there, which leads to proper treatment. A software named Marine Doctor (M Doc) has been developed by incorporating computing technologies to address this objective. Methods: With the help of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) this application can support the provision of appropriate medical assistance to seafarers. The system was developed with Python Tkinter (frontend) and PHP (backend) languages. MySQL was used as a server database. Results: Seafarers can use M Doc to benefit from medical advice that can reduce complications due to misdiagnosis and help doctors to make better-informed decisions. By automatically collecting appropriate sequences of symptoms, doctors will be able to generate proper information for referral of patient symptoms and subsequent advice based on the data. Conclusions: Technology that supports experts on board ships in better interacting with Telemedical Maritime Assistance Services (TMAS) could define the future of medical assistance at sea.
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