The Role of Wearable Technologies and Telemonitoring in Managing Vascular Disease

Inconsistent Benefits From Mobile Information Communication Technology in Adults With Peripheral Arterial Disease

INTRODUCTION

Quality of evidence regarding telemedicine in adults with peripheral arterial disease has not been systematically appraised.

OBJECTIVES

To explore benefits and harms from mobile information communication technology devices and applications in peripheral arterial disease.

METHODS

Systematic rapid evidence review and appraisal with the grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation working group approach.

RESULTS

Sixteen randomized controlled clinical trials (RCT) examined various self-monitoring devices, telemedicine platforms, and individualized telephone counseling. Low-quality evidence suggested that the odds of treatment failure (pooled Peto odds ratio 0.8; 95% CI, 0.4-1.7; 5 RCTs), adverse effects (pooled Peto odds ratio 0.9; 95% CI, 0.5-1.5; 2 RCTs), and physical performance (standardized mean difference in 6-minute walking test 0.2; 95% CI, -0.3-0.7; 4 RCTs) did not differ between mobile interventions and usual care. Single RCTs suggested large but inconsistent improvement in the quality of life: EuroQol5D standardized mean difference = 5.0 (95% CI, 4.4-5.7; 1 RCT) after telehealth program for promoting patient self-management and standardized mean difference = 1.4 (95% CI, 0.4-2.3; 1 RCT) after structured rehabilitation with mobile self-monitoring. Inconsistent reporting of patient-centered outcomes and small sample sizes hampered the quality of evidence.

CONCLUSIONS

Improved quality of life after specific mobile applications should be confirmed in powered RCTs and large postmarketing studies.

Smart Technologies used as Smart Tools in the Management of Cardiovascular Disease and their Future Perspective

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The advent of smart technologies has significantly impacted the management of CVD, offering innovative tools and solutions to improve patient outcomes. Smart technologies have revolutionized and transformed the management of CVD, providing innovative tools to improve patient care, enhance diagnostics, and enable more personalized treatment approaches. These smart tools encompass a wide range of technologies, including wearable devices, mobile applications,3D printing technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), remote monitoring systems, and electronic health records (EHR). They offer numerous advantages, such as real-time monitoring, early detection of abnormalities, remote patient management, and data-driven decision-making. However, they also come with certain limitations and challenges, including data privacy concerns, technical issues, and the need for regulatory frameworks. In this review, despite these challenges, the future of smart technologies in CVD management looks promising, with advancements in AI algorithms, telemedicine platforms, and bio fabrication techniques opening new possibilities for personalized and efficient care. In this article, we also explore the role of smart technologies in CVD management, their advantages and disadvantages, limitations, current applications, and their smart future.

Systematically promoting job-specific digital competencies in the health professions: A teaching concept / Berufsspezifische digitale Kompetenzen in den Gesundheitsfachberufen systematisch fördern: Ein Lehrkonzept

Die digitale Transformation erfasst das Gesundheitswesen und führt zu veränderten professionellen Anforderungen an die Heilberufe. In diesem Beitrag stellen wir ein Lehrkonzept zur Förderung der berufsspezifischen digitalen Kompetenzen in den Gesundheitsfachberufen vor. Basierend auf systematischer Literaturrecherche, Analysen bestehender Curricula und Expertengesprächen identifizieren wir Anforderungen an das Lehrkonzept sowie relevante Themengebiete. Hieraus leiten wir Lernziele ab und konzipieren ein in sich geschlossenes Modul, welches innerhalb eines Hochschulsemesters durchgeführt werden kann. Das Modul gliedert sich in vier aufeinander aufbauende Lerneinheiten, welche sich am Vier-Komponenten-Instructional-Design-Modell und dem Ansatz des problemorientierten Lernens orientieren und sich durch eine sukzessive Steigerung der Komplexität der Lernaufgaben auszeichnen. Da das Lehrkonzept individuelle Schwerpunktsetzungen sowohl durch die Lehrenden als auch durch die Lernenden berücksichtigt, erlaubt es eine einfache Adaptation für die verschiedenen Gesundheitsfachberufe. Mit unserem Lehrkonzept wollen wir den Lehrenden einen Leitfaden an die Hand geben, um die Themen der Digitalisierung im Gesundheitswesen systematisch in die Lehre zu integrieren und mit diesem Artikel eine Diskussionsgrundlage zur interprofessionellen Weiterentwicklung des Lehrkonzeptes schaffen.

Smart wearable devices in cardiovascular care: where we are and how to move forward

Technological innovations reach deeply into our daily lives and an emerging trend supports the use of commercial smart wearable devices to manage health. In the era of remote, decentralized and increasingly personalized patient care, catalysed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the cardiovascular community must familiarize itself with the wearable technologies on the market and their wide range of clinical applications. In this Review, we highlight the basic engineering principles of common wearable sensors and where they can be error-prone. We also examine the role of these devices in the remote screening and diagnosis of common cardiovascular diseases, such as arrhythmias, and in the management of patients with established cardiovascular conditions, for example, heart failure. To date, challenges such as device accuracy, clinical validity, a lack of standardized regulatory policies and concerns for patient privacy are still hindering the widespread adoption of smart wearable technologies in clinical practice. We present several recommendations to navigate these challenges and propose a simple and practical 'ABCD' guide for clinicians, personalized to their specific practice needs, to accelerate the integration of these devices into the clinical workflow for optimal patient care.