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Safeer V S M, Gupta P, Behl S, Bansal D, Sahu JK. Mobile health applications for epilepsy in Indian app stores: A systematic review and content analysis using the mobile app rating scale. Epilepsy Res 2024; 201:107331. [PMID: 38442549 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2024.107331] [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: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The growing prevalence of smartphones may prompt individuals with epilepsy to pursue unfulfilled healthcare requirements through mobile health (mHealth) apps, but the content and quality of these mHealth apps are rarely analysed. Hence, this study aimed to identify and assess the quality of epilepsy apps for patients with epilepsy (PWE), their caregivers, and healthcare practitioners (HCPs) available in the Play Store and App Store of India. METHODS We performed a systematic search on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store of India to identify the mHealth apps for epilepsy which were released and updated till May 2023. The identified applications were downloaded and the quality was assessed using a Mobile app rating scale (MARS) for the overall quality, Aesthetics, Engagement, Functionality, and Information by three independent reviewers. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated to assess the interrater reliability between the reviewers. An unpaired t-test was calculated to analyse the difference in mean scores for Android and iOS applications. RESULTS The systematic search yielded a total of 2518 apps, out of which 26 were selected for inclusion in the study. Among these, 9 apps were compatible with Android, 11 with iOS, and 6 on both platforms. The mean (SD) MARS score of the apps was 3.5 (0.6) and the ICC for the overall app quality was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.82-0.96). Overall, apps scored highest in functionality (3.9), followed by aesthetics (3.6), information (3.3), and engagement (3.2). Among the included apps, the overall quality score was found to be higher for iOS apps than Android (MD = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.02 - 1.07; p-value: 0.042). CONCLUSION Our study identified twenty-six mHealth applications for epilepsy that integrated various aspects of epilepsy self-management. The results of this study emphasize the importance of ensuring that current and future applications offer evidence-based information, integrate features that align with patient preferences, and generate evidence regarding the effectiveness of application usage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Safeer V S
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research S.A.S. Nagar, India
| | - Palak Gupta
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research S.A.S. Nagar, India
| | - Simran Behl
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research S.A.S. Nagar, India
| | - Dipika Bansal
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research S.A.S. Nagar, India.
| | - Jitendra Kumar Sahu
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
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Persson DR, Bardram JE, Bækgaard P. Perceptions and effectiveness of episodic future thinking as digital micro-interventions based on mobile health technology. Digit Health 2024; 10:20552076241245583. [PMID: 38577315 PMCID: PMC10993675 DOI: 10.1177/20552076241245583] [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] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Delay discounting denotes the tendency for humans to favor short-term immediate benefits over long-term future benefits. Episodic future thinking (EFT) is an intervention that addresses this tendency by having a person mentally "pre-experience" a future event to increase the perceived value of future benefits. This study explores the feasibility of using mobile health (mHealth) technology to deliver EFT micro-interventions. Micro-interventions are small, focused interventions aiming to achieve goals while matching users' often limited willingness or capacity to engage with interventions. We aim to explore whether EFT delivered as digital micro-interventions can reduce delay discounting, the users' perceptions, and if there are differences between regular EFT and goal-oriented EFT (gEFT), a variant where goals are embedded into future events. Method A randomized study was conducted with 208 participants allocated to either gEFT, EFT, or a control group for a 21-day study. Results Results indicate intervention groups when combined achieved a significant reduction of Δ log k = - .80 in delay discounting (p = .017 ) compared to the control. When split into gEFT and EFT separately only the reduction of Δ log k = .96 in EFT delay discounting was significant (p = .045 ). We further explore and discuss thematic user perceptions. Conclusions Overall, user perceptions indicate gEFT may be slightly better for use in micro-interventions. However, perceptions also indicate that audio-based EFT micro-interventions were not always preferable to users, with findings suggesting that future EFT micro-interventions should be delivered using different forms of multimedia based on user preference and context and supported by other micro-interventions to maintain interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Roland Persson
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
| | - Jakob E. Bardram
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
| | - Per Bækgaard
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
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3
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Zvulunov A, Lenevich S, Migacheva N. A Mobile Health App for Facilitating Disease Management in Children With Atopic Dermatitis: Feasibility and Impact Study. JMIR DERMATOLOGY 2023; 6:e49278. [PMID: 38090787 PMCID: PMC10753416 DOI: 10.2196/49278] [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: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inadequate control of atopic dermatitis (AD) increases the frequency of exacerbations and reduces the quality of life. Mobile health apps provide information and communication technology and may increase treatment adherence and facilitate disease management at home. The mobile health app, Atopic App, designed for patients and their caregivers, and the associated web-based patient education program, Atopic School, provide an opportunity for improving patients' and caregivers' engagement and adherence to the management of AD. OBJECTIVE This noninterventional, observational study aimed to explore the feasibility and potential impact on the management of AD in children by caregivers using the Atopic App mobile health app. METHODS The patient-oriented eczema measure (POEM) and numerical rating scale for the grading of pruritus were used as severity scores (scale range: 0-28). The artificial intelligence model of the app was used to assess the severity of AD based on the eczema area and severity index approach. The deidentified data enabled the analysis of the severity of AD, treatment plan history, potential triggers of flare-ups, usage of available features of the app, and the impact of patient education. RESULTS During a 12-month period, of the 1223 users who installed the app, 910 (74.4%) registered users were caregivers of children with AD. The web-based Atopic School course was accessed by 266 (29.2%) caregivers of children with AD, 134 (50.4%) of whom completed the course. Usage of the app was significantly more frequent among those who completed the Atopic School program than among those who did not access or did not complete the course (P<.001). Users who completed a second POEM 21 to 27 days apart exhibited a significant improvement of AD severity based on the POEM score (P<.001), with an average improvement of 3.86 (SD 6.85) points. The artificial intelligence severity score and itching score were highly correlated with the POEM score (r=0.35 and r=0.52, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The Atopic App provides valuable real-world data on the epidemiology, severity dynamics, treatment patterns, and exacerbation-trigger correlations in patients with AD. The significant reduction in the POEM score among users of the Atopic App indicates a potential impact of this tool on health care engagement by caregivers of children with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Zvulunov
- Sheba Medical Center, Reichman University, Herzliya, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | | | - Natalia Migacheva
- Department of Pediatrics, Samara State Medical University, Samara, Russian Federation
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Wood MD, West NC, Fokkens C, Chen Y, Loftsgard KC, Cardinal K, Whyte SD, Portales-Casamar E, Görges M. An Individualized Postoperative Pain Risk Communication Tool for Use in Pediatric Surgery: Co-Design and Usability Evaluation. JMIR Pediatr Parent 2023; 6:e46785. [PMID: 37976087 PMCID: PMC10692877 DOI: 10.2196/46785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Risk identification and communication tools have the potential to improve health care by supporting clinician-patient or family discussion of treatment risks and benefits and helping patients make more informed decisions; however, they have yet to be tailored to pediatric surgery. User-centered design principles can help to ensure the successful development and uptake of health care tools. OBJECTIVE We aimed to develop and evaluate the usability of an easy-to-use tool to communicate a child's risk of postoperative pain to improve informed and collaborative preoperative decision-making between clinicians and families. METHODS With research ethics board approval, we conducted web-based co-design sessions with clinicians and family participants (people with lived surgical experience and parents of children who had recently undergone a surgical or medical procedure) at a tertiary pediatric hospital. Qualitative data from these sessions were analyzed thematically using NVivo (Lumivero) to identify design requirements to inform the iterative redesign of an existing prototype. We then evaluated the usability of our final prototype in one-to-one sessions with a new group of participants, in which we measured mental workload with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Task Load Index (TLX) and user satisfaction with the Post-Study System Usability Questionnaire (PSSUQ). RESULTS A total of 12 participants (8 clinicians and 4 family participants) attended 5 co-design sessions. The 5 requirements were identified: (A) present risk severity descriptively and visually; (B) ensure appearance and navigation are user-friendly; (C) frame risk identification and mitigation strategies in positive terms; (D) categorize and describe risks clearly; and (E) emphasize collaboration and effective communication. A total of 12 new participants (7 clinicians and 5 family participants) completed a usability evaluation. Tasks were completed quickly (range 5-17 s) and accurately (range 11/12, 92% to 12/12, 100%), needing only 2 requests for assistance. The median (IQR) NASA TLX performance score of 78 (66-89) indicated that participants felt able to perform the required tasks, and an overall PSSUQ score of 2.1 (IQR 1.5-2.7) suggested acceptable user satisfaction with the tool. CONCLUSIONS The key design requirements were identified, and that guided the prototype redesign, which was positively evaluated during usability testing. Implementing a personalized risk communication tool into pediatric surgery can enhance the care process and improve informed and collaborative presurgical preparation and decision-making between clinicians and families of pediatric patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Wood
- Department of Anesthesiology Pharmacology & Therapeutics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Research Institute, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Nicholas C West
- Research Institute, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Christina Fokkens
- Research Institute, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Information, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ying Chen
- Research Institute, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Information, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - Krystal Cardinal
- Research Institute, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Simon D Whyte
- Department of Anesthesiology Pharmacology & Therapeutics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Research Institute, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Elodie Portales-Casamar
- Research Institute, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Centre de recherche, Centre Hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Matthias Görges
- Department of Anesthesiology Pharmacology & Therapeutics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Research Institute, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Kakkar V, Saini K, Singh KK. Challenges of current treatment and exploring the future prospects of nanoformulations for treatment of atopic dermatitis. Pharmacol Rep 2023; 75:1066-1095. [PMID: 37668937 PMCID: PMC10539427 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-023-00510-3] [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: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a predominant and deteriorating chronic inflammation of the skin, categorized by a burning sensation and eczematous lesions in diverse portions of the body. The treatment of AD is exclusively focused to limit the itching, reduce inflammation, and repair the breached barrier of the skin. Several therapeutic agents for the treatment and management of AD have been reported and are in use in clinics. However, the topical treatment of AD has been an unswerving challenge for the medical fraternity owing to the impaired skin barrier function in this chronic skin condition. To surmount the problems of conventional drug delivery systems, numerous nanotechnology-based formulations are emerging as alternative new modalities for AD. Latter enhances the bioavailability and delivery to the target disease site, improves drug permeation and therapeutic efficacy with reduced systemic and off-target side effects, and thus improves patient health and promotes compliance. This review aims to describe the various pathophysiological events involved in the occurrence of AD, current challenges in treatment, evidence of molecular markers of AD and its management, combinatorial treatment options, and the intervention of nanotechnology-based formulations for AD therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vandita Kakkar
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.
| | - Komal Saini
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE, Lancashire, UK
| | - Kamalinder K Singh
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE, Lancashire, UK.
- UCLan Research Centre for Smart Materials, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE, Lancashire, UK.
- UCLan Research Centre for Translational Biosciences and Behaviour, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE, Lancashire, UK.
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Jin JQ, Hong J, Elhage KG, Braun M, Spencer RK, Chung M, Yeroushalmi S, Hadeler E, Mosca M, Bartholomew E, Hakimi M, Davis MS, Thibodeaux Q, Wu D, Kahlon A, Dhaliwal P, Mathes EF, Dhaliwal N, Bhutani T, Liao W. Development of SkinTracker, an integrated dermatology mobile app and web portal enabling remote clinical research studies. Front Digit Health 2023; 5:1228503. [PMID: 37744686 PMCID: PMC10516539 DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2023.1228503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction In-person dermatology clinical research studies often face recruitment and participation challenges due to travel-, time-, and cost-associated barriers. Studies incorporating virtual/asynchronous formats can potentially enhance research subject participation and satisfaction, but few mobile health tools are available to enable remote study conduct. We developed SkinTracker, a patient-facing mobile app and researcher-facing web platform, that enables longitudinal collection of skin photos, patient reported outcomes, and biometric health and environmental data. Methods Eight design thinking sessions including dermatologists, clinical research staff, software engineers, and graphic designers were held to create the components of SkinTracker. Following iterative prototyping, SkinTracker was piloted across six adult and four pediatric subjects with atopic dermatitis (AD) of varying severity levels to test and provide feedback on SkinTracker for six months. Results The SkinTracker app enables collection of informed consent for study participation, baseline medical history, standardized skin photographs, patient-reported outcomes (e.g., Patient Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM), Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI)), medication use, adverse events, voice diary to document qualitative experiences, chat function for communication with research team, environmental and biometric data such as exercise and sleep metrics through integration with an Apple Watch. The researcher web portal allows for management and visualization of subject enrollment, skin photographs for examination and severity scoring, survey completion, and other patient modules. The pilot study requested that subjects complete surveys and photographs on a weekly to monthly basis via the SkinTracker app. Afterwards, participants rated their experience in a 7-item user experience survey covering app function, design, and desire for participation in future studies using SkinTracker. Almost all subjects agreed or strongly agreed that SkinTracker enabled more convenient participation in skin research studies compared to an in-person format. Discussion To our knowledge, SkinTracker is one of the first integrated app- and web-based platforms allowing collection and management of data commonly obtained in clinical research studies. SkinTracker enables detailed, frequent capture of data that may better reflect the fluctuating course of conditions such as AD, and can be modularly customized for different skin conditions to improve dermatologic research participation and patient access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy Q. Jin
- School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Julie Hong
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Kareem G. Elhage
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Mitchell Braun
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Riley K. Spencer
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Mimi Chung
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Samuel Yeroushalmi
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Edward Hadeler
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Megan Mosca
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Erin Bartholomew
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Marwa Hakimi
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Mitchell S. Davis
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Quinn Thibodeaux
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - David Wu
- School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | | | | | - Erin F. Mathes
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | | | - Tina Bhutani
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Wilson Liao
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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Persson DR, Zhukouskaya K, Wegener AMK, Jørgensen LK, Bardram JE, Bækgaard P. Exploring Patient Needs and Designing Concepts for Digitally Supported Health Solutions in Managing Type 2 Diabetes: Cocreation Study. JMIR Form Res 2023; 7:e49738. [PMID: 37624633 PMCID: PMC10492168 DOI: 10.2196/49738] [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: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Self-management of the progressive disease type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) becomes part of the daily life of patients starting from the time of diagnosis. However, despite the availability of technical innovations, the uptake of digital solutions remains low. One reason that has been reported is that digital solutions often focus purely on clinical factors that may not align with the patient's perspective. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to develop digital solutions that address the needs of patients with T2DM, designed from the user's perspective. The goal was to address the patients' expressed real-world needs by having the users themselves choose the scope and format of the solutions. METHODS Using participatory methods, we conducted 3 cocreation workshops in collaboration with the Danish Diabetes Association, with 20 persons with T2DM and 11 stakeholders across workshops: user experience designers, researchers, and diabetes experts including a diabetes nurse. The overall structure of the 3 workshops was aligned with the 4 phases of the double diamond: initially discovering and mapping out key experienced issues, followed by a workshop on thematic mapping and definition of key concepts, and succeeded by an exploration and development of 2 prototypes. Subsequently, high-fidelity interactive prototypes were refined as part of the delivery phase, in which 7 formative usability tests were conducted. RESULTS The workshops mapped experiential topics over time from prediagnosis to the current state, resulting in a detailed exploration and understanding of 6 themes related to and based on the experiences of patients with T2DM: diabetes care, diabetes knowledge, glucose monitoring, diet, physical activity, and social aspects of diabetes. Two prototypes were developed by the participants to address some of their expressed needs over time related to the 6 themes: an activity-based continuous glucose monitoring app and a web-based guide to diabetes. Both prototypes emphasize periods of structured self-measurements of blood glucose to support evolving needs for self-exploration through distinct phases of learning, active use, and supporting use. Periods of low or intermittent use may thus not reflect a failure of design in a traditional sense but rather be a sign of evolving needs over time. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that the needs of patients with T2DM differ between individuals and change over time. As a result, the suggested digitally supported empowering health prototypes can be personalized to support self-exploration, individual preference in long-term management, and changing needs over time. Despite individuals experiencing different journeys with diabetes, users perceive the self-measurement of blood glucose as a universally useful tool to empower everyday decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Roland Persson
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Katiarina Zhukouskaya
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | | | - Jakob Eyvind Bardram
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Per Bækgaard
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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Hulme J. Staphylococcus Infection: Relapsing Atopic Dermatitis and Microbial Restoration. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:antibiotics12020222. [PMID: 36830133 PMCID: PMC9952585 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12020222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Atopic Dermatitis (AD) skin is susceptible to Staphylococcus aureus (SA) infection, potentially exposing it to a plethora of toxins and virulent determinants, including Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) (α-hemolysin (Hla) and phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs)), and superantigens. Depending on the degree of infection (superficial or invasive), clinical treatments may encompass permanganate (aq) and bleach solutions coupled with intravenous/oral antibiotics such as amoxicillin, vancomycin, doxycycline, clindamycin, daptomycin, telavancin, linezolid, or tigecycline. However, when the skin is significantly traumatized (sheathing of epidermal sections), an SA infection can rapidly ensue, impairing the immune system, and inducing local and systemic AD presentations in susceptible areas. Furthermore, when AD presents systemically, desensitization can be long (years) and intertwined with periods of relapse. In such circumstances, the identification of triggers (stress or infection) and severity of the flare need careful monitoring (preferably in real-time) so that tailored treatments targeting the underlying pathological mechanisms (SA toxins, elevated immunoglobulins, impaired healing) can be modified, permitting rapid resolution of symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Hulme
- Gachon Bio-Nano Institute, Gachon University, Seongnam-si 461-701, Republic of Korea
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9
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Fernández C, Vicente MA, Guilabert M, Carrillo I, Mira JJ. Developing a mobile health app for chronic illness management: Insights from focus groups. Digit Health 2023; 9:20552076231210662. [PMID: 37928329 PMCID: PMC10621305 DOI: 10.1177/20552076231210662] [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] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Mobile applications have the potential to assist patients and caregivers in managing chronic diseases, but current offerings are typically limited to a single disease or only focused on patients. A multifaceted app could expand the user base and provide more comprehensive support for patients who usually suffer from diverse chronic conditions at the same time and their caregivers. Objectives This study aimed to design, develop, and evaluate a mobile application that could aid chronic patients and their caregivers in managing the range of chronic conditions. Methods Focus group meetings were conducted with patients and caregivers to identify their needs, which were translated into app functionalities. The final version of the app was evaluated through a survey and analysis of the most used features. Results Five focus group (FG) meetings were held, involving 39 patients and 22 caregivers. The app included medication aids, self-monitoring aids, activation reminders, messages for caregiver shifts, remote monitoring, medicine management, and informative videos. Testing by 65 patients revealed that medication reminders (96.8% positive responses), medicine information (96.8%), messages for caregiver shifts (90.3%), and ease of use (80.6%) were the most valued aspects. The most frequently used feature was the health data record check. Conclusions A multifaceted mobile application can address the needs of a variety of chronic patients and their caregivers, while still being easy to use. The app's most used functionalities were aligned with the needs expressed in the FG, which reflects the success of this study and suggests that future research could benefit from incorporating similar user-centered design methodologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- César Fernández
- Telematics Engineering, Miguel Hernandez University, Elche, Spain
| | | | | | - Irene Carrillo
- Health Psychology Department, Miguel Hernandez University, Elche, Spain
| | - José Joaquín Mira
- Health Psychology Department, Miguel Hernandez University, Elche, Spain
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Rendell T, Barnett J, Wright D. Co-designing a community pharmacy pharmacogenomics testing service in the UK. BMC Health Serv Res 2022; 22:378. [PMID: 35317803 PMCID: PMC8939480 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-07730-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Pharmacogenomics (PGx) testing services have been delivered through community pharmacies across the globe, though not yet in the UK. This paper is reporting a focus group study, the first stage of a participatory co-design process to increase the chance of a successful implementation of a PGx service through community pharmacy in the UK. Aim To identify the barriers and enablers to implementing a community pharmacy based PGx service in the UK. Method Three focus groups were conducted with community pharmacists (n = 10), prescribers (n = 8) and patients (n = 8) in England. The focus groups were recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed using the Braun and Clarke six phase reflexive thematic analysis approach. Results The analysis identified five themes about PGx testing in community pharmacies: (1) In- principle receptiveness, (2) Appreciation of the benefits, (3) Lack of implementation resources (4) Ambiguity about implications for implementation and (5) Interprofessional relationship challenges. Conclusion The identified enablers for implementation of a PGx service were at a macro health system strategic level; the concerns were more at a granular operational procedural level. Overall receptiveness was noted by all three participant groups, and both prescriber and pharmacist groups appreciated the potential benefits for patients and the healthcare system. Prior to implementation in the UK, there is a need to disambiguate health professional’s concerns of the guidance, resources, and knowledge required to set up and deliver the service and to resolve patient concerns about the nature of genomics. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-022-07730-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Rendell
- University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK.
| | - Julie Barnett
- University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - David Wright
- University of Leicester, University Rd, Leicester, LE1 7RH, England
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11
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Xu Q, Hou X, Xiao T, Zhao W. Factors Affecting Medical Students’ Continuance Intention to Use Mobile Health Applications. J Multidiscip Healthc 2022; 15:471-484. [PMID: 35300179 PMCID: PMC8921670 DOI: 10.2147/jmdh.s327347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Xu
- College of Medical Informatics, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
- Medical Data Science Academy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Medical Informatics Library, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaorong Hou
- College of Medical Informatics, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
- Medical Data Science Academy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tingchao Xiao
- Department of Medical Informatics Library, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenlong Zhao
- College of Medical Informatics, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
- Medical Data Science Academy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Wenlong Zhao, College of Medical Informatics Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 23 6571 4682, Email
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Egan KJ, Hodgson W, Dunlop MD, Imperatore G, Kirk A, Maguire R. A Novel Mobile App ("CareFit") to Support Informal Caregivers to Undertake Regular Physical Activity From Home During and Beyond COVID-19 Restrictions: Co-design and Prototype Development Study. JMIR Form Res 2021; 5:e27358. [PMID: 34406969 PMCID: PMC8489565 DOI: 10.2196/27358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Informal caregivers, or carers (unpaid family members and friends), are instrumental to millions worldwide for the ongoing delivery of health and well-being needs. The risk of crisis points (eg, hospitalizations) for caregivers increases with the absence of physical activity. The COVID-19 pandemic is highly likely to have increased the risk of crisis points for caregivers by increasing the amount of time spent indoors due to shielding and lockdown restrictions. Thus, accessible evidence-based tools to facilitate physical activity for caregivers indoors are urgently needed. Objective The aim of this study was to co-design and develop a novel mobile app to educate and support carers in the undertaking of regular physical activity at home during and beyond COVID-19 restrictions via integration of the transtheoretical model of behavior change and UK physical activity guidelines. Methods We co-designed a mobile app, “CareFit,” by directly involving caregivers, health care professionals, and social care professionals in the requirements, capturing, and evaluation phases of three Agile Scrum design and development sprints. Seven participants representing multistakeholder views took part in three co-design sessions, each of which was followed by a development sprint. Requirements for CareFit were grounded in a combination of behavioral change science and UK government guidelines for physical activity. Results Participants identified different barriers and enablers to physical activity, such as a lack of time, recognition of existing activities, and concerns regarding safely undertaking physical activity. Requirements analysis highlighted the importance of simplicity in design and a need to anchor development around the everyday needs of caregivers (eg, easy-to-use video instructions). Our final prototype app integrated guidance for undertaking physical activity at home through educational, physical activity, and communication components. Conclusions Integrating government guidelines with models of behavioral change into a mobile app to support the physical activity of carers is novel. We found that integrating core physical activity guidelines into a co-designed smartphone app with functionality such as a weekly planner and educational material for users is feasible. This work holds promise to fill the gap of effective physical activity solutions for caregivers both during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Further work is now needed to explore the feasibility, acceptability, and usability of the approach in real-world settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kieren J Egan
- Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - William Hodgson
- School of Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Mark D Dunlop
- Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Gennaro Imperatore
- Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Alison Kirk
- School of Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Roma Maguire
- Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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Abstract
Background: Design workshops offer effective methods in eliciting end-user participation from design inception to completion. Workshops unite stakeholders in the utilization of participatory methods, coalescing in the best possible creative solutions. Objective: This systematic review aimed to identify design approaches whilst providing guidance to health information technology designers/researchers in devising and organizing workshops. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in five medical/library databases identifying 568 articles. The initial duplication removal resulted in 562 articles. A criteria-based screening of the title field, abstracts, and pre-full-texts reviews resulted in 72 records for full-text review. The final review resulted in 10 article exclusions. Results: 62 publications were included in the review. These studies focused on consumer facing and clinical health information technologies. The studied technologies involved both clinician and patients and encompassed an array of health conditions. Diverse workshop activities and deliverables were reported. Only seven publications reported workshop evaluation data. Discussion: This systematic review focused on workshops as a design and research activity in the health informatics domain. Our review revealed three themes: (1) There are a variety of ways of conducting design workshops; (2) Workshops are effective design and research approaches; (3) Various levels of workshop details were reported.
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