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Frid S, Amat-Fernández C, Fuentes-Expósito MÁ, Muñoz-Mateu M, Valachis A, Sisó-Almirall A, Grau-Corral I. Mapping the Evidence on the Impact of mHealth Interventions on Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients With Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review. JCO Clin Cancer Inform 2024; 8:e2400014. [PMID: 38710001 PMCID: PMC11161246 DOI: 10.1200/cci.24.00014] [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: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To comprehensively synthesize the existing evidence concerning mHealth interventions for patients with breast cancer (BC). DESIGN On July 30, 2023, we searched PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar for articles using the following inclusion criteria: evaluation of mHealth interventions in patients with cancer, at least 30 participants with BC, randomized control trials or prospective pre-post studies, determinants of health (patient-reported outcomes [PROs] and quality of life [QoL]) as primary outcomes, interventions lasting at least 8 weeks, publication after January 2015. Publications were excluded if they evaluated telehealth or used web-based software for desktop devices only. The quality of the included studies was analyzed with the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool and the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies. RESULTS We included 30 studies (20 focused on BC), encompassing 5,691 patients with cancer (median 113, IQR, 135.5). Among these, 3,606 had BC (median 99, IQR, 75). All studies contained multiple interventions, including physical activity, tailored information for self-management of the disease, and symptom tracker. Interventions showed better results on self-efficacy (3/3), QoL (10/14), and physical activity (5/7). Lifestyle programs (3/3), expert consulting (4/4), and tailored information (10/11) yielded the best results. Apps with interactive support had a higher rate of positive findings, while interventions targeted to survivors showed worse results. mHealth tools were not available to the public in most of the studies (17/30). CONCLUSION mHealth interventions yielded heterogeneous results on different outcomes. Identifying lack of evidence on clinical scenarios (eg, patients undergoing systemic therapy other than chemotherapy) could aid in refining strategic planning for forthcoming research endeavors within this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Frid
- Clinical Informatics Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Clara Amat-Fernández
- Health Services Research Group, Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Antonis Valachis
- Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | | | - Immaculada Grau-Corral
- Fundación iSYS, Barcelona, Spain
- mHealth and digital Health Observatory, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Wolff J, Seidel S, Wuelfing P, Lux MP, zu Eulenburg C, Smollich M, Baumann F, Seitz S, Kuemmel S, Thill M, Tio J, Braun M, Hollaender H, Seitz A, Horn F, Harbeck N, Wuerstlein R. App-based support for breast cancer patients to reduce psychological distress during therapy and survivorship - a multicentric randomized controlled trial. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1354377. [PMID: 38699636 PMCID: PMC11064693 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1354377] [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: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The negative impact of unmanaged psychological distress on quality of life and outcome in breast cancer survivors has been demonstrated. Fortunately, studies indicate that distress can effectively be addressed and even prevented using evidence-based interventions. In Germany prescription-based mobile health apps, known as DiGAs (digital health applications), that are fully reimbursed by health insurances, were introduced in 2020. In this study, the effectiveness of an approved breast cancer DiGA was investigated: The personalized coaching app PINK! Coach supports and accompanies breast cancer patients during therapy and follow-up. Methods PINK! Coach was specifically designed for breast cancer (BC) patients from the day of diagnosis to the time of Follow-up (aftercare). The app offers individualized, evidence-based therapy and side-effect management, mindfulness-based stress reduction, nutritional and psychological education, physical activity tracking, and motivational exercises to implement lifestyle changes sustainably in daily routine. A prospective, intraindividual RCT (DRKS00028699) was performed with n = 434 patients recruited in 7 German breast cancer centers from September 2022 until January 2023. Patients with BC were included independent of their stage of diseases, type of therapy and molecular characteristics of the tumor. Patients were randomized into one of two groups: The intervention group got access to PINK! over 12 weeks; the control group served as a waiting-list comparison to "standard of care." The primary endpoint was psychological distress objectified by means of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Subgroups were defined to investigate the app's effect on several patient groups such as MBC vs. EBC patients, patients on therapy vs. in aftercare, patients who received a chemotherapy vs. patients who did not. Results Efficacy analysis of the primary endpoint revealed a significant reduction in psychological distress (least squares estimate -1.62, 95% confidence interval [1.03; 2.21]; p<0.001) among intervention group patients from baseline to T3 vs, control group. Subgroup analysis also suggested improvements across all clinical situations. Conclusion Patients with breast cancer suffer from psychological problems including anxiety and depression during and after therapy. Personalized, supportive care with the app PINK! Coach turned out as a promising opportunity to significantly improve psychological distress in a convenient, accessible, and low-threshold manner for breast cancer patients independent of their stage of disease (EBC/MBC), therapy phase (aftercare or therapy) or therapy itself (chemotherapy/other therapy options). The app is routinely available in Germany as a DiGA. Clinical Trial Registration: DRKS Trial Registry (DRKS00028699).
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefine Wolff
- Breast Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, and Comprehensive Cancer Center Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich (LMU) University Hospital, Munich, Germany
- Department Clinical Research, PINK! Gegen Brustkrebs GmbH, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Svenja Seidel
- Department Clinical Research, PINK! Gegen Brustkrebs GmbH, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Pia Wuelfing
- Department Clinical Research, PINK! Gegen Brustkrebs GmbH, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Patrick Lux
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Frauenklinik St. Louise and St. Josefs-Krankenhaus, St. Vincenz Klinik GmbH, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Christine zu Eulenburg
- Department for Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Martin Smollich
- Institute of Nutritional Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Luebeck, Germany
| | - Freerk Baumann
- Department I of Internal Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Stephan Seitz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Caritas Hospital St. Josef, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | | | - Marc Thill
- Markus Hospital, Breast Center, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Joke Tio
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Michael Braun
- Department of Gynecology, Breast Center, Red Cross Hospital, Munich, Germany
| | - Hannah Hollaender
- Breast Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, and Comprehensive Cancer Center Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich (LMU) University Hospital, Munich, Germany
| | - Angenla Seitz
- Department Clinical Research, PINK! Gegen Brustkrebs GmbH, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Felicitas Horn
- Department Clinical Research, PINK! Gegen Brustkrebs GmbH, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nadia Harbeck
- Breast Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, and Comprehensive Cancer Center Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich (LMU) University Hospital, Munich, Germany
| | - Rachel Wuerstlein
- Breast Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, and Comprehensive Cancer Center Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich (LMU) University Hospital, Munich, Germany
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Najafi N, Addie M, Meterissian S, Kersten‐Oertel M. Breamy: An augmented reality mHealth prototype for surgical decision-making in breast cancer. Healthc Technol Lett 2024; 11:137-145. [PMID: 38638506 PMCID: PMC11022230 DOI: 10.1049/htl2.12071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer, affecting approximately one in eight women during their lifetime. Deciding on breast cancer treatment, which includes the choice between surgical options, frequently demands prompt decision-making within an 8-week timeframe. However, many women lack the necessary knowledge and preparation for making informed decisions. Anxiety and unsatisfactory outcomes can result from inadequate decision-making processes, leading to decisional regret and revision surgeries. Shared decision-making and personalized decision aids have shown positive effects on patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes. Here, Breamy, a prototype mobile health application that utilizes augmented reality technology to assist breast cancer patients in making more informed decisions is introduced. Breamy provides 3D visualizations of different surgical procedures, aiming to improve confidence in surgical decision-making, reduce decisional regret, and enhance patient well-being after surgery. To determine the perception of the usefulness of Breamy, data was collected from 166 participants through an online survey. The results suggest that Breamy has the potential to reduce patients' anxiety levels and assist them in decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niki Najafi
- Applied Perception Lab, Department of Computer Science and Software EngineeringConcordia UniversityMontrealQuébecCanada
| | - Miranda Addie
- Experimental SurgeryMcgill UniversityMontrealQuébecCanada
| | - Sarkis Meterissian
- Breast CenterMcGill University Health CentreMontrealQuébecCanada
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of MedicineMcGill UniversityMontrealQuébecCanada
| | - Marta Kersten‐Oertel
- Applied Perception Lab, Department of Computer Science and Software EngineeringConcordia UniversityMontrealQuébecCanada
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Wolff J, Smollich M, Wuelfing P, Mitchell J, Wuerstlein R, Harbeck N, Baumann F. App-Based Lifestyle Intervention (PINK! Coach) in Breast Cancer Patients-A Real-World-Data Analysis. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1020. [PMID: 38473378 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16051020] [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: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Overweight and a lack of physical activity not only increase the risk of recurrence in breast cancer patients but also negatively impact overall and long-term survival, as well as quality of life. The results presented here are the first real-world data from the DiGA PINK! Coach examining the physical activity and BMI of app users. Based on the literature, an approximate weight gain of 10% over 6 months and a decrease in physical activity can be expected. The purpose of this study is to retrospectively investigate the effects of the PINK! Coach in a real-world setting on patients' BMI and physical activity level during acute therapies. such as chemotherapy (CHT) and antihormone therapy (AHT). MATERIAL AND METHODS The PINK! Coach app accompanies breast cancer patients during and after acute therapy to bring about a sustainable lifestyle change. The patients are encouraged to establish a healthy diet, become physically active, and make informed decisions. In this study, real-world data from the app were analyzed over 6 months from baseline to T1 (after 12 weeks) and T2 (after 24 weeks). The patients were under acute therapy or in follow-up care receiving either CHT or AHT. RESULTS The analyzed data indicate that all patients were able to maintain a consistent BMI over 6 months independent of pre-defined subgroups such as AHT, CHT, or BMI subgroups. In the subgroup of patients undergoing AHT, overweight patients were even able to significantly reduce their BMI by 1-score-point over 6 months (p < 0.01). The subgroup of patients undergoing CHT also showed an significant overall reduction in BMI (p = 0.01). All patients were also able to significantly increase their daily step count as well as their physical activity minutes per day. After the first 12 weeks, 41.4% of patients experienced weight gain, 33.4% were able to maintain their weight, and 24.2% reduced their weight. CONCLUSION The presented data provides intriguing insights into the users of the PINK! Coach app and the impact of this usage in regards to BMI and physical activity. At the current time, there are only a few effective concepts for encouraging all breast cancer patients to engage in moderate physical activity and reduce body weight. Often, these concepts apply to selected patient groups. The data presented here include all age groups, tumor stages, and therapies, providing an initial insight into a comprehensive approach. Data over an even longer period would be one way to better contextualize the results in current research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefine Wolff
- Breast Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, LMU University Hospital, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Smollich
- Institute of Nutritional Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, 23538 Luebeck, Germany
| | - Pia Wuelfing
- Department Clinical Research, PINK! gegen Brustkrebs GmbH, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jack Mitchell
- Department Clinical Research, PINK! gegen Brustkrebs GmbH, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Rachel Wuerstlein
- Breast Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, LMU University Hospital, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Nadia Harbeck
- Breast Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, LMU University Hospital, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Freerk Baumann
- Department I of Internal Medicine, University of Cologne, 50923 Cologne, Germany
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Alhuwail D, Alhouti A, Alsarhan L. Assessing the Quality, Privacy, and Security of Breast Cancer Apps for Arabic Speakers: Systematic Search and Review of Smartphone Apps. JMIR Cancer 2024; 10:e48428. [PMID: 38227353 PMCID: PMC10828940 DOI: 10.2196/48428] [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: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer is a widespread disease, and its incidence is rapidly increasing in the Middle East and North Africa region. With the increasing availability of smartphone apps for various health purposes, breast cancer apps have emerged as tools for raising awareness, providing support, and empowering women affected by this disease. These apps offer many features, including information on breast cancer risk factors, self-examination guides, appointment reminders, and community support groups or hotlines. Using apps raises the risk of privacy and security issues, and we hope that examining these features of the apps will contribute to the understanding of how technology can be used to improve these apps and provide insights for future development and improvement of breast cancer apps. OBJECTIVE This study aims to critically review the quality, privacy, and security of breast cancer apps available to Arabic speakers. METHODS Similar to several recent studies, we used a systematic search for apps available in Google Play and Apple App stores using both the web interface and the built-in native stores installed on smartphones. The search was conducted in mid-December 2022 in Arabic using the following keywords: سرطان الثدي - فحص سرطان الثدي - علاج سرطان الثدي - مرض سرطان الثدي - أعراض سرطان الثدي - فحص الثدي (breast cancer, breast cancer treatment, breast cancer disease, breast cancer symptoms, breast cancer screening, and breast test). These preidentified search terms are based on earlier work concerning the top searched breast cancer topics by Arabic speakers through Google's search engine. We excluded apps that did not have an Arabic interface, were developed for non-Arabic speakers, were paid, needed a subscription, or were directed toward health care workers. The Mobile App Rating Scale was used to evaluate the quality of the apps concerning their engagement, functionality, aesthetics, and information. A risk score was calculated for the apps to determine their security risk factors. RESULTS Only 9 apps were included, with most (6/9, 67%) being supported by advertisements and categorized as informational. Overall, the apps had low numbers of downloads (>10 to >1000). The majority of the included apps (8/9, 89%) requested dangerous access permissions, including access to storage, media files, and the camera. The average security score of the included apps was 3.22, while only 2 apps provided information about data security and privacy. The included apps achieved an overall average quality score of 3.27, with individual dimension scores of 4.75 for functionality, 3.04 for information, 3.00 for aesthetics, and 2.32 for engagement. CONCLUSIONS The limited availability of breast cancer apps available to Arabic speakers should be a call to action and prompt health care organizations and developers to join forces and collaboratively develop information-rich, usable, functional, engaging, and secure apps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dari Alhuwail
- Information Science Department, College of Life Sciences, Kuwait University, Sabah AlSalem University City, Kuwait
- Health Informatics Unit, Dasman Diabetes Institute, Dasman, Kuwait
| | - Aisha Alhouti
- Information Science Department, College of Life Sciences, Kuwait University, Sabah AlSalem University City, Kuwait
| | - Latifah Alsarhan
- Information Science Department, College of Life Sciences, Kuwait University, Sabah AlSalem University City, Kuwait
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Altmannshofer S, Flaucher M, Beierlein M, Eskofier BM, Beckmann MW, Fasching PA, Huebner H. A content-based review of mobile health applications for breast cancer prevention and education: Characteristics, quality and functionality analysis. Digit Health 2024; 10:20552076241234627. [PMID: 38528967 PMCID: PMC10962048 DOI: 10.1177/20552076241234627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Mobile Health apps could be a feasible and effective tool to raise awareness for breast cancer prevention and to support women to change their behaviour to a healthier lifestyle. The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics and quality of apps designed for breast cancer prevention and education. Methods We conducted a systematic search for apps covering breast cancer prevention topics in the Google Play and Apple App Store accessible from Germany using search terms either in German or in English. Only apps with a last update after June 2020 were included. The apps identified were downloaded and evaluated by two independent researchers. App quality was analysed using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS). Associations of app characteristics and MARS rating were analysed. Results We identified 19 apps available in the Google Play Store and seven apps available in the Apple App Store that met all inclusion criteria. The mean MARS score was 3.07 and 3.50, respectively. Functionality was the highest-scoring domain. Operating system, developer (healthcare), download rates and time since the last update were significantly associated with overall MARS score. In addition, the presence of the following app functions significantly influenced MARS rating: breast self-examination tutorial, reminder for self-examination, documentation feature and education about breast cancer risk factors. Conclusions Although most of the apps offer important features for breast cancer prevention, none of the analysed apps combined all functions. The absence of healthcare professionals' expertise in developing apps negatively affects the overall quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Altmannshofer
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Comprehensive Cancer Center ER-EMN, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Madeleine Flaucher
- Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Milena Beierlein
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Comprehensive Cancer Center ER-EMN, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Bjoern M Eskofier
- Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Matthias W Beckmann
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Comprehensive Cancer Center ER-EMN, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Peter A Fasching
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Comprehensive Cancer Center ER-EMN, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Hanna Huebner
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Comprehensive Cancer Center ER-EMN, Erlangen, Germany
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Wasserman S, Ould Brahim L, Attiya A, Belzile E, Lambert SD. An Evaluation of Interactive mHealth Applications for Adults Living with Cancer. Curr Oncol 2023; 30:7151-7166. [PMID: 37622999 PMCID: PMC10453401 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol30080518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
This study evaluated the quality and usefulness of interactive mobile health (mHealth) applications (apps) for adults with cancer. The PRISMA guidelines were followed to add rigor to the search, as well as to the data collection and analysis. The apps available in the most used app stores (Google Play and Apple) with interactive tailored features were identified. To supplement this, a Google web search was also conducted. The apps were evaluated for their quality using the validated Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) and for their usefulness using a checklist of end users' desired features derived from the literature. The searches returned 3046 apps and 17 were retained for evaluation. The average quality score of the apps across the sample was 3.62/5 (SD 0.26, range: 3.14-4.06), with Outcomes4me scoring the highest. On average, the apps scored 50% (SD 2.5, range: 31-88%) on the usefulness checklist, with Cancer.net scoring the highest. The lowest-scoring categories were communications features on the usefulness checklist and "information" on the MARS, indicating areas for future work. The findings identified the apps of an acceptable quality and usefulness that could be recommended to those with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney Wasserman
- St. Mary’s Research Centre, Montreal, QC H3T 1M5, Canada; (S.W.); (L.O.B.); (E.B.)
- Ingram School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada
| | - Lydia Ould Brahim
- St. Mary’s Research Centre, Montreal, QC H3T 1M5, Canada; (S.W.); (L.O.B.); (E.B.)
- Ingram School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada
| | - Ameer Attiya
- School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada;
| | - Eric Belzile
- St. Mary’s Research Centre, Montreal, QC H3T 1M5, Canada; (S.W.); (L.O.B.); (E.B.)
| | - Sylvie D. Lambert
- St. Mary’s Research Centre, Montreal, QC H3T 1M5, Canada; (S.W.); (L.O.B.); (E.B.)
- Ingram School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada
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