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Feldacker C, Pienaar J, Wasunna B, Ndebele F, Khumalo C, Day S, Tweya H, Oni F, Sardini M, Adhikary B, Waweru E, Wafula MB, Dixon A, Jafa K, Su Y, Sherr K, Setswe G. Expanding the Evidence on the Safety and Efficiency of 2-Way Text Messaging-Based Telehealth for Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Follow-up Compared With In-Person Reviews: Randomized Controlled Trial in Rural and Urban South Africa. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e42111. [PMID: 37159245 DOI: 10.2196/42111] [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: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a dearth of high-quality evidence from digital health interventions in routine program settings in low- and middle-income countries. We previously conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in Zimbabwe, demonstrating that 2-way texting (2wT) was safe and effective for follow-up after adult voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC). OBJECTIVE To demonstrate the replicability of 2wT, we conducted a larger RCT in both urban and rural VMMC settings in South Africa to determine whether 2wT improves adverse event (AE) ascertainment and, therefore, the quality of follow-up after VMMC while reducing health care workers' workload. METHODS A prospective, unblinded, noninferiority RCT was conducted among adult participants who underwent VMMC with cell phones randomized in a 1:1 ratio between 2wT and control (routine care) in North West and Gauteng provinces. The 2wT participants responded to a daily SMS text message with in-person follow-up only if desired or an AE was suspected. The control group was requested to make in-person visits on postoperative days 2 and 7 as per national VMMC guidelines. All participants were asked to return on postoperative day 14 for study-specific review. Safety (cumulative AEs ≤day 14 visit) and workload (number of in-person follow-up visits) were compared. Differences in cumulative AEs were calculated between groups. Noninferiority was prespecified with a margin of -0.25%. The Manning score method was used to calculate 95% CIs. RESULTS The study was conducted between June 7, 2021, and February 21, 2022. In total, 1084 men were enrolled (2wT: n=547, 50.5%, control: n=537, 49.5%), with near-equal proportions of rural and urban participants. Cumulative AEs were identified in 2.3% (95% CI 1.3-4.1) of 2wT participants and 1.0% (95% CI 0.4-2.3) of control participants, demonstrating noninferiority (1-sided 95% CI -0.09 to ∞). Among the 2wT participants, 11 AEs (9 moderate and 2 severe) were identified, compared with 5 AEs (all moderate) among the control participants-a nonsignificant difference in AE rates (P=.13). The 2wT participants attended 0.22 visits, and the control participants attended 1.34 visits-a significant reduction in follow-up visit workload (P<.001). The 2wT approach reduced unnecessary postoperative visits by 84.8%. Daily response rates ranged from 86% on day 3 to 74% on day 13. Among the 2wT participants, 94% (514/547) responded to ≥1 daily SMS text messages over 13 days. CONCLUSIONS Across rural and urban contexts in South Africa, 2wT was noninferior to routine in-person visits for AE ascertainment, demonstrating 2wT safety. The 2wT approach also significantly reduced the follow-up visit workload, improving efficiency. These results strongly suggest that 2wT provides quality VMMC follow-up and should be adopted at scale. Adaptation of the 2wT telehealth approach to other acute follow-up care contexts could extend these gains beyond VMMC. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04327271; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04327271.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caryl Feldacker
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- International Training and Education Center for Health, Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | | | | | | | | | - Sarah Day
- Centre for HIV-AIDS Prevention Studies (CHAPS), Johannesburg, South Africa
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Hannock Tweya
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yanfang Su
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Kenneth Sherr
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Geoffrey Setswe
- Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Health Studies, University of South Africa (UNISA), Pretoria, South Africa
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Schuetze L, Srivastava S, Missenye AM, Rwezaula EJ, Stoermer M, De Allegri M. Factors Affecting the Successful Implementation of a Digital Intervention for Health Financing in a Low-Resource Setting at Scale: Semistructured Interview Study With Health Care Workers and Management Staff. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e38818. [PMID: 36607708 PMCID: PMC9862332 DOI: 10.2196/38818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Digital interventions for health financing, if implemented at scale, have the potential to improve health system performance by reducing transaction costs and improving data-driven decision-making. However, many interventions never reach sustainability, and evidence on success factors for scale is scarce. The Insurance Management Information System (IMIS) is a digital intervention for health financing, designed to manage an insurance scheme and already implemented on a national scale in Tanzania. A previous study found that the IMIS claim function was poorly adopted by health care workers (HCWs), questioning its potential to enable strategic purchasing and succeed at scale. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to understand why the adoption of the IMIS claim function by HCWs remained low in Tanzania and to assess implications for use at scale. METHODS We conducted 21 semistructured interviews with HCWs and management staff in 4 districts where IMIS was first implemented. We sampled respondents by using a maximum variation strategy. We used the framework method for data analysis, applying a combination of inductive and deductive coding to organize codes in a socioecological model. Finally, we related emerging themes to a framework for digital health interventions for scale. RESULTS Respondents appreciated IMIS's intrinsic software characteristics and technical factors and acknowledged IMIS as a valuable tool to simplify claim management. Human factors, extrinsic ecosystem, and health care ecosystem were considered as barriers to widespread adoption. CONCLUSIONS Digital interventions for health financing, such as IMIS, may have the potential for scale if careful consideration is given to the environment in which they are placed. Without a sustainable health financing environment, sufficient infrastructure, and human capacity, they cannot unfold their full potential to improve health financing functions and ultimately contribute to universal health coverage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon Schuetze
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Siddharth Srivastava
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Manfred Stoermer
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Manuela De Allegri
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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Kernebeck S, Scheibe M, Sinha M, Fischer F, Knapp A, Timpel P, Harst L, Reininghaus U, Vollmar HC. [Developing, Evaluating and Implementing Digital Health Interventions Part II - Discussion Paper of the Digital Health Working Group of the German Network for Health Services Research (DNVF)]. DAS GESUNDHEITSWESEN 2023; 85:65-70. [PMID: 36446616 PMCID: PMC11248873 DOI: 10.1055/a-1915-4371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
The methodological challenges of evaluating digital interventions (DI) for health services research are omnipresent. The Digital Health Working Group of the German Network for Health Services Research (DNVF) presented and discussed these challenges in a two-part discussion paper. The first part addressed challenges in definition, development and evaluation of DI. In this paper, which represents the second part, the definition of outcomes, reporting of results, synthesis of evidence, and implementation are addressed as methodological challenges of DI. Potential solutions are presented and the need to address these challenges in future research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Kernebeck
- Lehrstuhl für Didaktik und Bildungsforschung im
Gesundheitswesen – Fakultät für Gesundheit,
Universität Witten Herdecke, Witten, Germany
| | - Madlen Scheibe
- Zentrum für Evidenzbasierte Gesundheitsversorgung,
Universitätsklinikum und Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus
an der TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Monika Sinha
- Mitglied AG Bioinformatik, Charité Universitätsmedizin
Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Florian Fischer
- Bayerisches Forschungszentrum Pflege Digital, Hochschule Kempten,
Kempten, Germany
- Institut für Public Health, Charité
Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin
| | | | - Patrick Timpel
- Zentrum für Evidenzbasierte Gesundheitsversorgung,
Universitätsklinikum und Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus
an der TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- WIG2 GmbH, Wissenschaftliches Institut für
Gesundheitsökonomie und Gesundheitssystemforschung, Leipzig,
Germany
| | - Lorenz Harst
- Zentrum für Evidenzbasierte Gesundheitsversorgung,
Universitätsklinikum und Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus
an der TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ulrich Reininghaus
- Department of Public Mental Health, Central Institute of Mental Health,
University of Heidelberg, Manheim, Germany
- ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health, King’s College
London, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland
- Centre for Epidemiology and Public Health, Health Service and
Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology &
Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, Germany
| | - Horst Christian Vollmar
- Abteilung für Allgemeinmedizin (AM RUB), Medizinische
Fakultät, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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O'Connor C, Leyritana K, Doyle AM, Birdthistle I, Lewis JJ, Gill R, Salvaña EM. Delivering an mHealth Adherence Support Intervention for Patients With HIV: Mixed Methods Process Evaluation of the Philippines Connect for Life Study. JMIR Form Res 2022; 6:e37163. [PMID: 35969425 PMCID: PMC9419042 DOI: 10.2196/37163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Philippines HIV epidemic is one of the fastest growing epidemics globally, and infections among men who have sex with men are increasing at an alarming rate. Connect for Life Philippines is a mobile health (mHealth) intervention that supports antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence in this key population through individualized voice calls and SMS text messages. Objective The objective of this process evaluation is to assess the intervention reach, dose delivered and received, fidelity, and acceptability and to describe contextual factors affecting the implementation of an mHealth adherence support intervention for patients on ART in a clinic in Metro Manila, Philippines. Methods A mixed methods process evaluation approach was used in an observational cohort study. Quantitative data sources for the process evaluation were call and SMS text message logs obtained from the mHealth platform and questionnaires collected at 12-, 24-, and 48-week study visits. Qualitative data were collected from process reports and through a series of focus group discussions conducted with a subset of participants during the intervention development phase, after an initial 8-week pilot phase, and at the end of the study. Results The 462 study participants received 31,095 interactive voice calls and 8234 SMS text messages during the study. Owing to technical issues, intervention fidelity was low, with only 22.1% (102/462) of the participants receiving reminders via voice calls and others (360/462, 77.9%) receiving only SMS text messages during the intervention. After 48 weeks in the study, 63.5% (293/462) of the participants reported that they would be quite likely or very likely to recommend the program to a friend, and 53.8% (249/462) of the participants reported that they benefited quite a bit or very much from the intervention. Participants who were on ART for <6 months at the beginning of the study and those who received the daily or weekly pill reminders were more likely to report that they benefited from the intervention (P=.02 and P=.01, respectively). Conclusions The Connect for Life intervention had high participant satisfaction and acceptability, especially among those who received high dose of the intervention. However, poor reliability of local telecommunication networks had a large impact on the intervention’s usability, fidelity, and dose received.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara O'Connor
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines, Mandaluyong, Philippines
| | - Katerina Leyritana
- Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines, Mandaluyong, Philippines
| | - Aoife M Doyle
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Medical Research Council International Statistics & Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Isolde Birdthistle
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - James J Lewis
- Y Lab, the Public Services Innovation Lab for Wales, School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Randeep Gill
- Johnson & Johnson Global Public Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Edsel Maurice Salvaña
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, University of the Philippines College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines
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Shaikh A, Bhatia A, Yadav G, Hora S, Won C, Shankar M, Heerboth A, Vemulapalli P, Navalkar P, Oswal K, Heaton C, Saunik S, Khanna T, Balsari S. Applying Human-Centered Design Principles to Digital Syndromic Surveillance at a Mass Gathering in India: Viewpoint. J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e27952. [PMID: 35006088 PMCID: PMC8787658 DOI: 10.2196/27952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, digital health tools have been deployed by governments around the world to advance clinical and population health objectives. Few interventions have been successful or have achieved sustainability or scale. In India, government agencies are proposing sweeping changes to India's digital health architecture. Underpinning these initiatives is the assumption that mobile health solutions will find near universal acceptance and uptake, though the observed reticence of clinicians to use electronic health records suggests otherwise. In this practice article, we describe our experience with implementing a digital surveillance tool at a large mass gathering, attended by nearly 30 million people. Deployed with limited resources and in a dynamic chaotic setting, the adherence to human-centered design principles resulted in near universal adoption and high end-user satisfaction. Through this use case, we share generalizable lessons in the importance of contextual relevance, stakeholder participation, customizability, and rapid iteration, while designing digital health tools for individuals or populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Shaikh
- Institute for Critical Care Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, United States
| | - Abhishek Bhatia
- Carolina Health Informatics Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- India Digital Health Network, Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Ghanshyam Yadav
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Shashwat Hora
- Articulate Labs, Inc, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Chung Won
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Memorial Hermann Hospital -Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Mark Shankar
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Jacobi Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Aaron Heerboth
- India Digital Health Network, Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Prakash Vemulapalli
- University Hospitals Center for Emergency Medicine, Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | | | - Kunal Oswal
- Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sharad Pawar Dental College, Maharashtra, India
| | - Clay Heaton
- India Digital Health Network, Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Sujata Saunik
- Department of General Administration, Government of Maharashtra, Mumbai, India
- Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Tarun Khanna
- Harvard Business School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Satchit Balsari
- India Digital Health Network, Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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Knight SR, Ng N, Tsanas A, Mclean K, Pagliari C, Harrison EM. Mobile devices and wearable technology for measuring patient outcomes after surgery: a systematic review. NPJ Digit Med 2021; 4:157. [PMID: 34773071 PMCID: PMC8590052 DOI: 10.1038/s41746-021-00525-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Complications following surgery are common and frequently occur the following discharge. Mobile and wearable digital health interventions (DHI) provide an opportunity to monitor and support patients during their postoperative recovery. Lack of high-quality evidence is often cited as a barrier to DHI implementation. This review captures and appraises the current use, evidence base and reporting quality of mobile and wearable DHI following surgery. Keyword searches were performed within Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and WHO Global Index Medicus databases, together with clinical trial registries and Google scholar. Studies involving patients undergoing any surgery requiring skin incision where postoperative outcomes were measured using a DHI following hospital discharge were included, with DHI defined as mobile and wireless technologies for health to improve health system efficiency and health outcomes. Methodological reporting quality was determined using the validated mobile health evidence reporting and assessment (mERA) guidelines. Bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool for randomised studies or MINORS depending on study type. Overall, 6969 articles were screened, with 44 articles included. The majority (n = 34) described small prospective study designs, with a high risk of bias demonstrated. Reporting standards were suboptimal across all domains, particularly in relation to data security, prior patient engagement and cost analysis. Despite the potential of DHI to improve postoperative patient care, current progress is severely restricted by limitations in methodological reporting. There is an urgent need to improve reporting for DHI following surgery to identify patient benefit, promote reproducibility and encourage sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen R Knight
- Surgical Informatics, Centre for Medical Informatics, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Nathan Ng
- School of Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | | | - Kenneth Mclean
- Surgical Informatics, Centre for Medical Informatics, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Claudia Pagliari
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Ewen M Harrison
- Surgical Informatics, Centre for Medical Informatics, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Beck AK, Kelly PJ, Deane FP, Baker AL, Hides L, Manning V, Shakeshaft A, Neale J, Kelly JF, Gray RM, Argent A, McGlaughlin R, Chao R, Martini M. Developing a mHealth Routine Outcome Monitoring and Feedback App ("SMART Track") to Support Self-Management of Addictive Behaviours. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:677637. [PMID: 34220583 PMCID: PMC8249767 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.677637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Routine outcome monitoring (ROM) has been implemented across a range of addiction treatment services, settings and organisations. Mutual support groups are a notable exception. Innovative solutions are needed. SMART Track is a purpose built smartphone app designed to capture ROM data and provide tailored feedback to adults attending Australian SMART Recovery groups for addictive behaviour(s). Objective: Details regarding the formative stage of app development is essential, but often neglected. Improved consideration of the end-user is vital for curtailing app attrition and enhancing engagement. This paper provides a pragmatic example of how principles embedded in published frameworks can be operationalised to address these priorities during the design and development of the SMART Track app. Methods: Three published frameworks for creating digital health technologies ("Person-Based Approach," "BIT" Model and IDEAS framework) were integrated and applied across two stages of research to inform the development, design and content of SMART Track. These frameworks were chosen to ensure that SMART Track was informed by the needs and preferences of the end-user ("Person-Based"); best practise recommendations for mHealth development ("BIT" Model) and a collaborative, iterative development process between the multi-disciplinary research team, app developers and end-users (IDEAS framework). Results: Stage one of the research process generated in-depth knowledge to inform app development, including a comprehensive set of aims (clinical, research/organisation, and usage); clear articulation of the target behaviour (self-monitoring of recovery related behaviours and experiences); relevant theory (self-determination and social control); appropriate behavioural strategies (e.g., behaviour change taxonomy and process motivators) and key factors that may influence engagement (e.g., transparency, relevance and trust). These findings were synthesised into guiding principles that were applied during stage two in an iterative approach to app design, content and development. Conclusions: This paper contributes new knowledge on important person-centred and theoretical considerations that underpin a novel ROM and feedback app for people with addictive behaviour(s). Although person-centred design and best-practise recommendations were employed, further research is needed to determine whether this leads to improved usage outcomes. Clinical Trial Registration: Pilot Trial: http://anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=377336.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison K. Beck
- Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Peter J. Kelly
- Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Frank P. Deane
- Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Amanda L. Baker
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Leanne Hides
- Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, Lives Lived Well Group, School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Victoria Manning
- Eastern Health Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Anthony Shakeshaft
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, Australia
| | - Joanne Neale
- Addictions Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - John F. Kelly
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Rebecca M. Gray
- Centre for Social Research in Health, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | | | - Ryan Chao
- GHO, Customer Experience Agency, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Dimitri P, Fernandez-Luque L, Banerjee I, Bergadá I, Calliari LE, Dahlgren J, de Arriba A, Lapatto R, Reinehr T, Senniappan S, Thomas-Teinturier C, Tsai MC, Anuar Zaini A, Bagha M, Koledova E. An eHealth Framework for Managing Pediatric Growth Disorders and Growth Hormone Therapy. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e27446. [PMID: 34014174 PMCID: PMC8176345 DOI: 10.2196/27446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The use of technology to support health and health care has grown rapidly in the last decade across all ages and medical specialties. Newly developed eHealth tools are being implemented in long-term management of growth failure in children, a low prevalence pediatric endocrine disorder. Objective Our objective was to create a framework that can guide future implementation and research on the use of eHealth tools to support patients with growth disorders who require growth hormone therapy. Methods A total of 12 pediatric endocrinologists with experience in eHealth, from a wide geographical distribution, participated in a series of online discussions. We summarized the discussions of 3 workshops, conducted during 2020, on the use of eHealth in the management of growth disorders, which were structured to provide insights on existing challenges, opportunities, and solutions for the implementation of eHealth tools across the patient journey, from referral to the end of pediatric therapy. Results A total of 815 responses were collected from 2 questionnaire-based activities covering referral and diagnosis of growth disorders, and subsequent growth hormone therapy stages of the patient pathway, relating to physicians, nurses, and patients, parents, or caregivers. We mapped the feedback from those discussions into a framework that we developed as a guide to integration of eHealth tools across the patient journey. Responses focused on improved clinical management, such as growth monitoring and automation of referral for early detection of growth disorders, which could trigger rapid evaluation and diagnosis. Patient support included the use of eHealth for enhanced patient and caregiver communication, better access to educational opportunities, and enhanced medical and psychological support during growth hormone therapy management. Given the potential availability of patient data from connected devices, artificial intelligence can be used to predict adherence and personalize patient support. Providing evidence to demonstrate the value and utility of eHealth tools will ensure that these tools are widely accepted, trusted, and used in clinical practice, but implementation issues (eg, adaptation to specific clinical settings) must be addressed. Conclusions The use of eHealth in growth hormone therapy has major potential to improve the management of growth disorders along the patient journey. Combining objective clinical information and patient adherence data is vital in supporting decision-making and the development of new eHealth tools. Involvement of clinicians and patients in the process of integrating such technologies into clinical practice is essential for implementation and developing evidence that eHealth tools can provide value across the patient pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Dimitri
- The Academic Unit of Child Health, Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | | | - Indraneel Banerjee
- Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester University Hospitals Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Ignacio Bergadá
- Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas "Dr. César Bergadá" (CEDIE), Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Luis Eduardo Calliari
- Department of Paediatrics, Santa Casa de São Paulo School of Medical Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jovanna Dahlgren
- Department of Pediatrics, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Antonio de Arriba
- Paediatric Endocrinology, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Risto Lapatto
- New Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Thomas Reinehr
- Vestische Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Witten/Herdecke, Datteln, Germany
| | - Senthil Senniappan
- Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Cécile Thomas-Teinturier
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris Saclay, Hôpital Bicetre, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France
| | - Meng-Che Tsai
- Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | | | - Merat Bagha
- Tiba Medical Inc, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Ekaterina Koledova
- Global Medical Affairs, Cardiometabolic and Endocrinology, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
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Halminen O, Chen A, Tenhunen H, Lillrank P. Demonstrating the value of digital health: Guidance on contextual evidence gathering for companies in different stages of maturity. Health Serv Manage Res 2020; 34:13-20. [PMID: 33291977 DOI: 10.1177/0951484820971447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Application of value-based healthcare policies affects all actors in social and health care field, including the Digital Health Intervention (DHI) providers aiming to enter the industry or expand their market. Apparent lack of fit between evidence and expectations inhibits the growth of DHI companies. The companies need efficient and credible methods to access and demonstrate the value of their DHIs. Building on the stage-of-maturity logic presented in World Health Organization's (WHO) guide of monitoring and evaluating digital health interventions and Context-Intervention-Mechanism-Outcome (CIMO) logic, we provide a potential approach for DHI companies to assess the evidence needed in their current situation. The proposed approach takes into account the company's future development goals and the business environment, reflecting for every stage of technology maturity according to the WHO guidelines and through the CIMO lens. The focus is on specific intervention and its fit for different organizational and national contexts. The solution guides the research process of the company to understand which evidence-gathering topics should be addressed. This evidence can be beneficial for companies to enter into, occupy, expand or sustain in the domestic or international market.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olli Halminen
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, School of Science, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
| | - An Chen
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, School of Science, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
| | - Henni Tenhunen
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, School of Science, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
| | - Paul Lillrank
- Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, School of Science, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
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10
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Dang H, Dao S, Carnahan E, Kawakyu N, Duong H, Nguyen T, Nguyen D, Nguyen L, Rivera M, Ngo T, Werner L, Nguyen N. Determinants of Scale-up From a Small Pilot to a National Electronic Immunization Registry in Vietnam: Qualitative Evaluation. J Med Internet Res 2020; 22:e19923. [PMID: 32960184 PMCID: PMC7539163 DOI: 10.2196/19923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Digital health innovations can improve health system performance, yet previous experience has shown that many innovations do not advance beyond the pilot stage to achieve scale. Vietnam’s National Immunization Information System (NIIS) began as a series of digital health pilots, first initiated in 2010, and was officially launched nationwide in 2017. The NIIS is one of the few examples of an electronic immunization registry (EIR) at national scale in low- and middle-income countries. Objective The aim of this study was to understand the determinants of scale-up of the national EIR in Vietnam. Methods This qualitative study explored the facilitators and barriers to national scale-up of the EIR in Vietnam. Qualitative data were collected from October to December 2019 through in-depth key informant interviews and desk review. The mHealth Assessment and Planning for Scale (MAPS) Toolkit guided the development of the study design, interview guides, and analytic framework. MAPS defines the key determinants of success, or the “axes of scale,” to be groundwork, partnerships, financial health, technology and architecture, operations, and monitoring and evaluation. Results The partnership and operations axes were critical to the successful scale-up of the EIR in Vietnam, while the groundwork and monitoring and the evaluation axes were considered to be strong contributors in the success of all the other axes. The partnership model leveraged complementary strengths of the technical working group partners: the Ministry of Health General Department of Preventive Medicine, the National Expanded Program on Immunization, Viettel (the mobile network operator), and PATH. The operational approach to introducing the NIIS with lean, iterative, and integrated training and supervision was also a key facilitator to successful scale-up. The financial health, technology and architecture, and operations axes were identified as barriers to successful deployment and scale-up. Key barriers to scale-up included insufficient estimates of operational costs, unanticipated volume of data storage and transmission, lack of a national ID to support interoperability, and operational challenges among end users. Overall, the multiple phases of EIR deployment and scale-up from 2010 to 2017 allowed for continuous learning and improvement that strengthened all the axes and contributed to successful scale-up. Conclusions The results highlight the importance of the measured, iterative approach that was taken to gradually expand a series of small pilots to nationwide scale. The findings from this study can be used to inform other countries considering, introducing, or in the process of scaling an EIR or other digital health innovations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huyen Dang
- National Expanded Program on Immunization, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | | | | | - Nami Kawakyu
- PATH, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Hong Duong
- National Expanded Program on Immunization, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Trung Nguyen
- National Expanded Program on Immunization, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Doan Nguyen
- National Expanded Program on Immunization, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Vietnam
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11
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Bhatia A, Matthan R, Khanna T, Balsari S. Regulatory Sandboxes: A Cure for mHealth Pilotitis? J Med Internet Res 2020; 22:e21276. [PMID: 32763889 PMCID: PMC7525408 DOI: 10.2196/21276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Mobile health (mHealth) and related digital health interventions in the past decade have not always scaled globally as anticipated earlier despite large investments by governments and philanthropic foundations. The implementation of digital health tools has suffered from 2 limitations: (1) the interventions commonly ignore the “law of amplification” that states that technology is most likely to succeed when it seeks to augment and not alter human behavior; and (2) end-user needs and clinical gaps are often poorly understood while designing solutions, contributing to a substantial decrease in usage, referred to as the “law of attrition” in eHealth. The COVID-19 pandemic has addressed the first of the 2 problems—technology solutions, such as telemedicine, that were struggling to find traction are now closely aligned with health-seeking behavior. The second problem (poorly designed solutions) persists, as demonstrated by a plethora of poorly designed epidemic prediction tools and digital contact-tracing apps, which were deployed at scale, around the world, with little validation. The pandemic has accelerated the Indian state’s desire to build the nation’s digital health ecosystem. We call for the inclusion of regulatory sandboxes, as successfully done in the fintech sector, to provide a real-world testing environment for mHealth solutions before deploying them at scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Bhatia
- The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States.,FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Rahul Matthan
- The Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru, India.,Trilegal, Bengaluru, India
| | - Tarun Khanna
- The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Harvard Business School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Satchit Balsari
- The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States.,FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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12
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Kernebeck S, Busse TS, Böttcher MD, Weitz J, Ehlers J, Bork U. Impact of mobile health and medical applications on clinical practice in gastroenterology. World J Gastroenterol 2020; 26:4182-4197. [PMID: 32848328 PMCID: PMC7422538 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v26.i29.4182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mobile health apps (MHAs) and medical apps (MAs) are becoming increasingly popular as digital interventions in a wide range of health-related applications in almost all sectors of healthcare. The surge in demand for digital medical solutions has been accelerated by the need for new diagnostic and therapeutic methods in the current coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. This also applies to clinical practice in gastroenterology, which has, in many respects, undergone a recent digital transformation with numerous consequences that will impact patients and health care professionals in the near future. MHAs and MAs are considered to have great potential, especially for chronic diseases, as they can support the self-management of patients in many ways. Despite the great potential associated with the application of MHAs and MAs in gastroenterology and health care in general, there are numerous challenges to be met in the future, including both the ethical and legal aspects of applying this technology. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the current status of MHA and MA use in the field of gastroenterology, describe the future perspectives in this field and point out some of the challenges that need to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Kernebeck
- Didactics and Educational Research in Health Science, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten 58455, Germany
| | - Theresa S Busse
- Didactics and Educational Research in Health Science, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten 58455, Germany
| | - Maximilian D Böttcher
- Department of GI-, Thoracic- and Vascular Surgery, Dresden Technical University, University Hospital Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Jürgen Weitz
- Department of GI-, Thoracic- and Vascular Surgery, Dresden Technical University, University Hospital Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Jan Ehlers
- Didactics and Educational Research in Health Science, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten 58455, Germany
| | - Ulrich Bork
- Department of GI-, Thoracic- and Vascular Surgery, Dresden Technical University, University Hospital Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
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13
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Li DH, Brown CH, Gallo C, Morgan E, Sullivan PS, Young SD, Mustanski B. Design Considerations for Implementing eHealth Behavioral Interventions for HIV Prevention in Evolving Sociotechnical Landscapes. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2020; 16:335-348. [PMID: 31250195 DOI: 10.1007/s11904-019-00455-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Despite tremendous potential for public health impact and continued investments in development and evaluation, it is rare for eHealth behavioral interventions to be implemented broadly in practice. Intervention developers may not be planning for implementation when designing technology-enabled interventions, thus creating greater challenges for real-world deployment following a research trial. To facilitate faster translation to practice, we aimed to provide researchers and developers with an implementation-focused approach and set of design considerations as they develop new eHealth programs. RECENT FINDINGS Using the Accelerated Creation-to-Sustainment model as a lens, we examined challenges and successes experienced during the development and evaluation of four diverse eHealth HIV prevention programs for young men who have sex with men: Keep It Up!, Harnessing Online Peer Education, Guy2Guy, and HealthMindr. HIV is useful for studying eHealth implementation because of the substantial proliferation of diverse eHealth interventions with strong evidence of reach and efficacy and the responsiveness to rapid and radical disruptions in the field. Rather than locked-down products to be disseminated, eHealth interventions are complex sociotechnical systems that require continual optimization, vigilance to monitor and troubleshoot technological issues, and decision rules to refresh content and functionality while maintaining fidelity to core intervention principles. Platform choice and sociotechnical relationships (among end users, implementers, and the technology) heavily influence implementation needs and challenges. We present a checklist of critical implementation questions to address during intervention development. In the absence of a clear path forward for eHealth implementation, deliberate design of an eHealth intervention's service and technological components in tandem with their implementation plans is critical to mitigating barriers to widespread use. The design considerations presented can be used by developers, evaluators, reviewers, and funders to prioritize the pragmatic scalability of eHealth interventions in research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis H Li
- Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA. .,Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - C Hendricks Brown
- Center for Prevention Implementation Methodology for Drug Abuse and HIV, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Carlos Gallo
- Center for Prevention Implementation Methodology for Drug Abuse and HIV, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ethan Morgan
- Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Patrick S Sullivan
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sean D Young
- Institute for Prediction Technology, Department of Informatics, Bren School of Information and Computer Science, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.,Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Brian Mustanski
- Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
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14
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Slevin P, Kessie T, Cullen J, Butler MW, Donnelly SC, Caulfield B. Exploring the barriers and facilitators for the use of digital health technologies for the management of COPD: a qualitative study of clinician perceptions. QJM 2020; 113:163-172. [PMID: 31545374 DOI: 10.1093/qjmed/hcz241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Digital health technology (DHT) promises to support patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs) to optimize the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, there is a lack of evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of DHT for the management of COPD. One reason for this is the lack of user-involvement in the development of DHT interventions in COPD meaning their needs and preferences are rarely accounted for in the design phase. Although HCP adoption issues have been identified in relation to DHT, little is known about the challenges perceived by HCPs providing care to COPD patients. Therefore, this study aims to qualitatively explore the barriers and facilitators HCPs perceive for the use of DHT in the management of COPD. METHODS Participants (n = 32) were recruited using snowball sampling from two university hospitals and several general practitioner clinics. A semi-structured interview was conducted with each participant. NVivo 12 software was used to complete thematic analysis on the data. RESULTS Themes identified include: data quality; evidence-based care; resource constraints; and digital literacy presented as barriers; and facilitators include the following themes: digital health training and education; improving HCP digital literacy; and Personalized prescribing. Patient-centered approaches, such as pulmonary rehabilitation and shared decision-making were suggested as implementation strategies to ease the adoption of digital health for the management of COPD. CONCLUSION These findings contribute new insights about the needs and preferences of HCPs working in COPD regarding DHT. The findings can be used to help mitigate user-experience issues by informing the design of person-centered implementation and adoption strategies for future digital health interventions in COPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Slevin
- From the The Insight Centre for Data Analytics, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - T Kessie
- From the The Insight Centre for Data Analytics, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - J Cullen
- Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - M W Butler
- University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - S C Donnelly
- Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - B Caulfield
- From the The Insight Centre for Data Analytics, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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15
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Ahmadvand A, Kavanagh D, Clark M, Drennan J, Nissen L. Trends and Visibility of "Digital Health" as a Keyword in Articles by JMIR Publications in the New Millennium: Bibliographic-Bibliometric Analysis. J Med Internet Res 2019; 21:e10477. [PMID: 31855190 PMCID: PMC6940860 DOI: 10.2196/10477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Revised: 04/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Digital health has become an advancing phenomenon in the health care systems of modern societies. Over the past two decades, various digital health options, technologies, and innovations have been introduced; many of them are still being investigated and evaluated by researchers all around the globe. However, the actual trends and visibility of peer-reviewed publications using “digital health” as a keyword to reflect the topic, published by major relevant journals, still remain to be quantified. Objective This study aimed to conduct a bibliographic-bibliometric analysis on articles published in JMIR Publications journals that used “digital health” as a keyword. We evaluated the trends, topics, and citations of these research publications to identify the important share and contribution of JMIR Publications journals in publishing articles on digital health. Methods All JMIR Publications journals were searched to find articles in English, published between January 2000 and August 2019, in which the authors focused on, utilized, or discussed digital health in their study and used “digital health” as a keyword. In addition, a bibliographic-bibliometric analysis was conducted using the freely available Profiles Research Networking Software by the Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center. Results Out of 1797 articles having “digital health” as a keyword, published mostly between 2016 and 2019, 277 articles (32.3%) were published by JMIR Publications journals, mainly in the Journal of Medical Internet Research. The most frequently used keyword for the topic was “mHealth.” The average number of times an article had been cited, including self-citations, was above 2.8. Conclusions The reflection of “digital health” as a keyword in JMIR Publications journals has increased noticeably over the past few years. To maintain this momentum, more regular bibliographic and bibliometric analyses will be needed. This would encourage authors to consider publishing their articles in relevant, high-visibility journals and help these journals expand their supportive publication policies and become more inclusive of digital health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Ahmadvand
- School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - David Kavanagh
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Michele Clark
- School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Judy Drennan
- School of Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations, QUT Business School, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Lisa Nissen
- School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
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16
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Mechael P, Kaonga NN, Chandrasekharan S, Prakash MP, Peter J, Ganju A, Murthy N. The Elusive Path Toward Measuring Health Outcomes: Lessons Learned From a Pseudo-Randomized Controlled Trial of a Large-Scale Mobile Health Initiative. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2019; 7:e14668. [PMID: 31436165 PMCID: PMC6724498 DOI: 10.2196/14668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Mobile health (mHealth) offers new opportunities to improve access to health services and health information. It also presents new challenges in evaluating its impact, particularly in linking the use of a technology intervention that aims to improve health behaviors with the health outcomes that are impacted by changed behaviors. The availability of data from a multitude of sources (paper-based and electronic) provides the conditions to facilitate making stronger connections between self-reported data and clinical outcomes. This commentary shares lessons and important considerations based on the experience of applying new research frameworks and incorporating maternal and child health records data into a pseudo-randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of mMitra, a stage-based voice messaging program to improve maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes in urban slums in India.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nadi Nina Kaonga
- All of Us Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.,Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | | | | | | | - Nirmala Murthy
- Foundation for Research in Health Systems, Bengaluru, India
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17
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Moraes Carrilho J, Oliveira IJR, Santos D, Osanan GC, Cruz-Correia RJ, Reis ZSN. Pregnant Users' Perceptions of the Birth Plan Interface in the "My Prenatal Care" App: Observational Validation Study. JMIR Form Res 2019; 3:e11374. [PMID: 30920372 PMCID: PMC6458531 DOI: 10.2196/11374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2018] [Revised: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Birth plans are meant to be a declaration of the expectations and preferences of pregnant woman regarding childbirth. The My Prenatal Care app engages pregnant women in an educational intervention for a healthy pregnancy. We hypothesized that users' positive perception of an in-app birth plan is a relevant step for establishing direct communication between pregnant women and the health care team, based on an online report available on the app. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate pregnant women's perception about the communicability of birth-plan preparation using a mobile app. METHODS This was an observational, exploratory, descriptive study. The methodology was user centered, and both qualitative and quantitative approaches were employed. The tools of the communicability evaluation method were applied. Overall, 11 pregnant women evaluated their experience of using a birth-plan prototype interface. The evaluation was performed in a controlled environment, with authorized video recording. There were 8 task-oriented interactions proposed to evaluate interface communicability with users when using the Birth Plan menu. For evaluating perceptions and experiences, a survey with structured and open-ended questions in addition to the free expression of participants was conducted. The primary outcomes assessed were interface communicability and user's perception of the Birth Plan prototype interface in the My Prenatal Care mobile app. Secondarily, we involved users in the prototyping phase of the interface to identify bottlenecks for making improvements in the app. RESULTS Regarding users' performance in accomplishing previously prepared tasks, we found that 10 of 11 (91%) women were capable of completing at least 6 of 8 (75%) tasks. A positive relationship was found between the number of communicability problems and the success of completing the tasks. An analysis of the records revealed three communicability breakdowns related to the data entry, save, and scrollbar functions. The participants freely expressed suggestions for improvements such as for the save function and the process of sharing the birth-plan form upon completion. CONCLUSIONS Users had a positive perception of the Birth Plan menu of the My Prenatal Care app. This user-centered validation enabled the identification of solutions for problems, resulting in improvements in the app.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Moraes Carrilho
- Informatics Center in Health, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Faculty of Medicine, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Isaias José Ramos Oliveira
- Informatics Center in Health, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Faculty of Medicine, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Dimitri Santos
- Informatics Center in Health, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Faculty of Medicine, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Costa Osanan
- Informatics Center in Health, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Faculty of Medicine, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Faculty of Medicine, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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18
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Ebenso B, Allsop MJ, Okusanya B, Akaba G, Tukur J, Okunade K, Akeju D, Ajepe A, Dirisu O, Yalma R, Sadeeq AI, Okuzu O, Ors T, Jagger T, Hicks JP, Mirzoev T, Newell JN. Impact of using eHealth tools to extend health services to rural areas of Nigeria: protocol for a mixed-method, non-randomised cluster trial. BMJ Open 2018; 8:e022174. [PMID: 30341123 PMCID: PMC6196841 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION eHealth solutions that use internet and related technologies to deliver and enhance health services and information are emerging as novel approaches to support healthcare delivery in sub-Saharan Africa. Using digital technology in this way can support cost-effectiveness of care delivery and extend the reach of services to remote locations. Despite the burgeoning literature on eHealth approaches, little is known about the effectiveness of eHealth tools for improving the quality and efficiency of health systems functions or client outcomes in resource-limited countries. eHealth tools including satellite communications are currently being implemented at scale, to extend health services to rural areas of Nigeria, in Ondo and Kano States and the Federal Capital Territory. This paper shares the protocol for a 2-year project ('EXTEND') that aims to evaluate the impact of eHealth tools on health system functions and health outcomes. METHODOLOGY AND ANALYSIS This multisite, mixed-method evaluation includes a non-randomised, cluster trial design. The study comprises three phases-baseline, midline and endline evaluations-that involve: (1) process evaluation of video training and digitisation of health data interventions; (2) evaluation of contextual influences on the implementation of interventions; and (3) impact evaluation of results of the project. A convergent mixed-method model will be adopted to allow integration of quantitative and qualitative findings to achieve study objectives. Multiple quantitative and qualitative datasets will be repeatedly analysed and triangulated to facilitate better understanding of impact of eHealth tools on health worker knowledge, quality and efficiency of health systems and client outcomes. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethics approvals were obtained from the University of Leeds and three States' Ministries of Health in Nigeria. All data collected for this study will be anonymised and reports will not contain information that could identify respondents. Study findings will be presented to Ministries of Health at scientific conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ISRCTN32105372; Pre-results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bassey Ebenso
- Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Matthew John Allsop
- Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Babasola Okusanya
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Godwin Akaba
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Jamilu Tukur
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria
| | - Kehinde Okunade
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - David Akeju
- Department of Sociology, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Adegbenga Ajepe
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Osasuyi Dirisu
- Department of Research, Population Council, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Ramsey Yalma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Abubakar Isa Sadeeq
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria
| | - Okey Okuzu
- Corporate Office, InStrat Global Health Solutions, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Tolga Ors
- Inmarsat Global Ltd., Inmarsat Solutions Global Limited, London, UK
| | - Terence Jagger
- Inmarsat Global Ltd., Inmarsat Solutions Global Limited, London, UK
| | - Joseph Paul Hicks
- Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Tolib Mirzoev
- Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - James Nicholas Newell
- Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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19
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Labrique A, Vasudevan L, Weiss W, Wilson K. Establishing Standards to Evaluate the Impact of Integrating Digital Health into Health Systems. GLOBAL HEALTH: SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2018; 6:S5-S17. [PMID: 30305335 PMCID: PMC6203412 DOI: 10.9745/ghsp-d-18-00230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The key milestones in the rise of digital health illustrate efforts to bridge gaps in the evidence base, a shifting focus to scale-up and sustainability, growing attention to the precise costing of these strategies, and an emergent implementation science agenda that better characterizes the ecosystem—the social, political, economic, legal, and ethical context that supports digital health implementation—necessary to take digital health approaches to scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain Labrique
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lavanya Vasudevan
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Community and Family Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.,Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research, Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA
| | - William Weiss
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kate Wilson
- Digital Impact Alliance, Washington, DC, USA
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20
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Oppenheimer J, Leviton A, Chiujdea M, Antonetty A, Ojo OW, Garcia S, Weas S, Fleegler EW, Chan E, Loddenkemper T. Caring electronically for young outpatients who have epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 2018; 87:226-232. [PMID: 30197227 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2018.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to review electronic tools that might improve the delivery of epilepsy care, reduce medical care costs, and empower families to improve self-management capability. METHOD We reviewed the epilepsy-specific literature about self-management, electronic patient-reported or provider-reported outcomes, on-going remote surveillance, and alerting/warning systems. CONCLUSIONS The improved care delivery system that we envision includes self-management, electronic patient (or provider)-reported outcomes, on-going remote surveillance, and alerting/warning systems. This system and variants have the potential to reduce seizure burden through improved management, keep children out of the emergency department and hospital, and even reduce the number of outpatient visits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Oppenheimer
- Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alan Leviton
- Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Madeline Chiujdea
- Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Annalee Antonetty
- Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Oluwafemi William Ojo
- Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stephanie Garcia
- Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sarah Weas
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eric W Fleegler
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eugenia Chan
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tobias Loddenkemper
- Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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21
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Ahmadvand A, Gatchel R, Brownstein J, Nissen L. The Biopsychosocial-Digital Approach to Health and Disease: Call for a Paradigm Expansion. J Med Internet Res 2018; 20:e189. [PMID: 29776900 PMCID: PMC5984274 DOI: 10.2196/jmir.9732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2017] [Revised: 02/10/2018] [Accepted: 02/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Digital health is an advancing phenomenon in modern health care systems. Currently, numerous stakeholders in various countries are evaluating the potential benefits of digital health solutions at the individual, population, and/or organizational levels. Additionally, driving factors are being created from the customer-side of the health care systems to push health care providers, policymakers, or researchers to embrace digital health solutions. However, health care providers may differ in their approach to adopt these solutions. Health care providers are not assumed to be appropriately trained to address the requirements of integrating digital health solutions into daily everyday practices and procedures. To adapt to the changing demands of health care systems, it is necessary to expand relevant paradigms and to train human resources as required. In this article, a more comprehensive paradigm will be proposed, based on the ‘biopsychosocial model’ of assessing health and disease, originally introduced by George L Engel. The “biopsychosocial model” must be leveraged to include a “digital” component, thus suggesting a ‘biopsychosocial-digital’ approach to health and disease. Modifications to the “biopsychosocial” model and transition to the “biopsychosocial-digital” model are explained. Furthermore, the emerging implications of understanding health and disease are clarified pertaining to their relevance in training human resources for health care provision and research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Ahmadvand
- School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Robert Gatchel
- Department of Psychology, College of Science, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States
| | - John Brownstein
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Computational Health Informatics Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Lisa Nissen
- School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
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