Telemedicine and telerehabilitation: current and forthcoming applications in haemophilia

Improving Hemophilia Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Addressing Challenges and Enhancing Quality of Life

Hemophilia, a genetic bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency in clotting factors, impacts millions of people worldwide. The quality of life (QoL) for those affected remains particularly suboptimal in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This article delves into the unmet needs in hemophilia care and management in LMICs, spotlighting various challenges and potential strategies for improvement. One of the primary challenges in LMICs is the limited access to comprehensive care which includes a multidisciplinary approach involving hematologists, physiotherapists, psychologists, and social workers. In many LMICs, the healthcare infrastructure is insufficient to provide such integrated services, leading to fragmented care and poorer health outcomes for individuals with hemophilia. Another significant issue is the challenge of prophylactic treatment. Prophylaxis, which involves regular infusions of clotting factor concentrates to prevent bleeding episodes, is the standard of care in high-income countries. However, in LMICs, prophylactic treatment is often not feasible due to the high cost and limited availability of clotting factor concentrates. This results in a reliance on on-demand treatment, which only addresses bleeding episodes as they occur and does not prevent the long-term complications associated with frequent bleeds. Pain management is another critical area with significant gaps. Chronic pain is a common issue for individuals with hemophilia due to repeated joint bleeds leading to joint damage. In many LMICs, access to effective pain management strategies, including both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, is limited. Mental health support is also a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of hemophilia care. The chronic nature of the condition, combined with frequent hospital visits and the physical limitations imposed by the disease, can lead to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. However, mental health services are frequently under-resourced in LMICs, and there is a lack of awareness about the mental health needs of individuals with hemophilia. Caregiver support playing a crucial role in managing the day-to-day needs of individuals with hemophilia, is another vital component of hemophilia care that is often insufficient in LMICs. Education and awareness about hemophilia are also lacking in many LMICs. There is often a limited understanding of the condition among the general public and even within the medical community, leading to misdiagnoses and delayed treatment. Employment and financial support are critical issues as well. The physical limitations and frequent medical needs associated with hemophilia can make it difficult for individuals to maintain stable employment, leading to financial strain. In many LMICs, social support systems are inadequate to address these challenges. Lastly, the integration of telehealth and digital health technologies presents a promising strategy to overcome some of these challenges providing remote access to specialist care, education, and support, which is particularly valuable in regions where healthcare resources are scarce. By adopting a multifaceted approach that involves collaboration between governments, healthcare systems, international organizations, and patient advocacy groups, it is possible to address these challenges and significantly improve the QoL for individuals with hemophilia in LMICs.

Usability of a mobile application for health professionals in home care services: a user-centered approach

The use of mobile devices by healthcare professionals has led to rapid growth in the development of mobile healthcare applications designed to improve healthcare services. This study was conducted to assess the acceptability and usability of a mobile application for health professionals in relation to their work in hospitalization at home. A mixed methods approach was used. Acceptance, included the satisfaction of the professionals, attitudes toward using the application, and intention or willingness to continue using the application. Usability tests were performed in laboratory analyzing five controlled clinical tasks, and the interaction of the participants with the mobile application was based on the six basic facial expressions published by the American Psychological Association. Perceived satisfaction was assessed using the computer system usability questionnaire. Thirty-two participants completed the task scenarios and questionnaire. More than 90 per cent of participants were able to complete the tasks with only some difficult with vital signs. Satisfaction had a score of 6.18/7 (SD: 0.76), and recommendation of the mobile application had a score of 6.21/7 (SD: 0.81). This study showed a significant usability and acceptability of this mobile application, in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction.

Psychological impacts and online interventions of social isolation amongst older adults during COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review

AIM

To summarise the psychological impacts of social isolation amongst older adults during COVID-19 and review the benefits and limitations of online interventions used to combat social isolation.

DESIGN

A scoping review was performed.

DATA SOURCES

A systematic search was performed from October 2020 to January 2021 in seven electronic databases: China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), PubMed, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycINFO, Cochrane Library and Web of Science. A hand search of the reference lists of included papers and WHO publications was performed. Grey literature search was carried out from Scopus, ProQuest Dissertation and Google Scholar.

REVIEW METHODS

Studies were screened, appraised and extracted independently by two reviewers. Thematic analysis was used to synthesise data, which were presented in a descriptive manner and organised into categories and themes.

RESULTS

Totally, 33 studies were included. Four themes and eight sub-themes emerged: (1) negative impacts and experiences of older adults during social isolation, (2) adopting coping behaviours in the midst of COVID-19, (3) online interventions to combat the consequences of social isolation, (4) barriers to online intervention.

CONCLUSION

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken an emotional toll on older adults' psychological wellbeing and has highlighted the untapped strengths of older adults facing isolation. Online interventions, which could be a new normal in the COVID era, were beneficial in combating social isolation. Strategies by various stakeholders were recommended to tackle the barriers of online interventions.

IMPACT

With the COVID-19 pandemic still in progress, this review provides insights on the psychological impacts of social isolation amongst older adults. Nurses in the community and long-term care facilities could adopt strategies and online intervention to better support the older adults, contribute to a stronger COVID-19 response and support system, and an overall better road to recovery from this crisis.

Mobile Apps for Hematological Conditions: Review and Content Analysis Using the Mobile App Rating Scale

Background

Hematological conditions are prevalent disorders that are associated with significant comorbidities and have a major impact on patient care. Concerning new tools for the care of these patients, the number of health apps aimed at hematological patients is growing. Currently, there are no quality analyses or classifications of apps for patients diagnosed with hematological conditions.

Objective

The aim of this study is to analyze the characteristics and quality of apps designed for patients diagnosed with hematological conditions by using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS).

Methods

We performed an observational, cross-sectional descriptive study of all smartphone apps for patients diagnosed with hematological conditions. A search was conducted in March 2021 using the following terms: anemia, blood cancer, blood disorder, hematological cancer, hematological malignancy, hematological tumor, hematology, hemophilia, hemorrhage, lymphoma, leukemia, multiple myeloma, thalassemia, thrombocytopenia, and thrombosis. The apps identified were downloaded and evaluated by 2 independent researchers. General characteristics were registered, and quality was analyzed using MARS scores. Interrater reliability was measured by using the Cohen κ coefficient.

Results

We identified 2100 apps in the initial search, and 4.19% (88/2100) of apps met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Of the 88 apps, 61% (54/88) were available on Android, 30% (26/88) were available on iOS, and 9% (8/88) were available on both platforms. Moreover, 7% (6/88) required payment, and 49% (43/88) were updated in the last year. Only 26% (23/88) of the apps were developed with the participation of health professionals. Most apps were informative (60/88, 68%), followed by preventive (23/88, 26%) and diagnostic (5/88, 6%). Most of the apps were intended for patients with anemia (23/88, 26%). The mean MARS score for the overall quality of the 88 apps was 3.03 (SD 1.14), ranging from 1.19 (lowest-rated app) to 4.86 (highest-rated app). Only 47% (41/88) of the apps obtained a MARS score of over 3 points (acceptable quality). Functionality was the best-rated section, followed by aesthetics, engagement, information, and app subjective quality. The five apps with the highest MARS score were the following: Multiple Myeloma Manager, Hodgkin Lymphoma Manager, Focus On Lymphoma, ALL Manager, and CLL Manager. The analysis by operating system, developer, and cost revealed statistically significant differences in MARS scores (P<.001, P<.001, and P=.049, respectively). The interrater agreement between the 2 reviewers was substantial (k=0.78).

Conclusions

There is great heterogeneity in the quality of apps for patients with hematological conditions. More than half of the apps do not meet acceptable criteria for quality and content. Most of them only provide information about the pathology, lacking interactivity and personalization options. The participation of health professionals in the development of these apps is low, although it is narrowly related to better quality.

Hemophilia Patient Experience in a Physical Therapy-Guided Health Education Intervention: A Mixed-Method Design

People with hemophilia usually have negative joint consequences due to their illness. Evidence suggests that exercise and therapeutic education bring some benefits. An important factor that affects health interventions was the experience and degree of satisfaction. Thus, it is relevant to analyze qualitative and quantitative data to obtain a complete view of the patient’s experience. As a result, a concurrent nested mixed method with quantitative predominance study design was carried out. Nine people with hemophilia of Hemoaralar with a homogeneous environment participated in this study. The items evaluated were the level of satisfaction through the GCPC-UN-ESU survey and the experience with healthcare interventions through a focus group. A high level of satisfaction was obtained, but some divergences between quantitative and qualitative data were found. Further research about physical therapy and this type of intervention in people with hemophilia should be considered to better address the impact of living with the disease.

An Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Mobile App for Data Collection in Type A Hemophilia: Design and Usability Study

Background

There is currently limited evidence on the level and intensity of physical activity in individuals with hemophilia A. Mobile technologies can offer a rigorous and reliable alternative to support data collection processes but they are often associated with poor user retention. The lack of longitudinal continuity in their use can be partly attributed to the insufficient consideration of stakeholder inputs in the development process of mobile apps. Several user-centered models have been proposed to guarantee that a thorough knowledge of the end user needs is considered in the development process of mobile apps.

Objective

The aim of this study is to design and validate an electronic patient-reported outcome mobile app that requires sustained active input by individuals during POWER, an observational study that aims at evaluating the relationship between physical activity levels and bleeding in patients with hemophilia A.

Methods

We adopted a user-centered design and engaged several stakeholders in the development and usability testing of this mobile app. During the concept generation and ideation phase, we organized a need-assessment focus group (FG) with patient representatives to elicit specific design requirements for the end users. We then conducted 2 exploratory FGs to seek additional inputs for the app’s improvement and 2 confirmatory FGs to validate the app and test its usability in the field through the mobile health app usability questionnaire.

Results

The findings from the thematic analysis of the need-assessment FG revealed that there was a demand for sense making, for simplification of app functionalities, for maximizing integration, and for minimizing the feeling of external control. Participants involved in the later stages of the design refinement contributed to improving the design further by upgrading the app’s layout and making the experience with the app more efficient through functions such as chatbots and visual feedback on the number of hours a wearable device had been worn, to ensure that the observed data were actually registered. The end users rated the app highly during the quantitative assessment, with an average mobile health app usability questionnaire score of 5.32 (SD 0.66; range 4.44-6.23) and 6.20 (SD 0.43; range 5.72-6.88) out of 7 in the 2 iterative usability testing cycles.

Conclusions

The results of the usability test indicated a high, growing satisfaction with the electronic patient-reported outcome app. The adoption of a thorough user-centered design process using several types of FGs helped maximize the likelihood of sustained retention of the app’s users and made it fit for data collection of relevant outcomes in the observational POWER study. The continuous use of the app and the actual level of engagement will be evaluated during the ongoing trial.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04165135; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04165135

Integrated Hemophilia Patient Care via a National Network of Care Centers in the United States: A Model for Rare Coagulation Disorders

Rare, chronic diseases such as hemophilia and other congenital coagulation disorders require coordinated delivery of services for optimal outcomes. Hemophilia Treatment Centers (HTCs) are specialized, multidisciplinary health-care centers providing team-based care to meet the physical, psychosocial, and emotional needs of people with hemophilia (PWH) and may serve as a model for other rare coagulation disorders. Health-care purchasers, as well as the general medical community, may not appreciate the breadth and quality of services provided by HTCs. They exemplify the acculturalization and actualization of integrated care by providing comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services that reduce morbidity, mortality, avoidable emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and overall costs, while promoting a longer lifespan and improved patient functioning and outcomes. This is accomplished by a team-based approach relying upon a shared decision-making model to effectively prevent complications and manage symptoms in PWH, who are dependent on high-cost treatments. This article provides a concise yet comprehensive description of the core components of an HTC and the regional and national networks in the United States, which together achieve their incomparable value for all stakeholders.

Technology Acceptance Among Patients With Hemophilia in Hong Kong and Their Expectations of a Mobile Health App to Promote Self-management: Survey Study

Background

The lifelong management of hemophilia is demanding and complex. In July 2019, we published a review in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, summarizing telehealth interventions that facilitate monitoring of bleeding events and promoting the appropriate use of clotting factors among patients with hemophilia. This work has led to the development of a community program that aims to harness technology to promote self-management among patients with hemophilia in Hong Kong.

Objective

Before the inception of this program, we conducted a cross-sectional survey to evaluate the patients’ level of technology acceptance and identify their expectations of the use of mobile technology for self-management of hemophilia.

Methods

In total, 56 participants (75% adult patients and 25% parents of pediatric patients; 87.5% with moderate to severe disease) were recruited from a local nongovernmental organization that serves patients with hemophilia. They rated their perceived confidence and acceptance in using the new mobile technology (score 1 to 5 for each item, with a higher score indicating better acceptance) using a structured questionnaire (adapted from the Technology Acceptance Model). They also identified the top features that they perceived to be the most important components of a mobile app for the self-management of hemophilia. The Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare technology acceptance scores across subgroups of different clinical and socioeconomic characteristics.

Results

In general, the participants considered themselves skilled in using mobile apps (mean 4.3, 95% CI 4.1-4.5). They were willing to learn to use the new mobile app to organize their bleeding records (mean 4.0, 95% CI 3.7-4.3) and to manage their health (mean 4.2, 95% CI 4.1-4.5). Participants who lived in public housing (a surrogate marker for lower socioeconomic status in Hong Kong) reported lower technology acceptance than those who lived in private housing (P=.04). The most important features identified by the participants concerned documenting of infusion logs (n=49, 87.5%), bleeding events (n=48, 85.7%), and the secure delivery of the bleeding information to health care professionals (n=40, 71.4%).

Conclusions

It is encouraging to infer that patients with hemophilia in Hong Kong are receptive to the use of mobile health technology. The findings of this survey are applicable in designing the key features of a patient-centered, multimodal program harnessing mobile technology to promote self-management among patients with hemophilia. Future studies should evaluate participants’ acceptability and perceived usability of the mobile app via user metrics and assess clinical and humanistic outcomes of this program.

Mobile Health Technology for the Personalized Therapy of Hemophilia

The management of patients with hemophilia has evolved significantly since the first treatment attempts were made in the late 1930s. Since then, each new step in the treatment of patients with hemophilia has brought important advancements, as well as its unique set of challenges. Today, a patient-centered, individualized comprehensive approach is the new paradigm, moving away from the traditional "one size-fits-all" approach, to provide the best possible care for each patient with a bleeding disorder. As part of this complex task, mobile health applications might have the capacity to play an important role in reaching that goal. However, the use of new electronic technologies as part of a comprehensive treatment approach for patients with hemophilia simultaneously presents a new set of challenges that needs consideration. In the first section, currently available treatment of hemophilia patients will be revised, while in the second part the role of IT software in the treatment monitoring of hemophilia patients will be discussed.

Effectiveness of telemedicine for pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus: an updated meta-analysis of 32 randomized controlled trials with trial sequential analysis

Background

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is now a global health problem. Poor blood glucose control during pregnancy may lead to maternal and neonatal/foetal complications. Recently, the development of information and communication technology has resulted in new technical support for the clinical care of GDM. Telemedicine is defined as health services and medical activities provided by healthcare professionals through remote communication technologies. This study aimed to update the systematic review of the effectiveness of telemedicine interventions on glycaemic control and pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with GDM.

Methods

We searched the Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan-fang Database, China Biology Medicine and VIP Database for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to the effectiveness of telemedicine interventions for GDM from database inception to July 31st, 2019. Languages were limited to English and Chinese. Literature screening, data extraction and assessment of the risk of bias were completed independently by two reviewers. Meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis were conducted in Stata 14.0 and TSA v0.9.5.10 beta, respectively.

Results

A total of 32 RCTs were identified, with a total of 5108 patients. The meta-analysis showed that telemedicine group had significant improvements in controlling glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) [mean difference (MD) = − 0.70, P < 0.01], fasting blood glucose (FBG) (MD = -0.52, P < 0.01) and 2-h postprandial blood glucose (2hBG) (MD = -1.03, P = 0.01) compared to the corresponding parameters in the standard care group. In the telemedicine group, lower incidences of caesarean section [relative risk (RR) = 0.82, P = 0.02], neonatal hypoglycaemia (RR = 0.67, P < 0.01), premature rupture of membranes (RR = 0.61, P < 0.01), macrosomia (RR = 0.49, P < 0.01), pregnancy-induced hypertension or preeclampsia (RR = 0.48, P < 0.01), preterm birth (RR = 0.27, P < 0.01), neonatal asphyxia (RR = 0.17, P < 0.01), and polyhydramnios (RR = 0.16, P < 0.01) were found. The trial sequential analyses conclusively demonstrated that the meta-analytic results of the change in HbA1c, the change in 2hBG, the change in FBG, the incidence rates of caesarean section, pregnancy-induced hypertension or preeclampsia, premature rupture of membranes, premature birth, neonatal asphyxia, and polyhydramnios were stable.

Conclusions

Compared to standard care, telemedicine interventions can decrease the glycaemic levels of patients with GDM more effectively and reduce the risk of maternal and neonatal/foetal complications.