scholarly journals Mobile health (mHealth) usage, barriers, and technological considerations in persons with multiple sclerosis: a literature review

JAMIA Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth S Gromisch ◽  
Aaron P Turner ◽  
Jodie K Haselkorn ◽  
Albert C Lo ◽  
Thomas Agresta
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Exclusion Criteria ◽  
Potential Barriers ◽  
Memory Problems ◽  
Query String ◽  
Mhealth Technology ◽  
Frequency Current

Abstract Objectives Persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) can face a number of potential healthcare-related barriers, for which mobile health (mHealth) technology can be potentially beneficial. This review aimed to understand the frequency, current uses, and potential barriers with mHealth usage among persons with MS. Methods A query string was used to identify articles on PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and IEEE Xplore that were published in English between January 2010 and December 2019. Abstracts were reviewed and selected based on a priori inclusion and exclusion criteria. Fifty-nine peer-reviewed research studies related to the study questions are summarized. Results The majority of persons with MS were reported as using smartphones, although rates of mHealth utilization varied widely. mHealth usage was grouped into 3 broad categories: (1) disability and symptom measurement; (2) interventions and symptom management; and (3) tracking and promoting adherence. While there have been an increasing number of mHealth options, certain limitations associated with MS (eg, poor dexterity, memory problems) may affect usage, although including persons with MS in the design process can address some of these issues. Discussion Given the increased attention to mHealth in this population and the current need for telehealth and at home devices, it is important that persons with MS and healthcare providers are involved in the development of new mHealth tools to ensure that the end product meets their needs. Considerations for addressing the potential mHealth use barriers in persons with MS are discussed.

Investigating the attitude of patients with chronic diseases about using mobile health

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reza Abbasi ◽  
Sahar Zare ◽  
Leila Ahmadian
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Asthmatic Patient ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Asthmatic Patients ◽  
Patients With Diabetes ◽  
Mhealth Technology ◽  
Willingness To Use

BackgroundMobile health (mHealth) due to its popularity and accessibility can be widely applied in different health areas such as the management of chronic diseases. However, its success depends on the acceptance of their users. Therefore, the aim of this study was to survey the attitudes of patients with chronic disease toward mHealth technology and their willingness to use it.MethodsThis study was conducted within a 2-year period (2016–2018) to determine and compare the attitude and willingness of patients with asthma, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis (MS) toward using mHealth technology in a province in Iran.ResultsIn total, 222 patients participated in this study. More than 93 percent of the patients with diabetes and MS, and 65 percent of the asthmatic patients preferred using mHealth services rather than consulting a physician (p < .0001). About 98, 94, and 49 percent of the MS, diabetic, and asthmatic patients, respectively felt comfortable if their health conditions checked by physicians through mHealth technology (p < .0001).ConclusionsOur results showed that the majority of the patients felt comfortable and preferred using mHealth technology rather than consulting the physicians. The attitudes of diabetic and MS patients toward mHealth technology were rather more positive compared to asthmatic patient attitude. These results may be helpful for the developers of mHealth technology, and researchers who design mHelath interventions for patients with chronic disease.

scholarly journals Patients’ adherence to smartphone apps in the management of bipolar disorder: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Camille Patoz ◽  
Diego Hidalgo-Mazzei ◽  
Bruno Pereira ◽  
Olivier Blanc ◽  
Ingrid de Chazeron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Smartphone Apps ◽  
Exclusion Criteria ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Bipolar Patients ◽  
Digital Or

Abstract Background Despite an increasing number of available mental health apps in the bipolar disorder field, these tools remain scarcely implemented in everyday practice and are quickly discontinued by patients after downloading. The aim of this study is to explore adherence characteristics of bipolar disorder patients to dedicated smartphone interventions in research studies. Methods A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted. Three databases (EMBASE, PsychInfo and MEDLINE) were searched using the following keywords: "bipolar disorder" or "mood disorder" or “bipolar” combined with “digital” or “mobile” or “phone” or “smartphone” or “mHealth” or “ehealth” or "mobile health" or “app” or “mobile-health”. Results Thirteen articles remained in the review after exclusion criteria were applied. Of the 118 eligible studies, 39 did not provide adherence characteristics. Among the selected papers, study length, sample size and definition of measures of adherence were strongly heterogeneous. Activity rates ranged from 58 to 91.6%. Conclusion The adherence of bipolar patients to apps is understudied. Standardised measures of adherence should be defined and systematically evaluated in future studies dedicated to these tools.

scholarly journals Successful incorporation of single reviewer assessments during systematic review screening: development and validation of sensitivity and work-saved of an algorithm that considers exclusion criteria and count

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nassr Nama ◽  
Mirna Hennawy ◽  
Nick Barrowman ◽  
Katie O’Hearn ◽  
Margaret Sampson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Exclusion Criteria ◽  
Conference Abstract ◽  
Pediatric Health Care ◽  
Average Loss ◽  
Validation Set ◽  
Abstract Screening ◽  
Development And Validation

Abstract Background Accepted systematic review (SR) methodology requires citation screening by two reviewers to maximise retrieval of eligible studies. We hypothesized that records could be excluded by a single reviewer without loss of sensitivity in two conditions; the record was ineligible for multiple reasons, or the record was ineligible for one or more specific reasons that could be reliably assessed. Methods Twenty-four SRs performed at CHEO, a pediatric health care and research centre in Ottawa, Canada, were divided into derivation and validation sets. Exclusion criteria during abstract screening were sorted into 11 specific categories, with loss in sensitivity determined by individual category and by number of exclusion criteria endorsed. Five single reviewer algorithms that combined individual categories and multiple exclusion criteria were then tested on the derivation and validation sets, with success defined a priori as less than 5% loss of sensitivity. Results The 24 SRs included 930 eligible and 27390 ineligible citations. The reviews were mostly focused on pediatrics (70.8%, N=17/24), but covered various specialties. Using a single reviewer to exclude any citation led to an average loss of sensitivity of 8.6% (95%CI, 6.0–12.1%). Excluding citations with ≥2 exclusion criteria led to 1.2% average loss of sensitivity (95%CI, 0.5–3.1%). Five specific exclusion criteria performed with perfect sensitivity: conference abstract, ineligible age group, case report/series, not human research, and review article. In the derivation set, the five algorithms achieved a loss of sensitivity ranging from 0.0 to 1.9% and work-saved ranging from 14.8 to 39.1%. In the validation set, the loss of sensitivity for all 5 algorithms remained below 2.6%, with work-saved between 10.5% and 48.2%. Conclusions Findings suggest that targeted application of single-reviewer screening, considering both type and number of exclusion criteria, could retain sensitivity and significantly decrease workload. Further research is required to investigate the potential for combining this approach with crowdsourcing or machine learning methodologies.

scholarly journals Stillbirth outcome capture and classification in population-based surveys: EN-INDEPTH study

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Blencowe ◽  
◽  
Matteo Bottecchia ◽  
Doris Kwesiga ◽  
Joseph Akuze ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gestational Age ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Vital Status ◽  
Neonatal Deaths ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy

Abstract Background Household surveys remain important sources of stillbirth data, but omission and misclassification are common. Classifying adverse pregnancy outcomes as stillbirths requires accurate reporting of vital status at birth and gestational age or birthweight for every pregnancy. Further categorisation, e.g. by sex, or timing (intrapartum/antepartum) improves data to understand and prevent stillbirth. Methods We undertook a cross-sectional population-based survey of women of reproductive age in five health and demographic surveillance system sites in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau and Uganda (2017–2018). All women answered a full birth history with pregnancy loss questions (FBH+) or a full pregnancy history (FPH). A sub-sample across both groups were asked additional stillbirth questions. Questions were evaluated using descriptive measures. Using an interpretative paradigm and phenomenology methodology, focus group discussions with women exploring barriers to reporting birthweight for stillbirths were conducted. Thematic analysis was guided by an a priori codebook. Results Overall 69,176 women reported 98,483 livebirths (FBH+) and 102,873 pregnancies (FPH). Additional questions were asked for 1453 stillbirths, 1528 neonatal deaths and 12,620 surviving children born in the 5 years prior to the survey. Completeness was high (> 99%) for existing FBH+/FPH questions on signs of life at birth and gestational age (months). Discordant responses in signs of life at birth between different questions were common; nearly one-quarter classified as stillbirths on FBH+/FPH were reported born alive on additional questions. Availability of information on gestational age (weeks) (58.1%) and birthweight (13.2%) was low amongst stillbirths, and heaping was common. Most women (93.9%) were able to report the sex of their stillborn baby. Response completeness for stillbirth timing (18.3–95.1%) and estimated proportion intrapartum (15.6–90.0%) varied by question and site. Congenital malformations were reported in 3.1% stillbirths. Perceived value in weighing a stillborn baby varied and barriers to weighing at birth a nd knowing birthweight were common. Conclusions Improving stillbirth data in surveys will require investment in improving the measurement of vital status, gestational age and birthweight by healthcare providers, communication of these with women, and overcoming reporting barriers. Given the large burden and effect on families, improved data must be made available to end preventable stillbirths.

scholarly journals Analysis of Gender Differences in HRV of Patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Using Mobile-Health Technology

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 3746
Author(s):  
Lluis Capdevila ◽  
Jesús Castro-Marrero ◽  
José Alegre ◽  
Juan Ramos-Castro ◽  
Rosa M Escorihuela
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Autonomic Dysfunction ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Gender Effects ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Fatigue Syndrome ◽  
Mhealth Technology ◽  
Hrv Analysis

In a previous study using mobile-health technology (mHealth), we reported a robust association between chronic fatigue symptoms and heart rate variability (HRV) in female patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). This study explores HRV analysis as an objective, non-invasive and easy-to-apply marker of ME/CFS using mHealth technology, and evaluates differential gender effects on HRV and ME/CFS core symptoms. In our methodology, participants included 77 ME/CFS patients (32 men and 45 women) and 44 age-matched healthy controls (19 men and 25 women), all self-reporting subjective scores for fatigue, sleep quality, anxiety, and depression, and neurovegetative symptoms of autonomic dysfunction. The inter-beat cardiac intervals are continuously monitored/recorded over three 5-min periods, and HRV is analyzed using a custom-made application (iOS) on a mobile device connected via Bluetooth to a wearable cardiac chest band. Male ME/CFS patients show increased scores compared with control men in all symptoms and scores of fatigue, and autonomic dysfunction, as with women in the first study. No differences in any HRV parameter appear between male ME/CFS patients and controls, in contrast to our findings in women. However, we have found negative correlations of ME/CFS symptomatology with cardiac variability (SDNN, RMSSD, pNN50, LF) in men. We have also found a significant relationship between fatigue symptomatology and HRV parameters in ME/CFS patients, but not in healthy control men. Gender effects appear in HF, LF/HF, and HFnu HRV parameters. A MANOVA analysis shows differential gender effects depending on the experimental condition in autonomic dysfunction symptoms and HF and HFnu HRV parameters. A decreased HRV pattern in ME/CFS women compared to ME/CFS men may reflect a sex-related cardiac autonomic dysfunction in ME/CFS illness that could be used as a predictive marker of disease progression. In conclusion, we show that HRV analysis using mHealth technology is an objective, non-invasive tool that can be useful for clinical prediction of fatigue severity, especially in women with ME/CFS.

scholarly journals A qualitative inquiry of access to and quality of primary healthcare in seven communities in East and West Africa (SevenCEWA): perspectives of stakeholders, healthcare providers and users

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Soter Ameh ◽  
Bolarinwa Oladimeji Akeem ◽  
Caleb Ochimana ◽  
Abayomi Olabayo Oluwasanu ◽  
Shukri F. Mohamed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Insurance ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
East And West ◽  
Universal Health

Abstract Background Universal health coverage is one of the Sustainable Development Goal targets known to improve population health and reduce financial burden. There is little qualitative data on access to and quality of primary healthcare in East and West Africa. The aim of this study was to describe the viewpoints of healthcare users, healthcare providers and other stakeholders on health-seeking behaviour, access to and quality of healthcare in seven communities in East and West Africa. Methods A qualitative study was conducted in four communities in Nigeria and one community each in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in 2018. Purposive sampling was used to recruit: 155 respondents (mostly healthcare users) for 24 focus group discussions, 25 healthcare users, healthcare providers and stakeholders for in-depth interviews and 11 healthcare providers and stakeholders for key informant interviews. The conceptual framework in this study combined elements of the Health Belief Model, Health Care Utilisation Model, four ‘As’ of access to care, and pathway model to better understand the a priori themes on access to and quality of primary healthcare as well as health-seeking behaviours of the study respondents. A content analysis of the data was done using MAXQDA 2018 qualitative software to identify these a priori themes and emerging themes. Results Access to primary healthcare in the seven communities was limited, especially use of health insurance. Quality of care was perceived to be unacceptable in public facilities whereas cost of care was unaffordable in private facilities. Health providers and users as well as stakeholders highlighted shortage of equipment, frequent drug stock-outs and long waiting times as major issues, but had varying opinions on satisfaction with care. Use of herbal medicines and other traditional treatments delayed or deterred seeking modern healthcare in the Nigerian sites. Conclusions There was a substantial gap in primary healthcare coverage and quality in the selected communities in rural and urban East and West Africa. Alternative models of healthcare delivery that address social and health inequities, through affordable health insurance, can be used to fill this gap and facilitate achieving universal health coverage.

Mobile Health Applications to Support COVID-19 Self-management: Review and Evaluation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sahar Khenarinezhad ◽  
Ehsan Ghazanfari Savadkoohi ◽  
Leila Shahmoradi
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Health ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Vital Signs ◽  
Complete Information ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Management Procedures ◽  
Mobile Health Applications ◽  
Health Applications

Aim: During the epidemic and with an increase in coronavirus (COVID-19) disease prevalence, emergency care is essential to help people stay informed and undertake self-management measures to protect their health. One of these self-management procedures is the use of mobile apps in health. Mobile health (mHealth) applications include mobile devices in collecting clinical health data, sharing healthcare information for practitioners and patients, real-time monitoring of patient vital signs, and the direct provision of care (via mobile telemedicine). Mobile apps are increasing to improve health, but before healthcare providers can recommend these applications to patients, they need to be sure the apps will help change patients' lifestyles. Method: A search was conducted systematically using the keywords "Covid-19," "Coronavirus," "Covid-19, and Self-management" at the "Apple App Store". Then we evaluated the apps according to MARS criteria in May 2020. Results: A total of 145 apps for COVID-19 self-management were identified, but only 32 apps met our inclusion criteria after being assessed. The overall mean MARS score was 2.9 out of 5, and more than half of the apps had a minimum acceptability score (range 2.5-3.9). The "who academy" app received the highest functionality score. Who Academy, Corona-Care and First Responder COVID-19 Guide had the highest scores for behavior change. Conclusion: Our findings showed that few apps meet the quality, content, and functionality criteria for Covid-19 self-management. Therefore, developers should use evidence-based medical guidelines in creating mobile health applications so that, they can provide comprehensive and complete information to both patients and healthcare provider.

Functional and structural MRI correlates of executive functions in multiple sclerosis

2021 ◽  
pp. 135245852110331
Author(s):  
Olga Marchesi ◽  
Raffaello Bonacchi ◽  
Paola Valsasina ◽  
Paolo Preziosa ◽  
Elisabetta Pagani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Structural Mri ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Cognitive Networks ◽  
Superior Cerebellar Peduncle ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Cerebellar Peduncle ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri

Background: Executive dysfunctions, including difficulties in attention, working memory, planning, and inhibition affect 15%–28% of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Objectives: To investigate structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities underlying executive function (EF) in MS patients. Methods: A total 116 MS patients and 65 controls underwent resting-state (RS) and diffusion-weighted sequences and neuropsychological examination, including Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) to test EF. Brain RS cognitive networks and fractional anisotropy (FA) from a priori selected white matter tracts were derived. Associations of WCST scores with RS functional connectivity (FC) and FA abnormalities were investigated. Results: In MS patients, predictors of working memory/updating were: lower corpus callosum (CC) FA, lower left working-memory network (WMN), right WMN RS FC for worse performance; lower executive control network (ECN), higher default-mode network (DMN), and salience network (SN) RS FC for better performance ( R2 = 0.35). Predictors of attention were lower CC genu FA, lower left WMN, and DMN RS FC for worse performance; higher left WMN and ECN RS FC for better performance ( R2 = 0.24). Predictors of worse shifting/inhibition were lower CC genu and superior cerebellar peduncle (SCP) FA, lower left WMN RS FC for worse performance; and higher ECN RS FC for better performance ( R2 = 0.24). Conclusions: CC and SCP microstructural damage and RS FC abnormalities in cognitive networks underlie EF frailty in MS.

scholarly journals A Systematic Review of Research Studies Examining Telehealth Privacy and Security Practices Used By Healthcare Providers

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 39-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie J.M. Watzlaf ◽  
Leming Zhou ◽  
Dilhari R. DeAlmeida ◽  
Linda M. Hartman
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Computer Security ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
The United States ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Exclusion Criteria ◽  
Privacy And Security ◽  
Security Practices ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Encryption And Authentication

The objective of this systematic review was to systematically review papers in the United States that examine current practices in privacy and security when telehealth technologies are used by healthcare providers. A literature search was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P). PubMed, CINAHL and INSPEC from 2003 – 2016 were searched and returned 25,404 papers (after duplications were removed). Inclusion and exclusion criteria were strictly followed to examine title, abstract, and full text for 21 published papers which reported on privacy and security practices used by healthcare providers using telehealth.  Data on confidentiality, integrity, privacy, informed consent, access control, availability, retention, encryption, and authentication were all searched and retrieved from the papers examined. Papers were selected by two independent reviewers, first per inclusion/exclusion criteria and, where there was disagreement, a third reviewer was consulted. The percentage of agreement and Cohen’s kappa was 99.04% and 0.7331 respectively. The papers reviewed ranged from 2004 to 2016 and included several types of telehealth specialties. Sixty-seven percent were policy type studies, and 14 percent were survey/interview studies. There were no randomized controlled trials. Based upon the results, we conclude that it is necessary to have more studies with specific information about the use of privacy and security practices when using telehealth technologies as well as studies that examine patient and provider preferences on how data is kept private and secure during and after telehealth sessions.Keywords: Computer security, Health personnel, Privacy, Systematic review, Telehealth 

scholarly journals Sexting and Gender Violence Among Young People: An Integrative Literature Review.

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Souza ◽  
Sílvia Renata Magalhães Lordello
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Young People ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Gender Violence ◽  
Exclusion Criteria ◽  
And Gender

Abstract This review aimed to systematize the studies on sexting and gender violence published between 2000 and 2016 in national and international journals. The search was performed in the databases - BVS-Psi, Psychlit, Medline, LILACS, and Oasis. We found 383 articles. After applying the exclusion criteria, 21 articles were analyzed. The results showed that sexting is not an a priori risk factor. The risk is related to variables such as the content of the messages, when it expresses violence, and age of the practitioners, indicating that the younger the age the greater the risk. It has been found that there are modalities related to gender violence, such as revenge pornography and slut-shaming, but these contents are not inherent to sexting.

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