How to improve adherence to medication and lifestyle measures

Author(s):  
Ana Abreu ◽  
Miguel Mendes

Pharmacological and non-pharmacological adherence are essential for reducing cardiovascular (CV) mortality and morbidity; however, non-adherence is a major issue. Correct medication intake is complex, in particular for certain groups of patients. Modification of habits and changing to a healthier lifestyle may be even more difficult. Nevertheless, factors influencing non-adherence and adherence facilitators have been identified, and specific strategies to overcome multiple barriers to both types of adherence are available. In this context, adequate health education and communication are fundamental. Models and theories of change and adherence and theories of behavioural change are presented in this chapter. New technologies, such as digital health tools, which assist patients and health professionals to maintain therapeutic goals, may be helpful. Participation in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and secondary prevention programmes with a multifaceted approach can also improve adherence.

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 300-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Bernadette Moore

Advances in genomics generated the concept that a better understanding of individual characteristics, e.g. genotype, will lead to improved tailoring of pharmaceutical and nutritional therapies. Subsequent developments in proteomics and metabolomics, in addition to wearable technologies for tracking parameters, such as dietary intakes, physical activity, heart rate and blood glucose, have further driven this idea. Alongside these innovations, there has been a rapid rise in companies offering direct-to-consumer genetic and/or microbiome testing, in combination with the marketing of personalised nutrition services. Key scientific questions include how disparate datasets are integrated, how accurate are current predictions and how these may be developed in the future. In this regard, lessons can be learned from systems biology, which aims both to integrate data from different levels of organisation (e.g. genomic, proteomic and metabolomic) and predict the emergent behaviours of biological systems or organisms as a whole. The present paper reviews the origins and recent advancement of ‘big data’ and systems approaches in medicine and nutrition. Conclusions are that systems integration of multiple technologies has generated mechanistic insights and informed the evolution of precision medicine and personalised nutrition. Pertinent ethical issues include who is entitled to access new technologies and how commercial companies are storing, using and/or re-mining consumer data. Questions about efficacy (both long-term behavioural change and health outcomes), cost-benefit and impacts on health inequalities remain to be fully addressed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Cubas-Rolim ◽  
F R Yung ◽  
M R Gripp ◽  
C L A Oliveira ◽  
L A Marques ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The region of practice of the School of Patients DF is vulnerable at health literacy and income. Audiovisual information is strategic in primary care for its great power of reach and information retention. Objectives Since 2016 videos of health education have been produced, initially technical on the Planification for hypertension and diabetes. After the focus switched to popular health education, aiming at improving communication between health professionals and patients on chronic diseases and health promotion, including testimonials. The is potential for video exhibition in qualified waiting rooms and forwarding in social network. Results There are videos from diabetes, hypertension, obesity to dengue, pre-natal care and other APS themes, which follow printed orientation with pertinent links. There are graduate and post-graduate studies in course for optimizing audio-visual content for support and capacitation of the family caregivers, especially regarding the facilitated visual model of prescription (“Illustrated Prescription”). Data until 2020-January: YOUTUBE 3146 views, 118,6 hours of exhibition, 50 videos. FACEBOOK page with a reach of 369.248 views. INSTAGRAM 10.119 followers, 193 posts, 37.800 likes and 1003 commentaries. Conclusions Modifications in lifestyle and adherence to medication are fundamental for treatment, and videos are promising for health promotion and selfcare capacitation. There is potential for reducing the hierarchy barriers (testimonials). The shared construction of knowledge and its dissemination makes the patient active part in community diffusion of information. Key messages Health professionals have a vital role as educators, including for social online networks. Patients have a protagonist role in their treatment, as well as multipliers of knowledge at their community.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Janssen ◽  
Stella Talic ◽  
Dragan Gasevic ◽  
Tim Shaw

BACKGROUND There is an increasing quantity of electronic data sitting within the health system. This data has untapped potential to improve clinical practice if extracted efficiently and harnessed to change the behavior of health professionals. Furthermore, there is an in-creasing expectation by government and peak bodies that both individual health pro-fessionals and healthcare organisations will be utilising electronic data for licensing and accreditation. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to understand how digital technology for harnessing elec-tronic health data can be used effectively by health professionals to support practice reflection. METHODS A multidisciplinary approach was used to connect academic experts from core disci-plines of Health and Medicine, Education and Learning Sciences, and Engineering and Information Communication Technology (ICT) with government and health services partners to identify key problems preventing the healthcare industry from using elec-tronic data to support health professional learning. The approach was used to design a large-scale research program to solve this problem. The program will be delivered by doctoral candidates undertaking research projects with discrete aims that run in paral-lel to achieve the program’s overarching objectives. RESULTS The research program commenced in March 2020. Since this time four PhD Candidates have commenced their research projects. Preliminary findings are expected from indi-vidual projects in late 2021. CONCLUSIONS The approach used in this research program has potential to successfully unpack elec-tronic data siloed within clinical sites and enable health professionals to use it to reflect on their practice and deliver high quality care. Key outputs of the program will include fostering stronger connections between industry and academia, interlinking doctoral research projects to solve complex problems, the creation of new knowledge for clinical sites on how data can be used to understand performance and strengthening profes-sional development programs to align them with clinical practice. Key contributions of this paper include presenting a description of Practice Analytics, and describing the foundational academic disciplines that contribute to it. It will also present a method for designing a Practice Analytics research program.


Author(s):  
Jenia Vassileva ◽  
Kimberly E Applegate ◽  
Graciano Paulo ◽  
Eliseo Vano ◽  
Ola Holmberg

Abstract In March 2021 the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) organised an online Technical Meeting on Developing Effective Methods for Radiation Protection Education and Training of Health Professionals with attendance of 230 participants representing 66 Member States and 24 international organizations, professional bodies and safety alliances. By means of a pre-meeting survey, presentations by experts, topical panel discussions and post-meeting feedback to the meeting summary, the meeting identified strengths, common weaknesses and possible solutions and actions for improving radiation protection education and training of health professionals. Available guidelines and resources for radiation protection training were also reviewed. The meeting discussion resulted in a strong consensus for the need of: (a) international guidance on education and training in radiation protection and safety for health professionals, (b) an international description of minimum standards of initial and ongoing competence and qualification in radiation protection for relevant professional groups, considering the available recommendations at international and regional levels. The proposed actions include provisions for train-the-trainer credentialing and facility training accreditation, balance between the online and face-to-face training, improved on-the job training, as well as improved inclusion in training programmes of aspects related to application of new technologies, ethical aspects, development of communication skills, and use of software tools for improving justification and optimisation. The need for making the ongoing training practical, applicable, and useful to the trainee was highlighted. The international consultation initiated by the IAEA was appreciated as a good approach to understand and promote coordination and collaboration at all levels, for best results in education and training in radiation protection of health professionals. Implementing such a holistic approach to education and training in radiation protection would contribute towards qualification and competence of health professionals needed to ensure application of high standards for quality and safety in medical uses of ionizing radiation.


Author(s):  
Korinna Zoi Karamagkioli ◽  
Evika Karamagioli

European health systems are under mounting pressure to respond to the challenges of population ageing, citizens’ rising expectations, migration, and mobility of patients and health professionals. New technologies have the potential to revolutionize healthcare and health systems and to contribute to their future sustainability. However the organizational and regulatory environment of e-health has not progressed as rapidly as technology both in national and European level. The key issue in the European sphere is whether and to what extent it interferes with public health policy and should be treated separately from the more “traditional” healthcare. The proposed chapter will define e-health from a European perspective, present the different steps of the European policy in the field, insist on the organizational and regulatory issues that arise and discuss drives and barriers towards achieving pan European “patient-friendly” healthcare services.


2022 ◽  
pp. 314-324
Author(s):  
Mildred Vanessa López Cabrera ◽  
Christian Pérez-Villalobos ◽  
Mauricio Alberto Cortes Cely

The context in which health professionals practice is constantly evolving. The entry of new technologies in medicine has put more than one specialist to the test. It is worth noting that these technologies are rapidly updated, generating new solutions every year. While this contributes to offering quality programs for the training of new professionals, how can a professional even aspire to keep up to date with all these developments? This chapter provides some proposals and reflections to develop professional development goals for health professionals based on a continuous professional development mindset.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-84
Author(s):  
Kendell Ho ◽  
Ken Harris ◽  
Toni Leamon

COVID-19 has accelerated the use of telehealth or virtual care (VC) as an alternative form of health care delivery. Clearly, VC provides unprecedented convenience and timeliness for patients seeking care from their health professionals. As a result, a substantial increase in telehealth providers is occurring, and the Canadian government is investing millions to support digital health care treatments and telehealth services. However, it is vital that the health professional community carefully examine the quality of care being delivered digitally and determine when it is appropriate to use VC as an alternative to face-to-face care. This article highlights some principles for health policymakers, health professionals, and health consumers to consider to ensure that VC is used appropriately and ethically for the right health conditions and in the right contexts.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Velez-Lapão

Abstract Background Healthcare systems are facing many challenges, from demographics to multi-morbidities that are associated with increasing the demand for more services. The new technologies are thought to be a solution to these problems. However, to address these problems with digitalization of healthcare it will imply the combination of proper use of technologies, aligned with integrated working-processes and skilled professionals. Methods This study provides a scoping review on existing public health digital services and aimed to identify the main digitalization challenges, from competencies to technology use. The databases of Pubmed and Ebsco were searched. Results 17 papers were selected, and the three main priorities were identified. First, it will highlight the challenges associated with the digitalization of healthcare, the second the implementation of digital services, considering a method to design online service, the third the impact of digitalization on healthcare workforce performance. An overview of the major effects of transformative technologies (e.g. eHealth services, Internet of Things solutions, Artificial Intelligence) on the healthcare workforce will be addressed. Moreover, to what extent is the digital transition affecting formal qualifications of public health professionals? What are the major implications of technological change for future skill needs and competences of the public health workforce? Finally, the discussion examines the challenges of digitalization for public health services in Europe. Conclusions Proper digitalization of healthcare will enable changes in the paradigm of healthcare delivery as well as in the mechanism for patients’ participation and engagement. The sustainability of healthcare will depend on how efficient we will make digital-services design. Key words Digital health, Public Health, Digital Transformation, Public Health professionals, Europe


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