scholarly journals Tele-monitoring flares using a smartphone app in patients with gout or suspected gout: a feasibility study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bart P H Pouls ◽  
Charlotte L Bekker ◽  
Angelo L Gaffo ◽  
Bart J F van den Bemt ◽  
Marcel Flendrie
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Adherence Rate ◽  
Smartphone App ◽  
Patient Acceptability ◽  
Technical Issues ◽  
Acceptance Model ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Gout Flare ◽  
Gout Flares

Abstract Objectives Gout flares are painful and disabling. We developed a smartphone app for patients to tele-monitor gout flares surveyed by clinicians. This study aimed to assess patient acceptability, technical and clinical feasibility. Methods Adult patients with either established gout or high suspicion thereof were recruited if they possessed a smartphone and reported a recent arthritis attack. A smartphone application was used to identify gout flares by asking during 90 consecutive days: 1) what is your pain score (0–10), 2) are your joints warm, 3) are your joints swollen and 4) are you currently experiencing a gout flare. The clinician was alerted via email if a flare occurred. Patient acceptability was assessed using the Technology Acceptance Model. Technical feasibility consisted of reported technical issues and clinical feasibility of actions taken by the clinician regarding gout flare alerts. Results 29 included patients completed the study. Participants mean age was 57 years and all but one were male. Adherence rate was 96% (110 out of 2,910 queries were missed). Patients had a positive attitude towards app use, found the app very easy to use (mean usability score 81 out of 100) and were neutral to positive on its usefulness. There were four minor technical issues. A total of 100 gout flare alerts were generated that led to 18 proactive contacts with patients. Conclusion A smartphone app to monitor gout flares was developed and tested, showing high adherence, good acceptability and clinical feasibility for established gout patients. Trial registration Netherlands Trial Register, https://www.trialregister.nl, NL6435

scholarly journals THU0447 HOME-MONITORING GOUT FLARES WITH A SMARTPHONE APP – RESULTS OF A FEASIBILITY STUDY

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 460.1-461
Author(s):  
B. Pouls ◽  
C. Bekker ◽  
B. Van den Bemt ◽  
A. Gaffo ◽  
M. Flendrie
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Technology Acceptance Model ◽  
Home Monitoring ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Smartphone App ◽  
Research Support ◽  
Acceptance Model ◽  
Gout Flare ◽  
Gout Flares

Background:Gout flares are considered a key clinical and research outcome in gout. Early treatment of gout flares increases patient well-being and warrants timely notification of the treating clinician.Objectives:To test the feasibility of a smartphone app to home-monitor gout flares real-time for both patients with a suspicion of and established gout.Methods:Thirty patients were recruited during their visit at the outpatient rheumatology clinic. Inclusion criteria were age ≥ 18 years, smartphone possession, established gout (crystal proven) or a clinical suspicion of gout and at least one flare reported in the last three months.A straight-forward query app was used to incorporate an adapted version of the 2017 four-criteria gout flare definition.[1] For 90 consecutive days the app asked patients to report their current pain score on an 11-points scale as screening question. Scoring pain below 4 terminated the query, otherwise the app posed the remaining criteria: does the patient experience warm and/or swollen joints and are symptoms regarded as a gout flare. Responses were transmitted in real-time to the dashboard and the clinician was alerted via email if predefined conditions were met. End of study evaluation consisted of the number of generated alerts, duration of (possible) flares and actions taken. Patient feasibility was assessed by measuring app attrition and using a questionnaire based on the Technology Acceptance Model. [2] All constructs were analysed using descriptive statistics.Results:All 30 recruited patients finished the trial. Three minor, resolvable technical issues were reported. Seventeen participants never missed a question. In total 110 responses (4.1%) were missed with three participants responsible for 66 missings. 90% of the participants rated app usability good to excellent and 70% would recommend the app to other patients.Twelve out of thirty patients generated a total amount of 174 alerts where four patients with a suspicion of gout were responsible for 148 alerts (85%). These patients scored three out of four criteria as they had warm, swollen and painful joints but, after consultation with the clinician, their symptoms were not regarded as a gout flare.The 174 alerts belonged to 23 (possible) flares with a median duration of 5 days [IQR 3,5 – 7,5]. Twenty-one pro-active telephone calls were made which resulted in four visits to the clinic within 48 hours. Clinical guidance over the phone consisted of checking in on patient’s symptoms, giving advice and ten medication adjustments.Conclusion:This prospective study shows feasibility of a smartphone app for home-monitoring gout flares for patients because of high usability scores and low attrition rates. The app has added value for gout care because it enables clinicians to act on flares as they occur. The next step is to further implement the app whilst perpetuating investigation into the added value for patients and clinical practice alike.References:[1]Gaffo AL, Dalbeth N, Saag KG, et al. Brief Report: Validation of a Definition of Flare in Patients With Established Gout. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2018;70(3):462-467.[2]Davis Jr. FD. A Technology Acceptance Model for empirically testing new end-user information systems: theory and results. MIT PhD thesis. 1985[3]Stoyanov SR, Hides L, Kavanagh DJ, Wilson H. Development and Validation of the User Version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale (uMARS). JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2016;4(2):e72.Acknowledgements:This study was funded by AbbVie and Menarini.Disclosure of Interests: :Bart Pouls: None declared, Charlotte Bekker: None declared, Bart van den Bemt Grant/research support from: UCB, Pfizer and Abbvie, Consultant of: Delivered consultancy work for UCB, Novartis and Pfizer, Speakers bureau: Pfizer, AbbVie, UCB, Biogen and Sandoz., Angelo Gaffo Grant/research support from: Received a research grant from AMGEN, Marcel Flendrie Grant/research support from: M. Flendrie has received grants from Menarini and Grunenthal., Consultant of: M. Flendrie has received consultancy fees from Menarini and Grunenthal.

scholarly journals A Qualitative Analysis On the Benefits and Limitations of Learning Management Systems (LMS) in Saudi High School Education

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (1-3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdulrahman S. Basahal
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
High School Teachers ◽  
Learning Management Systems ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
School Teachers ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Technical Issues ◽  
Learning Management ◽  
Acceptance Model

ABSTRACT The past decade has been characterized by a strong global trend towards the adoption of Learning Management Systems (LMS) in the educational environment. Saudi Arabia has recently invested in the digitization of education. Taking the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a starting point, this study sought to understand the knowledge and early experiences of Saudi high school teachers with a particular LMS, called Future Gate. Qualitative in-depth interviews with 20 Saudi high school teachers were thematically analyzed. Findings suggest that high school teachers are well-informed about Future Gate and its purpose and have mostly positive perceptions of this LMS. Yet, some limitations exist, including unfamiliarity, lack of infrastructure, technical issues, and quality-related concerns. The findings are valuable because they can inform both educational leaders and software developers on how to improve and facilitate the use of LMS.

scholarly journals Mindful Age and Technology: a Qualitative Analysis of a Tablet/Smartphone App Intervention Designed for Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Vailati Riboni ◽  
Isabel Sadowski ◽  
Benedetta Comazzi ◽  
Francesco Pagnini
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Smartphone App ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Post Intervention

Abstract The global population is aging while modern healthcare systems are responding with limited success to the growing care demands of the senior population. Capitalizing on recent technological advancements, new ways to improve older adults’ quality of life have recently been implemented. The current study investigated, from a qualitative point of view, the utility of a mindfulness-based smartphone application for older adults. A description of the older adults’ experience with the smartphone application designed to enhance well-being and mindfulness will be presented. Participants’general beliefs about the benefits of technology for personal well-being will also be discussed. 68 older adults were recruited from different education centers for seniors. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: a) a treatment group, which received the smartphone application intervention (n = 34), or b) a waitlist control group (n = 34). The experimental intervention included the utilization of a smartphone app designed specifically for improving older adult well-being and mindfulness levels. Participants completed semi-structured interviews evaluating participants’ treatment experience and technology-acceptance at recruitment (T0, baseline) and post-intervention (T1, post-intervention). Through thematic analysis, four themes were identified from verbatim responses of both interviews: Utility of technology for health, Impressions of technology, Mindful-benefits of smartphone application usage, and Smartphone application usage as a means to improve interpersonal relationships. Participants showed a positive experience of the app intervention. Qualitative analysis underlined the main Mindfulness-benefits reported by participants and the potentially crucial role of “Langerian” mindfulness in the relationship between older adults and health technology.

Effect of smartphone application-supported self-rehabilitation for frozen shoulder: a prospective randomized control study

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 653-660 ◽  
Author(s):  
Younggeun Choi ◽  
Jihoon Nam ◽  
Dongseok Yang ◽  
Whanik Jung ◽  
Hwa-Ryeong Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Analogue Scale ◽  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Technology Acceptance Model ◽  
Analogue Scale ◽  
Frozen Shoulder ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Exercise Group ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Acceptance Model

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of smartphone-assisted self-rehabilitation in patients with frozen shoulder. Design: A single-center, randomized controlled trial. Setting: Orthopedic department of a university hospital. Subjects: A total of 84 patients with frozen shoulder were recruited. Intervention: Patients were randomly divided into two groups: a smartphone-assisted exercise group ( n = 42) and a conventional self-exercise group ( n = 42). The study was performed over three months, during which each group performed home-based rehabilitation. Main measures: Visual analogue scale for pain and passive shoulder range of motion were assessed at baseline and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of treatment. Technology Acceptance Model–2 and Usefulness, Satisfaction, and Ease of Use scores were evaluated in the smartphone group. Results: Initial visual analogue scale for pain of the smartphone group was 6.0 ± 2.2 and ended up with 1.8 ± 2.5 after 12 weeks, whereas the self-exercise group showed 5.8 ± 2.3 for the baseline visual analogue scale for pain and 2.2 ± 1.7 at the end. Significant time-dependent improvements in all measured values were observed in both groups (all Ps < 0.001), but no significant intergroup difference was observed after 4, 8, or 12 weeks of treatment. In the smartphone group, Technology Acceptance Model–2 and Usefulness, Satisfaction, and Ease of Use scores showed high patient satisfaction with smartphone-assisted exercise. Conclusion: There was no difference between home-based exercise using a smartphone application and a conventional self-exercise program for the treatment of frozen shoulder in terms of visual analogue scale for pain and range of motions.

A Technology Acceptance Model to Increase the Acceptance of Anti-tuberculosis Chatbots: Qualitative and Quantitative Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joon Sang Baek ◽  
Jihae Kim ◽  
Yihyun Jang ◽  
Jisun Yang
Keyword(s):  
Social Influence ◽  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Technology Acceptance Model ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Negative Perceptions ◽  
Healthcare Interventions ◽  
Acceptance Model ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Study

BACKGROUND Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly infectious disease. However, its eradication has been difficult owing to negative perceptions and insufficient knowledge. Recently, mobile-based healthcare interventions such as chatbots have emerged as a support for TB eradication programs. However, prior to introducing anti-TB chatbots, it is important to understand the factors that influence its acceptance by the population. OBJECTIVE This study aims to explore the acceptance of an anti-TB chatbot in South Korea. To achieve this aim, we investigated the factors that influence technology acceptance through qualitative research based on the interviews of TB patients and homeless facility personnel. We then verified the extended technology acceptance model (TAM) quantitatively, and made predictions regarding the factors influencing the acceptance of an anti-TB chatbot. METHODS We conducted user interviews to extract the factors influencing user acceptance and constructed a conceptual framework based on a technology acceptance model (TAM). In this extended TAM, social influence and perceived resources were identified as the major influencing factors. 123 study participants were divided into two groups based on their TB history. RESULTS The effect of social influence on perceived usefulness was identified to be strong in both groups. However, when it comes to behavioral intention of the user, perceived resources have the most important effect for the group with TB history, while attitude toward the chatbot is more influential for the group with no TB history. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, chatbots can help prevent TB and support its treatment by providing useful information to users without stigmatization.

Developing and Validating a M-Governance Framework Adoption Model of a University for Communication Services to Its Affiliated Institutions

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 484
Author(s):  
E. Ramganesh ◽  
E. Kirubakaran ◽  
D. Ravindran ◽  
R. Gobi
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Technology Acceptance Model ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Mobile Technologies ◽  
Communication Services ◽  
Governance Framework ◽  
Social And Economic Development ◽  
Acceptance Model

The m-Governance framework of auniversity aims to utilize the massive reach of mobile phones and harness the potential of mobile applications to enable easy and round the-clock access to the services of its affiliated institutions.  In the current mobile age there is need for transforming e-governance services to m-Governance as m-Governance is not a replacement for e-Governance rather it complements e-Governance. With this unparalleled advancement of mobile communication technologies, universities are turning to m-governance to realize the value of mobile technologies for responsive governance and measurable improvements to academic, social and economic development, public service delivery, operational efficiencies and active stakeholder engagement. In this context the present study, aims to develop and validate a m-governance framework of a university by extending Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with its prime stakeholders so called the Heads of the affiliated institutions. A survey instrument was developed based on the framework and it was administered with 20 Heads of the affiliated Institutions. The results also showed that the Heads of the affiliated Institutions expressed their favorableness towards m-governance adoption.

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