scholarly journals "N.A.M.E." FUN! Emojis may illustrate structure-function relationships of neurotransmitters to health professions students

Author(s):  
Angela L. Mahaffey

This article provides a qualitative examination of student responses to an enjoyable online experience illustrating structure-function relationships of chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) in the human nervous system via text messaging emojis (often employed during mobile phone messaging). The "N.A.M.E." (Neurotransmitters as Messaging Emojis) FUN! experience was presented to 218 undergraduate health professions students enrolled in a Human Physiology Course during Spring 2020 (N = 118) and Spring 2021 (N = 100) semesters as a learning tool, during a time in which students struggled with the concepts of neurotransmitter function. Additional goals for this fun experience design are to: 1) Engage health professions students in the topics of chemical messengers in the nervous system, 2) As a learning tool for students enrolled in the Human Physiology courses and a 3) Memorization online worksheet for select neurotransmitter function. Student participants were able to access the online neurotransmitter fun experience via mobile phone and/or laptops. Resulting analysis of the voluntary and anonymous survey highlight positive responses in both Spring 2020 and 2021 semesters, to the online "N.A.M.E." experience, and further the recommendation of student participants to include this online experience in future lecture assignments for the Human Physiology course. Here, we examine several data sets (tables), as we review student choices for matching emojis to neurotransmitter function and qualitative responses on the efficacy of this online match-up fun as a learning tool in Human Physiology for health professions course.

2008 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Riley ◽  
Jami Obermayer ◽  
Jersino Jean-Mary

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. A102.3-A103
Author(s):  
M Manzano ◽  
R Jimenez ◽  
A Tristancho ◽  
R Morillo ◽  
C Haro ◽  
...  

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. e054851
Author(s):  
Birgit Maria Vahlberg ◽  
Erik Lundström ◽  
Staffan Eriksson ◽  
Ulf Holmback ◽  
Tommy Cederholm

ObjectivesTo evaluate effects of mobile phone text-messaging exercise instructions on body composition, cardiometabolic risk markers and self-reported health at 3 months after stroke.DesignRandomised controlled intervention study with per-protocol analyses.SettingUniversity Hospital in Sweden.ParticipantsSeventy-nine patients (mean (SD) age 64 (10) years, 37% female) ≥18 years with good motor function (modified Rankin Scale ≤2) and capable to perform 6 min walking test at hospital discharge were randomised to either intervention (n=40) or control group (n=39). Key exclusion criteria: subarachnoid bleeding, uncontrolled hypertension, severe psychiatric problems or cognitive limitations.InterventionsThe intervention group received beyond standard care, daily mobile phone instructional text messages to perform regular outdoor walking and functional leg exercises. The control group received standard care.Main outcome measuresFat mass and fat-free mass were estimated by bioelectric impedance analysis. Cardiometabolic risk factors like blood lipids, glycated haemoglobin and blood glucose were analysed at baseline and after 3 months.ResultsBoth groups changed favourably in fat-free mass (1.83 kg, 95% CI 0.77 to 2.89; p=0.01, effect size (ES)=0.63 vs 1.22 kg, 95% CI 0.39 to 2.0; p=0.05, ES=0.54) and fat mass (−1.30 kg, 95% CI −2.45 to −0.14; p=0.029, ES=0.41 vs −0.76 kg, 95% CI −1.74 to 0.22; p=0.123, ES=0.28). Also, many cholesterol related biomarkers improved; for example, total cholesterol −0.65 mmol/L, 95% CI −1.10 to −0.2; p=0.06, ES: 0.5 vs −1.1 mmol/L, 95% CI −1.47 to −0.56; p>0.001, ES=0.8. However, there were no between-group differences. At 3 months, 94% and 86%, respectively, reported very good/fairly good health in the text messaging and control groups.ConclusionsNo clear effect of 3 months daily mobile phone delivered training instructions was detected on body composition, cardiovascular biochemical risk factors or self-perceived health. Further research is needed to evaluate secondary prevention efforts in larger populations after recent stroke.Trial registration numberNCT02902367.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacques L. Tamuzi ◽  
Gomer Lulendo ◽  
Patrick Mbuesse ◽  
Thierry Ntambwe

Objective The aim of this systematic review is to provide some evidence on the use of mobile phone communication for improving ARV adherence during pregnancy, as well as to investigate whether text messaging on mobile phones could improve follow up in HIV exposed infants. Methods We did a systematic review and meta-analysis, using CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), Scopus, MEDLINE via PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL to search for studies in English published between 5 may 2016 to May 2021 that assessed the effects of mobile phone in HIV infected pregnant women. We used MetaPro version 3.0 to compute the OR 2 and RR and their 95%CI. We performed random-effects model meta analysis for estimating pooled outcomes. Results Nine studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled maternal postpartum retention was (OR 2.20, 95%CI: 1.55 to 3.13, I2 = 53.20%, P < 0.001). In the same line, the pooled odds of ART uptake was (OR 1.5, 95%CI: 1.07 to 2.11, I2 =0%, P = 0.020) and we found statistically significant impact of mobile phone on HIV testing at 6 weeks and above among HIV exposed children (OR 1.89, 95%CI: 1.04 to 3. 48, I2 = OR 1.89, 95%CI: 1.04 to 3. 48, I2 =88.04%, P = 0.032). Conclusion In comparison to our previous review, this updated review focuses on moderate evidence for mobile phone communication in HIV-infected pregnant women. The results showed that using a mobile phone improved maternal post-partum retention, ART uptake, and infant HIV testing at 6 weeks and older.


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Varleta ◽  
Carlos Akel ◽  
Monica Acevedo ◽  
Claudia Salinas ◽  
Javier Pino ◽  
...  

Introduction: Hypertension is a major public health concern and the leading cause of cardiovascular disease worldwide. Prevalence of adequate blood pressure control is low and it is mainly associated to poor antihypertensive drug adherence. We hypothesized that education through mobile phone text messaging (SMS) would improve antihypertensive drug adherence in hypertensive patients followed in a primary care setting. Methods: Recently diagnosed hypertensive patients receiving antihypertensive drug treatment for less than 6 months were randomised to receive SMS related to improve drug adherence and to follow a healthy life style or no messages. Exclusion criteria were history of stroke, heart failure, myocardial infarction and hemodialysis. Patients were recruited from 12 different primary care clinics in Santiago, Chile, where free antihypertensive drug therapy was provided. All patients signed an informed consent after which a survey was performed. Compliance was assessed using Morinsky- Green-Levine Questionnaire.Text messages were sent every 12± 2 days. After a 6-month follow-up, a new survey was applied. An Ordinary Least Squares regression model was used to analyse the net difference between the two groups. Results: A total of 314 subjects were recruited, mean age 60 ±10 years, 35% male, 67% with low or medium educational level (≤12 years). Mean drug pill number was 2.1 per day and the mean time of drug prescription was 4±1 months; 150 subjects were randomised to text messages. No statistical difference between the control and the intervention groups in regards to gender, age, educational level, blood pressure and baseline compliance was found. Eleven patients were lost of follow-up. Adherence in the control group decreased from to 59,7 % at baseline to 51,7% ( p<0,05) at 6 months. By contrast, in the intervention group, it increased from 50,9 % to 62,7 % ( p<0,05). The absolute difference in mean adherence rate between the two groups was 19,8 % (Standard error: 0.081, p: 0.015). Conclusion: This study shows that education through SMS in patients with recently prescribed antihypertensive drugs improved adherence to treatment. SMS could become a good and easy- to- use intervention tool to overcome low adherence to drug treatments in the community.


Author(s):  
Beverly Plester ◽  
Clare Wood ◽  
Samantha Bowyer

The authors present three investigations into pre-teen children’s text message language and measures of their standard literacy abilities. The children translated sentences, from standard English into text, and from text into standard English , and wrote text messages appropriate to a set of scenarios. They categorised text abbreviations used and calculated the proportion of abbreviations to total words. The children completed a questionnaire about their mobile phone use. Text messaging facility was positively associated with verbal reasoning, vocabulary, school achievement in English, and reading ability across the three studies. Texting provides opportunity for children to communicate in writing without the constraints of standard English, and we propose that the playful variants on words that they use in texting, and their ability to encode spoken slang graphically, show not a lack of knowledge of English, but a light hearted use of phonological and alphabetic decoding principles that also underpin standard English.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 2325967119S0004
Author(s):  
Xochitl Mellor ◽  
Matthew J. Buczek ◽  
J. Todd Lawrence ◽  
Theodore J. Ganley ◽  
Alexander J. Adams ◽  
...  

Background: Patient-reported outcome (PRO) instruments measure a patient’s health status in a variety of domains, including physical, mental and social well-being. The delivery of such instruments has become an integral part of healthcare, commonly employed to assess treatment efficacy and outcomes in sports medicine. With the proliferation of mobile phones, administration of PROs across patient-friendly platforms (e.g. apps, text messaging) may increase completion rates, particularly among younger patients. The purpose of this study was to validate the collection of common knee PROs with text messaging in sports medicine, by correlating text messaging responses with traditional paper delivery in adolescents and young adults. Methods: Patients presenting to a hospital-based pediatric orthopaedic sports medicine clinic with a knee injury were enrolled in this prospective investigation. Patients were excluded if they were undergoing a same-day office procedure, underwent surgery within the previous 90 days, and/or had no access to a mobile phone. Paper versions of the Pediatric International Knee Documentation Committee (Pedi-IKDC) Subjective Knee Evaluation Form and the Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale (Pedi-Fab Scale) questionnaires were completed during the patients’ initial clinic visit. Over the next 72 hours, the patients subsequently completed the mobile phone portion of the study outside of the clinic (Figure 1), which included text message delivery of the Pedi-IKDC and Pedi-Fab Scale, assigned in a random order. Correlations between paper and text message delivery of the two PROs were assessed. Secondary analyses were conducted to examine overall completion time and associations between patient demographics and text compliance. Results: Of the 91 patients (Age M=16.0 ±2.0 years; 48% female) initially enrolled in the study, 55 (60.4%) completed the text Pedi-Fab Scale, 48 (52.7%) completed the text Pedi-IKDC, and 39 (42.9%) completed both PROs. Among the evaluable sample, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) between the paper and mobile phone delivery of the Pedi-Fabs was 0.95 (95% CI, 0.91-0.97). The ICC between the paper and mobile phone delivery of the Pedi-IKDC was 0.96 (95% CI, 0.93-0.98). Average Pedi-Fab scores on paper (M=12.7) and mobile phone (M=12.3) were not significantly different (p=0.52). Similarly, average Pedi-IKDC scores on paper (M=68.8) and mobile phone (M=67.7) were not significantly different (p=0.41). A Bland-Altman plot and linear regression revealed there was no proportional bias between the mean and difference for the Pedi-Fab scores (p=0.55) and Pedi-IKDC scores (p=0.56). The average completion time for the text delivered Pedi-Fab and Pedi-IKDC were 102±224 minutes and 159±155 minutes, respectively. For Pedi-Fab, there were no patient demographics that were significantly associated with text completion. However, high school students (p=0.025), female sex (p=0.036), and race (p=0.002), were significantly associated with the text completion of Pedi-IKDC. In addition, order of the delivery of the questionnaires and paper scores were not associated with text completion for either survey. Conclusion: Text message delivery using mobile phones permits valid assessment of Pedi-IKDC and Pedi-Fabs scores in this prospective observational study. Questionnaire delivery by automated text messaging allows asynchronous response and may increase compliance among high school students while also reducing the labor cost of collecting PROs.


Author(s):  
Claude Ghaoui ◽  
W. A. Janvier

This paper introduces the concept of improving student memory retention using a distance learning tool by establishing the student’s communication preference and learning style before the student uses the module contents. It argues that incorporating a distance learning tool with an intelligent/interactive tutoring system using various components (psychometric tests, communication preference , learning styles, mapping learning/teaching styles, neurolinguistic programming language patterns, subliminal text messaging, motivational factors, novice/expert factor, student model, and the way we learn) combined in WISDeM to create a human-computer interactive interface distance learning tool does indeed enhance memory retention. The authors show that WISDeM’s initial evaluation indicates that a student’s retained knowledge has been improved from a mean average of 63.57% to 71.09% — moving the student from a B to an A.


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