scholarly journals Anesthesia and mHealth - a Survey

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugo Carvalho ◽  
Michael Verdonck ◽  
Patrice Forget ◽  
Jan Poelaert

Abstract Background mHealth, the practice of medicine aided by mobile devices is a growing market. Although the offer on Anesthesia applications (Apps) is quite varied, representative formal assessments on the views of anesthesia practitioners on its use and potential place in daily practice is lacking. This survey aimed thus to cross-assess the Belgian anesthesia population on the use of smartphone Apps and peripherals. Methods The survey was exclusively distributed as an online anonymous questionnaire. Sharing took place via hyperlink forwarding by the Belgian Society for Anesthesia and Reanimation (BSAR) and by the Belgian Association for Regional Anesthesia (BARA) to all registered members. The first answer took place on 5 September 2018, the last on 22 January 2019. Results 349 answers were obtained (26.9% corresponding to trainees, 73.1% to specialists). Anesthesiologists were positively confident that Apps and peripherals could help improve anesthesia care (57.0% and 47.9%, respectively, scored 4 or 5, in a scale from 0 - 5). Anesthesia trainees were significantly more confident that specialists on mobile Apps (72.1% and 51.6%, respectively). The usefulness of Apps and Peripherals was rated 1 or below (on a 0 to 5 scale) by 9.5% and 14.6% of the subjects. Trainees significantly used mobile apps more than specialists (66.7% vs. 37.4%, respectively). The preferred category of mobile Apps was dose-calculating applications (39.8%), followed by digital books (21.5%) and Apps for active perioperative monitoring (20.3%). Conclusions Belgian Anesthesia practitioners show a significant positive attitude towards smartphone Apps and Peripherals.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugo Carvalho ◽  
Michael Verdonck ◽  
Patrice Forget ◽  
Jan Poelaert

Abstract Background: mHealth, the practice of medicine aided by mobile devices is a growing market. Although the offer on Anesthesia applications (Apps) is quite prolific, representative formal assessments on the views of anesthesia practitioners on its use and potential place in daily practice is lacking. This survey aimed thus to cross-assess the Belgian anesthesia population on the use of smartphone Apps and peripherals.Methods: The survey was exclusively distributed as an online anonymous questionnaire. Sharing took place via hyperlink forwarding by the Belgian Society for Anesthesia and Reanimation (BSAR) and by the Belgian Association for Regional Anesthesia (BARA) to all registered members. The first answer took place on 5 September 2018, the last on 22 January 2019. Results: 349 answers were obtained (26.9% corresponding to trainees, 73.1% to specialists). Anesthesiologists were positively confident that Apps and peripherals could help improve anesthesia care (57.0% and 47.9%, respectively, scored 4 or 5, in a scale from 0 - 5). Trainees were significantly more confident than specialists on both mobile Apps (71.2% and 51.8%, respectively; p = 0.001) and peripherals (77.7% and 45.1%, respectively; p = 0.09).The usefulness of Apps and Peripherals was rated 1 or below (on a 0 to 5 scale), respectively, by 9.5% and 14.6% of the total surveyed population, being specialists proportionally less confident in Smartphone peripherals than trainees (p = 0.008). Mobile apps are actively used by a significantly higher proportional number of trainees (67.0% vs. 37.3%, respectively; p = 0.000001).The preferred category of mobile Apps was dose-calculating applications (39.15%), followed by digital books (21.1%) and Apps for active perioperative monitoring (20.0%).Conclusions: Belgian Anesthesia practitioners show a global positive attitude towards smartphone Apps and Peripherals, with trainees trending to be more confident than specialists.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugo Carvalho ◽  
Michael Verdonck ◽  
Patrice Forget ◽  
Jan Poelaert

Abstract Background mHealth, the practice of medicine aided by mobile devices is a growing market. Although the offer on Anesthesia applications (Apps) is quite prolific, representative formal assessments on the views of anesthesia practitioners on its use and potential place in daily practice is lacking. This survey aimed thus to cross-assess the Belgian anesthesia population on the use of smartphone Apps and peripherals. Methods The survey was exclusively distributed as an online anonymous questionnaire. Sharing took place via hyperlink forwarding by the Belgian Society for Anesthesia and Reanimation (BSAR) and by the Belgian Association for Regional Anesthesia (BARA) to all registered members. The first answer took place on 5 September 2018, the last on 22 January 2019. Results 349 answers were obtained (26.9% corresponding to trainees, 73.1% to specialists). Anesthesiologists were positively confident that Apps and peripherals could help improve anesthesia care (57.0% and 47.9%, respectively, scored 4 or 5, in a scale from 0 - 5). Trainees were significantly more confident than specialists on both mobile Apps (71.2% and 51.8%, respectively; p = 0.001) and peripherals (77.7% and 45.1%, respectively; p = 0.09). The usefulness of Apps and Peripherals was rated 1 or below (on a 0 to 5 scale), respectively, by 9.5% and 14.6% of the total surveyed population, being specialists proportionally less confident in Smartphone peripherals than trainees (p = 0.008). Mobile apps are actively used by a significantly higher proportional number of trainees (67.0% vs. 37.3%, respectively; p = 0.000001). The preferred category of mobile Apps was dose-calculating applications (39.15%), followed by digital books (21.1%) and Apps for active perioperative monitoring (20.0%). Conclusions Belgian Anesthesia practitioners show a global positive attitude towards smartphone Apps and Peripherals, with trainees trending to be more confident than specialists.


Medicina ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 100
Author(s):  
Pietro Ferrara ◽  
Lucia Stromillo ◽  
Luciana Albano

Background and objectives: Vaccination against bacterial pathogens is decisive for preventing invasive meningococcal disease and pediatricians play a pivotal role in vaccination compliance and coverage. The aim of this study was to investigate awareness, attitude, and practices toward the vaccine against Meningococcal B serogroup (4CMenB) among a sample of Italian pediatricians. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out using an online questionnaire from March to May 2015. Three multivariate logistic regression models were built to identify factors associated with the outcomes of interest. Results: The data showed that 95.5% of the interviewees correctly responded about the availability of 4CMenB vaccine in Italy, while only 28.0% knew the vaccination schedule for children aged two years or under. This knowledge was significantly higher in younger pediatricians and in those who worked a higher number of hours per week. Pediatricians self-reported a positive attitude toward the utility and safety of 4CMenB vaccine. Those pediatricians with a strong positive attitude toward the utility of the vaccine, who knew the vaccination schedules for children of two years or under, and who declared a satisfactory or good knowledge about the vaccine were more likely to inform parents about its availability in Italy, recommend the vaccination, and verify patients’ vaccination status, in their daily practice. Conclusions: The study highlights factors that currently influence pediatricians’ practices regarding the 4CMenB vaccine. The results showed the possible actions recommended to improve physicians’ awareness and behaviors in order to improve the vaccination compliance and invasive meningococcal diseases prevention.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason D Whitt

Abstract This essay argues that an account of vocation that ties one’s work with divine calling stands counter to the biblical witness of calling in the New Testament. Rather than calling to a particular profession, the biblical account of calling is to a unique way of living that is to exemplify the followers of Christ. Therefore, the re-enchantment of medicine is not accomplished when one makes the practice itself sacred simply by imagining it as one’s divine calling. Rather, the sacredness of medicine is rooted in the character of the physician whose daily decisions and patient interactions are the outcomes of virtues inculcated in worship, prayer, Bible study, and all other practices that mark the life of faith. Thus, the practitioner avoiding burnout asks not “Am I called to be a physician?” but “How as a physician in the daily practice of medicine might I exemplify my calling to Christ-likeness?”


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Hu ◽  
Dezhi Yuan ◽  
Qiuye Zhao ◽  
Xuefei Wang ◽  
Xiaotian Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background China has had about 1.2 billion mobile-phone users, and usage continues to grow. However, mobile-health services (mHealth) are currently in the initial stage, and have not yet prevailed in China. Additionally, the prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD) in China is 190/100,000. Indeed, these PD patients would benefit from mHealth to manage their disease. Therefore, we designed a study to determine attitudes toward smartphone applications (apps) for chronic condition self-management, and to discover the practicality of these apps among PD patients in China.Methods We selected 204 participants with PD between 52 and 87 years old and surveyed their attitudes concerning the use of smartphone apps for chronic condition management via questionnaires.Results Among the participants, 65.19% had smartphones. Among these smartphone users, 82.84% expressed a preference for using apps for PD management. This group tended to be younger and more frequent web users with higher education and better medication compliance, and they tended to have a longer PD course and worse conditions (P < 0.001, P = 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.041, P < 0.001, P = 0.013.) Additionally, the willingness to apply apps for PD self-management was positively related to education (P < 0.001) and negatively related to age and PD course (P = 0.017, P < 0.001).Conclusion In China, patients with PD have a generally positive attitude towards self-management through smartphone apps. Consequently, improving the coverage of smartphones with practical and handy apps is a promising strategy for PD self-management.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie Heynsbergh ◽  
Leila Heckel ◽  
Mari Botti ◽  
Eric (Seung Chul) O ◽  
Patricia M Livingston

BACKGROUND There are few support systems available to informal carers who provide care to cancer patients. Smartphone apps have the capacity to reach large audiences and can provide information and support at a time convenient to carers. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to design a smartphone app prototype for carers of adults with cancer. METHODS A multiple-method design was used to develop a smartphone app. Current and past carers of people with any type of cancer were recruited from a public hospital, a private hospital, and a carer organization, who participated in either a focus group or phone interview. Carers answered questions about items to include in an app to address supportive care needs identified. Using carers’ feedback, a smartphone app was designed and tested. Beta testing was conducted using a convenience sample of participants who completed scenarios to inform the app’s design, functionality, and usability. Scenarios were timed and marked as complete or incomplete. Participants completed a questionnaire about the usability of the app. Beta testing occurred in 2 stages—a paper-based version of the app and an app-based test using the participants’ preferred device. Alpha testing was completed internally to ensure the functionality of the app. Data were collected between May 2016 and August 2017. RESULTS A total of 33 carers participated in phone interviews and 12 in focus groups; their average age was 55 (SD 14) years, and 60% (27/45) were female. The majority of carers (76%, 25/33) had a positive attitude toward using smartphone apps. Carers noted that smartphone technology might improve their ability to seek information and support in managing their own health as well as the care needs of the person with cancer. Carers requested a variety of information and resources to be included in the app. Paper-based testing included the following: participants (N=10) were aged above 30 years (30%, 3/10), 30 to 49 years (30%, 3/10), and 50 years or above (40%, 4/10), and 60% (6/10) were male. Participants found the app user-friendly and pleasing in appearance. App-based testing included the following: participants (N=10) were aged above 30 years (20%, 2/10), 30 to 49 years (30%, 3/10), and 50 years or above (50%, 5/10), and 50% (5/10) were male. Participants reported the app to be user-friendly and easy to navigate. The majority (60%, 6/10) of participants were unable to create a shortcut icon to add the app to the home screen of their phone. CONCLUSIONS Carers highlighted the needed information and support to assist them during the caring period; they also reported having a positive attitude toward smartphone apps. The Carer Guide App is currently undergoing a pilot study to further test usability among carers of people with 1 cancer type.


2021 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-77
Author(s):  
C Snauwaert ◽  
X Dekoninck ◽  
T Moreels

Background and study aims : Data on procedural outcome and quality of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in Belgian practice are scarce. The aim of this study is to assess current status of ERCP-performance in Belgium. Methods : National multi-institutional survey (online question-naire) among members of the Belgian Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (BSGIE), conducted in the period June-August 2018. The RIZIV/INAMI provided real-life data on the total number of ERCPs performed in Belgium. Results : Forty-five responders completed the survey (for43 centers performing ERCP), providing information for 8368 ERCPs performed in 45% (43/95) of institutions performing ERCP in Belgium. Fifty-eight percent of centers performed > 100 ERCPs/year and 7% of centers (n=3) performed < 50 ERCPs/year. According to the RIZIV/INAMI data, low case-volume centers are underrepresented in this survey. The most common ERCP-indication was stone extraction (52%). 74% of endoscopists had more than 10 years of experience in performing ERCP. The majority of centers had their own written protocol (84%) for microbiological duodenoscope surveillance. Monitoring of cannulation rate and post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) was only performed in a minority of centers (30%). The majority of centers (76%) provided verbal informed consent relating to the ERCP-procedure ; a minority also requested a written informed consent (23%). 65% of centers systematically use NSAIDs for PEP-prophylaxis. Conclusion : This is the first survey of ERCP performance in Belgium. There were wide variations in practice. Adherence to key performance measures and measurement and evaluation of ERCP performance in daily practice at center and endoscopist level are not uniformly widespread.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shampy Kamboj ◽  
Richa Joshi

Purpose Tourists regularly make use of their smartphones while staying at tourist destinations. Several studies have studied the outcomes of smartphone use at travel destinations. The current paper believes tourists’ use of their smartphone or its apps because of their contact with tour friends, social loneliness-related concerns or its aesthetic scope. The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors of continued use of smartphone apps via travelers during their stay at a tourism destination, framed within the UTAUT2 model (unified theory of acceptance and use of technology), given intrinsic user attributes (innovativeness), tourism destination aspect (aesthetic scope and social loneliness) and one of the key characteristics of mobile devices (portability). Design/methodology/approach The sample consists of 357 smartphone users who travelled to some tourist destinations and used some mobile apps during their stay. Data was analyzed using the structural equation modeling approach. Findings The findings of the study show that the UTAUT2 model can effectively explain the use of smartphone apps at tourism destinations and characteristics of the user and mobile device, does affect behaviour outcomes (smartphone, intention to reuse app, satisfaction towards trip and loyalty towards app). Originality/value This paper is mainly important due to its emphasis on smartphone apps’ use during the travel stay, as the majority of the existing literature focusses on prior steps ( service booking).


2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Parpinel ◽  
Laura Scherling ◽  
Stefano Lazzer ◽  
Vincenzo Della Mea

Background: Recently, a number of smartphone apps appeared that allow for heart rate measurements basing on the photoplethysmography principle. In fact, almost every smartphone now has a camera with flash that could be used for that. Some studies appeared on the reliability of some of those apps, with heterogeneous results.Objectives: The present study aims at adding up evidence in particular during physical activity, by comparing 3 apps on two different platforms (IOs and Android), on a broad range of heart rates. As gold standard, heart rate has been measured with a traditional heart rate monitor.Results: The results suggest that heart rate apps might be used for measuring heart rate for fitness aims for many individuals, but further research is needed to i) analyse influence of smartphone features; ii) identify personal factors hindering measurements, and iii) verify reliability on different measurement sites.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 499-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
James M. Rippe

There is no longer any serious doubt that daily habits and actions profoundly affect both short-term and long-term health and quality of life. This concept is supported by literally thousands of research articles and incorporated in multiple evidence-based guidelines for the prevention and/or treatment of chronic metabolic diseases. The study of how habits and actions affect both prevention and treatment of diseases has coalesced around the concept of “lifestyle medicine.” The purpose of this review is to provide an up-to-date summary of many of the modalities fundamental to lifestyle medicine, including physical activity, proper nutrition, weight management, and cigarette smoking cessation. This review will also focus specifically on how these modalities are employed both in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases including coronary heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. The review concludes with a Call to Action challenging the medical community to embrace the modalities of lifestyle medicine in the daily practice of medicine.


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