scholarly journals An mHealth App to Support Fertility Patients Navigating the World of Infertility (Infotility): Development and Usability Study

10.2196/28136 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. e28136
Author(s):  
Katya Kruglova ◽  
Siobhan Bernadette Laura O'Connell ◽  
Shrinkhala Dawadi ◽  
Eden Noah Gelgoot ◽  
Skye A Miner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Patient Empowerment ◽  
Complex Interventions ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Fertility Treatment ◽  
Support Needs ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Star Rating

Background The experience of infertility and its treatment engenders considerable stress and is often described as an emotional rollercoaster. A mobile health (mHealth) app may be a novel solution to address the psychoeducational and psychosocial support needs of fertility patients because of its potential to reduce stress and increase patient empowerment. There are a few fertility-related apps that provide information and support to both men and women undergoing fertility treatment; however, none have documented their development and evaluation process. Objective This study aims to describe the development and evaluation process of a bilingual mHealth app, Infotility, designed to meet the psychoeducational and psychosocial support needs of men and women undergoing fertility treatment. Methods To develop the Infotility app, we adhered to the Medical Research Council guidelines for the development and evaluation of complex interventions. First, we conducted literature reviews and needs assessment surveys of fertility patients and health care providers who informed the content and design of the app. Second, we tested the intervention with a small group of end users who provided feedback on the design and appropriateness of the app’s content. Third, we evaluated the uptake and usability of the app using a pre-post study design. Finally, we updated the app’s content based on participants’ feedback and searched for partners to disseminate the app to the broader public. Results This study is the first to describe the development and evaluation process of an mHealth app for men and women undergoing fertility treatment. The app met its goal in providing fertility patients with a clinician-approved, portable resource for reliable information about medical and psychosocial aspects of infertility and its treatments and a confidential peer support forum monitored by trained peer supporters. Participants rated the engagement, functionality, information, and esthetics of the app positively, with an overall app quality mean score of 3.75 (SD 0.53) and a star rating of 3.43 (SD 0.75), with a total possible score and star rating of 5.00. Conclusions By documenting the systematic development and evaluation of the mHealth app for men and women undergoing fertility treatment, this paper can facilitate the replication of the study intervention and the development of similar mHealth apps.

scholarly journals An mHealth App to Support Fertility Patients Navigating the World of Infertility (Infotility): Development and Usability Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katya Kruglova ◽  
Siobhan Bernadette Laura O'Connell ◽  
Shrinkhala Dawadi ◽  
Eden Noah Gelgoot ◽  
Skye A Miner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Patient Empowerment ◽  
Complex Interventions ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Fertility Treatment ◽  
Support Needs ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Star Rating

BACKGROUND The experience of infertility and its treatment engenders considerable stress and is often described as an emotional rollercoaster. A mobile health (mHealth) app may be a novel solution to address the psychoeducational and psychosocial support needs of fertility patients because of its potential to reduce stress and increase patient empowerment. There are a few fertility-related apps that provide information and support to both men and women undergoing fertility treatment; however, none have documented their development and evaluation process. OBJECTIVE This study aims to describe the development and evaluation process of a bilingual mHealth app, <i>Infotility</i>, designed to meet the psychoeducational and psychosocial support needs of men and women undergoing fertility treatment. METHODS To develop the <i>Infotility</i> app, we adhered to the Medical Research Council guidelines for the development and evaluation of complex interventions. First, we conducted literature reviews and needs assessment surveys of fertility patients and health care providers who informed the content and design of the app. Second, we tested the intervention with a small group of end users who provided feedback on the design and appropriateness of the app’s content. Third, we evaluated the uptake and usability of the app using a pre-post study design. Finally, we updated the app’s content based on participants’ feedback and searched for partners to disseminate the app to the broader public. RESULTS This study is the first to describe the development and evaluation process of an mHealth app for men and women undergoing fertility treatment. The app met its goal in providing fertility patients with a clinician-approved, portable resource for reliable information about medical and psychosocial aspects of infertility and its treatments and a confidential peer support forum monitored by trained peer supporters. Participants rated the engagement, functionality, information, and esthetics of the app positively, with an overall app quality mean score of 3.75 (SD 0.53) and a star rating of 3.43 (SD 0.75), with a total possible score and star rating of 5.00. CONCLUSIONS By documenting the systematic development and evaluation of the mHealth app for men and women undergoing fertility treatment, this paper can facilitate the replication of the study intervention and the development of similar mHealth apps.

scholarly journals What methods and challenges for taking account of context when transferring complex interventions?

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Villadsen ◽  
S Dias
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Complex Interventions ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Public Health Interventions ◽  
Reproductive Health Care

Abstract For complex public health interventions to be effective their implementation needs to adapt to the situation of those implementing and those receiving the intervention. While context matter for intervention implementation and effect, we still insist on learning from cross-country comparison of implementation. Next methodological challenges include how to increase learning from implementation of complex public health interventions from various context. The interventions presented in this workshop all aims to improve quality of reproductive health care for immigrants, however with different focus: contraceptive care in Sweden, group based antenatal care in France, and management of pregnancy complications in Denmark. What does these interventions have in common and are there cross cutting themes that help us to identify the larger challenges of reproductive health care for immigrant women in Europe? Issues shared across the interventions relate to improved interactional dynamics between women and the health care system, and theory around a woman-centered approach and cultural competence of health care providers and systems might enlighten shared learnings across the different interventions and context. Could the mechanisms of change be understood using theoretical underpinnings that allow us to better generalize the finding across context? What adaption would for example be needed, if the Swedish contraceptive intervention should work in a different European setting? Should we distinguish between adaption of function and form, where the latter might be less important for intervention fidelity? These issues will shortly be introduced during this presentation using insights from the three intervention presentations and thereafter we will open up for discussion with the audience.

scholarly journals It Takes Two to Talk About Prostate Cancer

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 472-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela B. Friedman ◽  
Tracey L. Thomas ◽  
Otis L. Owens ◽  
James R. Hébert
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Qualitative Research ◽  
South Carolina ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Death Rate ◽  
European American ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Research And Education ◽  
Purposive Sample

Prostate cancer (PrCA) is the most commonly diagnosed nonskin cancer among men. African American (AA) men in South Carolina have a PrCA death rate 150% higher than that of European American (EA) men. This in-depth qualitative research explored AA men’s and women’s current practices, barriers, and recommended strategies for PrCA communication. A purposive sample of 43 AA men and 38 AA spouses/female relatives participated in focus groups (11 male groups; 11 female groups). A 19-item discussion guide was developed. Coding and analyses were driven by the data; recurrent themes within and across groups were examined. Findings revealed AA men and women agreed on key barriers to discussing PrCA; however, they had differing perspectives on which of these were most important. Findings indicate that including AA women in PrCA research and education is needed to address barriers preventing AA men from effectively communicating about PrCA risk and screening with family and health care providers.

Patient Choice and Patient Empowerment in Northern European Health Systems: A Conceptual Framework

1994 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard B. Saltman
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Patient Empowerment ◽  
Patient Choice ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
European Health ◽  
The Impact

The issue of patient choice presents a complicated challenge to publicly operated health systems. Increased patient choice can strengthen the citizen's commitment to traditional welfare state objectives, or alternatively, it can severely damage that commitment, depending upon the design of the choice mechanism and the structural context within which patient choice occurs. For patient choice to be linked to true empowerment, choice must reinforce rather than undercut the accountability of health care providers to the population they serve. This article explores the basic issues involved in empowering patients within publicly operated health systems. The author first reviews the conceptual components that could or should be incorporated within the notion of empowered patients, then examines what would be required to actually empower patients within health systems, defined in terms of expanding not only logistical choice but also clinical influence and decision-making participation. The article concludes with a wide-ranging analysis of the impact of potential policies and mechanisms on the long-term objectives of achieving democratically accountable health care systems.

Access to Mental Health Services Among Internally Displaced Persons in Ukraine: Results from a Nationwide Survey

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S614-S614 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Roberts ◽  
N. Makhashvili ◽  
J. Javakhishvili
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Emotional Problem ◽  
Internally Displaced Persons ◽  
Displaced Persons ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Internally Displaced

BackgroundThere are an estimated 1.4 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ukraine as a result of the armed conflict in Ukraine.Objectives(i) Measure the burden of key mental disorders (PTSD, depression and anxiety); (ii) examine rates of utilization of health and psychosocial support services; (iii) examine the patterns of utilisation of services.MethodsThe study used a cross-sectional survey design and was conducted throughout Ukraine between March and May 2016 with 2203 IDPs aged 18 years and over. Time-location sampling was chosen as a probabilistic sampling method. Outcome measures were the PCL-5 for PTSD, the PHQ-9 for depression and the GAD-7 for anxiety. Descriptive and multivariate regression analyses were used.ResultsOf the 2203 respondents, 703 reported experiencing a mental health or emotional problem over the previous 12 months and were also screened positive with PTSD, depression or anxiety. Of these 703, 180 had sought care (with sources of care to be given in the presentation). Therefore, 523 respondents did not seek care, equating to an overall treatment gap of 74%, (74% for PTSD, 71% for depression and 70% for anxiety). Key reasons for not utilising treatment included preferring to use their own medications (n = 176); unaffordability of health services (n = 118) or medications (n = 140); poor understanding by health care providers (n = 123); poor quality of services (n = 78) and stigma/embarrassment (n = 41).ConclusionsThe findings support the need for a scaled-up, comprehensive and trauma informed response to provision of the mental health care of IDPs in Ukraine.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Cancer in adolescents and young adults in Japan: epidemiology and cancer strategy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kayo Nakata ◽  
Eiso Hiyama ◽  
Kota Katanoda ◽  
Tomohiro Matsuda ◽  
Yuma Tada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Cancer Registry ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Vital Statistics ◽  
Registry Data ◽  
Adolescents And Young Adults ◽  
Mortality Data ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Cancer Registry Data

AbstractAccording to national cancer registry data in Japan, approximately 20,000 adolescents and young adults (AYAs, age 15–39 years) are newly diagnosed with cancer each year. Improvements in treatment and care for AYAs with cancer are included in the Phase Three Basic Plan to Promote Cancer Control Programs in Japan. This article reviews current cancer incidence and survival for AYAs with cancer in Japan using population-based cancer registry data. Mortality data through 2019 from the Vital Statistics of Japan are also described. Encouragingly, the 5-year survival probability for AYA cancers has continued to improve, in parallel with childhood cancers, and the mortality rate has decreased. There has been increasing attention to these vulnerable patients and improved partnerships and collaboration between adult and pediatric oncology; however, obstacles to the care of this population still exist at multiple levels. These obstacles relate to specific areas: research efforts and enrollment in clinical trials on AYA malignancies, AYA-specific psychosocial support such as education, financial support, and oncofertility care, and cancer care systems. It is important for Japanese oncologists, health care providers, and health policy makers to recognize that the AYA population remains vulnerable and still have unmet needs.

scholarly journals The importance of providing palliative care for patients with severe COVID-19 in Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christantie Effendy ◽  
Martina Sinta Kristanti
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
Severe Condition ◽  
Dying With Dignity ◽  
The Common

Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), particularly those with a severe condition, might not survive. Pandemic situation challenges the healthcare providers in addressing palliative care to the patients. This paper aimed to describe the importance of providing palliative care for patients with severe COVID-19 in Indonesia. We used a case scenario to illustrate the common condition experienced by a patient with severe COVID-19. Health care providers in Indonesia could address palliative care for patients with COVID-19 by focusing on controlling the symptoms, avoiding futile intervention, and connecting the patients and their families. Nurses need to consider the patients’ needs for family supports, even though not in physical or psychosocial support, and help the patients who need end-of-life care to be dying with dignity. Communication technology must be utilized optimally by healthcare providers to realize the communication among the patients, families, and health workers. 

scholarly journals Resilience for family carers of advanced cancer patients—how can health care providers contribute? A qualitative interview study with carers

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 1410-1418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingebrigt Røen ◽  
Hans Stifoss-Hanssen ◽  
Gunn Grande ◽  
Anne-Tove Brenne ◽  
Stein Kaasa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Support Needs ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Family Carers ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Qualitative Interview Study

Background: Caring for advanced cancer patients affects carers’ psychological and physical health. Resilience has been defined as “the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or even significant sources of threat.” Aim: The aim of this study was to explore factors promoting carer resilience, based on carers’ experiences with and preferences for health care provider support. Design: Qualitative, semi-structured, individual interviews with family carers of advanced cancer patients were performed until data saturation. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using systematic text condensation. Setting/participants: Carers ( n = 14) of advanced cancer patients, not receiving curative treatment, admitted to an integrated curative and palliative care cancer outpatient clinic or to a university hospital cancer clinic, were included. Results: 14 carers of advanced cancer patients were included; 7 men, 7 women, and mean age of 59 years; 3 were bereaved; 12 were partners; 5 had young and teenage children. Four main resilience factors were identified: (1) being seen and known by health care providers—a personal relation; (2) availability of palliative care; (3) information and communication about illness, prognosis, and death; and (4) facilitating a good carer–patient relation. Conclusion: Health care providers may enhance carers’ resilience by a series of simple interventions. Education should address carers’ support needs and resilience. Systematic assessment of carers’ support needs is recommended. Further investigation is needed into how health care providers can help carers and patients communicate about death.

scholarly journals Determinants of visits of cancer patients to Dutch Community Based Psychosocial Support Centres (CBPSCs)

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Consistency Results ◽  
Sum Scores

Aim: The psychosocial support for cancer patients in the mental health care is often limited because of difficulties in access and the expense to patients. In response, informal regional support centers have been developed in the Netherlands called “Community-based Psychosocial Support Centres (hereinafter: CBPSCs) for cancer patients and relatives. They offer supporting complementary activities and professional psychological help which are easily accessible and free of charge. We studied the use (frequency, duration and future use) and the determinants of the visits to CBSPCs. Method: Visitors covering 701 cases from 25 CBPSCs filled-out a web-based questionnaire, answering questions about how often they contacted CBPSCs (frequency, duration and future use) and which personal factors, mainly based of the ASE model, influenced the use of CBPSCs. Also, the well-being of the patient, the evaluation of the visits and the significance of the support received were studied as dependent variables, in addition to the role of the ASE factors, applying multivariate analyses. All sum scores showed a strong internal consistency. Results: Most patients did not know what CBPSCs are or where to find them. About one-fifth was alerted by family, friends and acquaintances. Another 20% was informed about CBPSCs by hospital oncology nurses and through leaflets. Patients rarely reported being referred by their GPs and medical specialists. Health care providers in hospitals were much better informed about CBPSCs, referring approximately half of their patients to CBPSCs. Around two thirds of the patients visited the CBSPC once a week for 2 to 3 hours and intended to continue these visits in years to come. Present use generally showed that the most important determinants are the attitude towards the visits, whether the patient is a recent visitor, the patient’s perceived significance of the visits and having a socially-inactive lifestyle. Conclusions: The study confirms the high value that this type of organisation provides in informal support in cancer care. The CBPSCs need to improve their visibility in the healthcare system through more public campaigns and better information to patients. More countries should introduce and stimulate this type of easily-accessible, cheap, effective and highly-valued supportive care centres, and explore the needs of patient and family members.

scholarly journals An mHealth App Designed for Fertility Patients: From Conception to Pilot Testing

Iproceedings ◽  
10.2196/15236 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e15236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phyllis Zelkowitz ◽  
Skye Miner ◽  
Siobhan O'Connell ◽  
Stephanie Robins
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
User Satisfaction ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Female Fertility ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Men And Women

Background Infertility is a distressing chronic condition affecting one in six couples; many of them seek to achieve a pregnancy via assisted reproductive technologies. Online resources for information and support are a mainstay of the self-help strategies of fertility patients. Patients seek explanations online about their diagnoses and treatment options, and hope to connect with others who have lived through a diagnosis of infertility. However, medical information found online is often inaccurate or hard to understand. Importantly, online forums that might provide social support are seldom monitored, allowing for the dissemination of potentially misleading information. In this study we describe the development of an mHealth app, Infotility, designed to provide evidence-based reproductive health information and a monitored message board to provide social support to users. Objective The objective was to describe the steps involved in the production of an mHealth app created specifically for fertility patients. Methods Our team followed guidelines established for the development of complex health interventions. To evaluate the existing online information sources, we assessed web-based information on infertility using standardized tools for readability, suitability and quality. To determine our stakeholders’ perspectives on what content to include in the app, a needs assessment survey was conducted in a sample of 289 male and 370 female fertility patients and 127 health care providers at clinics in Montreal and Toronto. A comprehensive review of the literature on the medical and psychosocial aspects of infertility was undertaken; summaries were then reviewed for accuracy and pertinence by patients, clinicians, researchers and professionals in the field of fertility. A technology partner was hired to create a user-friendly mobile app that contained the informational summaries, with separate portals for men and women, leading to content specifically curated for the user’s interests. There was also a closed discussion platform, “Connect”, monitored by 18 previous or current fertility patients. Peer monitors underwent one-on-one training and received an instructional manual created to assist with responding to forum messages from participants. Between November 2018 and April 2019, the app was pilot tested in a sample of 72 male and 187 female fertility patients to assess feasibility of recruitment, acceptability, and user satisfaction. Results Initial results show that men and women appreciated Infotility. The most popular sections included information on modifiable lifestyle risks (eg, diet, exercise, environment), and medical and psychosocial information. Men preferentially visited pages about lifestyle factors whereas the most common pages visited by women related to medical information. Importantly, the “Connect” social network logged 39 open forum conversations with 258 total posts, as well as 14 private messages. Both men and women lurked and posted on the board; women posted more often than men. Conclusions The design of a mobile health app for fertility patients should consider user experience and design along with the quality and accessibility of information. A fertility mHealth app should provide access to monitored social support through the interface and consider how to effectively tailor information to men and women.

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