scholarly journals Web-Based Patient Self-Reported Outcome After Radiotherapy in Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer: Survey on Acceptance of Digital Tools (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco M E Vogel ◽  
Kerstin A Eitz ◽  
Stephanie E Combs
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Radiation Treatment ◽  
Young Patients ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Digital Tools ◽  
European Organization ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Willingness To Use

BACKGROUND eHealth and mobile health (mHealth) are an evolving trend in the medical field. The acceptance of digital tools is high, and the need is growing. OBJECTIVE Young adults (18-40 years) confronted with a cancer diagnosis present unique needs and require special care. They often have a strong affinity and are familiar with modern technology. On that account, we implemented a web-based symptom and quality of life (QoL) assessment to address patients’ attitudes and willingness to use mHealth tools. The study also aims to evaluate sociodemographic parameters that could influence patients’ opinions. METHODS A total of 380 young patients aged 18-40 treated with radiotherapy between 2002 and 2017 were included in the trial. We assessed QoL via the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Core 30 (EORTC C30) questionnaire and added general questions about mHealth technology. The added questions inquired patients’ opinions regarding general aspects, including technical advances in medicine, mobile and app assistance during cancer treatment, data transfer, and app-specific features. The survey was conducted for 12 months. Participation was voluntary and pseudonymized; prior written consent was obtained. RESULTS We achieved a participation rate of 57.6% (219/380) and a completion rate of 50.2% (110/219). The median age was 33 years (range 18-40). Of all participants, 89.1% (98/110) considered new technologies in medicine as positive; 10.9% (12/110) answered with neutral. Nearly all patients (96.4%, 106/110) stated that they would send further data via a web-based platform. Of all, 96.4% (106/110) considered the provided pseudonymization of their data as safe. We further asked the patients if they would use a mobile app for symptom and QoL assessment similar to the present web-based system: 74.5% (82/110) answered with yes and 25.5% (28/110) said they would not use a mobile app in the future. We tested the willingness to use an app on several sociodemographic parameters, such as age, gender, education, health insurance status, and cancer-related parameters: tumor stage, time since radiation treatment, and treatment intention. None of these parameters correlated with app use in this group of young adults. Patients who were generally positive regarding using an app rated several possible functions of a future app. The 3 most requested features were appointment reminders (89.0%, 73/82), contact overview of all involved clinics and physicians (87%, 71/82), and making an appointment via app (78%, 64/82). CONCLUSIONS eHealth and mHealth tools should be available as an integrated part of a comprehensive cancer care approach. It provides automated, thorough documentation of health parameters during therapy and follow-up for doctors, medical staff, and tumor patients to optimize treatment. With this study, we could show that young adults are the ideal patient population to use eHealth/mHealth tools. Such tools offer further digital support and improve the patients’ need for constant QoL during cancer care.

scholarly journals Web-Based Patient Self-Reported Outcome After Radiotherapy in Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer: Survey on Acceptance of Digital Tools

10.2196/19727 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. e19727
Author(s):  
Marco M E Vogel ◽  
Kerstin A Eitz ◽  
Stephanie E Combs
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Radiation Treatment ◽  
Young Patients ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Digital Tools ◽  
European Organization ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Willingness To Use

Background eHealth and mobile health (mHealth) are an evolving trend in the medical field. The acceptance of digital tools is high, and the need is growing. Objective Young adults (18-40 years) confronted with a cancer diagnosis present unique needs and require special care. They often have a strong affinity and are familiar with modern technology. On that account, we implemented a web-based symptom and quality of life (QoL) assessment to address patients’ attitudes and willingness to use mHealth tools. The study also aims to evaluate sociodemographic parameters that could influence patients’ opinions. Methods A total of 380 young patients aged 18-40 treated with radiotherapy between 2002 and 2017 were included in the trial. We assessed QoL via the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Core 30 (EORTC C30) questionnaire and added general questions about mHealth technology. The added questions inquired patients’ opinions regarding general aspects, including technical advances in medicine, mobile and app assistance during cancer treatment, data transfer, and app-specific features. The survey was conducted for 12 months. Participation was voluntary and pseudonymized; prior written consent was obtained. Results We achieved a participation rate of 57.6% (219/380) and a completion rate of 50.2% (110/219). The median age was 33 years (range 18-40). Of all participants, 89.1% (98/110) considered new technologies in medicine as positive; 10.9% (12/110) answered with neutral. Nearly all patients (96.4%, 106/110) stated that they would send further data via a web-based platform. Of all, 96.4% (106/110) considered the provided pseudonymization of their data as safe. We further asked the patients if they would use a mobile app for symptom and QoL assessment similar to the present web-based system: 74.5% (82/110) answered with yes and 25.5% (28/110) said they would not use a mobile app in the future. We tested the willingness to use an app on several sociodemographic parameters, such as age, gender, education, health insurance status, and cancer-related parameters: tumor stage, time since radiation treatment, and treatment intention. None of these parameters correlated with app use in this group of young adults. Patients who were generally positive regarding using an app rated several possible functions of a future app. The 3 most requested features were appointment reminders (89.0%, 73/82), contact overview of all involved clinics and physicians (87%, 71/82), and making an appointment via app (78%, 64/82). Conclusions eHealth and mHealth tools should be available as an integrated part of a comprehensive cancer care approach. It provides automated, thorough documentation of health parameters during therapy and follow-up for doctors, medical staff, and tumor patients to optimize treatment. With this study, we could show that young adults are the ideal patient population to use eHealth/mHealth tools. Such tools offer further digital support and improve the patients’ need for constant QoL during cancer care.

scholarly journals The Australian Youth Cancer Service: Developing and Monitoring the Activity of Nationally Coordinated Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Care

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2675
Author(s):  
Pandora Patterson ◽  
Kimberley R. Allison ◽  
Helen Bibby ◽  
Kate Thompson ◽  
Jeremy Lewin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Young Patients ◽  
Adolescents And Young Adults ◽  
Adolescent And Young Adult ◽  
Trial Participation ◽  
Clinical Trial Participation ◽  
Activity Data ◽  
Cancer Services

Adolescents and young adults (aged 15–25 years) diagnosed with cancer have unique medical and psychosocial experiences and care needs, distinct from those of paediatric and older adult patients. Since 2011, the Australian Youth Cancer Services have provided developmentally appropriate, multidisciplinary and comprehensive care to these young patients, facilitated by national service coordination and activity data collection and monitoring. This paper reports on how the Youth Cancer Services have conceptualised and delivered quality youth cancer care in four priority areas: clinical trial participation, oncofertility, psychosocial care and survivorship. National activity data collected by the Youth Cancer Services between 2016–17 and 2019–20 are used to illustrate how service monitoring processes have facilitated improvements in coordination and accountability across multiple indicators of quality youth cancer care, including clinical trial participation, access to fertility information and preservation, psychosocial screening and care and the transition from active treatment to survivorship. Accounts of both service delivery and monitoring and evaluation processes within the Australian Youth Cancer Services provide an exemplar of how coordinated initiatives may be employed to deliver, monitor and improve quality cancer care for adolescents and young adults.

Adapting an evidence-based e-learning CBT program into a mobile app for people experiencing gambling-related problems: A Formative Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gayl Humphrey ◽  
Joanna Chu ◽  
Rebecca Ruwhui-Collins ◽  
Stephanie Erick ◽  
Nicki Dowling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
End Users ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
End User ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Mhealth Intervention ◽  
Gambling Harms

BACKGROUND Many people experiencing harms and problems from gambling do not seek treatment from gambling treatment services due to numerous personal and resource barriers. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions are widely used across a diverse range of health care areas and by various population groups, but there are few in the gambling harm field, despite their potential as an additional modality for the delivery of treatment. OBJECTIVE This study aims to understand the needs, preferences and priorities of people experiencing gambling harms or problems who are potential end-users of a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) mHealth intervention (based on the GAMBLINGLESS web-based intervention) to inform design features and functions. METHODS Drawing on a mixed-methods approach, we used the creators and domain experts to review the GAMBLINGLESS web-based online program and convert it into a prototype for a mobile phone-based intervention. Each module was reviewed against the original evidence-base to ensure that the changes maintained the fidelity and conceptual integrity intended and to ensure that there were no gaps. Early wireframes, design ideas (look, feel and function) and content examples were to be developed using multi-modalities, to help initiate discussions and ideas with end-users. Using an iterative co-creation process with a Young Adult, a Māori and a Pasifika Peoples group, all with experiences of problem or harmful gambling, we undertook six focus groups; two cycles per group. During each focus group, participants identified preferences, features, and functions for inclusion in a final design of the mHealth intervention and its content. RESULTS Over three months, the GAMBLINGLESS web-based intervention was reviewed and remapped from four modules to six. This revised program is based on the principles underpinning the Transtheoretical Model, in which it is recognised that some end-users will be more ready to change than others, change is a process than unfolds over time, a non-linear progression is common, and that different intervention options may be required by end-users across the stages of change. Two cycles of focus groups were then conducted, with a total of 30 unique participants (13 Māori, 9 Pasifika and 8 Young Adults) at the first sessions and 18 participants (7 Māori, 6 Pasifika and 5 Young Adults) at the second sessions. Using prototype examples that demonstrably reflected the focus group discussions and ideas, the features, functions and designs for the Manaaki app were finalised. Aspects such as personalisation, cultural relevance, and being positively framed were key attributes identified. Congruence of the final app attributes with the conceptual frameworks of the original program was also confirmed. CONCLUSIONS Those who experience gambling harms may not seek help from current treatment providers and as such, finding new modalities to provided treatment and support are needed. mHealth has the potential to deliver interventions direct to the end-user. Weaving underpinning theory and existing evidence of effective treatment with end-user input into the design and development of the mHealth intervention does not guarantee success. However, it does provide a foundation for framing the mechanism, context and content of the intervention and arguably provides a greater chance of demonstrating effectiveness.

scholarly journals Digital Tools to Ameliorate Psychological Symptoms Associated With COVID-19: Scoping Review

10.2196/19706 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. e19706 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melvyn Zhang ◽  
Helen Elizabeth Smith
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Search Engine ◽  
General Public ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Digital Tools ◽  
Conversational Agents ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Mobile Interventions

Background In the four months after the discovery of the index case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), several studies highlighted the psychological impact of COVID-19 on frontline health care workers and on members of the general public. It is evident from these studies that individuals experienced elevated levels of anxiety and depression in the acute phase, when they first became aware of the pandemic, and that the psychological distress persisted into subsequent weeks. It is becoming apparent that technological tools such as SMS text messages, web-based interventions, mobile interventions, and conversational agents can help ameliorate psychological distress in the workplace and in society. To our knowledge, there are few publications describing how digital tools have been used to ameliorate psychological symptoms among individuals. Objective The aim of this review was to identify existing SMS text message, web-based, mobile, and conversational agents that the general public can access to ameliorate the psychological symptoms they are experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods To identify digital tools that were published specifically for COVID-19, a search was performed in the PubMed and MEDLINE databases from the inception of the databases through June 17, 2020. The following search strings were used: “NCOV OR 2019-nCoV OR SARS-CoV-2 OR Coronavirus OR COVID19 OR COVID” and “mHealth OR eHealth OR text”. Another search was conducted in PubMed and MEDLINE to identify existing digital tools for depression and anxiety disorders. A web-based search engine (Google) was used to identify if the cited web-based interventions could be accessed. A mobile app search engine, App Annie, was used to determine if the identified mobile apps were commercially available. Results: A total of 6 studies were identified. Of the 6 identified web-based interventions, 5 websites (83%) could be accessed. Of the 32 identified mobile interventions, 7 apps (22%) could be accessed. Of the 7 identified conversational agents, only 2 (29%) could be accessed. Results A total of 6 studies were identified. Of the 6 identified web-based interventions, 5 websites (83%) could be accessed. Of the 32 identified mobile interventions, 7 apps (22%) could be accessed. Of the 7 identified conversational agents, only 2 (29%) could be accessed. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant psychological distress. Digital tools that are commercially available may be useful for at-risk individuals or individuals with pre-existing psychiatric symptoms.

scholarly journals Public perceptions on using Virtual Reality and Mobile Apps in Anxiety treatment

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Kirkham ◽  
Caitlin Batten
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Standard Treatment ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
The Public ◽  
Anxiety Treatment ◽  
Willingness To Use

New technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Mobile Apps are increasingly being developed and trialled therapeutically to help treat anxiety disorders. Despite this increasing market, there is little research on how the public perceive the incorporation of these innovative technologies in anxiety treatment. This study aimed to gauge the public’s perceptions of using VR and mobile apps as a form of mental health treatment for anxiety. To do this, a survey was disseminated to those aged 18 to 35 without mental illness via social media and poster advertisements. Results demonstrated that most individuals had limited knowledge on VR and mobile apps’ use in mental health, but overall demonstrated positive perceptions and high optimism regarding its potential use. Neither treatment modality was perceived as being as effective as standard treatment, however participants were willing to use either modality if recommended by a therapist, and use both in conjunction with standard treatment. Participants demonstrated a willingness to use a mobile app as a first point of contact. These findings have implications for the way in which these technologies are rolled out to the public. 

scholarly journals Digital Tools to Ameliorate Psychological Symptoms Associated With COVID-19: Scoping Review (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melvyn Zhang ◽  
Helen Elizabeth Smith
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Search Engine ◽  
General Public ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Digital Tools ◽  
Conversational Agents ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Mobile Interventions

BACKGROUND In the four months after the discovery of the index case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), several studies highlighted the psychological impact of COVID-19 on frontline health care workers and on members of the general public. It is evident from these studies that individuals experienced elevated levels of anxiety and depression in the acute phase, when they first became aware of the pandemic, and that the psychological distress persisted into subsequent weeks. It is becoming apparent that technological tools such as SMS text messages, web-based interventions, mobile interventions, and conversational agents can help ameliorate psychological distress in the workplace and in society. To our knowledge, there are few publications describing how digital tools have been used to ameliorate psychological symptoms among individuals. OBJECTIVE The aim of this review was to identify existing SMS text message, web-based, mobile, and conversational agents that the general public can access to ameliorate the psychological symptoms they are experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS To identify digital tools that were published specifically for COVID-19, a search was performed in the PubMed and MEDLINE databases from the inception of the databases through June 17, 2020. The following search strings were used: “NCOV OR 2019-nCoV OR SARS-CoV-2 OR Coronavirus OR COVID19 OR COVID” and “mHealth OR eHealth OR text”. Another search was conducted in PubMed and MEDLINE to identify existing digital tools for depression and anxiety disorders. A web-based search engine (Google) was used to identify if the cited web-based interventions could be accessed. A mobile app search engine, App Annie, was used to determine if the identified mobile apps were commercially available. Results: A total of 6 studies were identified. Of the 6 identified web-based interventions, 5 websites (83%) could be accessed. Of the 32 identified mobile interventions, 7 apps (22%) could be accessed. Of the 7 identified conversational agents, only 2 (29%) could be accessed. RESULTS A total of 6 studies were identified. Of the 6 identified web-based interventions, 5 websites (83%) could be accessed. Of the 32 identified mobile interventions, 7 apps (22%) could be accessed. Of the 7 identified conversational agents, only 2 (29%) could be accessed. CONCLUSIONS The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant psychological distress. Digital tools that are commercially available may be useful for at-risk individuals or individuals with pre-existing psychiatric symptoms.

Risk of Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults with Rheumatic Diseases

2020 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-42
Author(s):  
Anna Kostiukow ◽  
Wojciech Strzelecki ◽  
Mateusz W. Romanowski ◽  
Marta Rosołek ◽  
Ewa Mojs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Young People ◽  
Rheumatic Diseases ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Energy Levels ◽  
Young Patients ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Adolescents And Young Adults ◽  
Control Group

Introduction: The study is aimed at drawing the attention of the medical environment to the mental health aspects of young patients as a factor that significantly influences the efficiency of their rheumatic disease treatment. Aim: This paper is to check the risk of depression among a group of adolescents and young adults with rheumatic diseases. Material and Methods: The study was conducted among a group of 68 late adolescents and young adults (18-22 years old) with rheumatic diseases. The control group consisted of 102 young people (18-22 years old) without a diagnosed chronic disease. Risk of depression was measured using a screening tool – the Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale (KADS). Results: The analysis showed that the probability of depression in the study group was 35.3%. In the control group, this rate was 19.6%. The results were statistical significance (p=0.028). Conclusions: The results of this study prove that the risk of depression among adolescents and young adults with rheumatic diseases is significantly higher than in healthy young people. The highest risk of depression is related to feeling tired, fatigue, low energy levels and lack of motivation as well as feeling worried, nervous, panicky, tense, keyed-up and anxious.

scholarly journals Locate your soundscape: interacting with the acoustic environment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Orio ◽  
Berardina De Carolis ◽  
Francesco Liotard
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Initial Experiment ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Acoustic Environment ◽  
Entire Country ◽  
Interactive Map ◽  
Main Components ◽  
The City

AbstractAlthough overshadowed by visual information, sound plays a central role in how people perceive an environment. The effect of a landscape is enriched by its soundscape, that is, the stratification of all the acoustic sources that, often unconsciously, are heard. This paper presents a framework for archiving, browsing, and accessing soundscapes, either remotely or on-site. The framework is based on two main components: a web-based interface to upload and search the recordings of an acoustic environment, enriched by in- formation about geolocation, timing, and context of the recording; and a mobile app to browse and listen to the recordings, using an interactive map or GPS information. To populate the archive, we launched two crowdsourcing initiatives. An initial experiment examined the city of Padua’s soundscape through the participation of a group of undergraduate students. A broader experiment, which was proposed to all people in Italy, aimed at tracking how the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown was dramatically changing the soundscape of the entire country.

scholarly journals Early-Onset Osteoporosis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Outi Mäkitie ◽  
M. Carola Zillikens
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Early Onset ◽  
Type I Collagen ◽  
Young Patients ◽  
Fragility Fractures ◽  
Underlying Disease ◽  
Bone Fragility ◽  
Sphingolipid Metabolism ◽  
Type I ◽  
Loss Of Function

AbstractOsteoporosis is a skeletal disorder with enhanced bone fragility, usually affecting the elderly. It is very rare in children and young adults and the definition is not only based on a low BMD (a Z-score < − 2.0 in growing children and a Z-score ≤ − 2.0 or a T-score ≤ − 2.5 in young adults) but also on the occurrence of fragility fractures and/or the existence of underlying chronic diseases or secondary factors such as use of glucocorticoids. In the absence of a known chronic disease, fragility fractures and low BMD should prompt extensive screening for secondary causes, which can be found in up to 90% of cases. When fragility fractures occur in childhood or young adulthood without an evident secondary cause, investigations should explore the possibility of an underlying monogenetic bone disease, where bone fragility is caused by a single variant in a gene that has a major role in the skeleton. Several monogenic forms relate to type I collagen, but other forms also exist. Loss-of-function variants in LRP5 and WNT1 may lead to early-onset osteoporosis. The X-chromosomal osteoporosis caused by PLS3 gene mutations affects especially males. Another recently discovered form relates to disturbed sphingolipid metabolism due to SGMS2 mutations, underscoring the complexity of molecular pathology in monogenic early-onset osteoporosis. Management of young patients consists of treatment of secondary factors, optimizing lifestyle factors including calcium and vitamin D and physical exercise. Treatment with bone-active medication should be discussed on a personalized basis, considering the severity of osteoporosis and underlying disease versus the absence of evidence on anti-fracture efficacy and potential harmful effects in pregnancy.

scholarly journals Conducting Web-Based Focus Groups With Adolescents and Young Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 160940692199687
Author(s):  
Courtney A. Brown ◽  
Anna C. Revette ◽  
Sarah D. de Ferranti ◽  
Holly B. Fontenot ◽  
Holly C. Gooding
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Clinical Sample ◽  
Adolescents And Young Adults ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Disease Awareness ◽  
Sex With Men ◽  
Technical Platform

This methodologic paper aims to update researchers working with adolescents and young adults on the potentials and pitfalls associated with web-based qualitative research. We present a case study of synchronous web-based focus groups with 35 adolescents and young women ages 15–24 years old recruited from a clinical sample for a mixed methods study of heart disease awareness. We contrast this with two other studies, one using asynchronous web-based focus groups with 30 transgender youth ages 13 to 24 years old and another using synchronous web-based focus groups with 48 young men who have sex with men ages 18 to 26 years old, both recruited via social media. We describe general and logistical considerations, technical platform considerations, and ethical, regulatory, and research considerations associated with web-based qualitative research. In an era of technology ubiquity and dependence, researchers should consider web-based focus groups a potential qualitative research tool, especially when working with youth.

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