Systematic Review of Mobile Applications to Monitor Symptoms of COVID-19 Using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (Preprint)

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanna Schmeelk ◽  
Alison Davis ◽  
Qiaozheng Li ◽  
Caroline Shippey ◽  
Michelle Utah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mobile Application ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
World Health ◽  
Symptom Monitoring ◽  
Difficulty Breathing ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Mhealth Apps

BACKGROUND Monitoring acute and long-term symptoms of COVID-19 is critical for personal and public health. Mobile health (mHealth) applications (apps) can be used to support symptom monitoring at the point of need for patients with COVID-19. OBJECTIVE To systematically review and evaluate mHealth apps for quality, functionality, and consistency with guidelines for monitoring symptoms of COVID-19. METHODS We conducted a systematic review of apps for COVID-19 symptom monitoring by searching in two major app stores. The final apps were independently assessed using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS), IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics functionality score, and guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and World Health Organization. Interrater reliability between the reviewers was calculated. RESULTS A total of 1,017 mobile apps were reviewed and 20 met the inclusion criteria. The majority of the apps (90%, n=18) were designed to track acute COVID-19 symptoms, and only two addressed long-term symptoms. Overall, the apps scored high on quality, with an overall MARS rating of 3.94. The most common functionality among all apps was the instruct function (95%, n=19). The most common symptoms included in the apps for tracking were: fever and dry cough (n=18), aches and pains (n=17), difficulty breathing (n=17), tiredness, sore throat, headache, loss of taste, or smell (n=16), and diarrhea (n=15). CONCLUSIONS mHealth apps designed to monitor symptoms of COVID-19 had high quality, but the majority of apps focused almost exclusively on acute symptoms. Future apps should also incorporate monitoring long-term symptoms of COVID-19. CLINICALTRIAL N/A

Digitale Sexualaufklärung: Verfügbarkeit und Evaluation mobiler deutschsprachiger Apps zur Förderung der sexuellen Gesundheit

2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (04) ◽  
pp. 197-207
Author(s):  
Marlene Muehlmann ◽  
Anna Lienert ◽  
Holger Muehlan ◽  
Michael Stach ◽  
Yannik Terhorst ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Mobile Application ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
World Health ◽  
App Store ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Bundeszentrale Für Gesundheitliche Aufklärung ◽  
Google Play

Zusammenfassung Einleitung Die Inhalte ganzheitlicher Sexualaufklärung können in Deutschland nur bedingt innerhalb des schulischen Kontexts vermittelt werden. Eine App zur sexuellen Gesundheit oder zu Themen der Sexualaufklärung könnte Jugendliche bei ihrer Informationssuche und Pädagog:innen in ihrem Lehrauftrag unterstützen. Forschungsziele Ziel dieser systematischen Übersichtsarbeit ist es, die Qualität und die Inhalte von deutschsprachigen mobilen digitalen Anwendungen zu untersuchen, die derzeit in Google Play sowie im App Store zur Unterstützung der Sexualaufklärung zur Verfügung stehen. Methoden Mithilfe eines Webcrawlers wurde in den beiden primären App-Stores recherchiert. Die Qualität der identifizierten Apps wurde mithilfe der deutschen Version der „Mobile Application Rating Scale“ (MARS-G) bewertet. Weiterhin wurde analysiert, inwieweit die Apps die Sexualaufklärung ganzheitlich gemäß der World Health Organization (WHO) und Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung (BzgA) unterstützen können. Ergebnisse Unter 7 318 gescreenten Apps erfüllten sechs Apps die gewählten Einschlusskriterien. Die Apps zur Sexualaufklärung weisen eine durchschnittliche Qualität von M = 3.54 (SD = 0.65, Min = 2.64, Max = 4.45) auf. Die App „Bill Sanders“ erzielte auf allen Subdimensionen der MARS-G zumindest akzeptable Werte. Für die App der Psychosozialen Aids-Beratungsstelle der Caritas München „Only Human“, die nahezu sämtliche Bereiche der Sexualaufklärung thematisiert, ergaben sich besonders positive Bewertungen. Schlussfolgerung Deutschsprachige Apps zur Sexualaufklärung weisen eine mittlere Güte auf. Anhand des Qualitätsratings wurde deutlich, dass prinzipiell geeignete Apps insbesondere in Funktionalität, Ästhetik und subjektiver Qualität Mängel aufweisen. Diese sollten zunächst behoben werden, um anschließend wissenschaftliche Evaluationen, die die Wirksamkeit der Apps untersuchen, im Feld durchzuführen. Bisher fehlen derartige Wirksamkeitsstudien, daher kann nur bedingt zum Einsatz dieser Apps geraten werden.

scholarly journals A living WHO guideline on drugs to prevent covid-19

BMJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. n526
Author(s):  
François Lamontagne ◽  
Thomas Agoritsas ◽  
Reed Siemieniuk ◽  
Bram Rochwerg ◽  
Jessica Bartoszko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Guideline Development ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
World Health ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Assessment Development ◽  
Research Priority ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Drug Interventions

Abstract Clinical question What is the role of drugs in preventing covid-19? Why does this matter? There is widespread interest in whether drug interventions can be used for the prevention of covid-19, but there is uncertainty about which drugs, if any, are effective. The first version of this living guideline focuses on the evidence for hydroxychloroquine. Subsequent updates will cover other drugs being investigated for their role in the prevention of covid-19. Recommendation The guideline development panel made a strong recommendation against the use of hydroxychloroquine for individuals who do not have covid-19 (high certainty). How this guideline was created This living guideline is from the World Health Organization (WHO) and provides up to date covid-19 guidance to inform policy and practice worldwide. Magic Evidence Ecosystem Foundation (MAGIC) provided methodological support. A living systematic review with network analysis informed the recommendations. An international guideline development panel of content experts, clinicians, patients, an ethicist and methodologists produced recommendations following standards for trustworthy guideline development using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Understanding the new recommendation The linked systematic review and network meta-analysis (6 trials and 6059 participants) found that hydroxychloroquine had a small or no effect on mortality and admission to hospital (high certainty evidence). There was a small or no effect on laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (moderate certainty evidence) but probably increased adverse events leading to discontinuation (moderate certainty evidence). The panel judged that almost all people would not consider this drug worthwhile. In addition, the panel decided that contextual factors such as resources, feasibility, acceptability, and equity for countries and healthcare systems were unlikely to alter the recommendation. The panel considers that this drug is no longer a research priority and that resources should rather be oriented to evaluate other more promising drugs to prevent covid-19. Updates This is a living guideline. New recommendations will be published in this article and signposted by update notices to this guideline. Readers note This is the first version of the living guideline for drugs to prevent covid-19. It complements the WHO living guideline on drugs to treat covid-19. When citing this article, please consider adding the update number and date of access for clarity.

scholarly journals Psychometric validation of the Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales among elderly residents in long-term care facilities with joint contractures

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-chang Chen ◽  
Keh-chung Lin ◽  
Chen-Jung Chen ◽  
Shu-Hui Yeh ◽  
Ay-Woan Pan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Chinese Version ◽  
World Health ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Joint Contractures ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Background Joint contractures, which affect activity, participation, and quality of life, are common complications of neurological conditions among elderly residents in long-term care facilities. This study examined the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales in a population with joint contractures. Methods A cross-sectional study design was used. The sample included elderly residents older than 64 years with joint contractures in an important joint who had lived at one of 12 long-term care facilities in Taiwan for more than 6 months (N = 243). The Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales for joint contractures was generated from the English version through five stages: translation, review, back-translation, review by a panel of specialists, and a pretest. Test-retest reliability, internal consistency reliability, construct validity, and criterion validity were evaluated, and the results were compared with those for the World Health Organization Quality of Life scale and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule. Results The Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales had excellent reliability, with a Cronbach α coefficient of 0.975 (mean score, 28.98; standard deviation, 17.34). An exploratory factor analysis showed three factors and one factor with an eigenvalue > 1 that explained 75.176 and 62.83 % of the total variance in the Activity subscale and Participation subscale, respectively. The subscale-to-total scale correlation analysis showed Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.881 for the Activity subscale and 0.843 for the Participation subscale. Pearson’s product-moment correlation revealed that the correlation coefficient (r) between the Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule was 0.770, whereas that for the World Health Organization Quality of Life scale was − 0.553; these values were interpreted as large coefficients. Conclusions The underlying theoretical model of the Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales functions well in Taiwan and has acceptable levels of reliability and validity. However, the Chinese version must be further tested for applicability and generalizability in future studies, preferably with a larger sample and in different clinical domains.

Engaging older people in healthy and active lifestyles: a systematic review

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (10) ◽  
pp. 2036-2060 ◽  
Author(s):  
JULIA MENICHETTI ◽  
PIETRO CIPRESSO ◽  
DARIO BUSSOLIN ◽  
GUENDALINA GRAFFIGNA
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
World Health ◽  
Active Ageing ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Active Lifestyles ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Health Promotion Interventions ◽  
Older Citizens

ABSTRACTIn 2002, the World Health Organization emphasised the concept of active ageing to manage and increase the last third of life. Although many efforts have been made to optimise treatment management, less attention has been paid to health promotion initiatives. To date, few shared guidelines exist that promote an active life in healthy older targets. To fill this gap, we conducted a systematic review to map health promotion interventions that targeted an active and healthy ageing among older citizens. Articles containing the key term active ageing and seven synonyms were searched for in the electronic databases. Because we were interested in actions aimed to promote healthier lifestyles, we connected the string with the term health. A total of 3,918 titles were retrieved and 20 articles were extracted. Twelve of the 20 studies used group interventions, five interventions targeted the individual level and three interventions targeted the community level. Interventions differed for the health focus of the programmes, which ranged from physical activity interventions to social participation or cognitive functioning. Most of the studies aimed to act on psychological components. The review suggests that different interventions promoted for active ageing are effective in improving specific healthy and active lifestyles; however, no studies were concerned directly with a holistic process of citizen health engagement to improve long-term outcomes.

The Association Between Racism and Suicidality Among Young Minority Groups: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 104365962110469
Author(s):  
Giorgia Rudes ◽  
Claudia Fantuzzi
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
World Health ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Dominant Culture ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Relationship

Introduction: The World Health Organization states that suicide is the second leading cause of death among youngs, and racism has been proven to have detrimental effects on both physical and mental health. These two plagues represent a public health priority, especially for susceptible minorities. Method: This systematic review analyzed 23 studies from multiple database searches, to understand the relationship between racism and suicidality in young minority groups. Results: The review demonstrated the correlation between racism and suicidality with the consequent development of mental disorders. There is strong evidence that the main suicide risk factor is acculturation, interpreted as the assimilation of the dominant culture with the loss of values from one’s cultural background. Discussion: Health care professionals should not underestimate the risk of suicidality associated with racism. Prevention is crucial and it should be implemented from a young age, in schools, through a joint intervention with children and their families, aiming toward integration without acculturation.

AVALIAÇÃO DA RELAÇÃO DO NÚMERO DE SINTOMÁTICOS RESPIRATÓRIOS E OS CASOS CONFIRMADOS DE TUBERCULOSE EM PALMAS-TO NO PERÍODO DE 2015-2016

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 29-33
Author(s):  
Robson de Sousa ◽  
Maria do Socorro Rocha Sarmento Nobre
Keyword(s):  
Early Identification ◽  
World Health ◽  
Epidemiological Surveillance ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Public Health Activity ◽  
Transmission Chain ◽  
Keywords Tuberculosis ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Term Objective

RESUMO Estratégia usada internacionalmente a busca ativa de sintomáticos respiratórios permite identificar precocemente pessoas com tosse por tempo igual ou superior a três semanas consideradas com suspeita de tuberculose pulmonar visando à descoberta dos casos bacilíferos. É uma atividade de saúde pública e deve ser realizada por todos os serviços de saúde de forma permanente. Com o objetivo de identificar os casos, interromper a cadeia de transmissão e reduzir a incidência da doença a longo prazo.  Objetivo: Conhecer os números de casos notificados de tuberculose e realizar um comparativo com os indicadores de sintomático respiratório no município de Palmas/TO entre os anos de 2015 e 2016. Método: O estudo é do tipo descritivo, de corte transversal e documental direta. Conclusão: Verifica-se que o número confirmado de TB da pesquisa do SR tanto para o ano de 2015 quanto para o ano de 2016 está muito aquém dos casos novos notificados, foi possível perceber a descontinuidade dos pacientes que são encaminhados para avaliação e que não há segmentos principalmente em relação ao resultado dos exames.   Palavras-chave: Tuberculose. Vigilância Epidemiológica. Organização Mundial da Saúde. ABSTRACT A strategy used internationally for the active search of respiratory symptomatic patients allows early identification of people with cough for a time equal to or greater than three weeks considered with suspicion of pulmonary tuberculosis in order to discover the bacilliferous cases. It is a public health activity and must be performed by all health services on an ongoing basis. In order to identify the cases, interrupt the transmission chain and reduce the incidence of the disease in the long term. Objective: To know the numbers of reported cases of tuberculosis and to carry out a comparison with the indicators of respiratory symptomatology in the municipality of Palmas / TO between the years 2015 and 2016. Method: The study is descriptive, cross-sectional and direct documentary. Conclusion: It is verified that the confirmed number of TB of the RS research for both the year 2015 and the year 2016 is well below the new cases reported, it was possible to perceive the discontinuity of the patients that are referred for evaluation and which are not mainly related to the results of the exams. Keywords: Tuberculosis. Epidemiological surveillance. World Health Organization.

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