Management of Obese Pediatric Patients in the Digital Era

2019 ◽  
pp. 72-97
Author(s):  
Elpis Vlachopapadopoulou ◽  
Eleni I. Georga ◽  
Dimitrios I. Fotiadis
Keyword(s):  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Remote Monitoring ◽  
Weight Control ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Digital Era ◽  
Global Health Issue ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Motivational Approaches

In this chapter, state of the art in mHealth solutions for monitoring and treatment of children suffering from obesity is presented and discussed. mHealth solutions are used for self-management, remote monitoring, and counseling of several chronic conditions including diabetes mellitus, heart failure, Parkinson's disease, etc. Concerning childhood obesity, those solutions can combine targeted games and motivational approaches towards both physical activity and diet, which could help in addressing this serious and global health issue in the direction of minimizing co-morbidities and eventually preventing serious, life-threatening events. Management of obese children requires behavior change. Multi-component intervention programs via a mobile platform can play a significant role in weight control during childhood and adolescence. In continuation of the chapter, the authors report on the newest advances in the field of digital health interventions addressing childhood obesity.

The Contribution of mHealth in the Care of Obese Pediatric Patients

2016 ◽  
pp. 126-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elpis Vlachopapadopoulou ◽  
Dimitrios I. Fotiadis
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Remote Monitoring ◽  
Chronic Health Condition ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Closed Loops ◽  
Global Health Issue ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Motivational Approaches

In this chapter the evolution of mHealth solutions for monitoring and treatment of children suffering from obesity is discussed. Nowadays, obesity emerges as a major chronic health condition that affects the general population, both children and adults. mhealth solutions are already used for self-management, remote monitoring and counseling of several chronic conditions, including diabetes mellitus, heart failure, Parkinson's disease, etc. Today, those solutions can result to closed loops, which support health self-management for chronic diseases, in a personalized manner. Concerning childhood obesity, those solutions can combine targeted games and motivational approaches towards both physical activity and diet, which could help in addressing this serious and global health issue, in the direction of minimizing co-morbidities and eventually preventing serious, life threatening events.

scholarly journals The role of economic, educational and social resources in supporting the use of digital health technologies by people with T2D: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Turnbull ◽  
Patricia J. Lucas ◽  
Alastair D. Hay ◽  
Christie Cabral
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Status ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Social Resources ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Health Technologies ◽  
Digital Skills ◽  
Care Support

Abstract Background Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is a common chronic disease, with socially patterned incidence and severity. Digital self-care interventions have the potential to reduce health disparities, by providing personalised low-cost reusable resources that can increase access to health interventions. However, if under-served groups are unable to access or use digital technologies, Digital Health Technologies (DHTs) might make no difference, or worse, exacerbate health inequity. Study aims To gain insights into how and why people with T2D access and use DHTs and how experiences vary between individuals and social groups. Methods A purposive sample of people with experience of using a DHT to help them self-care for T2D were recruited through diabetes and community groups. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in person and over the phone. Data were analysed thematically. Results A diverse sample of 21 participants were interviewed. Health care practitioners were not viewed as a good source of information about DHTs that could support T2D. Instead participants relied on their digital skills and social networks to learn about what DHTs are available and helpful. The main barriers to accessing and using DHT described by the participants were availability of DHTs from the NHS, cost and technical proficiency. However, some participants described how they were able to draw on social resources such as their social networks and social status to overcome these barriers. Participants were motivated to use DHTs because they provided self-care support, a feeling of control over T2D, and personalised advice or feedback. The selection of technology was also guided by participants’ preferences and what they valued in relation to DHTs and self-care support, and these in turn were influenced by age and gender. Conclusion This research indicates that low levels of digital skills and high cost of digital health interventions can create barriers to the access and use of DHTs to support the self-care of T2D. However, social networks and social status can be leveraged to overcome some of these challenges. If digital interventions are to decrease rather than exacerbate health inequalities, these barriers and facilitators to access and use must be considered when DHTs are developed and implemented.

scholarly journals Digital health interventions in palliative care: a systematic meta-review

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne M. Finucane ◽  
Hannah O’Donnell ◽  
Jean Lugton ◽  
Tilly Gibson-Watt ◽  
Connie Swenson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Evidence Synthesis ◽  
Information Provision ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Meta Review

AbstractDigital health interventions (DHIs) have the potential to improve the accessibility and effectiveness of palliative care but heterogeneity amongst existing systematic reviews presents a challenge for evidence synthesis. This meta-review applied a structured search of ten databases from 2006 to 2020, revealing 21 relevant systematic reviews, encompassing 332 publications. Interventions delivered via videoconferencing (17%), electronic healthcare records (16%) and phone (13%) were most frequently described in studies within reviews. DHIs were typically used in palliative care for education (20%), symptom management (15%), decision-making (13%), information provision or management (13%) and communication (9%). Across all reviews, mostly positive impacts were reported on education, information sharing, decision-making, communication and costs. Impacts on quality of life and physical and psychological symptoms were inconclusive. Applying AMSTAR 2 criteria, most reviews were judged as low quality as they lacked a protocol or did not consider risk of bias, so findings need to be interpreted with caution.

Effectiveness of Digital Health Interventions on Unintentional Injury, Violence, and Suicide: Meta-Analysis

2020 ◽  
pp. 152483802096734
Author(s):  
Mengtong Chen ◽  
Ko Ling Chan
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Violence ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Unintentional Injury ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Face To Face

Digital technologies are increasingly used in health-care delivery and are being introduced into work to prevent unintentional injury, violence, and suicide to reduce mortality. To understand the potential of digital health interventions (DHIs) to prevent and reduce these problems, we conduct a meta-analysis and provide an overview of their effectiveness and characteristics related to the effects. We searched electronic databases and reference lists of relevant reviews to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in or before March 2020 evaluating DHIs on injury, violence, or suicide reduction. Based on the 34 RCT studies included in the meta-analysis, the overall random effect size was 0.21, and the effect sizes for reducing suicidal ideation, interpersonal violence, and unintentional injury were 0.17, 0.24, and 0.31, respectively, which can be regarded as comparable to the effect sizes of traditional face-to-face interventions. However, there was considerable heterogeneity between the studies. In conclusion, DHIs have great potential to reduce unintentional injury, violence, and suicide. Future research should explore DHIs’ successful components to facilitate future implementation and wider access.

scholarly journals Body composition in childhood: effects of normal growth and disease

2003 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 521-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. K. Wells
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Fat Mass ◽  
Lean Mass ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Fat Free Mass ◽  
General Interest ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Adult Disease ◽  
Increased Risk

Body composition in children is of increasing interest within the contexts of childhood obesity, clinical management of patients and nutritional programming as a pathway to adult disease. Energy imbalance appears to be common in many disease states; however, body composition is not routinely measured in patients. Traditionally, clinical interest has focused on growth or nutritional status, whereas more recent studies have quantified fat mass and lean mass. The human body changes in proportions and chemical composition during childhood and adolescence. Most of the weight gain comprises lean mass rather than fat. In general, interest has focused on percentage fat, and less attention has been paid to the way in which lean mass varies within and between individuals. In the general population secular trends in BMI have been widely reported, indicating increasing levels of childhood obesity, which have been linked to reduced physical activity. However, lower activity levels may potentially lead not only to increased fatness, but also to reduced lean mass. This issue merits further investigation. Diseases have multiple effects on body composition and may influence fat-free mass and/or fat mass. In some diseases both components change in the same direction, whereas in other diseases, the changes are contradictory and may be concealed by relatively normal weight. Improved techniques are required for clinical evaluations. Both higher fatness and reduced lean mass may represent pathways to an increased risk of adult disease.

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