A new track for technology: Can ICT take care for healthier lifestyles?

The paper takes a look on potential contribution of Information and Communication Technologies to abate public health challenges caused by demographics and lifestyle. From the current convergence of mhealth, and sport market products emerge targeting normal athletes to control their training in a quantified manner. The resulting feedback and transparency foster a healthier lifestyle. These products and services help overcome limitations to innovation typical to the health care market. The paper is based on research by the European Commission's Institute for Prospective Technological Studies on Integrated Personal Health/Care services. --eHealth,Integrated Personal Health/Care services,sport,training,lifestyle related disease,innovation

Influences on the Uptake of and Engagement With Health and Well-Being Smartphone Apps: Systematic Review

Background: The public health impact of health and well-being digital interventions is dependent upon sufficient real-world uptake and engagement. Uptake is currently largely dependent on popularity indicators (eg, ranking and user ratings on app stores), which may not correspond with effectiveness, and rapid disengagement is common. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify factors that influence uptake and engagement with health and well-being apps to inform new approaches that promote the effective use of such tools. Objective: This review aimed to understand what is known about influences on the uptake of and engagement with health and well-being smartphone apps among adults. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods studies. Studies conducted on adults were included if they focused on health and well-being smartphone apps reporting on uptake and engagement behavior. Studies identified through a systematic search in Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, or MEDLARS Online (MEDLINE), EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsychINFO, Scopus, Cochrane library databases, DataBase systems and Logic Programming (DBLP), and Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Digital library were screened, with a proportion screened independently by 2 authors. Data synthesis and interpretation were undertaken using a deductive iterative process. External validity checking was undertaken by an independent researcher. A narrative synthesis of the findings was structured around the components of the capability, opportunity, motivation, behavior change model and the theoretical domains framework (TDF). Results: Of the 7640 identified studies, 41 were included in the review. Factors related to uptake (U), engagement (E), or both (B) were identified. Under capability, the main factors identified were app literacy skills (B), app awareness (U), available user guidance (B), health information (E), statistical information on progress (E), well-designed reminders (E), features to reduce cognitive load (E), and self-monitoring features (E). Availability at low cost (U), positive tone, and personalization (E) were identified as physical opportunity factors, whereas recommendations for health and well-being apps (U), embedded health professional support (E), and social networking (E) possibilities were social opportunity factors. Finally, the motivation factors included positive feedback (E), available rewards (E), goal setting (E), and the perceived utility of the app (E). Conclusions: Across a wide range of populations and behaviors, 26 factors relating to capability, opportunity, and motivation appear to influence the uptake of and engagement with health and well-being smartphone apps. Our recommendations may help app developers, health app portal developers, and policy makers in the optimization of health and well-being apps

A bibliometric analysis of research output, citation analysis, author productivity, collaborations, and institutions of repute in smartphone Health Applications (spHealth Apps).

Due to rapid smartphone health application growth and usage, we analyzed literature published in the field of spHealth Apps. SciVerse Scopus was used as the database of choice for this study. Research productivity, collaborations, citation analysis, authors and institutions were presented using well established bibliometric indicators. During the study period (2000-20), 4546 documents were published in total. The average count of documents per year was 227. English was the language predominantly used in the retrieved documents (97%). The h- index of the retrieved documents was 137. Author submission of keywords used in documents pertaining to sp- Health Apps included human, randomized controlled trials, telemedicine, health care delivery, health promotion, physical activity among others. During the study period, Relative Growth Rate (RGR) and Doubling Time (DT) of retrieved literature fluctuated. An analysis of authorship and collaboration based on published data revealed 4244 multi-authored documents. The mean Collaboration Index (CI) was 5.8 authors per article. The country with the highest productivity was the United States of America with Harvard Medical School as the most prolific academic institution. Jmir Mhealth And Uhealth was the most productive journal in the field of spHealth Apps. Top cited articles in the field of spHealth Apps included the use of smartphone applications in phone sensing, point-of-care testing, health behavior promotion & modeling, mental health, contact tracing etc. spHealth Apps is a growing field with increasing impact in people\u27s day-to-day lifestyles. Our bibliometric indicators of research output in spHealth Apps mirror this increasing impact

ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MEDICAL/DRUG-RELATED APPS IN PATIENT HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT

Abstract In recent years, the availability and usage of medical and drug-related mobile applications (apps) have rapidly increased, promising to revolutionize patient healthcare management. This research paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of medical/drug-related apps in enhancing patient outcomes and healthcare management. The study will employ a mixed-methods approach, starting with a comprehensive review of existing literature on medical/drug-related apps, their functionalities, and their impact on patient care. A systematic analysis of various app categories, including medication management, symptom trackers, appointment reminders, and health education, will be conducted. Quantitative data will be collected through surveys and usage analytics to assess the adoption rates, user satisfaction, and perceived effectiveness of medical/drug-related apps among patients. Additionally, qualitative data will be gathered through interviews or focus groups to explore users' experiences, challenges, and perceptions related to these apps. Key performance indicators such as medication adherence, self-care behaviors, patient empowerment, and health outcomes will be assessed to determine the impact of medical/drug-related apps on patient healthcare management. Statistical analysis and thematic coding techniques will be applied to analyze the data and identify patterns and themes. The research will also investigate the factors influencing app adoption and the barriers or challenges faced by patients in utilizing these apps effectively. Privacy and security concerns, user interface design, and healthcare professional recommendations will be considered in the evaluation process

Business Case and Technology Analysis for 5G Low Latency Applications

A large number of new consumer and industrial applications are likely to change the classic operator's business models and provide a wide range of new markets to enter. This article analyses the most relevant 5G use cases that require ultra-low latency, from both technical and business perspectives. Low latency services pose challenging requirements to the network, and to fulfill them operators need to invest in costly changes in their network. In this sense, it is not clear whether such investments are going to be amortized with these new business models. In light of this, specific applications and requirements are described and the potential market benefits for operators are analysed. Conclusions show that operators have clear opportunities to add value and position themselves strongly with the increasing number of services to be provided by 5G.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figure

Tying mobile health tools to the users’ needs – Motivational drivers

Objective: The primary aim of this thesis is to contribute novel insights into the distinctive attributes of ICT systems, with a particular emphasis on features preferred by users in the realm of mobile health (mHealth) applications and devices. The study aimed at identifying motivational factors that enhance and sustain the usage and adaption of mHealth applications, wearables, and trackers among both healthy individuals and those affected by chronic diseases (sickle cell and diabetes). Methods: In total, 584 participants completed the survey and answered the specific questions important for this thesis. A descriptive analysis of the demographics as well as regular use of tracking technologies and of the most motivating features of wearable sensors was performed. Further, the approach of binary logistic regression was applied to investigate the association between the importance of specific features and age, gender and health status. Results: The descriptive analysis revealed that relevant personalized feedback and the ease of use of mobile health apps, wearables and trackers represent the most motivating features for a prolonged use. The logistic regression analysis revealed a statistically significant and positive association between having a chronic disease, age, gender, and the importance of notifications of mobile phones and managing a condition. The point estimates for several features like sensor accuracy and range of values as well as ergonomic and design and personalized/tailored features indicated a positive association between people with chronic diseases, age and gender. But these results were inconclusive. Conclusion: This study provided valuable insight into the motivational drivers and adoption patterns of mobile Health applications and wearable devices among young and elderly individuals with and without chronic diseases. However, external validity and generalizability of the results was not given due to study limitation and low statistical power. Further research is therefore needed

Digital Health Interventions (DHIs) to Support the Management of Children and Adolescents with Sickle‐Cell Disease

Sickle‐cell disease (SCD) is a very complex disorder alluding to all areas of medicine. Nevertheless, basic preventive and therapeutic interventions in patients suffering from SCD are extremely simple. However, in everyday life it is sometimes virtually impossible to motivate children and young adolescents to effectively self‐manage their disorder at an early stage. Digital health interventions (DHIs) provide new opportunities to support self‐management behaviours. DHIs may facilitate daily and recurrent routines such as drug intake or appointments along with helping the patients to better cope with their disease. This may be realized through mobile‐training programmes, disease‐specific social networks using secure communication channels, diaries, blogs and even games. Indeed, there are fascinating opportunities for modern disease‐training programmes to take advantage of several media that can be combined and didactically optimized to meet the individual needs and intellectual abilities of different patients. The technological progress is rapid, extremely dynamic and highly creative. Our chapter gives an overview of the multifarious world of DHIs with a focus on smartphone applications known as mobile health apps (mHealth apps). We elucidate the potential reasons why we think that numerous apps for SCD patients have not been successful and which app features developers should consider if they want to create a popular patient app

Utilizing Digital Health to Collect Electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes in Prostate Cancer: Single-Arm Pilot Trial

Background: Measuring patient-reported outcomes (PROs) requires an individual’s perspective on their symptoms, functional status, and quality of life. Digital health enables remote electronic PRO (ePRO) assessments as a clinical decision support tool to facilitate meaningful provider interactions and personalized treatment. Objective: This study explored the feasibility and acceptability of collecting ePROs using validated health-related quality of life (HRQoL) questionnaires for prostate cancer. Methods: Using Apple ResearchKit software, the Strength Through Insight app was created with content from validated HRQoL tools 26-item Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) or EPIC for Clinical Practice and 8-item Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Advanced Prostate Symptom Index. In a single-arm pilot study with patients receiving prostate cancer treatment at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and affiliates, participants were recruited, and instructed to download Strength Through Insight and complete ePROs once a week over 12 weeks. A mixed methods approach, including qualitative pre- and poststudy interviews, was used to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of Strength Through Insight for the collection and care management of cancer treatment. Results: Thirty patients consented to the study; 1 patient failed to complete any of the questionnaires and was left out of the analysis of the intervention. Moreover, 86% (25/29) reached satisfactory questionnaire completion (defined as completion of 60% of weekly questions over 12 weeks). The lower bound of the exact one-sided 95% CI was 71%, exceeding the 70% feasibility threshold. Most participants self-identified with having a high digital literacy level (defined as the ability to use, understand, evaluate, and analyze information from multiple formats from a variety of digital sources), and only a few participants identified with having a low digital literacy level (defined as only having the ability to gather information on the Web). Interviews were thematically analyzed to reveal the following: (1) value of emotional support and wellness in cancer treatment, (2) rise of social patient advocacy in online patient communities and networks, (3) patient concerns over privacy, and (4) desire for personalized engagement tools. Conclusions: Strength Through Insight was demonstrated as a feasible and acceptable method of data collection for ePROs. A high compliance rate confirmed the app as a reliable tool for patients with localized and advanced prostate cancer. Nearly all participants reported that using the smartphone app is easier than or equivalent to the traditional paper-and-pen approach, providing evidence of acceptability and support for the use of remote PRO monitoring. This study expands on current research involving the value of digital health, as a social and behavioral science, augmented with technology, can begin to contribute to population health management, as it shapes psychographic segmentation by demographic, socioeconomic, health condition, or behavioral factors to group patients by their distinct personalities and motivations, which influence their choices

New technologies towards international health cooperation. Review

[EN] According to the World Bank statistics, 83% of world’s population lives in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). These countries, often run by Governments that make an inadequate distribution of the national budgets, undergo issues in assessing the health and educational needs of their communities. Thus, from the last 80s the presence of non-governmental organizations(NGOs), which appeared as an option to fill the gaps in the system,has grown significantly. However, NGOs are usually unevenly distributed and there is rarely coordination among them, which often results in duplication of services or waste of resources.Nevertheless, the unprecedented and ubiquitous proliferation of mobile phone-based technology and internet,amongother factors, appear as a promising scenario to face the health needs of the LMICs