62 research outputs found

    Social media as an e-health communication channel: the use of (@medtweetmyhq) among students of UiTM Melaka / Wan Azfarozza Wan Athmar... [et al.]

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    Social media are now acknowledged as one of the platforms for engaging e-health that contributing to serious discussion and information regarding on medical and health issues. However, there are challenges and risks associated with social media in medical and health care which is misinformation. Misinformation can spread quickly on Twitter and each retweet is exposing to wider audiences. The aim of this paper is to identify the use of @MedTweetMYHQ among its’ users sepcifically among UiTM Melaka students. The researchers used in-depth interviews to five informants based on purposive sampling. The data was analysed using thematic analysis. Four themes emerged from the analysis which are the use of @MedTweetMYHQ to receive updated useful information on health, to share information on healthy lifestyle, to debunk health myths and as a platform for health discussion

    The Significance of Bridging the Health Literacy Gap

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    Objective: In the veteran population, almost one in every five patients has inadequate or marginal health literacy (Haun, Patel, French, Campbell, & Lapcevic, 2015). Having low health literacy predisposes patients to high emergency room (ER) utilization and hospital readmission (Mitchell, Sadikova, Jack, & Paasche-Orlow, 2012) and low treatment adherence (Miller, 2016). This manuscript aims to review the literature about health literacy and to encourage effective, standardized health education delivery to increase health literacy. Method: An integrated review of the literature from Cochrane, Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI), Scopus, CINAHL, and PubMed databases showed the importance of bridging the health literacy gap. Result: The integrated review of the literature provides evidence that timely and applicable health education increases health literacy and promotes improvement in patient engagement. Conclusion: Adapting effective health education delivery to increase health literacy improves patient engagement and shared decision-making, self-management skills, adherence to treatment plans, and quality of life. Practice Implication: The emergence of new information technologies creates new opportunities and challenges for a settings approach to health promotion. It is by increasing health literacy, improving patient engagement, and reducing healthcare costs that a healthcare service system can pave the way for the achievement of enhanced sustainability

    E-Health Literacy and Adherence to Health Protocols Among Self-Quarantined Patients with COVID-19 in a Sub-district in West Java

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    During the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, valid information was crucial and electronic health literacy (EHL) plays a significant role in public adherence to health protocols. This study aimed to evaluate the pattern of COVID-19 information-seeking, and the association between EHL, COVID-19 knowledge, and health protocol adherence among patients with COVID-19 during self-quarantine. Data were collected through an online survey sent to self-quarantined COVID-19 patients during March – December 2020 in a sub-district in West Java. Spearman tests were used to evaluate the relationship between EHL with COVID-19 knowledge, and EHL with health protocol adherence. There were 56 respondents with more than half being female (58.9%), university graduates (64.3%) and having good health status level (57.1%). Social media were the commonest online sources. During self-isolation, the frequency of Internet use increased (i.e., every day) with information on vitamins and supplements as the most commonly searched. Respondents had high scores on EHL (mean= 20.0), knowledge (mean = 8.89/10, SD = 1.796), and adherence (mean = 26.98/30, SD = 3.066). This study found significant relationships between EHL and knowledge (p-value = 0.001, r = 0.436), and the adherence (p-value = 0.011, r = 0.339). In conclusion, EHL had a modest influence on COVID-19 knowledge and minor relationship with adherence to health protocols among self-quarantined patients with COVID-19

    Exploring health literacy: Web-based genres in disseminating specialized knowledge to caregivers. The case of paediatric neurological disorders

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    This paper aims at analyzing the discursive practices used in web-based informative materials in the specific context of a chronic disease, i.e. neurological disorders resulting in epilepsy, for liaising with caregivers of paediatric patients. The study centres on a corpus of webpages gathered from the websites of the major foundations dealing with paediatric neurological syndromes. From a methodological perspective, the study makes recourse to existing studies on the discursive practices that in the literature on knowledge dissemination are identified as being used to facilitate the layman\u2019s access to specialized scientific knowledge. The overall results show that knowledge dissemination strategies used in the webpages under investigation offer cognitive tools to parents as caregivers in order to make them informed about their children\u2019s disease. These webpages enhance caregiver health literacy and achieve the goal of caregiver empowerment, giving her/his greater control over decisions affecting her/his child\u2019s health

    Innovation actors: Intentions and interactions

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    Firms‘ resource base is one of the determinants of their capacity to innovate. When firms’ internal base of financial, intangible or technical resources is not sufficient to realize innovation projects, resources provided by other stakeholders can mitigate innovation constraints. This cumulative dissertation intends to shed light on innovation-related collaborations and interactions of three specific kinds of actors. The first article investigates the role innovation plays for investors when screening and evaluating potential investment targets and explains to which extent the investors’ behavior re-orients towards the implementation of innovation-pushing measures once being invested. Also, the second article refers to the interaction between investors and innovative firms: Subsequent to a derivation of an industry-specific business model pattern, the second article analyzes whether and how financing of new and innovative digital health ventures differ between Europe and USA. Adopting a single case study approach, the third article focuses on the interaction between corporate accelerators and innovative firms and identifies shortcomings of Telefonica’s corporate accelerator Wayra.:1 Introduction 2 Theoretical background of dissertation 3 Purpose and focus of dissertation 4 Overview and summaries of dissertation articles 5 First article: The Role of Innovation in Venture Capital and Private Equity Investments in Different Investment Phases 6 Second article: Venture Capital in the Digital Health Industry: Analyzing and Comparing Funding Environment and Business Models of Digital Health Start-ups in USA and Europe 7 Third article: Start-ups in a Corporate Accelerator: What is Satisfying, What is Relevant and What can Corporates Improve? 8 Contribution of dissertation 9 Limitations of dissertation 10 Future Research 11 Reference

    Design And Lab Experiment Of A Stress Detection Service Based On Mouse Movements

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    Workplace stress can negatively affect the health condition of employees and with it, the performance of organizations. Although there exist approaches to measure work-related stress, two major limitations are the low resolution of stress data and its obtrusive measurement. The current work applies design science research with the goal to design, implement and evaluate a Stress Detection Service (SDS) that senses the degree of work-related stress solely based on mouse movements of knowledge workers. Using van Gemmert and van Galen’s stress theory and Bakker and Demerouti’s Job Demands-Resource model as justificatory knowledge, we implemented a first SDS prototype that senses mouse movements and perceived stress levels. Experimental results indicate that two feature sets of mouse movements, i.e. average deviation from an optimal mouse trajectory and average mouse speed, can classify high versus low stress with an overall accuracy of 78%. Future work regarding a second build-and-evaluate loop of a SDS, then tailored to the field setting, is discussed

    Controlled trial of an mHealth intervention to promote healthy behaviours in adolescence (TeenPower): Effectiveness analysis

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    Aim To evaluate the effectiveness on lifestyle change of an mHealth intervention to promote healthy behaviours in adolescence (TeenPower) and to analyse the predictors of the mHealth intervention effectiveness. Design This study is designed as a non‐randomized controlled trial with a two‐arm structure. Methods Adolescents of 12–16‐year old were recruited from three school districts, with access to the Internet and smartphone/tablet devices. The intervention group was invited to engage in the mHealth intervention (TeenPower) for 6 months in addition to a school‐based intervention. The control group only followed the school‐based intervention. A repeated measures factorial ANOVA was used and the main effectiveness outcome was the lifestyle change measured by the adolescent lifestyle profile. Results The outcomes of the mHealth intervention (TeenPower) show a significant effect on nutrition (ƞ2p = 0.03, p = .03), positive life perspective (ƞ2p = 0.04, p = .01), and global lifestyle (ƞ2p = 0.02, p = .05), with a dropout rate of 62.1%. The analysis of the effectiveness predictors of the mHealth intervention suggested that older adolescents tended to show a significant increase in the rates of stress management (r = .40; p < .05). Conclusions Although the considerable dropout rate, the mHealth intervention presented significant impact on multiple lifestyle domains, providing support for the effectiveness of mHealth interventions for health promotion as an add‐on to standard interdisciplinary interventions. Impact Adolescents must have the necessary and appropriate knowledge for the correct and responsible decision‐making regarding their health and lifestyle. Innovative strategies (mHealth intervention) were used to promote healthy behaviours. This study evaluates the effectiveness of an mHealth intervention (TeenPower) specifically designed for adolescents. We found a significant impact in several lifestyle domains such as health responsibility, nutrition, positive life perspective, and global lifestyle.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

    Skills for Shared Decision-Making: Evaluation of a Health Literacy Program for Consumers with Lower Literacy Levels.

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    Background: Shared decision-making (SDM) has been found to be significantly and positively associated with improved patient outcomes. For an SDM process to occur, patients require functional, communicative, and critical health literacy (HL) skills. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a program to improve health literacy skills for SDM in adults with lower literacy. Methods: An HL program including an SDM component (HL + SDM) and teaching of the three "AskShareKnow" questions was delivered in adult basic education settings in New South Wales, Australia. The program was evaluated using a partially cluster-randomized controlled trial comparing it to standard language, literacy, and numeracy (LLN) training. We measured the effect of these programs on (1) HL skills for SDM (conceptual knowledge, graphical literacy, health numeracy), (2) types of questions considered important for health decision-making, (3) preferences for control in decision-making, and (4) decisional conflict. We also measured AskShareKnow question recall, use, and evaluation in HL + SDM participants. Key Results: There were 308 participants from 28 classes enrolled in the study. Most participants had limited functional HL (71%) and spoke a language other than English at home (60%). In the primary analysis, the HL + SDM program compared with the standard LLN program significantly increased conceptual knowledge (19.1% difference between groups in students achieving the competence threshold; p = .018) and health numeracy (10.9% difference; p = .032), but not graphical literacy (5.8% difference; p = .896). HL + SDM participants were significantly more likely to consider it important to ask questions that would enable SDM compared to standard LLN participants who prioritized nonmedical procedural questions (all p < .01). There was no difference in preferences for control in decision-making or in decisional conflict. Among HL + SDM participants, 79% (n = 85) correctly recalled at least one of the AskShareKnow questions immediately post-intervention, and 35% (n = 29) after 6 months. Conclusions: Teaching SDM content increased participants' HL skills for SDM and changed the nature of the questions they would ask health care professionals in a way that would enable shared health decisions. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2019;3(Suppl.):S58-S74.]. Plain Language Summary: We developed a health literacy program that included a shared decision-making (SDM) section. The program was delivered in adult basic education classes by trained educators and compared to standard language, literacy, and numeracy training. Teaching SDM content increased participants' health literacy skills for SDM and changed the nature of the questions they would ask health care professionals

    Digital Outpatient Services for Adults: Development of an Intervention and Protocol for a Multicenter Non–Randomized Controlled Trial

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    Background: Health care services are being challenged by an increasing number of patients and limited resources. Hence, research investigating options to reduce costs and increase effectiveness is warranted. Digital outpatient services can provide flexible and tailored follow-up, improve patients’ health literacy, and facilitate the identification of adverse courses of disease. However, previous research largely focused on disease-specific contexts and outcomes. Therefore, research on digital services investigating generic outcomes such as health literacy is warranted. Objective: This article aims to describe the “digital outpatient service” intervention and present the protocol for an ongoing multicenter, nonrandomized trial evaluating this intervention. Methods: Based on previous experiences and evidence-based knowledge, we developed this intervention through patient-journey maps in collaboration with each clinical specialty. The patients gain access to a mobile app for self-monitoring and patient-reported outcomes and a chat for contact between the patients and health care workers. The health care workers’ dashboard includes a traffic light system to draw attention to the most urgent patient reports. In this multicenter, non–randomized controlled trial, patients are allocated to the control group receiving standard care or the 6-month intervention. Eligible patients are aged 18 years or older who receive outpatient care at the neurology, lung, pain, or cancer departments at 2 university hospitals in Norway. Our evaluation will include patient-reported outcomes, qualitative interviews, and clinical measures. The primary outcome will be health literacy using the Health Literacy Questionnaire. A sample size of 165 participants is split into a 1:2 ratio in favor of the intervention. We will analyze quantitative data in SPSS (IBM Corp) using descriptive statistics and logistic regression, and qualitative data using thematic analysis. Results: This trial started in September 2021, and the intervention started in January 2022. Recruitment has ended, with 55 patients in the control group and 107 patients in the intervention group. Follow-up is expected to end in July 2023, with results expected to be obtained in December 2023. Conclusions: This study will evaluate an intervention facilitated by an already certified digital multicomponent solution, with intervention content based on patient-reported outcomes, health literacy, and self-monitoring. The intervention is specifically tailored to each participating center and the needs of their patients using patient journey maps. The comprehensive and generic evaluation of this digital outpatient service intervention is a strength as it targets a heterogeneous sample of patients. Thus, this study will provide important knowledge about the applicability and effects of digital health care services. As a result, patients and health care workers will gain a new, evidence-based understanding of whether and how digital tools may be used in clinical care.Background: Health care services are being challenged by an increasing number of patients and limited resources. Hence, research investigating options to reduce costs and increase effectiveness is warranted. Digital outpatient services can provide flexible and tailored follow-up, improve patients’ health literacy, and facilitate the identification of adverse courses of disease. However, previous research largely focused on disease-specific contexts and outcomes. Therefore, research on digital services investigating generic outcomes such as health literacy is warranted.<p

    Effects of a nurse-led eHealth programme on functional outcomes and quality of life of patients with stroke: a pooled analysis of randomized controlled trials

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    BackgroundStroke remains a leading cause of disability worldwide. Nurse-led eHealth programs have emerged as a potentially effective strategy to improve functional outcomes and quality of life in stroke survivors. However, the variability of study designs and outcomes measured across trials necessitates a pooled analysis to comprehensively assess the efficacy of these interventions. This protocol outlines the methodology for a pooled analysis that aims to synthesize evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating nurse-led eHealth interventions for stroke patients.Methods and analysisThis pooled analysis will be conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. We will include RCTs that evaluate nurse-led eHealth programs and report on functional outcomes or quality of life in stroke patients. Comprehensive searches of electronic databases including Pubmed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and PsycINFO will be conducted with a predefined search strategy. Study selection will involve screening titles and abstracts, followed by full-text review using explicit inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data extraction will be undertaken independently by two reviewers. The risk of bias will be assessed through the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Additionally, the quality of evidence for each outcome will be evaluated using the GRADE approach. Meta-analyses will be performed using random-effects models, and heterogeneity will be quantified using the I2 statistic. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses will explore potential sources of heterogeneity.Discussion and conclusionsThis pooled analysis is poised to provide a nuanced understanding of the effectiveness of nurse-led eHealth programs in stroke rehabilitation, leveraging a thorough methodological framework and GRADE tool to ensure robustness and reliability of evidence. The investigation anticipates diverse improvements in patient outcomes, underscoring the potential of personalized, accessible eHealth interventions to enhance patient engagement and treatment adherence. Despite the challenges posed by the heterogeneity of interventions and rapid technological advancements, the findings stand to influence clinical pathways by integrating eHealth into standard care, if substantiated by the evidence. Our study’s depth and methodological rigor possess the potential to initiate changes in healthcare policy, advocating for the adoption of eHealth and subsequent investigations into its cost-efficiency. Ultimately, we aim to contribute rich, evidence-based insights into the burgeoning field of digital health, offering a foundational assessment of its applications in stroke care. Our data is expected to have a lasting impact, not only guiding immediate clinical decisions but also shaping the trajectory of future healthcare strategies in stroke recovery.Systematic review registrationIdentifier (CRD42024520100: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=520100)
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