389 research outputs found
Mobile Health Technologies
Mobile Health Technologies, also known as mHealth technologies, have emerged, amongst healthcare providers, as the ultimate Technologies-of-Choice for the 21st century in delivering not only transformative change in healthcare delivery, but also critical health information to different communities of practice in integrated healthcare information systems. mHealth technologies nurture seamless platforms and pragmatic tools for managing pertinent health information across the continuum of different healthcare providers. mHealth technologies commonly utilize mobile medical devices, monitoring and wireless devices, and/or telemedicine in healthcare delivery and health research. Today, mHealth technologies provide opportunities to record and monitor conditions of patients with chronic diseases such as asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD) and diabetes mellitus. The intent of this book is to enlighten readers about the theories and applications of mHealth technologies in the healthcare domain
Addressing data accuracy and information integrity in mHealth using ML
The aim of the study was finding a way in which Machine Learning can be applied in mHealth Solutions to detect inaccurate data that can potentially harm patients. The result was an algorithm that classified accurate and inaccurate data
eHealth in Chronic Diseases
This book provides a review of the management of chronic diseases (evaluation and treatment) through eHealth. Studies that examine how eHealth can help to prevent, evaluate, or treat chronic diseases and their outcomes are included
An Evidence-Based Evaluation Tool To Assist Healthcare Providers In Their Assessment Of Effective mhealth Applications For The Management Of Chronic Health Conditions
Mobile health (mHealth) apps are considered a viable option to improve chronic disease management. Healthcare providers are now recommending mHealth apps for patient use to assist in managing chronic diseases. However, healthcare providers may have difficulty locating effective, evidence-based mHealth apps for patients as there are currently over 325,000 available health apps (Research2Guidance, 2017). Limited evaluation tools are available to assist healthcare providers in this process. Therefore, our goal was to develop an online mHealth evaluation tool to assist healthcare providers in the selection of evidence-based mHealth apps.
After creating a comprehensive pool of mHealth features, healthcare providers provided feedback on the important and essential mHealth features. This feedback guided the development of a mHealth evaluation tool that included 32 mHealth features. Next, healthcare providers tested the mHealth evaluation tool via an online survey using pre-selected mHealth apps. The results of the proof-of-concept testing showed a strong match with the Gold Standard score that was determined by the research team. This proof-of-concept testing demonstrated the evaluation tool correctly identified high quality mHealth apps and provided essential feedback on future revisions to the mHealth evaluation tool
Effectiveness of myAirCoach: A mHealth Self-Management System in Asthma
Background: Self-management programs have beneficial effects on asthma control, but their implementation in clinical practice is poor. Mobile health (mHealth) could play an important role in enhancing self-management. Objective: To assess the clinical effectiveness and technology acceptance of myAirCoach-supported self-management on top of usual care in patients with asthma using inhalation medication. Methods: Patients were recruited in 2 separate studies. The myAirCoach system consisted of an inhaler adapter, an indoor air-quality monitor, a physical activity tracker, a portable spirometer, a fraction exhaled nitric oxide device, and an app. The primary outcome was asthma control; secondary outcomes were exacerbations, quality of life, and technology acceptance. In study 1, 30 participants were randomized to either usual care or myAirCoach support for 3 to 6 months; in study 2, 12 participants were provided with the myAirCoach system in a 3-month before-after study. Results: In study 1, asthma control improved in the intervention group compared with controls (Asthma Control Questionnaire difference, 0.70; P = .006). A total of 6 exacerbations occurred in the intervention group compared with 12 in the control group (hazard ratio, 0.31; P = .06). Asthma-related quality of life improved (mini Asthma-related Quality of Life Questionnaire difference, 0.53; P = .04), but forced expiratory volume in 1 second was unchanged. In study 2, asthma control improved by 0.86 compared with baseline (P = .007) and quality of life by 0.16 (P = .64). Participants reported positive attitudes toward the system. Discussion: Using the myAirCoach support system improves asthma control and quality of life, with a reduction in severe asthma exacerbations. Well-validated mHealth technologies should therefore be further studied
Devices and Data Workflow in COPD Wearable Remote Patient Monitoring: A Systematic Review
Background: With global increase in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
prevalence and mortality rates, and socioeconomical burden continuing to rise, current
disease management strategies appear inadequate, paving the way for technological
solutions, namely remote patient monitoring (RPM), adoption considering its acute disease
events management benefit. One RPM’s category stands out, wearable devices, due to its
availability and apparent ease of use.
Objectives: To assess the current market and interventional solutions regarding wearable
devices in the remote monitoring of COPD patients through a systematic review design from
a device composition, data workflow, and collected parameters description standpoint.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted to identify wearable device trends in this
population through the development of a comprehensive search strategy, searching beyond
the mainstream databases, and aggregating diverse information found regarding the same
device. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis
(PRISMA) guidelines were followed, and quality appraisal of identified studies was
performed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) quality appraisal
checklists.
Results: The review resulted on the identification of 1590 references, of which a final 79
were included. 56 wearable devices were analysed, with the slight majority belonging to the
wellness devices class. Substantial device heterogeneity was identified regarding device
composition type and wearing location, and data workflow regarding 4 considered
components. Clinical monitoring devices are starting to gain relevance in the market and
slightly over a third, aim to assist COPD patients and healthcare professionals in
exacerbation prediction. Compliance with validated recommendations is still lacking, with
no devices assessing the totality of recommended vital signs.
Conclusions: The identified heterogeneity, despite expected considering the relative
novelty of wearable devices, alerts for the need to regulate the development and research of
these technologies, specially from a structural and data collection and transmission
standpoints.Introdução: Com o aumento global das taxas de prevalência e mortalidade da Doença
Pulmonar Obstrutiva Crónica (DPOC) e o seu impacto socioeconómico, as atuais estratégias
de gestão da doença parecem inadequadas, abrindo caminho para soluções tecnológicas,
nomeadamente para a adoção da monitorização remota, tendo em conta o seu benefício na
gestão de exacerbações de doenças crónicas. Dentro destaca-se uma categoria, os
dispositivos wearable, pela sua disponibilidade e aparente facilidade de uso.
Objetivos: Avaliar as soluções existentes, tanto no mercado, como na área de investigação,
relativas a dispositivos wearable utilizados na monitorização remota de pacientes com
DPOC através de uma revisão sistemática, do ponto de vista da composição do dispositivo,
fluxo de dados e descrição dos parâmetros coletados.
Métodos: Uma revisão sistemática foi realizada para identificar tendências destes
dispositivos, através do desenvolvimento de uma estratégia de pesquisa abrangente,
procurando pesquisar para além das databases convencionais e agregar diversas
informações encontradas sobre o mesmo dispositivo. Para tal, foram seguidas as diretrizes
PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses), e a
avaliação da qualidade dos estudos identificados foi realizada utilizando a ferramenta CASP
(Critical Appraisal Skills Programme).
Resultados: A revisão resultou na identificação de 1590 referências, das quais 79 foram
incluídas. Foram analisados 56 dispositivos wearable, com a ligeira maioria a pertencer à
classe de dispositivos de wellness. Foi identificada heterogeneidade substancial nos
dispositivos em relação à sua composição, local de uso e ao fluxo de dados em relação a 4
componentes considerados. Os dispositivos de monitorização clínica já evidenciam alguma
relevância no mercado e, pouco mais de um terço, visam auxiliar pacientes com DPOC e
profissionais de saúde na previsão de exacerbações. Ainda assim, é notória a falta do
cumprimento das recomendações validadas, não estando disponíveis dispositivos que
avaliem a totalidade dos sinais vitais recomendados.
Conclusão: A heterogeneidade identificada, apesar de esperada face à relativa novidade
dos dispositivos wearable, alerta para a necessidade de regulamentação do
desenvolvimento e investigação destas tecnologias, especialmente do ponto de vista
estrutural e de recolha e transmissão de dados
The use of mobile health in the management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
The prevalence and mortality rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are
increasing worldwide. Therefore, COPD remains a major public health problem. Using an
mobile health (mHealth) intervention has the potential to enhance COPD treatment outcomes
while mitigating healthcare costs. However, the complexity of the process of developing an
mHealth intervention for COPD management is poorly understood, and in-depth assessment of
the development process of mHealth interventions for COPD management is currently lacking.
This thesis advances our understanding of how to apply the human-centered design
process when developing an mHealth intervention for COPD management. The thesis is
composed of the following five interconnected journal articles:
1. A systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize and quantify the effect of mHealth
interventions on patients with COPD;
2. A qualitative study to explore the perceptions of healthcare providers regarding an
mHealth intervention for COPD management;
3. A mixed methods study to explore the perceptions of patients with COPD regarding an
mHealth intervention for COPD management;
4. A qualitative study to identify the features of an mHealth intervention for COPD
management; and,
5. A mixed methods approach, the iterative convergent design, to guide the usability testing
process for mHealth interventions.
The outcomes of this research contribute to knowledge about the use of mHealth in
COPD management. Firstly, this thesis provides an overview of the effectiveness of mHealth in
COPD management. Secondly, it provides an understanding of how to actively and efficiently involve users in the design and development of health information technology. Thirdly, it
provides recommendations regarding the features of an mHealth intervention to enhance COPD
management. Lastly, it proposes a mixed methods framework for mHealth usability testing. The
application of the proposed methods is demonstrated using different case studies. This program
of research highlights the process of developing an mHealth intervention for COPD
management. Application of the findings could help others in the field to further investigate the
development of mHealth interventions in this area
Strategic Intelligence Monitor on Personal Health Systems (SIMPHS): Report on Typology/Segmentation of the PHS Market
This market segmentation reports for Personal Health Systems (PHS) describes the methodological background and illustrates the principles of classification and typology regarding different fragments forming this market. It discusses different aspects of the market for PHS and highlights challenges towards a stringent and clear-cut typology or defining market segmentation. Based on these findings a preliminary hybrid typology and indications and insights are created in order to be used in the continuation of the SIMPHS project. It concludes with an annex containing examples and cases studies.JRC.DDG.J.4-Information Societ
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