42,497 research outputs found
M-health review: joining up healthcare in a wireless world
In recent years, there has been a huge increase in the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to deliver health and social care. This trend is bound to continue as providers (whether public or private) strive to deliver better care to more people under conditions of severe budgetary constraint
How 5G wireless (and concomitant technologies) will revolutionize healthcare?
The need to have equitable access to quality healthcare is enshrined in the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which defines the developmental agenda of the UN for the next 15 years. In particular, the third SDG focuses on the need to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”. In this paper, we build the case that 5G wireless technology, along with concomitant emerging technologies (such as IoT, big data, artificial intelligence and machine learning), will transform global healthcare systems in the near future. Our optimism around 5G-enabled healthcare stems from a confluence of significant technical pushes that are already at play: apart from the availability of high-throughput low-latency wireless connectivity, other significant factors include the democratization of computing through cloud computing; the democratization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cognitive computing (e.g., IBM Watson); and the commoditization of data through crowdsourcing and digital exhaust. These technologies together can finally crack a dysfunctional healthcare system that has largely been impervious to technological innovations. We highlight the persistent deficiencies of the current healthcare system and then demonstrate how the 5G-enabled healthcare revolution can fix these deficiencies. We also highlight open technical research challenges, and potential pitfalls, that may hinder the development of such a 5G-enabled health revolution
Mobile Phone Apps for Quality of Life and Well-Being Assessment in Breast and Prostate Cancer Patients: Systematic Review
Background: Mobile phone health apps are increasingly gaining attention in oncological care as potential tools for supporting
cancer patients. Although the number of publications and health apps focusing on cancer is increasing, there are still few specifically
designed for the most prevalent cancers diagnosed: breast and prostate cancers. There is a need to review the effect of these apps
on breast and prostate cancer patients’ quality of life (QoL) and well-being.
Objective: The purposes of this study were to review the scientific literature on mobile phone apps targeting breast or prostate
cancer patients and involving QoL and well-being (anxiety and depression symptoms) and analyze the clinical and technological
characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses of these apps, as well as patients’ user experience with them.
Methods: We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature from The Cochrane Library, Excerpta Medica Database,
PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, and MEDLINE to identify studies involving apps focused on breast and/or prostate cancer patients
and QoL and/or well-being published between January 1, 2000, and July 12, 2017. Only trial studies which met the inclusion
criteria were selected. The systematic review was completed with a critical analysis of the apps previously identified in the health
literature research that were available from the official app stores.
Results: The systematic review of the literature yielded 3862 articles. After removal of duplicates, 3229 remained and were
evaluated on the basis of title and abstract. Of these, 3211 were discarded as not meeting the inclusion criteria, and 18 records
were selected for full text screening. Finally, 5 citations were included in this review, with a total of 644 patients, mean age 52.16
years. Four studies targeted breast cancer patients and 1 focused on prostate cancer patients. Four studies referred to apps that
assessed QoL. Only 1 among the 5 analyzed apps was available from the official app store. In 3 studies, an app-related intervention
was carried out, and 2 of them reported an improvement on QoL. The lengths of the app-related interventions varied from 4 to
12 weeks. Because 2 of the studies only tracked use of the app, no effect on QoL or well-being was found.
Conclusions: Despite the existence of hundreds of studies involving cancer-focused mobile phone apps, there is a lack of
rigorous trials regarding the QoL and/or well-being assessment in breast and/or prostate cancer patients. A strong and collective
effort should be made by all health care providers to determine those cancer-focused apps that effectively represent useful,
accurate, and reliable tools for cancer patients’ disease management.European Union's Horizon 2020 No 72201
User interface design for mobile-based sexual health interventions for young people: Design recommendations from a qualitative study on an online Chlamydia clinical care pathway
Background: The increasing pervasiveness of mobile technologies has given potential to transform healthcare by facilitating clinical management using software applications. These technologies may provide valuable tools in sexual health care and potentially overcome existing practical and cultural barriers to routine testing for sexually transmitted infections. In order to inform the design of a mobile health application for STIs that supports self-testing and self-management by linking diagnosis with online care pathways, we aimed to identify the dimensions and range of preferences for user interface design features among young people. Methods: Nine focus group discussions were conducted (n=49) with two age-stratified samples (16 to 18 and 19 to 24 year olds) of young people from Further Education colleges and Higher Education establishments. Discussions explored young people's views with regard to: the software interface; the presentation of information; and the ordering of interaction steps. Discussions were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Interview transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Four over-arching themes emerged: privacy and security; credibility; user journey support; and the task-technology-context fit. From these themes, 20 user interface design recommendations for mobile health applications are proposed. For participants, although privacy was a major concern, security was not perceived as a major potential barrier as participants were generally unaware of potential security threats and inherently trusted new technology. Customisation also emerged as a key design preference to increase attractiveness and acceptability. Conclusions: Considerable effort should be focused on designing healthcare applications from the patient's perspective to maximise acceptability. The design recommendations proposed in this paper provide a valuable point of reference for the health design community to inform development of mobile-based health interventions for the diagnosis and treatment of a number of other conditions for this target group, while stimulating conversation across multidisciplinary communities
Project HealthDesign: Rethinking the Power and Potential of Personal Health Records: Round One Final Report
Describes an initiative to develop prototypes for next-generation personal health record applications on a common platform focused on self-management for better health. Outlines grantees' prototypes for user-centered daily monitoring and lessons learned
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
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