Reproductive health knowledge among African American women enrolled in a clinic-based randomized controlled trial to reduce psychosocial and behavioral risk, Project DC-HOPE

Background: Washington, DC, has among the highest rates of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy in the United States. Increasing women\u27s reproductive health knowledge may help to address these reproductive health issues. This analysis assessed whether high-risk pregnant African American women in Washington, DC, who participated in an intervention to reduce behavioral and psychosocial risks had greater reproductive health knowledge than women receiving usual care. Methods: Project DC-HOPE was a randomized, controlled trial that included pregnant African American women in Washington, DC, recruited during prenatal care (PNC). Women in the intervention group were provided reproductive health education and received tailored counseling sessions to address their psychosocial and behavioral risk(s) (cigarette smoking, environmental tobacco smoke exposure, depression, and intimate partner violence). Women in the control group received usual PNC. Participants completed a 10-item reproductive knowledge assessment at baseline (n = 1,044) and postpartum (n = 830). Differences in total reproductive health knowledge scores at baseline and postpartum between groups were examined via χ(2) tests. Differences in postpartum mean total score by group were assessed via multiple linear regression. Results: Women in both groups and at both time points scored approximately 50% on the knowledge assessments. At postpartum, women in the intervention group had higher total scores compared with women receiving usual care (mean 5.40 [SD 1.60] vs. 5.03 [SD 1.53] out of 10, respectively; p \u3c .001). Conclusions: Although intervention participants increased reproductive health knowledge, overall scores remained low. Development of interventions designed to impart accurate, individually tailored information to women may promote reproductive health knowledge among high-risk pregnant African American women residing in Washington, DC

Visualization approaches to support healthy aging: A systematic review

Background: Health technologies have the potential to support the growing number of older adults who are aging in place. Many tools include visualizations (data visualizations, visualizations of physical representations). However, the role of visualizations in supporting aging in place remains largely unexplored.Objective: To synthesize and identify gaps in the literature evaluating visualizations (data visualizations and visualizations of physical representations), for informatics tools to support healthy aging.Methods: We conducted a search in CINAHL, Embase, Engineering Village, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science using a priori defined terms for publications in English describing community-based studies evaluating visualizations used by adults aged ≥65 years.Results: Six out of the identified 251 publications were eligible. Most studies were user studies and varied methodological quality. Three visualizations of virtual representations supported performing at-home exercises. Participants found visual representations either (a) helpful, motivational, and supported their understanding of their health behaviors or (b) not an improvement over alternatives. Three data visualizations supported understanding of one’s health. Participants were able to interpret data visualizations that used precise data and encodings that were more concrete better than those that did not provide precision or were abstract. Participants found data visualizations helpful in understanding their overall health and granular data.Conclusions: Studies we identified used visualizations to promote engagement in exercises or understandings of one’s health. Future research could overcome methodological limitations of studies we identified to develop visualizations that older adults could use with ease and accuracy to support their health behaviors and decision-making

Visualizations Integrated Into Consumer Health Technologies Support Self-management of Chronic Diseases: A Systematic Review

While chronic diseases remain a global problem, visualizations of data and information are a potential solution to assist patients with chronic disease in communication, self-management, and decision making. The purpose of this systematic review is to synthesize evidence regarding data and information visualizations integrated into consumer health informatics solutions for chronic disease management in the community. A search was conducted in CINAHL, EMBASE, Engineering Village, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science between January 1, 2007, and May 1, 2019. Studies were evaluated using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Of the 2549 published studies, six studies met inclusion criteria. Of these six studies, two used information visualizations, two used data visualizations, and two used both information and data visualizations. Graphs were the main type of visualization used. Visualizations were mainly delivered in mobile applications and were interactive. The goals of the visualizations varied across studies including to (1) improve understanding of health data, (2) improve patient-provider communication, (3) monitor chronic disease, and/or (4) improve chronic disease management. Five studies reported subjective outcomes of the visualizations (eg, perceived usability, acceptability). One study reported both subjective and objective outcomes (eg, recall) of the visualizations. Findings highlight the need for more research on data and information visualizations integrated into consumer health technologies that support chronic disease management in daily life

Visualizations Integrated Into Consumer Health Technologies Support Self-management of Chronic Diseases: A Systematic Review

While chronic diseases remain a global problem, visualizations of data and information are a potential solution to assist patients with chronic disease in communication, self-management, and decision making. The purpose of this systematic review is to synthesize evidence regarding data and information visualizations integrated into consumer health informatics solutions for chronic disease management in the community. A search was conducted in CINAHL, EMBASE, Engineering Village, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science between January 1, 2007, and May 1, 2019. Studies were evaluated using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Of the 2549 published studies, six studies met inclusion criteria. Of these six studies, two used information visualizations, two used data visualizations, and two used both information and data visualizations. Graphs were the main type of visualization used. Visualizations were mainly delivered in mobile applications and were interactive. The goals of the visualizations varied across studies including to (1) improve understanding of health data, (2) improve patient-provider communication, (3) monitor chronic disease, and/or (4) improve chronic disease management. Five studies reported subjective outcomes of the visualizations (eg, perceived usability, acceptability). One study reported both subjective and objective outcomes (eg, recall) of the visualizations. Findings highlight the need for more research on data and information visualizations integrated into consumer health technologies that support chronic disease management in daily life

How Could Nurse Researchers Apply Theory to Generate Knowledge More Efficiently?

Background: Reports of nursing research often do not provide adequate information about whether, and how, researchers applied theory when conducting their studies. Unfortunately, the lack of adequate application and explication of theory in research impedes development of knowledge to guide nursing practice. Objectives: To clarify and exemplify how to apply theory in research. Methods: First we describe how researchers can apply theory in phases of research. Then we share examples of how three research teams applied one theory to these phases of research in three different studies of preventive behaviors. Conclusions: Nurse researchers can review and refine ways in which they apply theory in guiding research and writing publications. Scholars can appreciate how one theory can guide researchers in building knowledge about a given condition such as preventive behaviors. Clinicians and researchers can collaborate to apply and examine the usefulness of theory. Clinical Relevance: If nurses had improved understanding of theory-guided research, they could better assess, select, and apply theory-guided interventions in their practices. © 2017 Sigma Theta Tau Internationa

Older Adults\u27 Current and Potential Uses of Information Technologies in a Changing World: A Theoretical Perspective

Technologies have become a major force in people\u27s lives. They change how people interact with the environment, even as the environment changes. We propose that technology use in the setting of changing environments is motivated by essential needs and tensions experienced by the individual. We apply three developmental and behavioral theories (Erikson\u27s stages of psychosocial development, Maslow\u27s hierarchy of needs, and Bronfenbrenner\u27s ecological model) to explain technology-related behaviors among older adults. We consider how technology use has addressed and can address major ecological changes, in three areas: health promotion, natural disasters, and disparities. We propose that considering these theories can help researchers and developers ensure that technologies will help promote a healthier world for older adults

Data Visualizations to Support Health Practitioners' Provision of Personalized Care for Patients With Cancer and Multiple Chronic Conditions: User-Centered Design Study.

BackgroundThere exists a challenge of understanding and integrating various types of data collected to support the health of individuals with multiple chronic conditions engaging in cancer care. Data visualization has the potential to address this challenge and support personalized cancer care.ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to assess the health care practitioners' perceptions of and feedback regarding visualizations developed to support the care of individuals with multiple chronic conditions engaging in cancer care.MethodsMedical doctors (n=4) and registered nurses (n=4) providing cancer care at an academic medical center in the western United States provided feedback on visualization mock-ups. Mock-up designs were guided by current health informatics and visualization literature and the Munzner Nested Model for Visualization Design. User-centered design methods, a mock patient persona, and a scenario were used to elicit insights from participants. Directed content analysis was used to identify themes from session transcripts. Means and SDs were calculated for health care practitioners' rankings of overview visualizations.ResultsThemes identified were data elements, supportive elements, confusing elements, interpretation, and use of visualization. Overall, participants found the visualizations useful and with the potential to provide personalized care. Use of color, reference lines, and familiar visual presentations (calendars, line graphs) were noted as helpful in interpreting data.ConclusionsVisualizations guided by a framework and literature can support health care practitioners' understanding of data for individuals with multiple chronic conditions engaged in cancer care. This understanding has the potential to support the provision of personalized care

Overall Adiposity, Adipose Tissue Distribution, and Endometriosis: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis has been associated with a lean body habitus. However, we do not understand whether endometriosis is also associated with other characteristics of adiposity, including adipose tissue distribution and amount of visceral adipose tissue (VAT; adipose tissue lining inner organs). Having these understandings may provide insights on how endometriosis develops-some of the physiological actions of adipose tissue differ depending on tissue amount and location and are related to proposed mechanisms of endometriosis development. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to review the literature regarding overall adiposity, adipose tissue distribution and/or VAT, and endometriosis. METHODS: We reviewed and synthesized studies indexed in PubMed and/or Web of Science. We included studies that had one or more measures of overall adiposity, adipose tissue distribution, and/or VAT and women with and without endometriosis for comparison. We summarized the findings and commented on the methods used and potential sources of bias. RESULTS: Of 366 identified publications, 19 (5.2%) were eligible. Two additional publications were identified from reference lists. Current research included measures of overall adiposity (e.g., body figure drawings) or adipose tissue distribution (e.g., waist-to-hip ratio), but not VAT. The weight of evidence indicated that endometriosis was associated with low overall adiposity and with a preponderance of adipose tissue distributed below the waist (peripheral). DISCUSSION: Endometriosis may be associated with being lean or having peripherally distributed adipose tissue. Well-designed studies with various sampling frameworks and precise measures of adiposity and endometriosis are needed to confirm associations between adiposity measures and endometriosis and delineate potential etiological mechanisms underlying endometriosis