Web app based patient education in psoriasis – a randomized controlled trial

Purpose: Patients report wanting more informationabout psoriasis and clear expectations from the onsetof therapy. Dermatologists do not think patientsreceive or internalize adequate information. There isa need for further explanation of treatment regimensto increase knowledge, compliance, and patientsatisfaction. Recent advancements in web technologyhave the potential to improve these psoriasisoutcomes.Methods: A web based application was created toeducate psoriasis patients using video, graphics,and textual information. An investigator blinded,randomized, controlled study evaluated the website’sefficacy in 50 psoriasis patients at Wake Forest BaptistHealth Dermatology. Patients were randomized intotwo groups: Group 1 received a link to the educationalweb app and a survey following their visit; Group 2received a link to the survey with no educational webapp. The survey assessed patient knowledge, selfreportedadherence to medication, and adequacy ofaddressing concerns. Twenty two patients completedthe study.Results: Patients in the web app group scored anaverage of 11/14 on the psoriasis knowledge quiz,whereas patients in the control group scored anaverage of 9/14 for an improvement of roughly 18%(p=0.008, n=22).Conclusion: Web app based education viaDermPatientEd.Com is an efficient way toimprove knowledge, but we did not demonstrateimprovements in self-reported medication adherenceor the ability to address concerns of psoriasis patients

Web app based patient education in psoriasis – a randomized controlled trial

Purpose: Patients report wanting more informationabout psoriasis and clear expectations from the onsetof therapy. Dermatologists do not think patientsreceive or internalize adequate information. There isa need for further explanation of treatment regimensto increase knowledge, compliance, and patientsatisfaction. Recent advancements in web technologyhave the potential to improve these psoriasisoutcomes.Methods: A web based application was created toeducate psoriasis patients using video, graphics,and textual information. An investigator blinded,randomized, controlled study evaluated the website’sefficacy in 50 psoriasis patients at Wake Forest BaptistHealth Dermatology. Patients were randomized intotwo groups: Group 1 received a link to the educationalweb app and a survey following their visit; Group 2received a link to the survey with no educational webapp. The survey assessed patient knowledge, selfreportedadherence to medication, and adequacy ofaddressing concerns. Twenty two patients completedthe study.Results: Patients in the web app group scored anaverage of 11/14 on the psoriasis knowledge quiz,whereas patients in the control group scored anaverage of 9/14 for an improvement of roughly 18%(p=0.008, n=22).Conclusion: Web app based education viaDermPatientEd.Com is an efficient way toimprove knowledge, but we did not demonstrateimprovements in self-reported medication adherenceor the ability to address concerns of psoriasis patients

Forecasting Key Strategic Variables in the Casino Tourism Industry

We examine the issues of forecasting industry gross revenue models in the casino gaming industries of Nevada, Mississippi and Atlantic City. Industry gross revenues are a used as benchmarks for casino performance, a major source of state tax collection, an important part of a state’s tourism industry and an important point of consideration for states contemplating legalizing gambling. We improve upon Preez and Witt’s (2003) approach of aggregating or pooling multiple time-series tourism research. Our model divides the time-series forecasts into two separate components, seasonality and trend. The results show all three states have distinctly different monthly seasonal patterns. The states with multiple geographic reporting regions, Mississippi and Nevada, had conflicting seasonality effects. The two regions in Mississippi have no significant differences with seasonality. Nevada’s eight reporting regions, on the other hand, all follow different monthly seasonal patterns. These findings require that Nevada’s seasonality be addressed at the individual reporting region level, while Mississippi and Atlantic City can be analyzed at the aggregate state level. If a panel was constructed combining the individual Nevada regions or the aggregate Nevada state data with Mississippi and Atlantic City erroneous seasonal patterns would result. Moreover, combining area specific seasonal indices offsets one another resulting in forecasts with grossly underestimated seasonal fluctuations. Trend forecasting models and the presence of interventions such as September 11 are also shown to vary by region. In Mississippi, September 11 had an insignificant effect on either regions casino gaming revenues. The effects of the September 11 intervention vary by region in Nevada. Six of the eight regions within Nevada do not conform to the overall Nevada state model. Aggregating time series data between states or within Nevada will lead to more complex, less accurate forecasts. The results indicate that in most cases aggregated or pooled time-series data should not be used in estimation models centered on forecasting revenues for casino and gaming establishments

Forecasting Key Strategic Variables in the Casino Tourism Industry

We examine the issues of forecasting industry gross revenue models in the casino gaming industries of Nevada, Mississippi and Atlantic City. Industry gross revenues are used as benchmarks for casino performance, a major source of state tax collection, an important part of a state\u27s tourism industry and an important point of consideration for states contemplating legalizing gambling. Our model divides the time-series forecasts into two separate components, seasonality and trend. The results show all three states have distinctly different monthly seasonal patterns. Trend forecasting models and the presence of interventions such as September 11 are also shown to vary by region. In Mississippi, September 11 had an insignificant effect on casino gaming revenues. The effects of the September 11 intervention vary by region in Nevada. Six of the eight regions within Nevada do not conform to the overall Nevada state model. Aggregating time series data between states or within Nevada will lead to more complex, less accurate forecasts. The results indicate that in most cases aggregated or pooled time-series data should not be used in estimating models centered on forecasting revenues for casino and gaming establishments

Patient perceptions of text-messages, email, and video in dermatologic surgery patients

Introduction: We developed dermatology patienteducation videos and a post-operative text messageservice that could be accessed universally via webbasedapplications. A secondary outcome of thestudy was to assess patient opinions of text-messages,email, and video in the health care setting which isreported here.Methods: An investigator-blinded, randomized,controlled intervention was evaluated in 90 nonmelanomaMMS patients at Wake Forest BaptistDermatology. Patients were randomized 1:1:1:1 forexposure to: 1) videos with text messages, 2) videosonly,3) text messages-only, or 4) standard of care.Assessment measures were obtained by the use ofREDCap survey questions during the follow up visit.Results: 1) 67% would like to receive an email withinformation about the procedure beforehand2) 98% of patients reported they would like otherdoctors to use educational videos as a form of patienteducation3) 88% of our patients think it is appropriate forphysicians to communicate to patients via textmessage in certain situations.Conclusion: Nearly all patients desired physicians touse text-messages and video in their practice and themajority of patients preferred to receive an email withinformation about their procedure beforehand