Feeling controlled or being in control? Apps for self-management among older people with neurological disability

Purpose: The aim of this paper was to describe how people living with a neurological disability such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and stroke reason regarding using apps to facilitate self-management in everyday life. Material and methods: A qualitative research approach with a focus group methodology was used. The sample comprised 16 participants, 11 men and 5 women, with an average age of 64 years (ranging from 51–80 years). Six participants were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, six with Parkinson’s disease and four with stroke. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, which is a method for identifying, analyzing and reporting patterns. Results: The results formed two themes. The first theme “using apps to have control of my health” comprises two subthemes; “monitor and take responsibility for a healthy lifestyle” and “compensate to facilitate everyday life”. The second theme “using the app as a tool and means for communication” also comprised two subthemes; “dare to trust the app” and “feeling safe when sharing information with health care professionals”. Conclusions: The use of apps put increased responsibility on the person and had the possibility to make them more involved in their own care. The use of an app can facilitate a healthy lifestyle and help to monitor disease-specific symptoms. In order to be able to use apps for communication with the health care sector legislation and safety issues need to be considered. Implications for rehabilitation Apps can be used for self-management if they are safe and can be trusted. People with neurological disabilities want to be involved in their healthcare and needs to be addressed by health care professionals. The use of apps grasp over a wide variety of areas this is something that may be considered in health care and something that can be addressed by interdisciplinary approaches. Ordinary health-oriented apps and disease-specific apps were used differently and for different purposes

Development of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) techniques for the optimization of dye sensitized solar cells

Methods for high-throughput validation of cell components for use in dye sensitized solar cells (DSCs) are needed as the global production of such cells becomes widespread. We have carried out preliminary investigations into the use of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) for high-throughput screening of materials. By coupling the technique of SECM with a light source, we have examined the surface charge of non-earthed pseudo-DSCs under variable light conditions and screened substrates by varying the working electrode potential. By studying the surface currents in a series of tests in which one or more component of a DSC were varied, the effect of TiO2, dye and iodide/triiodide electrolyte on the surface characteristics have been examined

Evaluation of polynuclear dendrons as photosensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells

Triruthenium dendrons bearing carboxylic acid substituents at the apex have been evaluated as photosensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells. The disadvantages of a single carboxylate binding site are partially compensated by the higher charges of the trinuclear dendrons. However, the trinuclear units prove to be ineffective photosenstizers compared to mononuclear model compounds

Exclusive breastfeeding is rarely practiced in rural and urban Morogoro, Tanzania

<p>Shirima R, Greiner T, Kylberg E, and Gebre-Medhin M. Exclusive breastfeeding is rarely practiced in rural and urban Morogoro, Tanzania. Public Health Nutrition 4(2):147-154, 2001.</p> <p>Early infant feeding practices were found to be better in the urban than in the near by rural sample but few mothers exclusively breast fed in either. </p

Feeling controlled or being in control? Apps for self-management among older people with neurological disability

Purpose: The aim of this paper was to describe how people living with a neurological disability such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and stroke reason regarding using apps to facilitate self-management in everyday life. Material and methods: A qualitative research approach with a focus group methodology was used. The sample comprised 16 participants, 11 men and 5 women, with an average age of 64 years (ranging from 51–80 years). Six participants were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, six with Parkinson’s disease and four with stroke. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, which is a method for identifying, analyzing and reporting patterns. Results: The results formed two themes. The first theme “using apps to have control of my health” comprises two subthemes; “monitor and take responsibility for a healthy lifestyle” and “compensate to facilitate everyday life”. The second theme “using the app as a tool and means for communication” also comprised two subthemes; “dare to trust the app” and “feeling safe when sharing information with health care professionals”. Conclusions: The use of apps put increased responsibility on the person and had the possibility to make them more involved in their own care. The use of an app can facilitate a healthy lifestyle and help to monitor disease-specific symptoms. In order to be able to use apps for communication with the health care sector legislation and safety issues need to be considered. Implications for rehabilitation Apps can be used for self-management if they are safe and can be trusted. People with neurological disabilities want to be involved in their healthcare and needs to be addressed by health care professionals. The use of apps grasp over a wide variety of areas this is something that may be considered in health care and something that can be addressed by interdisciplinary approaches. Ordinary health-oriented apps and disease-specific apps were used differently and for different purposes

The Use of Apps for Health in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease and Stroke - Barriers and Facilitators

Introduction: The importance of mobile health has increased during recent years but few studies have described the use of apps among persons with neurological disabilities. Aim: The aim of this paper was to describe how persons ageing with a neurological disability experience barriers and facilitators in relation to using apps in everyday life. Method: A qualitative approach was used. 16 persons with neurological disorders participated in two group discussions. Data were analyzed by content analysis. Results: The analysis formed four categories; Impairments make apps harder to use, Use of apps is increased by learnability and sharing, Valuating the information in an app, and Apps act supportive and motivating. Conclusion: The participants used apps in the same way as persons without disabilities. Impairments and trustworthiness were perceived as barriers, which need to be acknowledged when developing apps for this population. Use of apps was facilitated by the possibility to share data and to connect with others. Apps may have the potential to improve self-management for persons ageing with disabilities but further research is needed

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles prepared by laser pyrolysis : synthesis and photocatalytic properties

TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized via the laser pyrolysis of titanium tetrachloride-based gas-phase mixtures. In the obtained nanopowders, a mixture of anatase and rutile phases with mean particle size of about 14 nm was identified. Using the thermal heated laser nanopowders, mechanically stable films were produced by immobilizing titania nanopowders on glass substrates (the doctor blading method followed by compression). The photocatalytic activity of the prepared films was tested by the degradation of 4-chlorophenol in an aqueous solution under UV-illumination. By referring to known commercial samples (Degussa P25) similarly prepared, higher photocatalytic efficiency was found for the laser-prepared samples