Novel approaches to estimate compliance with lockdown measures in the COVID-19 pandemic

A lockdown is a social distancing intervention that aims to minimise physical contact between individuals and groups in order to reduce transmission of a communicable disease [1]. Social distancing measures are typically introduced in an attempt to reduce and/or delay the peak of an epidemic/pandemic, to minimise the potential for surges in healthcare utilisation and to protect vulnerable groups. In the context of COVID-19, the World Health Organization has encouraged use of the term ‘physical distancing’ instead of social distancing to highlight that the aim of this intervention is only to reduce physical contact, not social contact which is often still possible through telephone and video calls, and social media [2]. There are a range of physical distancing measures, which can be broadly categorised as operating at the individual (eg, to support self-isolation of confirmed or suspected cases) or population levels (eg, closing of schools or workplaces)

General practitioners' and nurses' experiences of using computerised decision support in screening for diabetic foot disease:implementing Scottish Clinical Information - Diabetes Care in routine clinical practice

<strong>Objective</strong> The Scottish Care Information - Diabetes Collaboration (SCI-DC) developed a computer- based information system to create a shared electronic record for use by all involved in the care of patients with diabetes mellitus. The objectives of this study were to understand primary care practitioners' views towards screening for diabetic foot disease and their experience of the SCI-DC system. <strong>Method</strong> We conducted an exploratory study using qualitativemethods. Semi-structured interviews were audiotape-recorded, transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis. Seven practice nurses and six general practitioners (GPs) with special responsibility for diabetes care inNHS Lothian participated. <strong>Results</strong> Primary care clinicians reported good systems in place to screen for diabetes-related complications and to refer their patients to specialist care. Foot ulceration was rarely observed; other diabetesrelated conditions were seen as a higher priority. Most had heard of the SCI-DC foot assessment tool, but its failure to integrate with other primary care information technology (IT) systems meant it was not used in these general practices. <strong>Conclusions</strong> Adoption of the SCI-DC foot assessment tool in primary care is not perceived as clinically necessary. Although information recorded by specialist services on SCI-DC is helpful, important structural barriers to its implementation mean the potential benefits associated with its use are unlikely to be realised; greater engagement with primary care priorities for diabetes management is needed to assist its successful implementation and adoption

Evaluating eHealth Interventions: The Need for Continuous Systemic Evaluation

In the first in a series of three articles on evaluating eHealth, Aziz Sheikh and Lorraine Catwell outline the background to the series and discuss the importance of evaluating the widespread investments in and adoption of information communication technology in health care