Designing a serious game for community-based disease prevention in the Amazon

Many developing regions around the world rely on community-based healthcare strategies and practices to deal with prevention and control of often neglected diseases, by educating the local population and healthcare professionals, on the mechanisms by which such diseases spread and how they can be controlled. In this paper we describe a multiplayer serious game designed to raise awareness, and foster adoption of preventive measures among local citizens and community-health professionals about Leishmaniosis. We also discuss how the underlying concept for this game and its mechanics have been iteratively designed and developed in collaboration with a group of people with relevant medical and research expertise as well as practical knowledge resulting from working with our target population

Disease surveillance and patient care in remote regions: an exploratory study of collaboration among healthcare professionals in Amazonia

The development and deployment of information technology, particularly mobile tools, to support collaboration between different groups of healthcare professionals has been viewed as a promising way to improve disease surveillance and patient care in remote regions. The effects of global climate change combined with rapid changes to land cover and use in Amazonia are believed to be contributing to the spread of vector-borne emerging and neglected diseases. This makes empowering and providing support for local healthcare providers all the more important. We investigate the use of information technology in this context to support professionals whose activities range from diagnosing diseases and monitoring their spread to developing policies to deal with outbreaks. An analysis of stakeholders, their roles and requirements, is presented which encompasses results of fieldwork and of a process of design and prototyping complemented by questionnaires and targeted interviews. Findings are analysed with respect to the tasks of diagnosis, training of local healthcare professionals, and gathering, sharing and visualisation of data for purposes of epidemiological research and disease surveillance. Methodological issues regarding the elicitation of cooperation and collaboration requirements are discussed and implications are drawn with respect to the use of technology in tackling emerging and neglected diseases

Linking Human Health to Biological Diversity

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/74648/1/j.1523-1739.1997.0110061459.x.pd

Nu-view: A visualization system for collaborative Co-located analysis of geospatial disease data

In general, many factors contribute to the spread of diseases among populations over large geographical areas. In practice, analysis of these factors typically requires expertise of multidisciplinary teams. In this paper, we present a visualization system which aims to support the visual analytics process involving multidisciplinary teams of analysts in colocated collaborative settings. The current prototype system allows coupled and decoupled modes of interaction, using a combination of personal visualizations on private small displays and group visualizations on a shared large display. We have conducted preliminary fieldwork and a review study of this prototype with a group of medical experts who have provided feedback on the current system and suggestions for other usage scenarios, as well as further improvements. We found that our target user group have a generally positive attitude towards the use of a shared display with support for the suggested interaction modes, even though these modes are substantially different from the way their groups currently conduct synchronous collaboration, and that additional support for sharing image and textual data over the geospatial data layer may be required

Motherhood and decision-making among women living with HIV in developed countries: a systematic review with qualitative research synthesis

Background: Women living with HIV (WLH) lack evidence-based information about reproductive options while man‑ aging pressures from family, clinicians, and communities to give up the idea of having children. As the reproduction intentions of WLH are not well understood, stigmatizing behaviors force them to hide their disease to avoid rejection by their family, partner, and social networks. Compliance with social norms, fear of stigma, and discrimination infu‑ ence their experience. Current research is individual qualitative studies lacking the synthesis perspective necessary to guide intervention development. The purpose of this study was to synthesize the evidence to explain the reproduc‑ tive decision-making process for WLH in developed countries. Methods: A systematic review with qualitative research synthesis was conducted through searches in 10 elec‑ tronic databases (CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Scopus, Social Science Citation Index, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Cuidatge, Cuiden Enfspo, and SciELO). Studies published in journals from 1995 to 2019 with qualitative data about reproductive decision-making among WLH in developed countries were eligible for inclusion. Developed country wasoperationalized by membership in the OECD for comparative conditions of social wellbeing and economic stability. The CASP and JBI checklists for qualitative research were used to assess study quality and methodological integrity. Thematic analysis and qualitative meta-summary techniques were used for the synthesis. Results: Twenty studies from 12 developed countries were included in the synthesis. Findings were organized into 3 meta-themes from 15 themes and 45 subthemes, including: (1) Shattered identity, (2) Barriers, inequities, and misinfor‑ mation, (3) Coping, resiliency, and support. Reproductive decision-making was perceived as a complex process infu‑ enced by facilitators and barriers. The facilitators helped WLH cope with their new situation to become more resilient, while the barriers made their situation more difcult to manage. Conclusion: WLH encounter reproductive decision-making with knowledge defcits and limited social support. An integrated approach to holistic care with comprehensive multidisciplinary counseling is needed to support WLH. Clinicians could beneft from professional development to learn how to be authentically present for WLH, including engaging in conversations, demonstrating compassion, and understanding situations. Evidence-based clinical prac‑ tice guidelines need to be tailored for the family planning and sexual health needs of WLH. Keywords: AIDS, HIV, Decision-making, Pregnancy, Reproductive health, Wome

Potencial productivo y dinamica de tallos de dos brachiarias a edades de rebrote en otoño: Productive potential and stem dynamics of two brachiarias species at regrowth ages in autumn

La estacionalidad y la frecuencia de cosecha tienen un efecto en la tasa de rebrote en los pastos y pueden disminuir el porcentaje de senescencia y descomposición del forraje, por lo tanto, influyen en el rendimiento, en la calidad y la persistencia de la pradera. El objetivo fue evaluar el potencial productivo y dinámica de tallos de los ecotipos Insurgente (Brachiaria brizantha Hochst. Stapf Cv. Insurgente) y Mulato (Brachiaria hibrido Cv. Mulato II) en tres periodos de corte (21, 42, y 63 días) en Otoño. En el Campus Tuxpan de la Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Ambientales, de Iguala, Gro. Las variables evaluadas fueron: rendimiento de forraje (kg MS ha-1), producción de componentes morfológicos (HOJA Y TALLO), relación hoja tallo (H:T), densidad poblacional (DPT), tasa de aparición de tallos (TAT), tasa de muerte de tallos (TMT), tasa de sobrevivencia de tallos (TST) e índice de estabilidad de tallos (IET), Se utilizó un diseño de bloques completamente al azar con arreglo bifactorial (Factor 1: Brachiarias, Factor 2: periodos de corte). Los datos se analizaron con el procedimiento ANOVA del paquete estadístico SAS® versión 9.2 para Windows®. La comparación de medias se realizó con la prueba de “t” de “Student” (P<0.05). La producción total de materia seca (4392.7 Kg MS ha-1), la de hoja (3084.8 Kg MS ha-1), la tasa de crecimiento (209.17 Kg MS ha-1) y la relación hoja tallo (4.2943 Kg MS kg-1) fueron afectados por los periodos de corte (P <0001) y por los ecotipos, el Mulato presentó los valores más altos. La mayor producción de hoja, tallo y total de materia seca se presentó en el tercer periodo de corte y de igual forma la tasa de crecimiento. En la dinámica de tallos los ecotipos no presentaron diferencias, los periodos de corte si afectaron a la TAT (81.87 tallos m2) y al IET (1.79), en los que el periodo de corte 1 presento los valores más altos. &nbsp

Neuroprotection or Increased Brain Damage Mediated by Temperature in Stroke Is Time Dependent

The control of temperature during the acute phase of stroke may be a new therapeutic target that can be applied in all stroke patients, however therapeutic window or timecourse of the temperature effect is not well established. Our aim is to study the association between changes in body temperature in the first 72 hours and outcome in patients with ischemic (IS) and hemorrhagic (ICH) stroke. We prospectively studied 2931 consecutive patients (2468 with IS and 463 with ICH). Temperature was obtained at admission, and at 24, 48 and 72 hours after admission. Temperature was categorized as low (<36°C), normal (36–37°C) and high (>37°C). As the main variable, we studied functional outcome at 3 months determined by modified Rankin Scale

BUILDING BRIDGES FOR INNOVATION IN AGEING : SYNERGIES BETWEEN ACTION GROUPS OF THE EIP ON AHA

The Strategic Implementation Plan of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA) proposed six Action Groups. After almost three years of activity, many achievements have been obtained through commitments or collaborative work of the Action Groups. However, they have often worked in silos and, consequently, synergies between Action Groups have been proposed to strengthen the triple win of the EIP on AHA. The paper presents the methodology and current status of the Task Force on EIP on AHA synergies. Synergies are in line with the Action Groups' new Renovated Action Plan (2016-2018) to ensure that their future objectives are coherent and fully connected. The outcomes and impact of synergies are using the Monitoring and Assessment Framework for the EIP on AHA (MAFEIP). Eight proposals for synergies have been approved by the Task Force: Five cross-cutting synergies which can be used for all current and future synergies as they consider overarching domains (appropriate polypharmacy, citizen empowerment, teaching and coaching on AHA, deployment of synergies to EU regions, Responsible Research and Innovation), and three cross-cutting synergies focussing on current Action Group activities (falls, frailty, integrated care and chronic respiratory diseases).Peer reviewe

Migração peruana no Acre, Amazônia: Determinantes, vulnerabilidades e oportunidades para promoção de saúde

O estudo apresenta os determinantes da migração de peruanos para o Acre (Brasil), a partir da sua percepção sobre a integração ao local de destino e a natureza da migração. A melhoria na acessibilidade representada pela Rodovia Interoceânica, a concretização do Acordo de Residência no Mercosul e a ampliação da integração latino-americana são também abordados. A pesquisa de campo nos municípios de Assis Brasil e Rio Branco, no Acre, consistiu em entrevistas semiestruturadas com 18 migrantes, que foram gravadas e transcritas para análises de conteúdo. Os entrevistados demonstram desconhecimento parcial sobre as prerrogativas que gozam após a adesão do Peru ao Acordo Mercosul. Nas localidades de destino, eles contam com o apoio de amigos para questões de moradia e trabalho, mas apresentam percepção fragmentada sobre seu status de legalidade, caracterizando-se como um grupo em situação de vulnerabilidade devido às barreiras linguísticas e culturais, com restrições na busca ativa de ações para sua inclusão e autonomia

Using a serious game to promote community-based awareness and prevention of neglected tropical diseases

A serious game is presented which embodies an approach to disease prevention and management that is community-based and incorporates principles of the One Health framework—a broader view of healthcare that encompasses people, animals and the environment. The game focuses specifically on two related neglected and emerging infectious tropical diseases, namely Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) and American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ACL). It seeks to inform and encourage changes in behaviours and attitudes in local populations, while involving multidisciplinary teams of healthcare professionals and researchers. The design of the learning outcomes, gameplay, client interface, and architecture of the game are discussed in detail, along with the process of collaboration among a team of computer scientists, designers, medical researchers, and practitioners which underpinned the development of the game. An expert study conducted to gather feedback from a multidisciplinary group of participants comprising medical researchers, veterinarians, healthcare service administrators, and community healthcare providers is presented which forms part of our initial assessment of this approach. The results of this study and their implications for the design of similar health-related serious games are also discussed