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BACKGROUND: Pulse interval is a biomarker of psychological and physiological health. Pulse interval can now be assessed using mobile phone apps, which expands researchers' ability to assess pulse interval in the real world. Prior to implementation, measurement accuracy should be established. OBJECTIVE: This investigation evaluated the validity of the Light Heart mobile app to measure pulse interval and pulse rate variability in healthy young adults. METHODS: Validity was assessed by comparing the pulse interval and SD of normal pulse intervals obtained by Light Heart to the gold standard, electrocardiogram (ECG), in 14 young healthy individuals (mean age 24, SD 5 years; n=9, 64% female) in a seated posture. RESULTS: Mean pulse interval (Light Heart: 859, SD 113 ms; ECG: 857, SD 112 ms) demonstrated a strong positive linear correlation (r=0.99; P<.001) and strong agreement (intraclass correlation coefficient=1.00, 95% CI 0.99-1.00) between techniques. The Bland-Altman plot demonstrated good agreement for the mean pulse interval measured with Light Heart and ECG with evidence of fixed bias (-1.56, SD 1.86; 95% CI -5.2 to 2.1 ms), suggesting that Light Heart overestimates pulse interval by a small margin. When Bland-Altman plots were constructed for each participant's beat-by-beat pulse interval data, all participants demonstrated strong agreement between Light Heart and ECG with no evidence of fixed bias between measures. Heart rate variability, assessed by SD of normal pulse intervals, demonstrated strong agreement between techniques (Light Heart: mean 73, SD 23 ms; ECG: mean 73, SD 22 ms; r=0.99; P<.001; intraclass correlation coefficient=0.99, 95% CI 0.97-1.00). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence to suggest that the Light Heart mobile app provides valid measures of pulse interval and heart rate variability in healthy young adults.
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Background: ST-T segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a critical condition that requires rapid diagnosis and treatment. Recently, various ECG recording devices have been developed. In this study, we aim to determine the utility of a 6-lead handheld ECG recording device to shorten the time taken for the diagnosis of inferior wall STEMI. Methods and Design: HINT-MI is an investigator-derived, observational, prospective study that will evaluate the ability of a handheld 6-lead ECG device to diagnose acute inferior wall STEMI. Patients who have undergone coronary angiography for STEMI or for other reasons will be enrolled in the study. This study aims to evaluate sensitivity and specificity of a handheld 6-lead ECG device by the level of agreement with a standard 12-lead ECG for diagnosing inferior wall STEMI. Further, we will determine whether the use of the handheld device can reduce the time needed for reperfusion treatment through faster diagnosis. Conclusions: This study aims to investigate the feasibility of a handheld 6-lead ECG device for diagnosing inferior wall STEMI to reduce the time required to diagnose inferior wall STEMI and to allow timely treatment.
Subject(s)
Electrocardiography , ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction , Humans , Electrocardiography/instrumentation , Electrocardiography/methods , Prospective Studies , ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction/diagnosis , ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction/physiopathology , Early Diagnosis , Male , Female , Sensitivity and Specificity , Research Design , Middle Aged , Myocardial Infarction/diagnosis , Myocardial Infarction/physiopathologyABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Clinical guidelines are crucial for assisting health professionals to make correct clinical decisions. However, manual clinical guidelines are not accessible, and this increases the workload. So, a mobile-based clinical guideline application is needed to provide real-time information access. Hence, this study aimed to assess health professionals' intention to accept mobile-based clinical guideline applications and verify the unified theory of acceptance and technology utilization model. METHODS: Institutional-based cross-sectional study design was used among 803 study participants. The sample size was determined based on structural equation model parameter estimation criteria with stratified random sampling. Amos version 23 software was used for analysis. Internal consistency of latent variable items, and convergent and divergent validity, were evaluated using composite reliability, AVE, and a cross-loading matrix. Model fitness of the data was assessed based on a set of criteria, and it was achieved. P-value < 0.05 was considered for assessing the formulated hypothesis. RESULTS: Effort expectancy and social influence had a significant effect on health professionals' attitudes, with path coefficients of (ß = 0.61, P-value < 0.01), and (ß = 0.510, P-value < 0.01) respectively. Performance expectancy, facilitating condition, and attitude had significant effects on health professionals' acceptance of mobile-based clinical guideline applications with path coefficients of (ß = 0.37, P-value < 0.001), (ß = 0.44, P-value < 0.001) and (ß = 0.57, P-value < 0.05) respectively. Effort expectancy and social influence were mediated by attitude and had a significant partial relationship with health professionals' acceptance of mobile-based clinical guideline application with standardized estimation coefficients of (ß = 0.22, P-value = 0.027), and (ß = 0.19, P-value = 0.031) respectively. All the latent variables accounted for 57% of health professionals' attitudes, and latent variables with attitudes accounted for 63% of individuals' acceptance of mobile-based clinical guideline applications. CONCLUSIONS: The unified theory of acceptance and use of the technology model was a good model for assessing individuals' acceptance of mobile-based clinical guidelines applications. So, enhancing health professionals' attitudes, and computer literacy through training are needed. Mobile application development based on user requirements is critical for technology adoption, and people's support is also important for health professionals to accept and use the application.
Subject(s)
Attitude of Health Personnel , Mobile Applications , Humans , Cross-Sectional Studies , Male , Female , Adult , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Health Personnel , Middle Aged , Surveys and Questionnaires , Resource-Limited SettingsABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: We aimed to study whether KardiaMobile 6L 30-second capture technology could shorten ECG collection time compared to standard 12L ECG without compromising data usability. METHODS: A single-center, non-randomized trial was performed on patients presenting for follow-up visits to the electrophysiology (EP) clinic. Providers in the KardiaMobile 6L group were allowed to request a standard 12L if the 6L was deemed insufficient for clinical care. Room utilization times, defined as the time from medical assistant room entry to exit, were compared for each group. RESULTS: There were 100 patients in the study, with 50 in each arm. Average room utilization time for the 12L group and 6L groups were 10.33 ± 2.2 and 7.27 ± 1.93 min, respectively (p < .001). In 8 (16%) visits for the 6L group, an additional 12L was requested. CONCLUSION: For EP follow-up visits, clinic utilization time was significantly reduced with the KardiaMobile 6L compared to the 12L ECG with infrequent need for an additional 12L.
Subject(s)
Electrocardiography , Predictive Value of Tests , Humans , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Time Factors , Aged , Action Potentials , Heart Rate , Adult , Equipment DesignABSTRACT
The paper presents a system for analyzing cardiac activity with the possibility of continuous and remote monitoring. The created sensor mobile device monitors heart activity by means of the convenient and imperceptible registration of cardiac signals. At the same time, the behavior of the human body is also monitored through the accelerometer and gyroscope built into the device, thanks to which it is possible to signal in the event of loss of consciousness or fall (in patients with syncope). Conducting real-time cardio monitoring and the analysis of recordings using various mathematical methods (linear, non-linear, and graphical) enables the research, accurate diagnosis, timely assistance, and correct treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The paper examines the recordings of patients diagnosed with arrhythmia and syncope recorded by electrocardiography (ECG) sensors in real conditions. The obtained results are subjected to statistical analysis to determine the accuracy and significance of the obtained results. The studies show significant deviations in the patients with arrhythmia and syncope regarding the obtained values of the studied parameters of heart rate variability (HRV) from the accepted normal values (for example, the root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats (RMSSD) in healthy individuals is 24.02 ms, while, in patients with arrhythmia (6.09 ms) and syncope (5.21 ms), it is much lower). The obtained quantitative and graphic results identify some possible abnormalities and demonstrate disorders regarding the activity of the autonomic nervous system, which is directly related to the work of the heart.
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Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the My Jump 2® app in measuring jump height, flight time, and peak power among elite women beach volleyball players on sand surfaces. Methods: Eleven elite female beach volleyball players (aged 23.6 ± 6.2 years; weight 66.3 ± 5.8 kg; height 174.4 ± 5.8 cm; with 8.4 ± 4.8 years of professional experience) participated in this study. Each player performed six countermovement jumps in a wooden box filled with sand on a force platform while simultaneously recording a video for subsequent analysis using the My Jump 2® app. Results: We found excellent agreement for flight time, jump height and peak power between observers (ICC = 0.92, 0.91 and 0.97, respectively). No significant differences between force platform and My Jump 2® app were detected in the values obtained for the three variables (P > 0.05). For the force platform and the My Jump 2® app, we found a good agreement measuring jump height and flight time (ICC = 0.85 and 0.85, respectively). However, we only found a moderate agreement for peak power (ICC = 0.64). The difference in jump height showed a limit of agreement between -4.10 and 4.74 cm in Bland-Altman, indicating a high level of agreement between the two measurement tools. Conclusion: Based on our findings, the My Jump 2® app reveals a valid tool for measuring jump height and flight time of CMJ on sand surfaces. However, more caution is needed when measuring peak power.
Subject(s)
Mobile Applications , Volleyball , Humans , Female , Volleyball/physiology , Reproducibility of Results , Young Adult , Adult , Athletic Performance/physiology , Exercise Test/methods , Exercise Test/instrumentation , AthletesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Becoming a parent is a transformative experience requiring multiple transitions, including the need to navigate several components of health care, manage any mental health issues, and develop and sustain an approach to infant feeding. Baby2Home (B2H) is a digital intervention built on the collaborative care model (CCM) designed to support families during these transitions to parenthood. OBJECTIVES: We aim to investigate the effects of B2H on preventive healthcare utilization for the family unit and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) trajectories with a focus on mental health. We also aim to evaluate heterogeneity in treatment effects across social determinants of health including self-reported race and ethnicity and household income. We hypothesize that B2H will lead to optimized healthcare utilization, improved PROs trajectories, and reduced racial, ethnic, and income-based disparities in these outcomes as compared to usual care. METHODS: B2H is a multi-center, pragmatic, individual-level randomized controlled trial. We will enroll 640 families who will be randomized to: [1] B2H + usual care, or [2] usual care alone. Preventive healthcare utilization is self-reported and confirmed from medical records and includes attendance at the postpartum visit, contraception use, depression screening, vaccine uptake, well-baby visit attendance, and breastfeeding at 6 months. PROs trajectories will be analyzed after collection at 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and 12 months. PROs include assessments of stress, depression, anxiety, self-efficacy and relationship health. IMPLICATIONS: If B2H proves effective, it would provide a scalable digital intervention to improve care for families throughout the transition to new parenthood.
Subject(s)
Parents , Telemedicine , Humans , Telemedicine/organization & administration , Parents/psychology , Female , Patient Reported Outcome Measures , Infant , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/psychology , Mental Health , Research Design , Social Determinants of Health , Breast Feeding , MaleABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Despite young children's widespread use of mobile devices, little research exists on this use and its association with children's language development. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between mobile device screen time and language comprehension and expressive language skills. An additional aim was to examine whether three factors related to the domestic learning environment modify the associations. METHODS: The study uses data from the Danish large-scale survey TRACES among two- and three-year-old children (n = 31,125). Mobile device screen time was measured as time spent on mobile devices on a normal day. Measurement of language comprehension and expressive language skills was based on subscales from the Five to Fifteen Toddlers questionnaire. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine the association between child mobile device screen time and language development and logistic regression to examine the risk of experiencing significant language difficulties. Joint exposure analyses were used to examine the association between child mobile device screen time and language development difficulties in combination with three other factors related to the domestic learning environment: parental education, reading to the child and child TV/PC screen time. RESULTS: High mobile device screen time of one hour or more per day was significantly associated with poorer language development scores and higher odds for both language comprehension difficulties (1-2 h: AOR = 1.30; ≥ 2 h: AOR = 1.42) and expressive language skills difficulties (1-2 h: AOR = 1.19; ≥ 2 h: AOR = 1.46). The results suggest that reading frequently to the child partly buffers the negative effect of high mobile device screen time on language comprehension difficulties but not on expressive language skills difficulties. No modifying effect of parental education and time spent by the child on TV/PC was found. CONCLUSIONS: Mobile device screen time of one hour or more per day is associated with poorer language development among toddlers. Reading frequently to the child may have a buffering effect on language comprehension difficulties but not on expressive language skills difficulties.
Subject(s)
Language Development Disorders , Screen Time , Humans , Child, Preschool , Language Development Disorders/epidemiology , Language Development , Computers, Handheld , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Timing and rhythm abilities are complex and multidimensional skills that are highly widespread in the general population. This complexity can be partly captured by the Battery for the Assessment of Auditory Sensorimotor and Timing Abilities (BAASTA). The battery, consisting of four perceptual and five sensorimotor tests (finger-tapping), has been used in healthy adults and in clinical populations (e.g., Parkinson's disease, ADHD, developmental dyslexia, stuttering), and shows sensitivity to individual differences and impairment. However, major limitations for the generalized use of this tool are the lack of reliable and standardized norms and of a version of the battery that can be used outside the lab. To circumvent these caveats, we put forward a new version of BAASTA on a tablet device capable of ensuring lab-equivalent measurements of timing and rhythm abilities. We present normative data obtained with this version of BAASTA from over 100 healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 87 years in a test-retest protocol. Moreover, we propose a new composite score to summarize beat-based rhythm capacities, the Beat Tracking Index (BTI), with close to excellent test-retest reliability. BTI derives from two BAASTA tests (beat alignment, paced tapping), and offers a swift and practical way of measuring rhythmic abilities when research imposes strong time constraints. This mobile BAASTA implementation is more inclusive and far-reaching, while opening new possibilities for reliable remote testing of rhythmic abilities by leveraging accessible and cost-efficient technologies.
Subject(s)
Auditory Perception , Humans , Adult , Male , Middle Aged , Female , Aged , Young Adult , Auditory Perception/physiology , Adolescent , Reproducibility of Results , Aged, 80 and over , Psychomotor Performance/physiology , Time Perception/physiology , Mobile ApplicationsABSTRACT
Background: An increasing number of people are using vapes (e-cigarettes), and with growing evidence of associated harms, there is a need for acceptable cessation support and interventions. Smartphone apps for health and well-being have increased in popularity and use. Limited published literature assesses the potential of apps to support vaping cessation. Objective: A systematic search of vaping cessation apps currently available in Australia for iOS and Android platforms was conducted. Apps were assessed against established health app assessment tools for quality and behavior change potential. Methods: A systematic search through the Australian Apple iTunes and Google Play stores was conducted using the search terms "vape"; "vaping"; "e-cigarette"; and "cessation," "quit," or "quitting" in May 2023. Only apps that encouraged the cessation of vaping were included. App descriptions were reviewed to determine if they were relevant for inclusion in this study, and relevant apps were downloaded onto the appropriate mobile device for review. The Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) was used to rate the quality (engagement, functionality, aesthetics, and information) of the apps using an overall score out of 5. The App Behavior Change Scale (ABACUS) was used to assess the behavior change potential of each app using a score out of 21. Results: An initial search of the app stores yielded 220 Android apps and 124 iOS apps. Screening against the inclusion criteria left 20 iOS apps and 10 Android apps for review. Six apps were available on both operating systems, and these were downloaded, reviewed, and reported separately for each operating system. The average MARS score for all apps assessed in this review was 3.1 (SD 0.41) out of 5. The reviewed apps overall performed well for the MARS elements relating to functionality, such as ease of use and navigation, but had the lowest scores for information-related elements, such as credibility. The number of ABACUS behavior change features per app ranged from 0 to 19 out of 21, with a mean of 8.9 (SD 4.51). The apps commonly included information-related features, such as requesting baseline information. The least common behavior change features were those relating to goal-setting, such as asking about the user's willingness for behavior change and providing feedback on current actions in comparison to future goals. Conclusions: The identified vaping cessation apps had moderate levels of quality and some behavior change components. Future vaping cessation apps could benefit from including more features that are known to support behavior change, such as goal-setting, to improve the potential benefit of these apps to support people to stop vaping. As guidelines for vaping cessation continue to be established, future apps need to reference these in their development.
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Mobile Applications , Vaping , Humans , Mobile Applications/standards , Mobile Applications/statistics & numerical data , Mobile Applications/trends , Vaping/psychology , Vaping/trends , Australia , Smoking Cessation/methods , Smoking Cessation/psychologyABSTRACT
STUDY OBJECTIVES: Nighttime smartphone use is an increasing public health concern. We investigated whether nighttime smartphone use is associated with general health and primary healthcare utilization. METHODS: Four thousand five hundred and twenty individuals (age 35.6â ±â 9.7 years, 35% male) provided self-reported information on smartphone use frequency, symptoms of depression, and general health (one-item perceived health and cross-symptom composite score). A subset of the study sample (nâ =â 3221) tracked their nighttime smartphone use. Primary healthcare utilization, i.e. the number of weeks in which at least one service from the patient's general practitioner (GP) was billed in 2020, was extracted from Danish population registries. Statistical analysis comprised logistic and multiple linear regression, controlling for sociodemographics. RESULTS: Three hundred and nineteen individuals (7%) reported using their smartphone almost every night or more. More frequent self-reported nighttime smartphone use was associated with poor general health across all measures. Using the smartphone almost every night or more was associated with 2.8 [95% CI: 1.9, 4.1] fold higher odds of reporting poor health and with an average of 1.4 [95% CI: 0.7, 2.1] additional GP utilizations per year compared to no use. Associations were also found for the cross-symptom composite score across all symptoms. Further adjustment for symptoms of depression attenuated some associations. Smartphone use towards the end of the sleep period (sleep-offset use) was associated with poorer self-reported general health, but not with healthcare utilization. CONCLUSIONS: Nighttime smartphone use frequency is associated with poor general health and healthcare utilization. Further studies should investigate the underlying causal structure and nighttime smartphone use as a transdiagnostic intervention target.
Subject(s)
Depression , Health Status , Patient Acceptance of Health Care , Self Report , Smartphone , Humans , Male , Female , Smartphone/statistics & numerical data , Adult , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics & numerical data , Depression/epidemiology , Denmark , Middle Aged , Primary Health Care/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
Introducción La litiasis renal (LR) es una enfermedad urológica común, que a menudo requiere de cuidados a largo plazo. Las tecnologías de salud móvil (m-Salud) y salud electrónica (e-Salud) tienen el potencial de mejorar el manejo de las enfermedades crónicas e impactar sobre los patrones de la conducta. Para evaluar la aplicabilidad de estas herramientas en la mejora del tratamiento y la prevención de la LR, nos propusimos evaluar los datos actuales sobre el uso, los beneficios y las limitaciones de la m-Salud y la e-Salud en la LR. Métodos Se realizó una revisión sistemática de los estudios de investigación primaria sobre m-Salud y e-Salud en la evaluación y tratamiento de la LR. Dos investigadores independientes examinaron las citas por título y resumen para determinar su pertinencia y, a continuación, se realizó una revisión del texto completo para obtener un resumen descriptivo de los estudios. Resultados Se incluyeron 37 artículos para el análisis. Las principales áreas de interés fueron: 1) botellas de agua «inteligentes» y aplicaciones de dispositivos móviles para el seguimiento del consumo de líquidos, que mostraron un aumento de la ingesta en la mayoría de los estudios; 2) plataformas de seguimiento de stent ureterales, que mejoraron la tasa de stent retenidos a largo plazo; 3) clínicas virtuales para el tratamiento de la LR, las cuales han mejorado el acceso, han reducido costes y han mostrado resultados satisfactorios; 4) plataformas de endoscopia para teléfonos inteligentes, que ofrecieron una buena calidad de imagen respecto a sus costes en entornos de recursos limitados, y 5) información sobre la LR en línea para pacientes, la cual generalmente se caracterizó por ser de mala calidad y/o precisión, particularmente en YouTube®. La mayoría de los estudios eran pruebas de concepto o estudios de intervención de un solo brazo, con una evaluación limitada de la eficacia o de los resultados clínicos a largo plazo. Conclusiones ... (AU)
Introduction Kidney stone disease (KSD) is a common urological condition that often requires long-term care. Mobile health (mHealth) and eHealth technologies have the potential to enhance chronic disease management and behavioral change. To assess opportunities to apply these tools to improve KSD treatment and prevention, we aimed to assess current evidence on the use, benefits, and limitations of mHealth and eHealth in KSD. Methods We performed a systematic review of primary research studies of mHealth and eHealth in the evaluation and management of KSD. Two independent researchers screened citations by title and abstract for relevance, then full-text review was performed for descriptive summary of the studies. Results A total of 37 articles were included for analysis. Primary domains of evidence included: 1) smart water bottles and mobile-device apps for tracking fluid consumption, which showed increased intake in most studies; 2) ureteral stent tracking platforms, which improved the rate of long-term retained stents; 3) virtual stone clinics, which have been suggested to increase access, lower costs, and have satisfactory outcomes; 4) smartphone-based endoscopy platforms, which offered cost-effective image quality in resource-limited settings; 5) patient information about KSD online, which was typically characterized as poor quality and/or accuracy, particularly on YouTube. Most studies were proof-of-concept or single-arm intervention designs, with limited assessment of effectiveness or long-term clinical outcomes. Conclusions Mobile and eHealth technologies have significant real-world applications to KSD prevention, intervention, and patient education. A lack of rigorous effectiveness studies currently limits evidence-based conclusions and incorporation in clinical guidelines. (AU)
Subject(s)
Medical Informatics Applications , Nephrolithiasis/prevention & control , Telemedicine/instrumentation , Telemedicine/trendsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The use of mobile devices for delivering health-related services (mobile health [mHealth]) has rapidly increased, leading to a demand for summarizing the state of the art and practice through systematic reviews. However, the systematic review process is a resource-intensive and time-consuming process. Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a potential solution to automate tedious tasks. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the feasibility of using generative AI tools to automate time-consuming and resource-intensive tasks in a systematic review process and assess the scope and limitations of using such tools. METHODS: We used the design science research methodology. The solution proposed is to use cocreation with a generative AI, such as ChatGPT, to produce software code that automates the process of conducting systematic reviews. RESULTS: A triggering prompt was generated, and assistance from the generative AI was used to guide the steps toward developing, executing, and debugging a Python script. Errors in code were solved through conversational exchange with ChatGPT, and a tentative script was created. The code pulled the mHealth solutions from the Google Play Store and searched their descriptions for keywords that hinted toward evidence base. The results were exported to a CSV file, which was compared to the initial outputs of other similar systematic review processes. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the potential of using generative AI to automate the time-consuming process of conducting systematic reviews of mHealth apps. This approach could be particularly useful for researchers with limited coding skills. However, the study has limitations related to the design science research methodology, subjectivity bias, and the quality of the search results used to train the language model.
Subject(s)
Artificial Intelligence , Mobile Applications , Systematic Reviews as Topic , Telemedicine , Humans , Research DesignABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Mobile devices have been used by many older adults and have the potential to assist individuals with subjective cognitive complaints (SCCs) in daily living tasks. Financial management is one of the most complex daily activity for older adults, as it is easily impaired in the prodromal stage of dementia and cognitive impairment. AIM: To investigate financial management ability among older adults from SCCs and mobile device proficiency. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was sent to 529 participants who were ≥ 65 years and regularly use mobile devices. Participants were divided into four groups based on SCC prevalence and scores of the Mobile Device Proficiency Questionnaire (MDPQ-16). Financial management abilities were compared between groups using the Process Analysis of Daily Activities for Dementia subscale. Regression model and crosstabulation table were used to investigate associations in detail. RESULTS: A significant difference in financial management ability was observed among the four groups (p < 0.001), with the dual impairment group showed significantly lower than the robust and SCC groups (p < 0.001). Educational history, sex, and MDPQ-16 score were significantly associated with participants' financial management ability (p ≤ 0.01). The proportion of participants who could use ATMs and electronic money independently was significantly lower among those with low proficiency in mobile devices (LPM), regardless of SCC (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The LPM group showed an impaired ability to manage their finances, particularly in situations where they would use information devices. Therefore, healthcare professionals should assess not only the SCC but also their proficiency with mobile devices to predict their impairment in activities of daily living.
Subject(s)
Cognitive Dysfunction , Dementia , Financial Management , Humans , Aged , Independent Living , Cross-Sectional Studies , Activities of Daily Living , Cognitive Dysfunction/therapy , Cognitive Dysfunction/psychology , Computers, Handheld , CognitionABSTRACT
Current road extraction models from remote sensing images based on deep learning are computationally demanding and memory-intensive because of their high model complexity, making them impractical for mobile devices. This study aimed to develop a lightweight and accurate road extraction model, called Road-MobileSeg, to address the problem of automatically extracting roads from remote sensing images on mobile devices. The Road-MobileFormer was designed as the backbone structure of Road-MobileSeg. In the Road-MobileFormer, the Coordinate Attention Module was incorporated to encode both channel relationships and long-range dependencies with precise position information for the purpose of enhancing the accuracy of road extraction. Additionally, the Micro Token Pyramid Module was introduced to decrease the number of parameters and computations required by the model, rendering it more lightweight. Moreover, three model structures, namely Road-MobileSeg-Tiny, Road-MobileSeg-Small, and Road-MobileSeg-Base, which share a common foundational structure but differ in the quantity of parameters and computations, were developed. These models varied in complexity and were available for use on mobile devices with different memory capacities and computing power. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed models outperform the compared typical models in terms of accuracy, lightweight structure, and latency and achieve high accuracy and low latency on mobile devices. This indicates that the models that integrate with the Coordinate Attention Module and the Micro Token Pyramid Module surpass the limitations of current research and are suitable for road extraction from remote sensing images on mobile devices.
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INTRODUCTION: Kidney stone disease (KSD) is a common urological condition that often requires long-term care. Mobile health (mHealth) and eHealth technologies have the potential to enhance chronic disease management and behavioral change. To assess opportunities to apply these tools to improve KSD treatment and prevention, we aimed to assess current evidence on the use, benefits, and limitations of mHealth and eHealth in KSD. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of primary research studies of mHealth and eHealth in the evaluation and management of KSD. Two independent researchers screened citations by title and abstract for relevance, then full-text review was performed for descriptive summary of the studies. RESULTS: A total of 37 articles were included for analysis. Primary domains of evidence included: 1) "smart" water bottles and mobile-device apps for tracking fluid consumption, which showed increased intake in most studies; 2) ureteral stent tracking platforms, which improved the rate of long-term retained stents; 3) virtual stone clinics, which have been suggested to increase access, lower costs, and have satisfactory outcomes; 4) smartphone-based endoscopy platforms, which offered cost-effective image quality in resource-limited settings; 5) patient information about KSD online, which was typically characterized as poor quality and/or accuracy, particularly on YouTube. Most studies were proof-of-concept or single-arm intervention designs, with limited assessment of effectiveness or long-term clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Mobile and eHealth technologies have significant real-world applications to KSD prevention, intervention, and patient education. A lack of rigorous effectiveness studies currently limits evidence-based conclusions and incorporation in clinical guidelines.
Subject(s)
Kidney Calculi , Mobile Applications , Telemedicine , Humans , Smartphone , Delivery of Health CareABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Initially designed to address geographic obstacles to patient care, reliance on telemedicine rapidly increased during the coronavirus pandemic. The purpose of this study was to analyze the proficiency of computer and mobile device usage among a cohort of surgeons and their patients who either used telemedicine or had in-person visits. METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients who had an outpatient telemedicine visit (T group), or in-person visit (NT group) with a hand and wrist orthopedic surgeon, between March 2020 and July 2020. These patients and their surgeons were sent the Computer Proficiency Questionnaire (CPQ-12) and the Mobile Device Questionnaire (MDPQ-16) via email. A total of 602 survey responses were collected, 279 of which belonged to patients in the T group and 323 to patients in the NT group. RESULTS: The two groups were similar in demographics, including age and sex. Scores on the CPQ-12 and MDPQ-16 did not significantly differ between the two groups. In the patient sample, there was no correlation between CPQ-12 and MDPQ-16 scores and the proportion of telehealth visits. The orthopedic surgeon group also had no observed correlation between the CPQ-12 and MDPQ-16 scores and number or proportion of telemedicine visits. CONCLUSIONS: Overall proficiency with computer and mobile devices was not correlated with the likelihood of patients or orthopedic surgeons using telemedicine visits. Patient selection appears to be driven by other factors, which could include limitations in transportation, convenience, and time constraints. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Orthopedic surgeons should continue to offer telehealth visits to their patients regardless of estimated capabilities with electronic devices of both the patient and the surgeon.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Orthopedic Surgeons , Telemedicine , Humans , COVID-19/epidemiology , Retrospective Studies , Computers, HandheldABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: Advancing age might impair real-world navigation ability. The use of mobile devices by older adults has grown rapidly in recent years. Navigation applications (apps) in mobile devices may facilitate the freedom of outings for older adults. Our aim is to investigate age-related differences in real-world app-based navigation walking in terms of accuracy, efficiency, and gaze behavior; and to explore clinical factors associated with navigation walking in older adults. Research Design and Methods: A total of 20 community-dwelling older adults and 16 young adults completed a route navigation task using a navigation app while recording their gaze behavior. Outcomes were compared in both groups and a general linear regression was used to explore clinical factors associated with app-based navigation walk in older adults. Results: Compared with young participants, older participants had more stops and root errors and less fixation time, smaller amplitude of saccades. Additionally, older adults were more likely to glance at their smartphones while app-based navigation walking. Furthermore, gait speed and the following assessment scores were significantly associated with navigation walking in older adults: Mini-Mental State Examination, Life-Space Assessment, and the short version of the Mobile Device Proficiency Questionnaire. Discussion and Implications: For app-based navigation walks, differences in accuracy and gaze behavior were found to exist with age. Additionally, efficient real-world navigation walks in older adults require the extent of life space and proficiency with mobile devices, along with walking speed and cognitive function. It is possible that age-related functional decline, such as the visual field and shifting attention between mobile devices and the real world, may have influenced the results. The study also suggests the need to understand the level of proficiency with mobile devices so that older adults can continue to go out freely. These findings give the basis for providing older adults with appropriate navigation assistance.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Peer-assisted learning (PAL) using peer-led web-based platforms (PWPs), including social media, can be a highly effective method of supporting medical trainees. PWPs, such as mobile apps for sharing anesthesia resources and social media groups or discussion forums pertaining to anesthesia training, may play a role in facilitating anesthesia trainee-led web-based education. However, there have been many challenges facing anesthesia trainees when it comes to incorporating PWPs, especially social media and mobile apps for PAL. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this survey was to assess the proportion of trainees that use social media and mobile apps. The secondary objective was to identify the trainees' perceptions on the use of social media and mobile apps for educational purposes, including PAL. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted through a survey administered via email at a single large academic center. The survey tool collected data between 2016 and 2017 on the following: demographic data (year of study, field of specialty), use of technology and web-based resources for medicine, use of social media platforms for anesthesia or training, benefits and barriers to future uses of social media for training, and ideas for trainee-led websites. Descriptive statistics were reported. RESULTS: In total, 80 anesthesia trainees (51 residents and 29 fellows) responded to the survey (response rate of 33% of out 240 trainees contacted). All trainees reported having a mobile device that most (n=61, 76%) reported using multiple times a day to access medical resources. The highest perceived benefits of PWPs according to residents were that the most valuable information was available on-demand (n=27, 53%), they saved time (n=27, 53%), and they improved their overall learning experience within anesthesia (n=24, 47%). In comparison, fellows thought that PWPs were beneficial because they provided multiple perspectives of a single topic (n=13, 45%) and served as an additional platform to discuss ideas with peers (n=13, 45%). The most popular platforms used by both residents and fellows were Facebook (residents: n=44, 86%; fellows: n=26, 90%) followed by LinkedIn (residents: n=21, 42%; fellows: n=9, 29%). Even though most anesthesia trainees used social media for personal reasons, only 26% (n=21) reported having used resident- or fellow-driven PWP resources. Examples of PWPs that trainees used included anesthesia groups and a resident Dropbox resource folder. CONCLUSIONS: There was generally an acceptance for using PWPs for PAL as they provided various benefits for trainees at all levels of learning. PWPs have the potential to garner an increased sense of community and sharing within learning experiences throughout all levels of training. The information gained from this survey will help inform the basis for developing an anesthesia trainee-led e-learning platform.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: A number of real-world digital literacy training programs exist to support engagement with mobile devices, but these have been understudied. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness and program acceptability of a digital skills training program among middle-aged and older adults (aged ≥50 years) and to gather participants' recommendations for lifelong digital skills promotion. METHODS: The Gluu Essentials digital skills training program includes learning resources to support tablet use. Through pre-post surveys, this study assessed mobile device proficiency, confidence in going online and in avoiding frauds and scams, the frequency of engaging in online activities, program engagement, acceptability, and suggestions for continued support. RESULTS: A total of 270 middle-aged and older adults completed baseline surveys. Of these 270 participants, 145 (53.7%) completed follow-up surveys. Our findings indicate that mobile device proficiency increased (P<.001), whereas confidence was unchanged. Participants also reported going online more frequently to shop (P=.01) and access government services (P=.02) at follow-up. Program engagement varied considerably, but program acceptability was high. Participants' recommendations included the need for providing ongoing programs for support and training because technology constantly changes, reducing costs for technology and internet access, and keeping learning resources simple and easy to access. CONCLUSIONS: The Gluu Essentials digital skills training program increased mobile device proficiency and frequency of web-based activities (shopping and accessing government services) among middle-aged and older adults.