ABSTRACT
The posture-analyzing and virtual reconstructing device (PAViR) used a Red Green Blue-Depth camera as a sensor and skeleton reconstruction images were produced. This PAViR quickly analyzed the whole posture from multiple repetitive shots without radiation exposure in clothes and provided a virtual skeleton within seconds. This study aims to evaluate the reliability when shooting repeatedly and to assess the validity compared to parameters of full-body, low-dose X-rays (EOSs) when applied as diagnostic imaging. As a prospective and observational study, 100 patients with musculoskeletal pain underwent an EOS to obtain whole body coronal and sagittal images. The outcome measures were human posture parameters, which were divided by the standing plane in both EOSs and PAViRs as follows: (1) a coronal view (asymmetric clavicle height, pelvic oblique, bilateral Q angles of the knee, and center of seventh cervical vertebra-central sacral line (C7-CSL)) and (2) a sagittal view (forward head posture). A validation of the PAViR compared to the EOSs revealed that C7-CSL showed a moderate positive correlation with that of the EOS (r = 0.42, p < 0.01). The forward head posture (r = 0.39, p < 0.01), asymmetric clavicle height (r = 0.37, p < 0.01), and pelvic oblique (r = 0.32, p < 0.01) compared to those of the EOS had slightly positive correlations. The PAViR has excellent intra-rater reliability in people with somatic dysfunction. Except for both Q angles, the PAViR has fair-to-moderate validation when compared to EOS diagnostic imaging in the parameter representing coronal and sagittal imbalance. Although the PAViR system is not yet available in the medical field, it has the potential to become a radiation-free, accessible, and cost-effective postural analysis diagnostic tool after the EOS era.
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to objectively assess YouTube videos' quality, reliability, and information delivery capability regarding novel spinal muscular atrophy treatments. Using the keywords "nusinersen", "spinraza", "ridisplam", "evrysdi", "onasemnogene abeparvovec", and "zolgensma", we were able to retrieve and screen 360 videos before settling on a final sample of 99 on 25 September 2022. Then, two independent raters used the mDISCERN and GQS instruments to evaluate the videos' reliability and quality and the Information Delivery Capability (IDC) score to assess the videos' accuracy and patient-friendliness. The quality, reliability, and information delivery capability of the videos about the new treatment for SMA were quite heterogeneous, with an average mDISCERN, GQS, and IDC score of 3.172 ± 0.899, 2.980 ± 1.025, and 4.141 ± 1.747, respectively. In-depth analysis showed that healthcare expert videos that explained contents while showing infographic supplements had good quality, reliability, and information delivery capability. As YouTube is already a dominant media platform, the public may obtain new information about novel therapeutics for SMA through YouTube. It is necessary to consider how SMA patients and caregivers can choose trusted sources with reliable information on YouTube, and our results can provide clues. Additionally, experts should strive to provide more accurate, reliable, and patient-oriented videos.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Maintaining or increasing user adherence to digital healthcare services is of great concern to service providers. This study aims to verify whether the donation model is an effective strategy to increase adherence to physical exercise using a mobile application. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 5618 users of a motion-detecting mobile exercise coaching application participated in a donation or self-reward exercise challenge with the same exercise protocol. The workout consisted of 50 squats daily for 14 days. The user's exercise was monitored through a smartphone camera, providing real-time visual and audio feedback. In the donation group, 6 USD was donated to the economically disadvantaged if a participant completed their workout each day. In the self-reward group, three people who completed the program and 20 people who completed ≥12 days of exercise were randomly selected and provided with goods worth 60 USD and 4.3 USD of online currency, respectively. RESULTS: The average daily exercise completion rate (% of participants who completed daily exercise) in the donation group was 1.8 times higher than that of the self-reward group (donation, 41.7%; self-reward, 22.7%; p<0.0001). The donation group completed more days of the program (donation, 5.8; self-reward, 3.2; p<0.0001). The completion rate of both groups decreased with time and decreased most on day two (donation, -9.9%; self-reward, -14.5%). CONCLUSION: The donation model effectively promoted adherence to mobile app-based exercise. This donation model is expected to effectively enhance user adherence to digital healthcare services.
Subject(s)
Mentoring , Mobile Applications , Humans , Mentoring/methods , Smartphone , ExerciseABSTRACT
This study aimed to systematically assess the informational reliability, quality, and educational suitability of videos introducing scoliosis exercises on TikTok. We retrieved and screened 1904 TikTok videos with the hashtags: "#scoliosis", "#scoliosisexercise", and "#scoliosistips", before collecting a final sample of 171 scoliosis exercises in March 2022. Then, two independent raters assessed the reliability and quality of the videos using the DISCERN instrument and evaluated the educational suitability of the information using "Scoliosis Exercise Education Score" (SEES; exercise cycle, target, effect, precaution, and rationale). None of the videos were rated as excellent or good according to DISCERN. The mean SEES score was 2.02 out of 5. Videos uploaded by health organizations had significantly lower DISCERN and SEES scores than those by general users and healthcare professionals. Regarding the propriety of physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises (PSSE), DISCERN and SEES scores were significantly higher in the PSSE proper group than in the PSSE non-proper group. Although TikTok has become a popular source of scoliosis-related information, the overall information quality, reliability, and educational suitability of videos on scoliosis exercises in TikTok appear to be low, suggesting that TikTok is not suitable source for obtaining scoliosis exercise information.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: With the advancement of cardiorespiratory interventions, the survival rate among patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) has increased. Subsequently, pneumothorax has become a significant problem in patients with prolonged ventilatory support. RESEARCH QUESTION: What are the frequency, recurrence rate, risk factors, and prognosis of pneumothorax in patients with DMD requiring noninvasive ventilation (NIV)? Also, are there known risk factors of pneumothorax on chest CT scans? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This retrospective longitudinal cohort study included 176 patients treated between 2006 and 2019. We collected information regarding location, severity, treatment methods, recurrence frequency, abnormal findings on CT scanning, and date of death. We compared the pneumothorax and nonpneumothorax groups. We calculated the estimated survival probabilities from the age at NIV application according to pneumothorax occurrence. RESULTS: Sixteen of the 176 patients (9.0%) experienced pneumothorax (median age at diagnosis, 24.6 years; range, 20.7-33.7 years). Among the 16 patients, 15 demonstrated pneumothorax after NIV application (median time between diagnosis and initial NIV application, 5.6 years; range, 3 days-9.6 years). Sixteen patients experienced 31 episodes of pneumothoraces (range, one-five episodes); among them, seven episodes (22.6%) were asymptomatic. Known risk factors not clearly visible by radiography scans were found in chest CT scan in 11 patients (68.8%). Seven of 16 patients (43.8%) eventually sustained severe lung damage with pulmonary fibrosis. No significant between-group differences were found in body weight, BMI, and age at NIV application; however, the pneumothorax group showed a significantly higher mortality rate after NIV application. INTERPRETATION: On pneumothorax occurrence in patients with DMD, recurrences and severe lung damage are common; moreover, these patients show higher mortality rates than patients without pneumothorax. Chest CT scans should be performed to identify risk factors, and treatment should be initiated accordingly. In addition, physicians should consider chest CT scanning in the case of suspected pneumothorax, even if no radiographic abnormality is found.
