Use of Mobile Applications to Increase Therapeutic Adherence in Adults: A Systematic Review.

Failure to comply with therapeutic treatments implies negative repercussions for the patient's quality of life, their social environment, and health system. The use of information and communication technologies, especially mobile applications, has favored the increase in global therapeutic adherence figures. The objective of this study is to characterize the use of mobile applications as a strategy to increase therapeutic adherence in adults. A systematic literature review in Web of Science and Scopus was performed following the Preferred Information elements for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis. Information such as: the year of publication, the study population, the medical conditions of the participants, the main characteristics or functionalities of the mobile applications, and the methods or tools used to measure treatment adherence were extracted from each included article. The risk of bias was assessed. Twelve randomized controlled trials (RCTs), published in English from 1996 to May 2021, were included. Chronic diseases have been mostly addressed through interventions with mobile applications. The most reported functions of mobile applications were reminders, educational modules, two-way communication, and games. Tools such as: "Morisky Medication Adherence Scale of eight items"; "Medication adherence questionnaire"; "Self-reported adherence"; among others, were used to evaluate and report the treatment adherence. In conclusion, including treatment interventions using mobile applications in clinical practice has proven to be beneficial to improve therapeutic adherence. However, it is necessary to develop high-quality clinical trials (size and duration) to generalize results and justify their use in conventional health services.

National Early Warning Score 2 Lactate (NEWS2-L) in Predicting Early Clinical Deterioration in Patients with Dyspnoea in Prehospital Care.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the ability of the NEWS2-L (National Early Warning Score 2 Lactate) scale to predict the risk of early clinical deterioration (mortality within 48 hours) in patients with dyspnoea treated by the Medical Emergency Services compared with NEWS2 and lactate in isolation. METHODS: Prospective, multi-centre study of a cohort of 638 patients with dyspnoea treated in the ambulance and priority-transferred to a hospital emergency service in the cities of Valladolid, Salamanca, Segovia or Burgos (Spain). We collected clinical, analytical and demographic data. The main outcome measure was all-cause mortality within 48 hours. The recommendations of the Royal College of Physicians were followed to calculate NEWS2. When NEWS2 and LA prehospital values were obtained, the two values were added together to obtain the NEWS2-L. RESULTS: Mortality within 48 hours was fifty-six patients (8.8%). The NEWS2-L scale obtained an area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) for mortality within 48 hours of 0.854 (CI 95% 0.790-0.917), at seven days of 0.788 (CI 95% 0.729-0.848) and at 30 days of 0.744 (CI 95% 0.692-0.796); in all cases p<0.001, with a significant decrease between the value at 48 hours and at 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: The NEWS2-L scale was found to be significantly superior to the NEWS2 scale and similar to lactate in predicting early clinical deterioration in patients with dyspnoea. This scale can help a nurse detect these patients early, as part of their regular practice, and thus guide therapeutic efforts.

National Early Warning Score 2 Lactate (NEWS2-L) in Predicting Early Clinical Deterioration in Patients with Dyspnoea in Prehospital Care / National Early Warning Score 2 y ácido láctico (NEWS2-L) en la predicción del deterioro clínico precoz en pacientes con disnea en los cuidados prehospitalarios / National Early Warning Score 2 e ácido láctico (NEWS2-L) na predição de deterioração clínica precoce em pacientes com dispneia no atendimento pré-hospitalar

Objective. To evaluate the ability of the NEWS2-L (National Early Warning Score 2 Lactate) scale to predict the risk of early clinical deterioration (mortality within 48 hours) in patients with dyspnoea treated by the Medical Emergency Services compared with NEWS2 and lactate in isolation. Methods. Prospective, multi-centre study of a cohort of 638 patients with dyspnoea treated in the ambulance and priority-transferred to a hospital emergency service in the cities of Valladolid, Salamanca, Segovia or Burgos (Spain). We collected clinical, analytical and demographic data. The main outcome measure was all-cause mortality within 48 hours. The recommendations of the Royal College of Physicians were followed to calculate NEWS2. When NEWS2 and LA prehospital values were obtained, the two values were added together to obtain the NEWS2-L. Results. Mortality within 48 hours was fifty-six patients (8.8%). The NEWS2-L scale obtained an area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) for mortality within 48 hours of 0.854 (CI 95% 0.790­0.917), at seven days of 0.788 (CI 95% 0.729­0.848) and at 30 days of 0.744 (CI 95% 0.692­0.796); in all cases p<0.001, with a significant decrease between the value at 48 hours and at 30 days. Conclusion. The NEWS2-L scale was found to be significantly superior to the NEWS2 scale and similar to lactate in predicting early clinical deterioration in patients with dyspnoea. This scale can help a nurse detect these patients early, as part of their regular practice, and thus guide therapeutic efforts.

Objetivo. Evaluar la capacidad de la escala NEWS2-L (National Early Warning Score 2-lactate) para predecir el riesgo de deterioro clínico precoz (mortalidad hasta las 48h) en pacientes con disnea atendidos por Servicios de Emergencias Médicas, comparado con la escala NEWS2 y el ácido láctico en solitario. Métodos. Estudio prospectivo multicéntrico de cohorte de 638 pacientes con disnea atendidos en ambulancia y trasladados con alta prioridad a un servicio de urgencias hospitalarias en las ciudades de Valladolid, Salamanca, Segovia y Burgos (España). Se tomó información de variables clínicas, analíticas y demográficas, de las cuales la de resultado principal fue la mortalidad por cualquier causa hasta las 48 horas. Para el cálculo del NEWS2 se siguieron las recomendaciones del Royal College of Physicians. Una vez obtenidos los valores del NEWS2 y del AL prehospitalario se sumaron ambos valores y se obtuvo la NEWS2-L. Resultados. La mortalidad, antes de las 48, horas fue de 56 pacientes (8.8%). La escala NEWS2-L obtuvo un Área Bajo la Curva ­ Característica Operativa del Receptor (ABC-COR) para la mortalidad antes de las 48 horas de 0.854 (IC95% 0.790-0.917), a siete días de 0.788 (IC95% 0.729-0.848) y a 30 días de 0.744 (IC95% 0.692-0.796); en todos los casos p<0.001), lo que experimentó un descenso importante entre su valor a las 48 h y a los 30 días. Conclusión. La escala NEWS2-L mostró ser significativamente superior a la escala NEWS2 y similar al ácido láctico en la predicción del deterioro clínico precoz en pacientes con disnea. Esta escala es una ayuda para que la enfermera en su práctica habitual detecte a estos pacientes en forma temprana y así poder orientar los esfuerzos terapéuticos.

Objetivo. Avaliar a capacidade da escala NEWS2-L (National Early Warning Score 2-lactato) de predizer o risco de deterioração clínica precoce (mortalidade de até 48h) em pacientes com dispneia tratados em Serviços de Emergência Médica, em comparação com a escala NEWS2 e a ácido láctico em solitário. Métodos. Estudo prospectivo de coorte multicêntrico de 638 pacientes com dispneia atendidos por ambulância e transferidos com alta prioridade para um serviço de emergência hospitalar nas cidades de Valladolid, Salamanca, Segovia e Burgos (Espanha). As informações foram obtidas a partir de variáveis clínicas, analíticas e demográficas, sendo a principal variável de desfecho a mortalidade por todas as causas em até 48 horas. Para o cálculo do NEWS2, foram seguidas as recomendações do Royal College of Physicians. Uma vez obtidos os valores do NEWS2 e do AL pré-hospitalar, ambos os valores foram somados e o NEWS2-L foi obtido. Resultados. A mortalidade antes de 48 horas foi de 56 pacientes (8,8%). A escala NEWS2-L obteve uma área sob a curva - característica operacional do receptor (ABC-COR) para mortalidade antes de 48 horas de 0.854 (IC 95% 0.790-0.917), em sete dias de 0.788 (IC 95% 0.729-0.848) e aos 30 dias de 0.744 (95% CI 0.692-0.796); em todos os casos p <0,001), experimentando uma diminuição significativa entre o seu valor às 48 he aos 30 dias. Conclusão. A escala NEWS2-L mostrou ser significativamente superior à escala NEWS2 e semelhante ao ácido láctico na predição da deterioração clínica precoce em pacientes com dispneia. Essa escala é um auxílio para o enfermeiro em sua prática habitual detectar precocemente esses pacientes e, assim, ser capaz de orientar os esforços terapêuticos.

Metabolic fatigue in resuscitators using personal protection equipment against biological hazard.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the effects of wearing individual protection equipment against biological hazard when performing a simulated resuscitation. METHODS: Uncontrolled quasi-experimental study involving 47 volunteers chosen by random sampling stratified by sex and professional category. We determined vital signs, anthropometric parameters and baseline lactate levels; subsequently, the volunteers put on level D individual protection equipment against biological hazard and performed a simulated resuscitation for 20 minutes. After undressing and 10 minutes of rest, blood was extracted again to determine lactate levels. Metabolic fatigue was defined as a level of lactic acid above 4 mmol/L at the end of the intervention. RESULTS: 25.5% of the participants finished the simulation with an unfavorable metabolic tolerance pattern. The variables that predict metabolic fatigue were the level of physical activity and bone mass -in a protective form- and muscle mass. People with a low level of physical activity had ten times the probability of metabolic fatigue compared to those with higher levels of activity (44% versus 4.5%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Professionals who present a medium or high level of physical activity tolerate resuscitation tasks better with a level D individual biological protection suit in a simulated resuscitation.

Metabolic fatigue in resuscitators using personal protection equipment against biological hazard

Abstract Objective. To describe the effects of wearing individual protection equipment against biological hazard when performing a simulated resuscitation. Methods. Uncontrolled quasi-experimental study involving 47 volunteers chosen by random sampling stratified by sex and professional category. We determined vital signs, anthropometric parameters and baseline lactate levels; subsequently, the volunteers put on level D individual protection equipment against biological hazard and performed a simulated resuscitation for 20 minutes. After undressing and 10 minutes of rest, blood was extracted again to determine lactate levels. Metabolic fatigue was defined as a level of lactic acid above 4 mmol/L at the end of the intervention. Results. 25.5% of the participants finished the simulation with an unfavorable metabolic tolerance pattern. The variables that predict metabolic fatigue were the level of physical activity and bone mass -in a protective formand muscle mass. People with a low level of physical activity had ten times the probability of metabolic fatigue compared to those with higher levels of activity (44% versus 4.5%, respectively). Conclusion. Professionals who present a medium or high level of physical activity tolerate resuscitation tasks better with a level D individual biological protection suit in a simulated resuscitation.

Resumen Objetivo. Describir cómo afecta llevar puesto un equipo de protección individual frente a riesgos biológicos durante la realización de una reanimación simulada. Métodos. Estudio cuasi-experimental no controlado en el que participaron 47 voluntarios elegidos mediante un muestreo aleatorio estratificado por sexo y categoría profesional. Se realizó una toma de contantes vitales y parámetros antropométricos, así como una determinación basal de lactato; posteriormente, los voluntarios se pusieron un equipo de protección individual nivel D frente a riesgos biológicos y realizaron una reanimación simulada durante 20 minutos; después del desvestido y de 10 minutos de reposo se realizó otra extracción de sangre para conocer los niveles de lactato. Se definió fatiga metabólica si el nivel de ácido láctico al final de la intervención estaba por encima de 4 mmol/L. Resultados El 25.5% de los participantes terminó la simulación con un mal patrón de tolerancia metabólica. Las variables que predicen la fatiga metabólica son el nivel de actividad física y la masa ósea ­en forma protectora- y la masa muscular. Las personas con un nivel bajo de actividad física tuvieron diez veces la probabilidad de fatiga metabólica comparadas con las de niveles más altos de actividad (44% versus 4.5%, respectivamente). Conclusión. Los profesionales que presentan un nivel de actividad física media o alta toleran mejor las labores de reanimación con un traje de protección biológica individual nivel D, en el caso de reanimación simulada.

Resumo Objetivo. Descrever como afeta vestir um equipamento de proteção individual frente a riscos biológicos durante a realização de uma reanimação simulada. Métodos. Estudo quase-experimental não controlado no qual participaram 47 voluntários elegidos mediante uma amostragem aleatória estratificado por sexo e categoria profissional. Se realizou uma toma de concreta e de parâmetros antropométricos, assim como uma determinação basal de lactato; posteriormente, os voluntários vestiram um equipamento de proteção individual nível D frente a riscos biológicos e realizaram uma reanimação simulada durante 20 minutos; depois do desvestido e de 10 minutos de repouso se realizou outra extração de sangue para conhecer os níveis de lactato. Se definiu fatiga metabólica se o nível de ácido láctico ao final da intervenção estava por encima de 4 mmol/L. Resultados 25.5% dos participantes terminou a simulação com um mal padrão de tolerância metabólica. As variáveis que predizem a fatiga metabólica são o nível de atividade física e a massa óssea ­em forma protetora- e a massa muscular. As pessoas com um nível baixo de atividade física tiveram dez vezes a probabilidade de fatiga metabólica comparadas com as de níveis mais altos de atividade (44% versus 4.5%, respectivamente). Conclusão. Os profissionais que apresentam um nível de atividade física média ou alta toleram melhor os trabalhos de reanimação com um equipamento de proteção biológica individual nível D, no caso de reanimação simulada.