Digital Screen Time and the Risk of Female Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Matched Case-Control Study.

Background: As the use of electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and computers continues to rise globally, concerns have been raised about their potential impact on human health. Exposure to high energy visible (HEV) blue light, emitted from digital screens, particularly the so-called artificial light at night (ALAN), has been associated with adverse health effects, ranging from disruption of circadian rhythms to cancer. Breast cancer incidence rates are also increasing worldwide. Objective: This study aimed at finding a correlation between breast cancer and exposure to blue light from mobile phone. Material and Methods: In this retrospective matched case-control study, we aimed to investigate whether exposure to blue light from mobile phone screens is associated with an increased risk of female breast cancer. We interviewed 301 breast cancer patients (cases) and 294 controls using a standard questionnaire and performed multivariate analysis, chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests for data analysis. Results: Although heavy users in the case group of our study had a statistically significant higher mean 10-year cumulative exposure to digital screens compared to the control group (7089±14985 vs 4052±12515 hours, respectively, P=0.038), our study did not find a strong relationship between exposure to HEV and development of breast cancer. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that heavy exposure to HEV blue light emitted from mobile phone screens at night might constitute a risk factor for promoting the development of breast cancer, but further large-scale cohort studies are warranted.

The effect of nurse-led remote telephone triage on symptom management of patients with cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cancer patients experience many symptoms. Nurse-led remote telephone triage can improve their quality of life by contributing to the management of these symptoms. AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the effects of nurse-led remote telephone triage on symptom management of patients with cancer. METHODS: The searches were conducted in 10 databases and gray literature from May 2023 to July 2023 without any year limitations. A fixed-effects model was used in the meta-analysis. Cochran's Q chi-squared test and I2 statistics were used for heterogeneity. The PRISMA checklist was used. Data obtained from the included studies were analyzed using CMA 3 software. RESULTS: Six relevant studies (1671 patients) were included. Nurse-led remote telephone triage was found to have a positive and moderate effect on parameters such as pain (Hedge's g = 0.21, p < .001), fatigue (Hedge's g = 0.28, p < .001), and depression (Hedge's g = 0.24, p < .001) in patients with cancer. Also, the remote telephone triage had a positive and low effect on outcomes such as anxiety (Hedge's g = 0.17, p = .001), nausea (Hedge's g = 0.17, p = .004), and vomiting (Hedge's g = 0.16, p = .007) but did not affect diarrhea results. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: This study showed that nurse-led remote telephone triage considerably improved the symptoms of patients with cancer. This study will increase oncology nurses' awareness that nurse-led remote telephone triage of patients with cancer can improve their symptoms. Remote symptom triage developed using evidence-based guidelines and protocols can significantly contribute to the regular follow-up of patients' symptoms, providing quality care, and establishing appropriate symptom management programs and systems with high levels of evidence.

Inner Ear Function Evaluation in Mobile Phone Users: A Cross-Sectional Study From a Tertiary Care Centre in North India.

Background India has approximately 1.02 billion mobile phone users. The electromagnetic radiations emitted by telecommunication systems are absorbed by the recipient's body, leading to changes in brain electrical activity, sensations of warmth or burning around the ear, and alterations in the blood-brain barrier. The inner ear, being the closest organ during mobile phone use, directly receives these electromagnetic radiations. This study aims to assess the inner ear function among mobile phone users, investigate the impact of mobile phones on the hearing thresholds of volunteers through pure-tone audiometry (PTA), and delve into the same using otoacoustic emissions (OAE). Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted at a single center in North India from September 2020 to March 2021. The sample size of around 100 was determined using G Power software (G Power, Aichach, Germany), including volunteers aged 18-25, using mobile phones for over a year with normal hearing. Exclusions involved various ear-related histories or chronic systemic illnesses. Dominant and non-dominant ear groups were formed based on mobile phone usage. The study involved comprehensive ENT examinations, pure-tone audiometry, and otoacoustic emissions. We performed statistical analyses using SPSS version 22.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY), which presented descriptive statistics and employed tests for group comparisons. Results Most participants were in the 21-23 age group (56%), with a mean age of 22.16 ± 1.77 years. There were 45 males and 55 females. The mean mobile phone usage was 6.6 ± 1.98 years, with varying daily durations. The dominant ear for mobile phone usage was predominantly the right ear (75 participants). Pure-tone audiometry results showed no statistically significant differences between dominant and non-dominant ears. Among the 24 participants with absent OAE, no significant association was found with mobile phone usage duration. Notably, the highest incidence of absent OAE occurred in the 120-180-minute usage category. Conclusion Mobile phones have seamlessly integrated into the lives of individuals, witnessing an exponential increase in users over time. The inner ear, situated in proximity to mobile phone usage, is of particular concern. While there is existing evidence indicating potential adverse effects of mobile phones on the inner ear, further long-term studies involving larger populations are essential to comprehensively evaluating the impact on inner ear function among mobile phone users.

An empirical investigation to understand mobile phone users' behavioural intention to give their end-of-life mobile phones for formal recycling.

Mobile phones have turned into a highly essential device for numerous individuals. Swift innovation and decrease in in-use lifespan have increased the generation of end-of-life mobile phones (EOL-MPs). Lesser formal recycling of EOL-MPs has detrimental outcomes on the environment, human health, and circular economy. Therefore, this research was undertaken to investigate factors impacting mobile phone users' behavioural intention to give their EOL-MPs for formal recycling. The conceptual model was developed by integrating the theory of planned behaviour, norm activation model, and value-belief-norm theory. Responses were collected from mobile phone users aged 18 and above residing in Bengaluru, Mangaluru, and Huballi-Dharvad cities of Karnataka state, India. 1135 responses were analysed by applying partial least squares structural equation modelling. Incentives was figured out to be the most positively impacting construct on behavioural intention. Followed by awareness of consequences, social media, past recycling experience, and recycling attitude. Whereas risk perception regarding information security and convenience of recycling negatively impacts behavioural intention. Personal norms get activated by awareness of consequences and ascription of responsibility. As a result, personal norms positively impact behavioural intention. In addition, biospheric values also positively impact personal norms. The outcomes of PLSpredict signify that the conceptual model has high out-of-sample predictive power. The outcomes of this research can be utilized by various stakeholders like e-waste collection organisations, e-waste recycling organisations, mobile phone manufacturing companies, city corporations, educational institutions, etc for improving sustainable end-of-life management of EOL-MPs.

Smartphone Eye Examination: Artificial Intelligence and Telemedicine.

Background: The current medical scenario is closely linked to recent progress in telecommunications, photodocumentation, and artificial intelligence (AI). Smartphone eye examination may represent a promising tool in the technological spectrum, with special interest for primary health care services. Obtaining fundus imaging with this technique has improved and democratized the teaching of fundoscopy, but in particular, it contributes greatly to screening diseases with high rates of blindness. Eye examination using smartphones essentially represents a cheap and safe method, thus contributing to public policies on population screening. This review aims to provide an update on the use of this resource and its future prospects, especially as a screening and ophthalmic diagnostic tool. Methods: In this review, we surveyed major published advances in retinal and anterior segment analysis using AI. We performed an electronic search on the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), EMBASE, and Cochrane Library for published literature without a deadline. We included studies that compared the diagnostic accuracy of smartphone ophthalmoscopy for detecting prevalent diseases with an accurate or commonly employed reference standard. Results: There are few databases with complete metadata, providing demographic data, and few databases with sufficient images involving current or new therapies. It should be taken into consideration that these are databases containing images captured using different systems and formats, with information often being excluded without essential detailing of the reasons for exclusion, which further distances them from real-life conditions. The safety, portability, low cost, and reproducibility of smartphone eye images are discussed in several studies, with encouraging results. Conclusions: The high level of agreement between conventional and a smartphone method shows a powerful arsenal for screening and early diagnosis of the main causes of blindness, such as cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration. In addition to streamlining the medical workflow and bringing benefits for public health policies, smartphone eye examination can make safe and quality assessment available to the population.

Mobile Phone Technology for Preventing HIV and Related Youth Health Problems, Sexual Health, Mental Health, and Substance Use Problems in Southwest Uganda (Youth Health SMS): Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: East and Southern Africa have the highest HIV incidence and prevalence in the world, with adolescents and young adults being at the greatest risk. Despite effective combination prevention tools, including the recently available pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), HIV incidence among adolescents and young adults in Uganda remains high, and PrEP use remains low. Mental health and substance use (behavioral health) play a role in sexual behavior and decision-making, contributing to an increase in the risk for acquiring HIV. Interventions that target multiple HIV risk factors, including sexual and mental health and problematic substance use, are crucial to ending the HIV epidemic. Yet few interventions addressing HIV related health disparities and comorbidities among adolescents and young adults in East and Southern Africa currently exist. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of Kirabo, an SMS text message intervention informed by the information, motivation, and behavior model and to be disseminated through secondary schools. The study will gather preliminary estimates of Kirabo's effectiveness in increasing HIV testing and linking users to mental health counselors. METHODS: We identified Mobile 4 Reproductive Health for adaptation using the assessment, decision, administration, production, topical experts, integration, training, testing (ADAPT-ITT) framework. Mobile 4 Reproductive Health is an evidence-based automated 2-way SMS text messaging and interactive voice response platform that offers sexual and reproductive health information and links users to HIV clinics in East Africa. Through ADAPT-ITT we refined our approach and created Kirabo, an SMS text message-based intervention for linking adolescents and young adults to health services, including HIV testing and mental health counseling. We will conduct a 2-arm randomized controlled trial in Masaka, Uganda. Adolescents (N=200) will be recruited from local schools. Baseline sociodemographic characteristics, HIV test history, and behavioral health symptoms will be assessed. We will evaluate acceptability and feasibility using surveys, interviews, and mobile phone data. The preliminary efficacy of Kirabo in increasing HIV testing and linking users to mental health counselors will be evaluated immediately after the intervention and at the 3-month follow-up. We will also assess the intervention's impact on self-efficacy in testing for HIV, adopting PrEP, and contacting a mental health counselor. RESULTS: Intervention adaptation began in 2019. A pretest was conducted in 2021. The randomized controlled trial, including usability and feasibility assessments and effectiveness measurements, commenced in August 2023. CONCLUSIONS: Kirabo is a tool that assists in the efforts to end the HIV epidemic by targeting the health disparities and comorbidities among adolescents in Uganda. The intervention includes local HIV clinic information, PrEP information, and behavioral health screening, with referrals as needed. Increasing access to prevention strategies and mitigating factors that make adolescents and young adults susceptible to HIV acquisition can contribute to global efforts to end the HIV epidemic. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05130151; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05130151. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/49352.

Should Parents Allow Their Children Use Smartphones and Tablets? The Issue of Screen Time for Recreational Activities.

Previous research has shown that children are more vulnerable to the adverse effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) and blue light emitted from digital screens compared to healthy adults. This paper presents the findings of a cross-sectional study conducted in Yasuj, Iran, to investigate the screen time habits of children and adolescents and its potential impact on their health. A total of 63 participants, including 44 boys and 19 girls, were randomly selected for the study. The results showed that the average daily screen time for the children was 87.38 minutes, with a standard deviation of 49.58. When examining the specific purposes of screen time, it was found that the children spent an average of 17.54 minutes per day on screens for school assignments, 70 minutes per day for recreational purposes, and 23.41 minutes per day for contacting family, friends, and relatives. Our study highlights that a significant portion of the children's screen time was allocated to recreational activities. We observed some differences in screen time between girls and boys. Boys had a slightly higher overall daily screen time, primarily driven by more recreational screen time. However, girls spent slightly more time on screens for school assignments. The screen time for social interactions was similar for both genders. Our findings on the cognitive performance of children with different levels of screen time will be published in a separate paper.

Effect of Mobile Phone with and without Earphones Usage on Nickel Ion Release from Fixed Orthodontic Appliance.

INTRODUCTION: This study is an attempt to assess whether the usage of headphones could minimize the nickel ion release from fixed orthodontic appliance compared with hand-held mobile phones. The aim of the study is to validate the hypothesis whether there is a significant variation in nickel ion release from fixed orthodontic appliance among the patients using hand-held mobile phones and patients using mobile earphones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study where a total of 60 healthy individuals who were undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment in the Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Adhiparasakthi Dental College and Hospital, Melmaruvathur, Chennai, India, and all these individuals were bonded and banded. All of them are class I malocclusion with bimaxillary protrusion. Salivary samples were collected in their regular checkup after two months and 7th, 14th, and 21st days salivary nickel level was evaluated based on their usage of mobile phones with earphones and without earphones. RESULTS: In this study, paired and independent t-tests were used. On basis of statistics results, the mean of nickel release in both male and female participants using mobile phones without earphones were significantly higher than the participants using mobile phone with earphones. CONCLUSION: By our study, we concluded that usage of mobile phones with earphones has a significant reduced effect on metal ion release from fixed orthodontic appliance when compared to usage of mobile phones without earphones.

Using Technology to Deliver Cardiovascular Care in African Countries.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review aims to explore the applications of digital technology in cardiovascular care across African countries. It highlights the opportunities and challenges associated with leveraging technology to enhance patient self-monitoring, remote patient-clinician interactions, telemedicine, clinician and patient education, and research facilitation. The purpose is to highlight how technology can transform cardiovascular care in Africa. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent findings indicate that the increasing penetration of mobile phones and internet connectivity in Africa offers a unique opportunity to improve cardiovascular care. Smartphone-based applications and text messaging services have been employed to promote self-monitoring and lifestyle management, although challenges related to smartphone ownership and digital literacy persist. Remote monitoring of patients by clinicians using home-based devices and wearables shows promise but requires greater accessibility and validation studies in African populations. Telemedicine diagnosis and management of cardiovascular conditions demonstrates significant potential but faces adoption challenges. Investing in targeted clinician and patient education on novel digital technology and devices as well as promoting technology-assisted research for participant recruitment and data collection can facilitate cardiovascular care advancements in Africa. Technology has the potential to revolutionize cardiovascular care in Africa by improving access, efficiency, and patient outcomes. However, barriers related to limited resources, supportive infrastructure, digital literacy, and access to devices must be addressed. Strategic actions, including investment in digital infrastructure, training programs, community collaboration, and policy advocacy, are crucial to ensuring equitable integration of digital health solutions.

Co-developed implementation guidelines to maximize acceptability, feasibility, and usability of mobile phone supervision in Kenya.

Opportunities exist to leverage mobile phones to replace or supplement in-person supervision of lay counselors. However, contextual variables, such as network connectivity and provider preferences, must be considered. Using an iterative and mixed methods approach, we co-developed implementation guidelines to support the implementation of mobile phone supervision with lay counselors and supervisors delivering a culturally adapted trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy in Western Kenya. Guidelines were shared and discussed with lay counselors in educational outreach visits led by supervisors. We evaluated the impact of guidelines and outreach on the acceptability, feasibility, and usability of mobile phone supervision. Guidelines were associated with significant improvements in acceptability and usability of mobile phone supervision. There was no evidence of a significant difference in feasibility. Qualitative interviews with lay counselors and supervisors contextualized how guidelines impacted acceptability and feasibility - by setting expectations for mobile phone supervision, emphasizing importance, increasing comfort, and sharing strategies to improve mobile phone supervision. Introducing and discussing co-developed implementation guidelines significantly improved the acceptability and usability of mobile phone supervision. This approach may provide a flexible and scalable model to address challenges with implementing evidence-based practices and implementation strategies in lower-resourced areas.

Heterogeneous changes in mobility in response to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 outbreak in Shanghai.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the measures taken by authorities to control its spread have altered human behavior and mobility patterns in an unprecedented way. However, it remains unclear whether the population response to a COVID-19 outbreak varies within a city or among demographic groups. Here, we utilized passively recorded cellular signaling data at a spatial resolution of 1 km × 1 km for over 5 million users and epidemiological surveillance data collected during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron BA.2 outbreak from February to June 2022 in Shanghai, China, to investigate the heterogeneous response of different segments of the population at the within-city level and examine its relationship with the actual risk of infection. Changes in behavior were spatially heterogenous within the city and population groups and associated with both the infection incidence and adopted interventions. We also found that males and individuals aged 30 to 59 y old traveled more frequently, traveled longer distances, and their communities were more connected; the same groups were also associated with the highest SARS-CoV-2 incidence. Our results highlight the heterogeneous behavioral change of the Shanghai population to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 outbreak and the effect of heterogenous behavior on the spread of COVID-19, both spatially and demographically. These findings could be instrumental for the design of targeted interventions for the control and mitigation of future outbreaks of COVID-19, and, more broadly, of respiratory pathogens.

Hold the phone! A cross-national analysis of Women's education, mobile phones, and HIV infections in low- and middle-income countries, 1990-2018.

Despite remarkable progress in the fight against HIV, the number of new infections remains unacceptably high, epidemics continue to grow in certain communities, and therefore AIDS continues to be one of the deadliest pandemics of our times. This study analyzes the rate of new HIV infections over almost 30 years in low- and middle-income countries. Previous research identifies two critical ways to address HIV prevention in developing countries: educating women and using mobile phones to improve health literacy and access to virtual healthcare. Our study bridges these literatures by evaluating how women's education and mobile technology work together to support the goals of HIV prevention in low- and middle-income countries. Using two-way panel fixed effects regression models of HIV incidence across 76 developing countries, we find that both increasing access to women's education and increasing access to mobile phones are associated with fewer HIV infections over time. Furthermore, we discover that women's education moderates the relationship between mobile phones and HIV. More specifically, mobile phones seem to be more beneficial for HIV prevention in cases where rates of formal schooling are low. However, at higher levels of women's education, the impact of mobile phones on new HIV infections is substantially reduced. Our findings have important policy implications for Information and Communications for Development (ICT4D) programs.

Do mobile phone surfaces carry SARS-CoV-2 virus? A systematic review warranting the inclusion of a "6th" moment of hand hygiene in healthcare.

BACKGROUND: Mobile phones, used in billions throughout the world, are high-touch devices subject to a dynamic contamination of microorganisms and rarely considered as an important fomite to sanitise systematically. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 resulted in the COVID-19 pandemic, arguably the most impactful pandemic of the 21st century with millions of deaths and disruption of all facets of modern life globally. AIM: To perform a systematic review of the literature exploring SARS-CoV-2 presence as a contaminant on mobile phones. METHODS: A systematic search (PubMed and Google Scholar) of literature was undertaken from December 2019 to March 2023 identifying English language studies. Studies included in this review specifically identified or tested for the contamination of the SARS-CoV-2 virus or genome on mobile phones while studies testing for SARS-COV-2 in environments and/or other fomites samples than but not mobile phones were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 15 studies with reports of SARS-CoV-2 contamination on mobile phones between 2020 and 2023 were included. Amongst all studies, which encompassed ten countries, 511 mobile phones were evaluated for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 contamination and 45% (231/511) were positive for SARS-CoV-2. All studies were conducted in the hospital setting and two studies performed additional testing in residential isolation rooms and a patient's house. Four studies (3 in 2020 and one in 2021) reported 0% contamination while two other studies (in 2020 and 2022) reported 100% of mobile phone contamination with SARS-COV-2. All other studies report mobile phones positive for the virus within a range of 4-77%. CONCLUSION: A total of 45% of mobile phones are contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 virus. These devices might be an important fomite vector for viral dissemination worldwide. Competent health authorities are advised/recommended to start a global implementation of mobile phone decontamination by introducing regulations and protocols in public health and health care settings such as the 6th moment of hand washing.

Knowledge, attitude, and perception of dental undergraduates towards mobile and digital learning methods in India: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Internet-based education is having few advantages since it increases an emphasis on the education system based on problems by incorporation of both visual as well as interactive tools. Also, some contributions to practical skills can be made using pictorial as well as video-based knowledge. The present study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and perception of dental undergraduates towards mobile and digital learning methods in India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study conducted after obtaining Institutional Ethical Review Board permission. Before commencing the study, the purpose of the study was explained to the study participants and written informed consent was obtained. About 200 undergraduate students of dentistry in a single institution were selected as a convenient sample. Information obtained from responses was entered into an Excel sheet (Microsoft Corporation) and was further analyzed. Data collection was done for a period of one month. Statistical analysis: Obtained data were recorded and subjected to statistical analysis by use of statistical SPSS software (version 20.0, IBM). Descriptive statistical data were recorded as frequencies or percentages. Chi-square statistical test was used for the assessment of responses obtained from dental undergraduate students. The level of significance was fixed at a probability of <0.05. RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS: On statistically analyzing, 99% of students were found to possess knowledge regarding the use of mobile phones for digital education. A good statistical correlation was obtained between attitude and perception regarding accessing digital learning using mobile phones. CONCLUSION: In the present study, good knowledge, attitude, and perception regarding the use of digital learning using phones were found among Indian dental undergraduates.

Using Smartphones to Identify Momentary Characteristics of Persecutory Ideation Associated With Functional Disability.

Objectives: Though often a feature of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, persecutory ideation (PI) is also common in other psychiatric disorders as well as among individuals who are otherwise healthy. Emerging technologies allow for a more thorough understanding of the momentary phenomenological characteristics that determine whether PI leads to significant distress and dysfunction. This study aims to identify the momentary phenomenological features of PI associated with distress, dysfunction, and need for clinical care. Methods: A total of 231 individuals with at least moderate PI from 43 US states participated in a study involving 30 days of data collection using a smartphone data collection system combining ecological momentary assessment and passive sensors, wherein they reported on occurrence of PI as well as related appraisals, responses, and cooccurring states. Most (N = 120, 51.9%) participants reported never having received treatment for their PI, while 50 participants had received inpatient treatment (21.6%), and 60 (26.4%) had received outpatient care only. Results: Individuals with greater functional disability did not differ in PI frequency but were more likely at the moment to describe threats as important to them, to ruminate about those threats, to experience distress related to them, and to change their behavior in response. Groups based on treatment-seeking patterns largely did not differ in baseline measures or momentary phenomenology of PI as assessed by self-report or passive sensors. Conclusions: Smartphone data collection allows for granular assessment of PI-related phenomena. Functional disability is associated with differences in appraisals of and responses to PI at the moment.

Bacterial Contamination of Mobile Phones Used by Healthcare Workers in Critical Care Units: A Cross-Sectional Study from Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) present a formidable challenge for healthcare institutions, resulting in heightened mortality, morbidity, and economic burden. Within healthcare settings, various equipment and materials, including mobile phones, can potentially act as sources of infection. This study sought to examine the occurrence of bacterial contamination on mobile phones utilized by healthcare workers (HCWs) in intensive care units (ICUs), pediatric intensive care units (PICUs), neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), and cardiac care units (CCUs) within a central hospital (CH) and two peripheral hospitals (PHs) situated in the southwestern province of Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected a total of 157 samples from mobile phones utilized by HCWs across all ICUs in the CH and PHs. These samples underwent bacteriological analysis to evaluate the degree of bacterial contamination. RESULTS: We found that 45 out of 55 samples from physicians (81.81%) and 58 out of 77 samples from nurses (75.32%) showed bacterial contamination. Contamination rates on HCWs' mobile phones in the ICU, PICU, and NICU departments of the CH were observed at 69.56%, 80.95%, and 70.27%, respectively. Furthermore, the overall contamination rates in the ICUs, NICUs, and CCUs of the PHs were 78.26%, 88.88%, and 66.66%, respectively. The overall contamination rates of mobile phones in the CH and PHs were 72.11% and 81.13%, respectively. CONCLUSION: These findings underscore the necessity of routinely disinfecting the mobile phones of HCWs to mitigate the risk of cross-contamination. Implementing robust disinfection protocols can significantly contribute to curtailing the propagation of bacterial pathogens and reducing the incidence of HAIs in healthcare settings.

Use of Smartphones as a Risk Factor for the Development of Morbidities in the Wrist and Fingers.

Objective To investigate the long-term use of smartphones as a risk factor for the development of morbidities in the wrist and fingers. Methods The present is a descriptive, exploratory study with a quantitative approach based on injury prevalence among one hundred smartphone users of a private university in the state of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil. We applied a semi-structured questionnaire and the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ), as well as the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Finkelstein, Phalen, reverse Phalen, and Tinel signal tests on the wrist. Results The average of the sample was of 22.73 years, with a prevalence of single, right-handed female participants. Most of them had been using smartphones for 5 to 10 years, and 85% reported discomfort in the wrist and fingers while using the device, with numbness as the most prevalent symptom. Most clinical tests were negative, and the Finklestein test showed greater positivity. The BCTQ is composed of a symptom severity scale (S scale) and a functional status scale (F scale): the overall score on the S scale was of 1.61, indicating mild to moderate symptoms, and the F scale revealed that the symptoms did not affect functionality. Conclusion There was a significant correlation between the length of use of smartphones and discomfort in the wrist and fingers; as such, smartphones are a risk factor for the development of morbidities.

Evaluation of the recycling potential of obsolete mobile phones through secondary material resources identification: A comprehensive characterization study.

The growing concern over the management of e-wastes has generated an interest in the recovery of resources from these wastes under the concept of urban mining and circular economy. However, in the absence of accurate knowledge of the physico-chemical compositional structure of these wastes makes the recycling process difficult. Thus, the present study conducted a recycling-oriented characterization of waste mobile phones (WMPs) for the identification of secondary materials and estimated their recycling potential. The characterization was performed using ICP-OES and FTIR techniques after dismantling WMPs for the determination of elemental composition and the polymeric fractions respectively. Dismantling of the WMPs revealed that enclosures, batteries, display modules, and PCBs consist of 35.33 wt%, 28.9 wt%, 19.44 wt%, and 16.31 wt% respectively. Of these components, PCBs constitute the highest economic recovery potential with an estimated potential revenue generation of more than 50,000 US $ per ton of waste PCBs. Copper showed the highest recovery potential (234.39 tons/year) with an economic value of approximately 3317 US $/ton of WPCBs followed by Sn (27.37 tons/year) and Ni (24.64 tons/year). Among different precious metals, Au was found to have the highest percentage of economic value (76.22%) followed by Pd (8.16%) and Ag (3.13%). The display modules and enclosures were found to have relatively lower contributions than WPCBs in the overall recycling potential due to lower metal contents and mixed polymeric fractions. The findings in the study indicate that WMPs could serve as a promising new source for sustainable secondary mining of rare and valuable metals. Further, the study will help the policymakers in designing effective e-waste management strategies through the promotion of sustainable recovery of materials.

Understanding the Challenges of Intensive Care Staff in Communicating With Patients and Patients' Families During the COVID-19 Crisis: A Qualitative Exploration.

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) isolation protocols in India restricted family members of COVID-19 patients from visiting them in hospitals and in intensive care units, especially during the peak of the pandemic. This along with the elaborate personal protective equipment (PPE) created challenges for intensivists and nurses in COVID ICUs in effectively communicating with patients and patients' families, especially in shared decision-making processes. Methods This article is the outcome of a qualitative study using in-depth one-on-one interviews with 10 intensivists and four intensive care nurses in two teaching hospitals in Bengaluru, South India. Each participant, purposively selected till data saturation was reached, had spent extensive periods of time in a COVID ICU during both COVID-19 waves in 2020 and 2021. A framework of descriptive phenomenology led to the design of the study in which varied experiences and insights of participants were captured using an interview guide to understand their lived reality. The interviews were conducted online or in person between July 2021 and October 2021 and were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Coding of transcripts using the NVivo 12 (Burlington, MA: QSR International Pty Ltd) software helped with the thematic analysis. This was guided by interpretive phenomenological methods that derived meaning from participants' life experiences. Results Four themes involving challenges in effective communication in the COVID ICU emerged as follows: physical barriers, emotional and mental stressors, infrastructural challenges, and ethical and moral dilemmas. Sub-themes included personal protective equipment as a barrier, reduced energy levels, and isolation of family from patients under the domain of physical challenges; fears of the unknown, handling death of patients in isolation, and the frustrations of families were challenges under the emotional and mental domain. Infrastructural/systemic challenges included poor connectivity and insufficient mobile phones, and the absence of rules to handle interruptions. Privacy breaches, taking consent over the phone, end-of-life discussions, and medico-legal risks emerged as the subthemes under the domain of ethical and moral challenges. A mobile phone communication policy specifying usage times and operating methods, a mandatory communication and counseling training module for intensivists and intensive care nurses, and a set of protocols for highly restrictive, intensive care units in pandemic situations were recommendations and lessons learned. Conclusions The lack of face-to-face interactions was a serious barrier to communication between ICU staff and patients and their caregivers. It had a bearing on trust levels and had emotional and ethical consequences for healthcare teams to handle. Opportunities for self-care, venting of anxiety and distress, and opportunities to celebrate and reward special efforts and cooperation between consultants, residents, nurses, and technicians in stressful environments like a pandemic ICU were important to sustain empathy and keep care and communication humane.

A Hybrid Mobile Phone Feasibility Study Focusing on Latino Mothers, Fathers, and Grandmothers to Prevent Obesity in Preschoolers.

OBJECTIVE: To pilot the feasibility of a mobile phone childhood obesity intervention for family caregivers of Latino preschool-aged children. METHODS: An evidence-based early childhood obesity intervention was adapted to have cultural relevance and a shorter-length curriculum for mothers, fathers, and grandmothers of 2- to 5-year-old Latino children. Traditional in-person group sessions (four weeks) were combined with eight weeks of mobile phone content to support parenting skills and evidence-based and age-appropriate nutritional practices in either English or Spanish. A convenience sample of Latino families were recruited from WIC and Early Education Centers in East Los Angeles. Feasibility measures were collected. Child and caregiver height and weight were measured, and caregiver surveys of child dietary intake were collected at baseline, 1- and 6-month post-baseline. Changes in child's dietary intake and BMI, as well as caregiver BMI, were examined using a mixed effects linear regression model with family random intercept and nested random slope for time period of measurement. RESULTS: The program was delivered to 64 low-income Latino families (46 mothers, 34 fathers, 16 grandmothers, and 48 children). Children had a reduction in raw BMI, BMI percentile, and BMI z-scores at 6-months post-baseline compared to baseline measurements. The study also demonstrated stable BMI outcomes among all caregivers. CONCLUSION: The pilot study shows promise in preventing childhood obesity, and having a multi-generational impact on weight outcomes. Leveraging the high-use of mobile phones has the potential to shorten in-person interventions, and engage fathers and grandmothers who play an important role in shaping healthy weight practices in young children.