Introduction of augmented reality to the remote wound care nursing consultation system.

OBJECTIVE: We implemented augmented reality (AR) in remote consultations for enhanced pressure injury (PI) care in homecare nursing and improved the efficiency of on-site technical education for homecare nurses. The study aimed to depict expert techniques using AR technology to improve PI healing time in a male patient. METHOD: We developed and implemented a new system that combines a transparent hand with an image and gives an output as a video image in the existing remote consultation software. The system was used to support remote care of PIs by nurses. RESULTS: We succeeded in superimposing the expert nurse's nonverbal hand gestures onto the patient's wound in real time. The visiting nurse's understanding of the system had improved and there was an improvement in the patient's PI healing. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that remote consultation using AR is effective to observe precise wound care demonstrations of the steps of the PI treatment and provide effective treatment.

Translation and reliability and validity testing of a Japanese version of the Intermittent Self-Catheterization Questionnaire among disposable and reusable catheter users.

AIMS: Quality of life in the context of intermittent self-catheterization varies depending on the type of catheter used. This study translated into Japanese, evaluated the feasibility, reliability, and validity of the Intermittent Self-Catheterization Questionnaire (ISC-Q) among users of both reusable and disposable catheters, and examined the differences of it between them. METHODS: Seventy patients (age mean ± SD: 62.8 ± 17.7 years) completed the Japanese version of the ISC-Q (J-ISC-Q) at baseline and 4 weeks later. Spearman's correlation coefficients between the J-ISC-Q, and Qualiveen® and the SF-12 were used for the translated scale's discriminant and convergent validity. Reliability was evaluated by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), the Bland-Altman method, and Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: Participants answered all questionnaire items with no difficulties. Scores on the convenience domain were significantly higher among reusable compared to disposable catheter users (P = 0.039). The J-ISC-Q had significantly strong correlations with the Qualiveen® total scale (ρ = -0.712 to -0.237), but weak correlations with the SF-12 total scale (ρ = -0.231 to 0.474). Internal consistency was good (Cronbach's alphas > 0.706), and test-retest reliability was acceptable (ICC > 0.6) for the total scale and the four J-ISC-Q domains. The Bland-Altman analysis showed no systematic error between scores at baseline and 4 weeks later for the total scale and four domains of the J-ISC-Q. CONCLUSIONS: The J-ISC-Q has acceptable reliability and validity for assessing both reusable and disposable catheter users, and can be used to promote tailored individualized interventions based on the impact of catheter use.