Patients' attitudes toward their health literacy and the use of digital apps in health and disease management.

BACKGROUND: No qualitative studies have so far been conducted about patients' attitudes and perceptions toward their own health literacy and the use of digital apps in health and disease management based in Austria. AIM: In the context of digital apps, what are patients' attitudes and perceptions with regard to their own health literacy? METHOD: Guided interviews were conducted with patients in an Austrian hospital to obtain qualitative data. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the data. FINDINGS: Responses to the research questions fell into three main categories: 'health', 'health literacy' and 'digital applications in health and disease management', with each having its own set of subcategories. Digital apps appear to be an important strategy for helping patients optimise their own health literacy, as well as their health or disease management. Challenges referred to the handling of sensitive data or the possibility of publishing unfiltered information. CONCLUSION: Further studies need to be carried out to gain a more detailed understanding of the findings. Personal experience plays an important role in supporting quantitative findings.

eHealth systems for the optimised care of patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is one of the most common diseases worldwide. The demands on health services are rising as more people are diagnosed with the condition. In order to meet this demand, eHealth systems are increasingly being integrated into nursing care. METHODS: Between November 2018 and February 2019, a literature search was carried out in the databases PubMed and CINAHL. RESULTS: Twenty articles were found on nurses' use of eHealth systems, the majority with patients with diabetes. From this research, it would seem that eHealth systems have had a proven positive influence on patients' state of health and understanding of therapy. Subjectively perceived communication with the nursing staff also improved. Problems can arise in the implementation phase. CONCLUSION: In the future, increasingly, nurses will have to integrate eHealth systems into the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes. It is important that nurses understand such systems in order to guarantee a sustainable and successful implementation.

[Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - Challenges of Family Caregivers]. / Amyotrophe Lateralsklerose ­ Herausforderungen von pflegenden Angehörigen.

BACKGROUND: Patients who suffer from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis sometimes show pathological changes in behaviour and cognition. Some even develop frontotemporal dementia. The family caregivers of the patients are faced with additional challenges. AIM: To describe the effect of changes in behaviour and cognition on the emotional state and the perceived stress and burdens of family caregivers. METHOD: Different search terms were used for searching in several databases. Ten trials were included in the study. Further examinations of this topic on the basis of additional literature are described in the discussion section. RESULTS: Changes in behaviour and cognition can lead to symptoms of anxiety and depression in family caregivers. The findings also show a correlation between apathy, disinhibition and executive dysfunction combined with an increase in caregiver burden. CONCLUSION: Changes in behaviour and cognition in patients with ALS have a negative impact on the emotional state of family caregivers and contribute to increased feelings of being burdened. Early and detailed information concerning possible disease-induced changes is necessary.