ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic disease represent an at-risk group in the face of the COVID-19 crisis as they need to regularly monitor their lifestyle and emotional management. Coping with the illness becomes a challenge due to supply problems and lack of access to health care facilities. It is expected these limitations, along with lockdown and social distancing measures, have affected the routine disease management of these patients, being more pronounced in low- and middle-income countries with a flawed health care system. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to describe a protocol for a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of the Adhera® MejoraCare Digital Program, an mHealth intervention aimed at improving the quality of life of patients with chronic diseases during the COVID-19 outbreak in Paraguay. METHOD: A two-arm randomized controlled trial will be carried out, with repeated measures (baseline, 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month) under two conditions: Adhera® MejoraCare Digital Program or waiting list. The primary outcome is a change in the quality of life on the EuroQol 5-Dimensions 3-Levels Questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L). Other secondary outcomes, as the effect on anxiety and health empowerment, will be considered. All participants must be 18 years of age or older and meet the criteria for chronic disease. A total of 96 participants will be recruited (48 per arm). CONCLUSIONS: It is expected that the Adhera® MejoraCare Digital Program will show significant improvements in quality of life and emotional distress compared to the waiting list condition. Additionally, it is hypothesized that this intervention will be positively evaluated by the participants in terms of usability and satisfaction. The findings will provide new insights into the viability and efficacy of mHealth solutions for chronic disease management in developing countries and in times of pandemic. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04659746.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Telemedicine , Humans , Adolescent , Adult , COVID-19/epidemiology , Quality of Life , SARS-CoV-2 , Paraguay/epidemiology , Communicable Disease Control , Chronic Disease , Randomized Controlled Trials as TopicABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy is an effective treatment for children with growth disorders. However, poor outcomes are often associated with suboptimal adherence to treatment. OBJECTIVE: The easypod connected injection device records and transmits injection settings and dose data from patients receiving rhGH. In this study, we evaluated adherence to rhGH treatment, and associated growth outcomes, in Latin American patients. METHODS: Adherence and growth data from patients aged 2-18 years from 12 Latin American countries were analyzed. Adherence data were available for 6207 patients with 2,449,879 injections, and growth data were available for 497 patients with 2232 measurements. Adherence was categorized, based on milligrams of rhGH injected versus milligrams of rhGH prescribed, as high (≥85%), intermediate (>56%-<85%), or low (≤56%). Transmission frequency was categorized as high (≥1 per 3 months) or low (<1 per 3 months). Chi-square tests were applied to study the effect of pubertal status at treatment start and sex on high adherence, and to test differences in frequency transmission between the three adherence levels. Multilevel linear regression techniques were applied to study the effect of adherence on observed change in height standard deviation score (∆HSDS). RESULTS: Overall, 68% (4213/6207), 25% (n=1574), and 7% (n=420) of patients had high, intermediate, and low adherence, respectively. Pubertal status at treatment start and sex did not have a significant effect on high adherence. Significant differences were found in the proportion of patients with high transmission frequency between high (2018/3404, 59%), intermediate (608/1331, 46%), and low (123/351, 35%) adherence groups (P<.001). Adherence level had a significant effect on ∆HSDS (P=.006). Mean catch-up growth between 0-24 months was +0.65 SD overall (+0.52 SD in patients with low/intermediate monthly adherence and +0.69 SD in patients with high monthly adherence). This difference translated into 1.1 cm greater catch-up growth with high adherence. CONCLUSIONS: The data extracted from the easypod Connect ecosystem showed high adherence to rhGH treatment in Latin American patients, with positive growth outcomes, indicating the importance of connected device solutions for rhGH treatment in patients with growth disorders.
Subject(s)
Ecosystem , Human Growth Hormone , Adolescent , Body Height , Child , Child, Preschool , Growth Disorders/drug therapy , Human Growth Hormone/therapeutic use , Humans , Latin America/epidemiologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Design and develop a mobile messaging system called mSalUV, which reminds patients with type 2 diabetes about taking their medication and attending appointments and promotes healthy lifestyles, and explore patient opinion regarding use of the system. METHODS: The study had three stages: 1) design and development of mSalUV; 2) design and development of text messages; and 3) exploration of patient opinion regarding use of mSalUV. RESULTS: The mSalUV system was created and around 40 text messages were designed. A total of 1 850 messages were sent during the 45 day intervention. Patients thought that mSalUV helped them to treat their disease and that it was easy to use, they were inclined to continue using the system in the future, and people close to them (family members and support networks) supported them using it. Furthermore, they perceived the system as "someone that cared about them." CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that a system such as mSalUV would be well accepted by its potential users; in this case, people with type 2 diabetes. This presents a very interesting scenario that will enable taking advantage of new technologies for health. Further research is needed to evaluate the system's efficiency and effectiveness.
Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/prevention & control , Text Messaging , Female , Humans , Male , Mexico , Middle AgedABSTRACT
OBJETIVO: Diseñar y desarrollar un sistema de mensajería móvil llamado mSalUV, que permita recordar a pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 la toma de medicación y la asistencia a citas y que promueva estilos de vida saludables, así como explorar su opinión con respecto al uso del sistema. MÉTODOS: Se consideraron tres etapas: la primera incluyó el diseño y desarrollo de mSalUV. La segunda abarcó el diseño y construcción de los mensajes de texto. La tercera exploró la opinión de los usuarios con respecto al uso de mSalUV. RESULTADOS: Se obtuvo el sistema mSalUV, además se diseñaron alrededor de 40 mensajes de texto. Durante los 45 días del período de intervención se envió un total de 1 850 mensajes. Los usuarios opinaron que mSalUV los ayudaba en el tratamiento de su enfermedad, que era de fácil uso, mostraron una actitud favorable para continuar su uso en el futuro, además de que las personas cercanas a ellas (familiares y redes de apoyo), estaban de acuerdo en que lo utilizaran. Por otra parte, percibieron al sistema como "alguien que los quería". CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados presentados nos sugieren que un sistema como mSalUV sería bastante aceptado por los posibles usuarios, en este caso, personas con diabetes mellitus tipo 2. Esto nos plantea un escenario muy interesante que permitirá aprovechar a las nuevas tecnologías en beneficio de la salud. Se requieren más investigaciones para evaluar la eficacia y efectividad del sistema.
OBJECTIVE: Design and develop a mobile messaging system called mSalUV, which reminds patients with type 2 diabetes about taking their medication and attending appointments and promotes healthy lifestyles, and explore patient opinion regarding use of the system. METHODS: The study had three stages: 1) design and development of mSalUV; 2) design and development of text messages; and 3) exploration of patient opinion regarding use of mSalUV. RESULTS: The mSalUV system was created and around 40 text messages were designed. A total of 1 850 messages were sent during the 45 day intervention. Patients thought that mSalUV helped them to treat their disease and that it was easy to use, they were inclined to continue using the system in the future, and people close to them (family members and support networks) supported them using it. Furthermore, they perceived the system as "someone that cared about them." CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that a system such as mSalUV would be well accepted by its potential users; in this case, people with type 2 diabetes. This presents a very interesting scenario that will enable taking advantage of new technologies for health. Further research is needed to evaluate the system's efficiency and effectiveness.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Middle Aged , /prevention & control , Text Messaging , MexicoABSTRACT
El presente estudio se centra en la experiencia obtenida en la Sección de Urología del Hospital General del I.G.S., en el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la Litiasis Urinaria durante el período transcurrido de diciembre de 1989 a diciembre de 1991. Aplicando técnicas urológicas de ureteroscopía y litotripsia, por ondas ultrasónicas y electrohidráulicas. Se presentan 34 casos manejados durante este tiempo tomando en cuenta el diagnóstico clínico y radiológico, indicadores para efectuar los procedimientos, estancia hospitalaria post-op, tiempo de inicio de labores y tiempo quirúrgico. Además se explican las técnicas utilizadas y se hace una evaluación de los resultados obtenidos