Evaluation of Meditation Apps Available on Google Play and Apple Store: An App Review.

Many meditation apps have been used to improve the mental wellbeing of individuals. However, little information is available regarding the quality of the applications. This study aims to evaluate meditation apps using the Mobile Applications Rating Scale (MARS). A systematic search for meditation apps was performed on both Android Google Play and Apple iOS Store. We used two keywords to search both app stores: meditation and mindfulness. Out of 623 apps identified, 334 apps were excluded due to language, containing only reminders to meditate, or for not being accessible. A total number of 289 apps remained, of which 280 apps were excluded for being information-only focused, containing religious practices, eating habits, exercises, or for not being free. Therefore, nine apps were included in this review for evaluation. The MARS ratings used in this app review were based on scores from a prior study conducted. The mobile app Headspace had the highest average (4), which is rated as 'good' based on MARS. The remaining apps were rated as acceptable with averages that ranged from 3.2-3.7.

Features of Meditation Apps: A Scoping Review.

This review aims to provide an overview of the features of meditation apps as described in empirical literature. Nine databases were searched for this review. Search terms were related to all types of meditation. Study selection and data extraction of the included studies were conducted by two reviewers. We included 93 studies in this review. Headspace was the most common app among studies and the most common type of meditation was mindfulness. Stress was the most targeted health condition by the studies. Future research needs to focus on different mental conditions other than stress to understand the effect of meditation apps on mental health.

Electronic Health Records and Physician Burnout: A Scoping Review.

This scoping review aims to identify the causes and consequences of physician burnout resulting from using Electronic Health Records (EHRs), as reported by current literature. We identified studies by searching PubMed, Wiley Online Library, and Google Scholar. Study selection and data extraction were conducted by three reviewers independently. Extracted data was then synthesized narratively. Out of 500 references retrieved, 30 studies met all eligibility criteria. We identified six main causes that lead to physician burnout related to the use of EHRs: EHRs' documentation and related tasks, EHRs' poor design, workload, overtime work, inbox alerts, and alert fatigue. We also identified the following consequences of physician burnout: low-quality care, behavioral issues, mental health complications, substance abuse, career dissatisfaction, costly turnover, and a decline in patient safety and satisfaction.

The Impact of Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) on Physicians: A Scoping Review.

Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSSs) are used in a clinical setting to help physicians make decisions to improve clinical performance and patient care. There are many benefits to the implementation and adoption of CDSSs, such as reducing the rate of misdiagnosis, improving efficiency and patient care, and reducing the risk of medication errors. On the other hand, CDSSs can have several disadvantages. For example, physicians can see CDSSs as a threat to their clinical autonomy. CDSSs can also be very costly to adopt, maintain, and support. These advantages and disadvantages can have both positive and negative impacts on physicians. We conducted a scoping review to explore the impact of CDSSs on physicians. We searched the following electronic databases: CINAHL, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Two reviewers independently selected the retrieved studies and extracted data from the included studies. A narrative approach was used to synthesize the extracted data. We included 14 studies of the 300 retrieved studies. We identified the following positive impacts: work efficiency, providing more personalized care, improving care and knowledge, increasing confidence in making decisions, improving prescribing behavior, and reducing the number of ordered laboratory and medical imaging tests. Several negative impacts were also reported by the studies, namely: inefficient documentation, interruption in the patient-physician communication, and an increase in unnecessary referrals.

Health Informatics Association of Qatar (HIAQ): Building a Digital Health Ecosystem.

Qatar's digital health initiatives are growing through the development of research capacity, innovative technologies, and academic programs to serve the national health needs of the country. The digital health community of Qatar lacks the adequate representation of a professional body to serve the needs of the community. The purpose of this paper is to develop a strategic framework for the Health Informatics Association of Qatar (HIAQ) and present the preliminary findings of this effort. We utilized a multi-stage mixed methods approach in the development of HIAQ's strategic framework. We first reviewed the relevant literature, interviewed key stakeholders within the region, validated our findings with local stakeholders, and adapted the strategic directions to conform with Qatari laws. We present the purpose, organizational structure, vision, mission, and aims of HIAQ. Future work will engage the digital health community to further refine and adapt HIAQ's strategic direction to serve the local needs of Qatar.