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Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures individual well-being across physical, psychological, and social domains. Patients with predominantly antibody deficiency (PAD) are at risk for morbidity and mortality, however, the effect of these complications on HRQoL requires additional study. Patients with PAD were asked to voluntarily complete the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) HRQoL-14 Healthy Days Measure questionnaire. These results were compared to data from the CDC-initiated Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a cross-sectional questionnaire including questions from CDC-HRQOL-14. Statistical analyses included two-proportion Z-test, t-tests, and analysis of variance. 83 patients with PAD completed the survey. Patients were sub-stratified into mild (23.7%), moderate (35.5%), severe (40.8%), and secondary (8.4%) PAD. "Fair or poor" health status was reported in 52.6% of PAD patients. Mental health challenges ≥ 14 days/month occurred in 25% of patients. Physical health issues ≥ 14 days/month was reported in 44.7% of patients. Activity limitations were noted by 80.3% of patients. There were no statistically significant differences by PAD severity. Patients with autoimmune and inflammatory disease co-morbidities reported more mental health challenges compared to those without (78% vs. 54.3%, p = 0.02). Compared to the CDC-BRFSS data, significantly more patients with PAD reported "fair or poor" health status (53% vs 12.0%; p < 0.0001), mental health challenges (24.1% vs 14.7%; p = 0.02), and poor physical health (44.6% vs 8.0%; p < 0.0001). Patients with PAD had significantly reduced HRQoL compared to CDC-BRFSS respondents from a similar geographical region. Decreased HRQoL was prevalent across all PAD severity levels. Additional research is needed to improve HRQoL for patients with PAD.
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Calidad de Vida , Humanos , Estudios Transversales , Masculino , Femenino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Adulto , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Estado de Salud , Anciano , Adulto Joven , Síndromes de Inmunodeficiencia/epidemiología , Estados Unidos/epidemiología , AdolescenteRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the current situation of Chinese mobile apps for hypertension management and explore patients' real requirements for app use, providing a theoretical basis for the future improvement of hypertension apps. METHODS: We reviewed hypertension management apps from mobile app platforms, and summarized their functional characteristics. In addition, we conducted an online survey among 1000 hypertensive patients, collected valid responses, and analyzed the feedback data. RESULTS: Forty hypertension management apps were analyzed, with 72.5% offering no more than six functions, indicating limited coverage of advanced and comprehensive functionalities. Among the 934 valid survey responses, patients emphasized four main functions in apps for hypertension management: long-term dynamic blood pressure monitoring, scientific lifestyle management, strict medication management and systematic health knowledge delivering. CONCLUSION: The existing hypertension management apps mainly serve as "Digital Health" tools with unclear clinical efficacy. The future development of these apps lies in how they transition to "Digital Therapeutics" solutions to better meet patients' needs and provide clear clinical advantages.
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Hipertensión , Aplicaciones Móviles , Humanos , Aplicaciones Móviles/tendencias , Aplicaciones Móviles/estadística & datos numéricos , Hipertensión/terapia , China , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Telemedicina/tendencias , Masculino , Femenino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Adulto , Manejo de la Enfermedad , Pueblos del Este de AsiaRESUMEN
Background: Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) frequently face substantial medication burdens. Follow-up care on medication management is critical in achieving disease control. This study aimed to analyze the complexity of COPD-specific medication and determine how it impacted patients' attendance on follow-up care. Methods: This multicenter study includes patients with COPD from 1,223 hospitals across 29 provinces in China from January 2021 to November 2022. The medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI) score was used to measure COPD-specific medication complexity. The association between medication complexity and follow-up care attendance was evaluated using the Cox Proportional Hazard Model. Results: Among 16,684 patients, only 2,306 (13.8%) returned for follow-up medication management. 20.3% of the patients had high complex medication regimen (MRCI score >15.0). The analysis revealed that compared to those with less complex regimens, patients with more complex medication regimens were significantly less likely to attend the follow-up medication care, with a Hazard Ratio (HR) of 0.82 (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 0.74-0.91). Specifically, patients with more complex dosage forms were 51% less likely to attend the follow-up care (95% CI, 0.43-0.57). This pattern was especially marked among male patients, patients younger than 65 years, and those without comorbid conditions. Conclusion: Higher medication complexity was associated with a decreased likelihood of attending follow-up care. To promote care continuity in chronic disease management, individuals with complex medication regimens should be prioritized for enhanced education. Furthermore, pharmacists collaborating with respiratory physicians to deprescribe and simplify dosage forms should be considered in the disease management process.
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BACKGROUND: The integration of telehealth-supported programs in chronic disease management has become increasingly common. However, its effectiveness for individuals with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of telehealth-supported exercise or physical activity programs for individuals with KOA. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search encompassing Embase, MEDLINE, CENTRAL, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, PEDro, GreyNet, and medRxiv from inception to September 2023 was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials comparing telehealth-supported exercise or physical activity programs to a control condition for KOA. Data were extracted and qualitatively synthesized across eligible studies, and a meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the effects. The study was reported according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) 2020. RESULTS: In total, 23 studies met eligibility criteria, with 20 included in the meta-analysis. Results showed that telehealth-supported exercise or physical activity programs reduced pain (g=-0.39; 95% CI -0.67 to -0.11; P<.001), improved physical activity (g=0.13; 95% CI 0.03-0.23; P=.01), and enhanced physical function (g=-0.51; 95% CI -0.98 to -0.05; P=.03). Moreover, significant improvements in quality of life (g=0.25; 95% CI 0.14-0.36; P<.001), self-efficacy for pain (g=0.72; 95% CI 0.53-0.91; P<.001), and global improvement (odds ratio 2.69, 95% CI 1.41-5.15; P<.001) were observed. However, self-efficacy for physical function (g=0.14; 95% CI -0.26 to 0.53; P=.50) showed insignificant improvements. Subgroup analyses based on the World Health Organization classification of digital health (pain: χ22=6.5; P=.04 and physical function: χ22=6.4; P=.04), the type of teletechnology in the intervention group (pain: χ24=4.8; P=.31 and function: χ24=13.0; P=.01), and active or inactive controls (pain: χ21=5.3; P=.02 and physical function: χ21=3.4; P=.07) showed significant subgroup differences. CONCLUSIONS: Telehealth-supported exercise or physical activity programs might reduce knee pain and improve physical activity, physical function, quality of life, self-efficacy, and global improvement in individuals with KOA. Future research should consider longer implementation durations and assess the feasibility of incorporating wearables and standardized components into large-scale interventions to evaluate the effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42022359658; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=359658.
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Terapia por Ejercicio , Ejercicio Físico , Osteoartritis de la Rodilla , Telemedicina , Humanos , Osteoartritis de la Rodilla/rehabilitación , Osteoartritis de la Rodilla/terapia , Terapia por Ejercicio/métodos , Calidad de Vida , Ensayos Clínicos Controlados Aleatorios como Asunto , Femenino , Masculino , Persona de Mediana EdadRESUMEN
Objective: Early in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, evidence emerged that individuals with chronic and immunocompromising conditions faced increased risk of severe infection, including death. The Australian Government and public health authorities prioritised these citizens' access to vaccines, including them in phase 1b of the rollout from 22 March 2021. Given the rapidly evolving knowledge and advice, we sought to understand what people with comorbidities understood about their eligibility, where they obtained information, and their experiences interfacing with the program. Methods: Through the mixed methods project Coronavax, we conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with eight West Australians aged under 60 who signed up to the study's webpage and declared comorbidities pertinent to serious COVID-19 complications. Interviews were conducted during January-April 2022, audio-recorded, transcribed in full, and analysed in NVivo 20 using inductive methods. We validated participants' accounts of state government actions with a representative in person and in writing. Results: We identified access and informational barriers - and a lack of understanding - about vaccine eligibility amongst West Australians with comorbidities. Amid a rapidly changing landscape of knowledge with subsequent policy implications, this group received insufficient information for their needs for understanding their place in the immunisation program. Conclusions: Fast-changing knowledge about vaccines creates communication challenges for government and health professionals. We identify an urgent need to develop, pilot, and evaluate strategies for providing vaccination information in routine and pandemic settings.
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Vacunas contra la COVID-19 , COVID-19 , Comorbilidad , Humanos , COVID-19/prevención & control , COVID-19/epidemiología , Vacunas contra la COVID-19/administración & dosificación , Persona de Mediana Edad , Femenino , Australia/epidemiología , Masculino , Adulto , SARS-CoV-2/inmunología , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Vacunación , Accesibilidad a los Servicios de SaludRESUMEN
Environmental exposures and community characteristics have been linked to accelerated lung function decline in people with cystic fibrosis (CF), but geomarkers, the measurements of these exposures, have not been comprehensively evaluated in a single study. To determine which geomarkers have the greatest predictive potential for lung function decline and pulmonary exacerbation (PEx), a retrospective longitudinal cohort study was performed using novel Bayesian joint covariate selection methods, which were compared with respect to PEx predictive accuracy. Non-stationary Gaussian linear mixed effects models were fitted to data from 151 CF patients aged 6-20 receiving care at a CF Center in the midwestern US (2007-2017). The outcome was forced expiratory volume in 1 s of percent predicted (FEV1pp). Target functions were used to predict PEx from established criteria. Covariates included 11 routinely collected clinical/demographic characteristics and 45 geomarkers comprising 8 categories. Unique covariate selections via four Bayesian penalized regression models (elastic-net, adaptive lasso, ridge, and lasso) were evaluated at both 95 % and 90 % credible intervals (CIs). Resultant models included one to 6 geomarkers (air temperature, percentage of tertiary roads outside urban areas, percentage of impervious nonroad outside urban areas, fine atmospheric particulate matter, fraction achieving high school graduation, and motor vehicle theft) representing weather, impervious descriptor, air pollution, socioeconomic status, and crime categories. Adaptive lasso had the lowest information criteria. For PEx predictive accuracy, covariate selection from the 95 % CI elastic-net had the highest area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (mean ± standard deviation; 0.780 ± 0.026) along with the 95 % CI ridge and lasso methods (0.780 ± 0.027). The 95 % CI elastic-net had the highest sensitivity (0.773 ± 0.083) while the 95 % CI adaptive lasso had the highest specificity (0.691 ± 0.087), suggesting the need for different geomarker sets depending on monitoring goals. Surveillance of certain geomarkers embedded in prediction algorithms can be used in real-time warning systems for PEx onset.
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Teorema de Bayes , Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales , Humanos , Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales/estadística & datos numéricos , Femenino , Masculino , Estudios Retrospectivos , Adolescente , Niño , Adulto Joven , Progresión de la Enfermedad , Contaminación del Aire/estadística & datos numéricos , Estudios Longitudinales , Fibrosis Quística , Enfermedades Pulmonares/epidemiología , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisisRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The Covid-19 pandemic greatly affected those with chronic diseases, impacting healthcare access and healthcare seeking behaviors. The impact of the pandemic on adults with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) has not been investigated. METHODS: Participants were recruited from a cohort of 239 ADPKD patients enrolled in a longitudinal study at the University of Maryland. Patients on renal replacement therapy were excluded. N = 66 patients participated in a phone questionnaire from June 2022-December 2022 about ADPKD-related complications, concern about contracting Covid-19, healthcare-seeking behaviors, and telehealth utilization before and after March 2020. RESULTS: N = 34 (51.5%) of participants reported a positive Covid-19 test result. N = 29 (44%) expressed high concern of contracting Covid-19. Those who avoided medical care at least once (N = 17, 25.8%) had similar demographics and ADPKD severity to those who did not, but reported greater telehealth utilization (88.2% vs. 42.9%, p = 0.002), greater use of non-prescribed medication for Covid-19 treatment or prevention (35.3% vs. 8.2%, p = 0.01), and were more likely to contract Covid-19 (76.5% vs. 42.9%, p = 0.02). Among the N = 53 who reported very good or excellent ADPKD disease management pre-pandemic, N = 47(89%) reported no significant change during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: In this highly educated, high-income cohort with a mean age of 46.1 years, most people reported well-managed ADPKD prior to the pandemic. This may explain why less than half of participants expressed high concern for contracting Covid-19. Overall, there was no significant pandemic-related decline in self-reported ADPKD management. This was likely due to this cohort's excellent access to, and uptake of, telehealth services. Notably, 1 in 4 participants reported healthcare avoidant behavior, the effect of which may only be seen years from now. Future studies should investigate potential impacts of avoidant behaviors, as well as expand investigation to a more diverse cohort whose care may not have been as easily transitioned to telehealth.
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COVID-19 , Aceptación de la Atención de Salud , Riñón Poliquístico Autosómico Dominante , Telemedicina , Humanos , COVID-19/epidemiología , Riñón Poliquístico Autosómico Dominante/epidemiología , Riñón Poliquístico Autosómico Dominante/terapia , Masculino , Femenino , Estudios Transversales , Persona de Mediana Edad , Adulto , Aceptación de la Atención de Salud/estadística & datos numéricos , Pandemias , Estudios Longitudinales , SARS-CoV-2 , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
BackgroundThe Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Patient-Reported Indicator Surveys (PaRIS) initiative aims to support countries in improving care for people living with chronic conditions by collecting information on how people experience the quality and performance of primary and (generalist) ambulatory care services. This paper presents the development of the conceptual framework that underpins the rationale for and the instrumentation of the PaRIS survey. METHODS: The guidance of an international expert taskforce and the OECD Health Care Quality Indicators framework (2015) provided initial specifications for the framework. Relevant conceptual models and frameworks were then identified from searches in bibliographic databases (Medline, EMBASE and the Health Management Information Consortium). A draft framework was developed through narrative review. The final version was codeveloped following the participation of an international Patient advisory Panel, an international Technical Advisory Community and online international workshops with patient representatives. RESULTS: 85 conceptual models and frameworks were identified through searches. The final framework maps relationships between the following domains (and subdomains): patient-reported outcomes (symptoms, functioning, self-reported health status, health-related quality of life); patient-reported experiences of care (access, comprehensiveness, continuity, coordination, patient safety, person centeredness, self-management support, trust, overall perceived quality of care); health and care capabilities; health behaviours (physical activity, diet, tobacco and alcohol consumption), sociodemographic characteristics and self-reported chronic conditions; delivery system characteristics (clinic, main healthcare professional); health system, policy and context. DISCUSSION: The PaRIS conceptual framework has been developed through a systematic, accountable and inclusive process. It serves as the basis for the development of the indicators and survey instruments as well as for the generation of specific hypotheses to guide the analysis and interpretation of the findings.
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Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures individual well-being across physical, psychological, and social domains. Patients with predominantly antibody deficiency (PAD) are at risk for morbidity and mortality, however, the effect of these complications on HRQoL requires additional study. Patients with PAD were asked to voluntarily complete the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) HRQoL-14 Healthy Days Measure questionnaire. These results were compared to data from the CDC-initiated Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a cross-sectional questionnaire including questions from CDC-HRQOL-14. Statistical analyses included two-proportion Z-test, t-tests, and analysis of variance. 83 patients with PAD completed the survey. Patients were sub-stratified into mild (23.7%), moderate (35.5%), severe (40.8%), and secondary (8.4%) PAD. "Fair or poor" health status was reported in 52.6% of PAD patients. Mental health challenges ≥ 14 days/month occurred in 25% of patients. Physical health issues ≥ 14 days/month was reported in 44.7% of patients. Activity limitations were noted by 80.3% of patients. There were no statistically significant differences by PAD severity. Patients with autoinflammatory disease co-morbidities reported more mental health challenges compared to those without (78% vs. 54.3%, p = 0.02). Compared to the CDC-BRFSS data, significantly more patients with PAD reported "fair or poor" health status (53% vs 12.0%; p < 0.0001), mental health challenges (24.1% vs 14.7%; p = 0.02), and poor physical health (44.6% vs 8.0%; p < 0.0001). Patients with PAD had significantly reduced HRQoL compared to CDC-BRFSS respondents from a similar geographical region. Decreased HRQoL was prevalent across all PAD severity levels. Additional research is needed to improve HRQoL for patients with PAD.
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Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots have the potential to assist individuals with chronic health conditions by providing tailored information, monitoring symptoms, and offering mental health support. Despite their potential benefits, research on public attitudes toward health care chatbots is still limited. To effectively support individuals with long-term health conditions like long COVID (or post-COVID-19 condition), it is crucial to understand their perspectives and preferences regarding the use of AI chatbots. Objective: This study has two main objectives: (1) provide insights into AI chatbot acceptance among people with chronic health conditions, particularly adults older than 55 years and (2) explore the perceptions of using AI chatbots for health self-management and long COVID support. Methods: A web-based survey study was conducted between January and March 2023, specifically targeting individuals with diabetes and other chronic conditions. This particular population was chosen due to their potential awareness and ability to self-manage their condition. The survey aimed to capture data at multiple intervals, taking into consideration the public launch of ChatGPT, which could have potentially impacted public opinions during the project timeline. The survey received 1310 clicks and garnered 900 responses, resulting in a total of 888 usable data points. Results: Although past experience with chatbots (P<.001, 95% CI .110-.302) and online information seeking (P<.001, 95% CI .039-.084) are strong indicators of respondents' future adoption of health chatbots, they are in general skeptical or unsure about the use of AI chatbots for health care purposes. Less than one-third of the respondents (n=203, 30.1%) indicated that they were likely to use a health chatbot in the next 12 months if available. Most were uncertain about a chatbot's capability to provide accurate medical advice. However, people seemed more receptive to using voice-based chatbots for mental well-being, health data collection, and analysis. Half of the respondents with long COVID showed interest in using emotionally intelligent chatbots. Conclusions: AI hesitancy is not uniform across all health domains and user groups. Despite persistent AI hesitancy, there are promising opportunities for chatbots to offer support for chronic conditions in areas of lifestyle enhancement and mental well-being, potentially through voice-based user interfaces.
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Inteligencia Artificial , COVID-19 , Humanos , COVID-19/psicología , COVID-19/epidemiología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Enfermedad Crónica/terapia , Enfermedad Crónica/psicología , Masculino , Femenino , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Anciano , Adulto , Automanejo/psicología , Automanejo/métodosRESUMEN
Ambulatory management of congestive heart failure (HF) continues to be a challenging clinical problem. Recent studies have focused on the role of HF clinics, nurse practitioners and disease management programmes to reduce HF readmissions. This pilot study is a pragmatic factorial study comparing a coach intervention, a SMARTPHONE REMINDER system intervention and BOTH interventions combined to Treatment as USUAL (TAU). We determined that both modalities were acceptable to patients prior to randomisation. Fifty-four patients were randomised to the four groups. The COACH group had no readmissions for HF 6 months after enrolment compared with 18% for the SMARTPHONE REMINDER Group, 8% for the BOTH intervention group and 13% for TAU. Medium-to-high medication adherence was maintained in all four groups although sodium consumption was lower at 3 months for the COACH and combined (BOTH) groups. This pilot study suggests a beneficial effect on rehospitalisation with the use of support measures including coaches and telephone reminders that needs confirmation in a larger trial.
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Insuficiencia Cardíaca , Sistemas Recordatorios , Teléfono Inteligente , Humanos , Insuficiencia Cardíaca/terapia , Proyectos Piloto , Masculino , Femenino , Sistemas Recordatorios/estadística & datos numéricos , Sistemas Recordatorios/instrumentación , Teléfono Inteligente/estadística & datos numéricos , Anciano , Persona de Mediana Edad , Readmisión del Paciente/estadística & datos numéricos , Cumplimiento de la Medicación/estadística & datos numéricosRESUMEN
Access to healthy foods, especially for those who are living with diabetes and hypertension, is crucial in managing these chronic diseases. This study evaluates the implementation of a food pharmacy and food prescription program at a safety-net hospital that serves vulnerable populations. Patients who screen as food insecure using the USDA adult food security survey receive a referral from the physician to the food pharmacy program where a dietician reviews their dietary requirements based on their chronic disease and develops a diet plan. Patients then receive fresh produce, meats and other products every 2 weeks that meets their nutritional needs from the food pharmacy. Biometric data from the patient's most recent clinic visit at the time of enrollment was collected as the baseline measures including blood pressure, weight, and HbA1c (if diabetic). Additionally, biometric information was collected from the patient's medical records from regularly scheduled clinic visits at 6 month intervals. A total of 266 patients were enrolled in the program during the 13-month period that was studied (121 patients with 6-month data and 68 patients with 12-month data). The statistical analysis showed a significant improvement in diastolic blood pressure at 12 months and in weight at both the 6 months and 12 months timeframes when comparing to baseline biometrics.
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There is strong evidence that the implicit biases of health care professionals affect the treatment of patients, and that minority and other marginalized patients are disproportionately harmed. Assumptions made about patient knowledge or lack thereof function as judgments that are prone to bias, which then affect the education and advice imposed upon patients. We review how the motivational interviewing (MI) approach to patient engagement includes components of evidence-based bias-mitigating strategies, such as understanding circumstances from the patient's point of view, and therefore we propose that the MI approach can reduce the impact of bias in patient care.
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BACKGROUND: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is the most common chronic autoimmune disease among children and adolescents. Telemedicine has been widely used in the field of chronic disease management and can benefit patients with T1DM. However, existing studies lack high-level evidence related to the effectiveness of telemedicine for glycemic control in children and adolescents with T1DM. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to systematically review the evidence on the effectiveness of telemedicine interventions compared with usual care on glycemic control among children and adolescents with T1DM. METHODS: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science (all databases), and CINAHL Complete from database inception to May 2023. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effectiveness of a telemedicine intervention on glycemic control in children and adolescents with T1DM. In total, 2 independent reviewers performed the study selection and data extraction. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. Our primary outcome was glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Secondary outcomes were quality of life, self-monitoring of blood glucose, the incidence of hypoglycemia, and cost-effectiveness. A random-effects model was used for this meta-analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 20 RCTs (1704 participants from 12 countries) were included in the meta-analysis. Only 5% (1/20) of the studies were at high risk of bias. Compared to usual care, telemedicine was found to reduce HbA1c levels by 0.22 (95% CI -0.33 to -0.10; P<.001; I2=35%). There was an improvement in self-monitoring of blood glucose (mean difference [MD] 0.54, 95% CI -0.72 to 1.80; P=.40; I2=67.8%) and the incidence of hypoglycemia (MD -0.15, 95% CI -0.57 to 0.27; P=.49; I2=70.7%), although this was not statistically significant. Moreover, telemedicine had no convincing effect on the Diabetes Quality of Life for Youth score (impact of diabetes: P=.59; worries about diabetes: P=.71; satisfaction with diabetes: P=.68), but there was a statistically significant improvement in non-youth-specific quality of life (MD -0.24, 95% CI -0.45 to -0.02; P=.04; I2=0%). Subgroup analyses revealed that the effect of telemedicine on HbA1c levels appeared to be greater in studies involving children (MD -0.41, 95% CI -0.62 to -0.20; P<.001), studies that lasted <6 months (MD -0.32, 95% CI -0.48 to -0.17; P<.001), studies where providers used smartphone apps to communicate with patients (MD -0.37, 95% CI -0.53 to -0.21; P<.001), and studies with medication dose adjustment (MD -0.25, 95% CI -0.37 to -0.12; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Telemedicine can reduce HbA1c levels and improve quality of life in children and adolescents with T1DM. Telemedicine should be regarded as a useful supplement to usual care to control HbA1c levels and a potentially cost-effective mode. Meanwhile, researchers should develop higher-quality RCTs using large samples that focus on hard clinical outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and quality of life.
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Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1 , Control Glucémico , Calidad de Vida , Telemedicina , Humanos , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1/sangre , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1/terapia , Adolescente , Niño , Control Glucémico/métodos , Hemoglobina Glucada/análisis , Ensayos Clínicos Controlados Aleatorios como Asunto , Hipoglucemia/prevención & control , Automonitorización de la Glucosa Sanguínea , Glucemia , Análisis Costo-Beneficio , Femenino , MasculinoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Adherence to pharmacotherapy and use of the correct inhaler technique are important basic principles of asthma management. Video- or remote-direct observation of therapy (v-DOT) could be a feasible approach to facilitate monitoring and supervising therapy, supporting the delivery of standard care. OBJECTIVE: To explore the utility and the feasibility of v-DOT to monitor inhaler technique and adherence to treatment in adults attending the asthma outpatient service in a tertiary hospital in Northern Ireland. METHOD: The project evaluated use of the technology with 10 asthma patients. Patient and clinician feedback was obtained, in addition to measures of patient engagement and disease-specific clinical markers to assess the feasibility and utility of v-DOT technology in this group of patients. RESULTS: The engagement rate with v-DOT for participating patients averaged 78% (actual video uploads vs expected video uploads) over a median 7 week usage period. Although 50% of patients reported a technical issue at some stage during the usage period, all patients and clinicians reported that the technology was easy to use and that they were satisfied with the outcomes. A range of positive impacts were observed, including optimised inhaler technique and an observed improvement in lung function. An increase in asthma control test scores aligned with clinical aims to promote adherence and alleviate symptoms. CONCLUSION: The v-DOT technology was shown to be a feasible method of assessing inhaler technique and monitoring adherence in this small group of adult asthma patients. A range of positive impacts for participating patients and clinicians were observed. Not all patients invited to join the project agreed to participate or engage with using the technology, highlighting that in this setting, digital modes of delivering care provide only one of the approaches in the necessary "tool kit" for clinicians and patients.
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Asma , Humanos , Asma/tratamiento farmacológico , Asma/terapia , Adulto , Femenino , Masculino , Proyectos Piloto , Persona de Mediana Edad , Irlanda del Norte , Tecnología Digital/métodos , Tecnología Digital/estadística & datos numéricos , Grabación en Video/métodos , Grabación en Video/estadística & datos numéricos , Terapia por Observación Directa , Nebulizadores y Vaporizadores/estadística & datos numéricosRESUMEN
Background: The Covid-19 pandemic greatly affected those with chronic diseases, impacting healthcare access and healthcare seeking behaviors. The impact of the pandemic on adults with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) has not been investigated. Methods: Participants were recruited from a cohort of 239 ADPKD patients enrolled in a longitudinal study at the University of Maryland. Patients on renal replacement therapy were excluded. N = 66 patients participated in a phone questionnaire from June 2022-December 2022 about ADPKD-related complications, concern about contracting Covid-19, healthcare-seeking behaviors, and telehealth utilization before and after March 2020. Results: N = 34 (51.5%) of participants reported a positive Covid-19 test result and N = 29 (44%) expressed high concern of contracting Covid-19. Those who avoided medical care at least once (N = 17, 25.8%) had similar demographics and ADPKD severity to those who did not, but reported greater telehealth utilization (88.2% vs. 42.9%, p = 0.002), greater use of non-prescribed medication for Covid-19 treatment or prevention (35.3% vs. 8.2%, p = 0.01), and were more likely to contract Covid-19 (76.5% vs. 42.9%, p = 0.02). Among the N = 53 who reported very good or excellent ADPKD disease management pre-pandemic, N = 47(89%) reported no significant change during the pandemic. Conclusions: In this highly educated, high-income cohort with a mean age of 46.1 years, most people reported well-managed ADPKD prior to the pandemic. This may explain why less than half of participants expressed high concern for contracting Covid-19. Overall, there was no significant pandemic-related decline in self-reported ADPKD management, like due to excellent access to, and uptake of, telehealth services. Notably, 1 in 4 participants reported healthcare avoidant behavior, the effect of which may only be seen years from now. Future studies should investigate potential impacts of avoidant behaviors, as well as expand investigation to a more diverse cohort whose care may not have been as easily transitioned to telehealth.
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INTRODUCTION: There is growing interest in food prescriptions, which leverage health care settings to provide patients access to healthy foods through vouchers or food boxes. In this commentary, we draw on our experiences and interest in food prescribing to provide a summary of the current evidence on this intervention model and critically assess its limitations and opportunities. RATIONALE: Food insecurity is an important determinant of health and is associated with compromised dietary adequacy, higher rates of chronic diseases, and higher health service utilization and costs. Aligning with recent discourse on social prescribing and "food is medicine" approaches, food prescribing can empower health care providers to link patients with supports to improve food access and limit barriers to healthy diets. Food prescribing has been shown to improve fruit and vegetable intake and household food insecurity, although impacts on health outcomes are inconclusive. Research on food prescribing in the Canadian context is limited and there is a need to establish evidence of effectiveness and best practices. CONCLUSION: As food prescribing continues to gain traction in Canada, there is a need to assess the effectiveness, cost-efficiency, limitations and potential paternalism of this intervention model. Further, it is necessary to assess how food prescribing fits into broader social welfare systems that aim to address the underlying determinants of food insecurity.
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Inseguridad Alimentaria , Humanos , Canadá/epidemiología , Promoción de la Salud/métodos , Dieta Saludable , Abastecimiento de AlimentosRESUMEN
AIM: To identify and describe self-care behaviours performed by Chinese immigrants living with cardiovascular disease in Australia, and factors perceived as barriers and facilitators to evidence-based cardiac self-care. DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive design. METHODS: Individual semi-structured phone interviews were conducted among participants meeting the following criteria: (1) first-generation Chinese immigrants to Australia, born in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan; (2) Australian permanent residents or citizens; (3) self-reported or medically diagnosed with coronary heart disease, stroke or heart failure; (4) able to speak English or Mandarin; (5) able to provide informed consent, excluding those with history or evidence of impaired cognition such as dementia. Participants were recruited via social media, Chinese community associations and medical centres from September 2021 to June 2022. Data were analysed using inductive and deductive thematic analysis, guided by the Middle-Range Theory of Self-Care of Chronic Illness. The study was reported in line with the COREQ checklist. RESULTS: Twenty participants were interviewed, 60% female, mean age 69.9 years. Most migrated to Australia at older age following their retirement in China; most had limited English proficiency. Many practiced adequate self-care for their CVD in self-care maintenance and monitoring. Variously, they adopted heart-healthy diets, developed exercise routines, attended medical services and closely monitored their body signs and symptoms. However, self-adjusting medications, taking Traditional Chinese Medicine and self-administering health supplements were prevalent practices and first-response management of acute cardiac symptoms was suboptimal. Linguistic and cultural barriers to obtaining mainstream heart health information meant most participants resorted to informal, anecdotal and mainland Chinese sources. CONCLUSION: Diverse factors were held responsible for sub-optimal self-care behaviours but lack of access to linguistically and culturally appropriate heart health information was widely blamed. Linguistically and culturally appropriate community-based heart health education programmes are urgently needed, targeting healthy lifestyle modification, medication literacy and cardiac symptom management. IMPACT: Study findings can be used to improve cardiac nurses' cultural sensitivity and practices targeting Chinese immigrants. Partnering with Chinese community associations offers health service providers and policymakers an innovative route to co-design and deliver targeted heart health education interventions and support for this population. PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Chinese community centre managers contributed to data collection by supporting participant recruitment.
RESUMEN
Improving access to primary care physicians' services may help reduce hospitalizations due to Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (ACSCs). Ontario, Canada's most populous province, introduced blended payment models for primary care physicians in the early- to mid-2000s to increase access to primary care, preventive care, and better chronic disease management. We study the impact of payment models on avoidable hospitalizations due to two incentivized ACSCs (diabetes and congestive heart failure) and two non-incentivized ACSCs (angina and asthma). The data for our study came from health administrative data on practicing primary care physicians in Ontario between 2006 and 2015. We employ a two-stage estimation strategy on a balanced panel of 3710 primary care physicians (1158 blended-fee-for-service (FFS), 1388 blended-capitation models, and 1164 interprofessional team-based practices). First, we account for the differences in physician practices using a generalized propensity score based on a multinomial logit regression model, corresponding to three primary care payment models. Second, we use fractional regression models to estimate the average treatment effects on the treated outcome (i.e., avoidable hospitalizations). The capitation-based model sometimes increases avoidable hospitalizations due to angina (by 7 per 100,000 patients) and congestive heart failure (40 per 100,000) relative to the blended-FFS-based model. Switching capitation physicians into interprofessional teams mitigates this effect, reducing avoidable hospitalizations from congestive heart failure by 30 per 100,000 patients and suggesting better access to primary care and chronic disease management in team-based practices.