User Drafts for the Design of an mHealth Application for Equestrians.

A study was conducted to find out user ideas for the design and workflow of an mHealth application supporting triage of horses by equestrians. Results focus on information input elements and also include some requirements for information.

Analysis of the Usage Context of an mHealth Application for Equestrians.

INTRODUCTION: One possibility to support veterinarians in times of a vet shortage is by providing animal owners with a technical decision support for deciding whether their animal needs to be seen by a vet. As the first step in the user-centered development of such an mHealth application for equestrians, an analysis of the context of use was done. METHODS: The analysis was carried out by reviewing existing literature and conducting an online survey with 100 participants. RESULTS: Characteristics of the user group and the usage context are presented using an adaptation of the four layers of diversity. Many equestrians are lacking health-related knowledge and competencies as well as social networks supporting them in decision making and gaining further information. This may apply to owners of other animal species in broad ranges as well. CONCLUSION: The results of the analysis provide information to software developers and researchers on mHealth applications for pet owners in general and equestrians in particular to focus their work on the users' needs and therefore provide efficient results/software.

Requirements to mHealth Applications for Animal Owners: A Narrative Review.

A narrative literature review was conducted to determine software requirements to mHealth applications for animal owners. Results focus on securing a complete user input, providing adequately formulated information to the users and ensuring the understanding of the applications limitations.

A pilot RCT of psychodynamic group art therapy for patients in acute psychotic episodes: feasibility, impact on symptoms and mentalising capacity.

UNLABELLED: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of an assessor-blind, randomised controlled trial of psychodynamic art therapy for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia, and to generate preliminary data on the efficacy of this intervention during acute psychotic episodes. Fifty-eight inpatients with DSM-diagnoses of schizophrenia were randomised to either 12 twice-weekly sessions of psychodynamic group art therapy plus treatment as usual or to standard treatment alone. Primary outcome criteria were positive and negative psychotic and depressive symptoms as well as global assessment of functioning. Secondary outcomes were mentalising function, estimated with the Reading the mind in the eyes test and the Levels of emotional awareness scale, self-efficacy, locus of control, quality of life and satisfaction with care. Assessments were made at baseline, at post-treatment and at 12 weeks' follow-up. At 12 weeks, 55% of patients randomised to art therapy, and 66% of patients receiving treatment as usual were examined. In the per-protocol sample, art therapy was associated with a significantly greater mean reduction of positive symptoms and improved psychosocial functioning at post-treatment and follow-up, and with a greater mean reduction of negative symptoms at follow-up compared to standard treatment. The significant reduction of positive symptoms at post-treatment was maintained in an attempted intention-to-treat analysis. There were no group differences regarding depressive symptoms. Of secondary outcome parameters, patients in the art therapy group showed a significant improvement in levels of emotional awareness, and particularly in their ability to reflect about others' emotional mental states. This is one of the first randomised controlled trials on psychodynamic group art therapy for patients with acute psychotic episodes receiving hospital treatment. Results prove the feasibility of trials on art therapy during acute psychotic episodes and justify further research to substantiate preliminary positive results regarding symptom reduction and the recovery of mentalising function. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01622166.