Face and content validity of a mobile delirium screening tool adapted for use in the medical setting (eDIS-MED): Welcome to the machine.

OBJECTIVES: Following a user-centred redesign and refinement process of an electronic delirium screening tool (eDIS-MED), further accuracy assessment was performed prior to anticipated testing in the clinical setting. METHODS: Content validity of each of the existing questions was evaluated by an expert group in the domains of clarity, relevance and importance. Questions with a Content Validity Index (CVI) <0.80 were reviewed by the development group for potential revision. Items with CVI <0.70 were discarded. Next, face validity of the entirety of the tests was conducted and readability measured. RESULTS: A panel of five clinical experts evaluated the test battery comprising eDIS-MED. The content validity process endorsed 61 items. The overall scale CVI was 0.92. Eighty-eight per cent of the responses with regard to question relevancy, usefulness and appropriateness were positive. The questions were deemed fifth grade level and very easy to read. CONCLUSIONS: A revised electronic screening tool was shown to be accurate according to an expert group. A clinical validation study is planned.

Dependencia a los dispositivos móviles: revisión sistemática en Latinoamérica y Cuba durante la última década / Dependence on mobile devices: systematic review in Latin America and Cuba during the last decade

Introducción: la adicción a los dispositivos móviles se caracteriza por la dependencia patológica hacia estos, puede llegar a ocasionar ansiedad, estrés, baja competencia social y dificultades en la concentración. Resulta de suma importancia la revisión teórica de los principales resultados sobre el tema como punto de partida para la elaboración de estrategias de desarrollo. Objetivo: realizar una revisión sistemática de las principales investigaciones relacionadas con la adicción a los dispositivos móviles en Latinoamérica y particularmente, en Cuba. Métodos: se realizó una revisión sistemática para analizar los principales resultados en Latinoamérica y Cuba, se consideraron artículos originales publicados entre 2012 y 2022. Fueron utilizadas las pautas de revisiones sistemáticas PRISMA. Tras la identificación de los estudios en las bases de datos consultadas se realizó la lectura del título, resumen y contenido para determinar su relación con los objetivos del estudio. Desarrollo: se constató que existen pocos estudios en materia de adicciones a los dispositivos móviles en el contexto latinoamericano y cubano; las investigaciones muestran el impacto negativo sobre la salud mental de quienes padecen esta adicción, se destaca su influencia negativa en estudiantes universitarios, así como la validación de instrumentos que permitirán profundizar en esta temática. Conclusiones: se destaca la calidad de los estudios y la validez de los resultados científicos y se sugiere emplearlos como base para el desarrollo de proyectos de carácter terapéutico.

Background: addiction to mobile devices is characterized by pathological dependence on them, it can cause anxiety, stress, low social competence, and difficulties in concentration. The theoretical review of the main results on the subject is extremely important as a starting point for the elaboration of development strategies. Objective: to carry out a systematic review of the main investigations related to addiction to mobile devices in Latin America and particularly, in Cuba. Methods: a systematic review was carried out to echnol the main results in Latin America and Cuba, original articles published from 2012 to 2022 were considered. PRISMA systematic review guidelines were used. After identifying the studies in the consulted databases, the title, abstract and content were read to determine their relationship with the objectives of the study. Development: it was found that there are few studies on addictions to mobile devices in the Latin American and Cuban context; Research shows the negative impact on the mental health of those who suffer from this addiction, its negative influence on university students stands out, as well as the validation of instruments that will allow us to delve into this subject. Conclusions: the quality of the studies and the validity of the scientific results stand out and it is suggested to use them as a basis for the development of projects of a therapeutic nature.

Construction and validation of a mobile application for health education about COVID-19 / Construcción y validación de una aplicación móvil para educación en salud sobre COVID-19 / Construção e validação de aplicativo móvel para educação em saúde acerca da COVID-19

ABSTRACT Objective: To construct and validate a mobile application for health education about COVID-19. Method: Methodological study, developed in six stages, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, between June 2020 and August 2021, with 20 health professionals, using an electronic form. Validation took place through the Content Validity Index, whose indexes should be greater than or equal to 80%. Results: The application called ROBOVID was constructed and validated by expert judges on the subject, with a Content Validity Index of 100% for the domains of content and cultural adequacy, and with a variation of 90 to 100% for the domains of language, illustration, and presentation, achieving 97% on the Overall Validity Index and 98% on the "ten golden rules" for use in health education. Conclusion: The ROBOVID application proved to be a valid technological tool for health education about COVID-19 among the Brazilian population.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Construir y validar una aplicación móvil de educación sanitaria sobre COVID 19. Método: Estudio metodológico, desarrollado en seis etapas, realizado desde junio de 2020 hasta agosto de 2021 mediante formulário electrónico. La validación se realizó a través del Índice de Validez de Contenido, donde los índices deben ser mayores o iguales al 80%. Resultados: La aplicación denominada ROBOVID fue construida y validada por 20 profesionales de la salud expertos en el tema, com un Índice de Validez de Contenido del 100% para los dominios contenido y adecuación cultural, y con validación del 90 al 100% para los dominios lenguaje, ilustración. Y presentación, logrando el 97% de Índice de Validez Global, y el 98% frente las diez reglas de oro para uso en educación para la salud. Conclusión: La aplicación ROBOVID demostró ser una herramienta tecnológica válida para la educación en salud sobre COVID-19 entre la población brasileña.

RESUMO Objetivo: Construir e validar um aplicativo móvel para educação em saúde acerca da COVID-19. Método: Estudo metodológico, desenvolvido em seis etapas, no estado do Rio de Janeiro, entre junho de 2020 a agosto de 2021, com 20 profissionais de saúde, utilizando um formulário eletrônico. A validação ocorreu através do Índice de Validade de Conteúdo, cujos índices deveriam ser maiores ou iguais a 80%. Resultados: O aplicativo denominado ROBOVID foi construído e validado por profissionais juízes especialistas na temática, com Índice de Validade de Conteúdo de 100% para os domínios de conteúdo e adequação cultural, e com variação de 90 a 100% para os domínios de linguagem, ilustração e apresentação, alcançando 97% de Índice de Validade Global e 98% nas "dez regras de ouro" para uso em educação em saúde. Conclusão: O aplicativo ROBOVID demostrou ser uma ferramenta tecnológica válida para educação em saúde acerca da COVID-19 entre a população brasileira.

Development and usability of a photograph-based smartphone app for ocular surface tumor screening / Desenvolvimento e usabilidade de um aplicativo para smartphones baseado em fotografias para rastreio de tumores de superfície ocular

ABSTRACT Objective: To develop and examine the usability of a mobile application aimed at improving knowledge about ocular surface tumors among medical students, general practitioners and ophthalmologists. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was carried out by a multidisciplinary team and developed in three stages: administration of a specific questionnaire to medical students, assessing the demand for the application, creation and development of the application in collaboration with the Technological Innovation Laboratory of Centro Universitário Christus and usability assessment. General practitioners and ophthalmologists were selected to answer the System Usability Scale questionnaire. Data were exported into the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 20.0 Windows, for quantitative analysis. Results: The OncoEye application was developed for the iOS and the Android platforms and included four main menus: Glossary, Patients, Referrals and Queries. Most students (89.9%) considered the development of the application important for wider access to information about the topic. Most students (39.9%) were able to recognize ocular lesions and 26.1% could distinguish between benign and malignant conditions. System Usability Scale questionnaire responses revealed good usability, with an average score of 92.65. Users (100%) described the application as user-friendly and well- integrated. Conclusion: An innovative application for ocular surface tumors was created and developed. The application achieved good levels of acceptance and was described as user-friendly by users.

RESUMO Objetivo: Desenvolver e avaliar a usabilidade de um aplicativo para dispositivos móveis que aprimore o conhecimento de estudantes de medicina e de médicos sobre tumores da superfície ocular. Métodos: Foi realizado estudo transversal e quantitativo por uma equipe multiprofissional, consistindo em três etapas: realização de um questionário específico com estudantes de medicina, avaliando a necessidade de elaboração do aplicativo; criação e desenvolvimento do aplicativo pelo Laboratório de Inovação Tecnológica do Centro Universitário Christus e avaliação de usabilidade. Médicos generalistas e oftalmologistas foram selecionados para responder ao questionário System Usability Scale. Os dados foram exportados para o programa Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, versão 20.0, para Windows para análise quantitativa. Resultados: O aplicativo OncoEye foi desenvolvido com quatro menus principais: Glossário, Pacientes, Encaminhamento e Perguntas. Dentre os estudantes, 89,9% consideraram o desenvolvimento do aplicativo importante para orientação sobre o tema, 39,9% souberam reconhecer lesão ocular, e 26,1% puderam diferenciar lesão ocular maligna ou benigna. As respostas dos usuários à ferramenta System Usability Scale demonstraram boa usabilidade, com pontuação média de 92,65 (87,74 a 97,55). Todos os usuários consideraram o aplicativo de fácil manuseio e bem integrado. Conclusão: Um aplicativo inovador para tumores da superfície ocular foi criado e desenvolvido, apresentando boa aceitação e fácil manuseio pelos usuários.

An mHealth App (Speech Banana) for Auditory Training: App Design and Development Study.

BACKGROUND: With the growing adult population using electronic hearing devices such as cochlear implants or hearing aids, there is an increasing worldwide need for auditory training (AT) to promote optimal device use. However, financial resources and scheduling conflicts make clinical AT infeasible. OBJECTIVE: To address this gap between need and accessibility, we primarily aimed to develop a mobile health (mHealth) app called Speech Banana for AT. The app would be substantially more affordable and portable than clinical AT; would deliver a validated training model that is reflective of modern techniques; and would track users' progress in speech comprehension, providing greater continuity between periodic in-person visits. To improve international availability, our secondary aim was to implement the English language training model into Korean as a proof of concept for worldwide usability. METHODS: A problem- and objective-centered Design Science Research Methodology approach was adopted to develop the Speech Banana app. A review of previous literature and computer-based learning programs outlined current AT gaps, whereas interviews with speech pathologists and users clarified the features that were addressed in the app. Past and present users were invited to evaluate the app via community forums and the System Usability Scale. RESULTS: Speech Banana has been implemented in English and Korean languages for iPad and web use. The app comprises 38 lessons, which include analytic exercises pairing visual and auditory stimuli, and synthetic quizzes presenting auditory stimuli only. During quizzes, users type the sentence heard, and the app provides visual feedback on performance. Users may select a male or female speaker and the volume of background noise, allowing for training with a range of frequencies and signal-to-noise ratios. There were more than 3200 downloads of the English iPad app and almost 100 downloads of the Korean app; more than 100 users registered for the web apps. The English app received a System Usability Scale rating of "good" from 6 users, and the Korean app received a rating of "OK" from 16 users. CONCLUSIONS: Speech Banana offers AT accessibility with a validated curriculum, allowing users to develop speech comprehension skills with the aid of a mobile device. This mHealth app holds potential as a supplement to clinical AT, particularly in this era of global telemedicine.

Perception and Usage of Point of Care Devices: A Cross-sectional Study Targeting Residents and Trainers in Oman.

OBJECTIVES: The use of mobile technologies and handheld computers by physicians has increased worldwide. However, there are limited studies globally regarding training physicians on the use of such devices in clinical practice. In addition, no studies have been conducted previously in Oman addressing this issue among postgraduate medical trainees and trainers. The present study explores the practice and perception of resident doctors and trainers towards the use of mobile technologies and handheld devices in healthcare settings in Oman. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a validated questionnaire disseminated via email to all residents and trainers in five major training programs of the Oman Medical Specialty Board (OMSB). The questionnaire explored three main areas; perception, usage, and perceived barriers of handheld devices. RESULTS: Overall, 61.4% of the residents and 28.3% of the trainers responded to the questionnaire. Both types of participants agreed that the use of such devices positively affects clinical decision-making. In total, 98.8% of the participating residents and 86.7% of the trainers frequently used handheld devices. Both OMSB residents and trainers agreed that lack of time, training, and applications were the most common factors limiting the use of these devices. Participants emphasized the need for constructive training regarding the use of handheld devices as healthcare resources. CONCLUSIONS: Point-of-care devices are positively perceived and frequently used by OMSB trainees and trainers. However, constructive training on the effective usage of these devices in clinical decision-making is needed. Further future studies to evaluate the impact of using such devices in patient care should be conducted.

ImplantoPUC: an educational application for mobile computing devices aimed at patients and professionals in the field of Implantology / ImplantoPUC: aplicativo para orientação de pacientes, estudantes e cirurgiões-dentistas sobre os implantes osseointegráveis

ABSTRACT Objective: development of an application for mobile computer devices, mobile phones and tablets, which contains educational material for patients and professionals in the area of Implantology. The use of ImplantoPUC at PUC Minas implant dentistry clinics aims at a more effective communication between professionals and patients, with better visualization of the proposed treatments, improving the understanding of patients. Methods: for the development of ImplantoPUC, a responsive technology was used, and the application windows can adapt to different screen formats, consequently, the application can be made available on different platforms such as: Web, Android and Apple. The application size is 13.4 MB and was developed using the OutSystems platform using Apache Cordova. The prototype of the ImplantoPUC application can already be accessed through the link https://includesistemas.outsystemcloud.com/implantpuc/homescreen. Results: the application is still under test at PUC Minas implant dentistry clinics, but due to the pandemic its use is still below expectations. In the Play Store your rating has a maximum rating of 5.0, with more than 50 downloads so far. Conclusion: Implanto PUC makes the task of informing more interactive and easy to understand for patients, also assisting professionals in the area in obtaining updated information and at the reach of hands, and can also be used in other Dentistry Educational Institutions, becoming a reference in the area of implant dentistry.

RESUMO Objetivo: desenvolvimento de um aplicativo para dispositivos móveis de informática, celulares e tablets, que contém material educacional para os pacientes e profissionais da área da Implantodontia. A utilização do ImplantoPUC nas clínicas de Implantodontia da PUC Minas visa uma comunicação mais efetiva entre profissionais e pacientes, com melhor visualização dos tratamentos propostos, melhorando o entendimento dos pacientes. Métodos: Para o desenvolvimento do ImplantoPUC foi utilizado uma tecnologia responsiva, podendo as janelas do aplicativo se adaptarem a diferentes formatos de telas, consequentemente, o aplicativo pode ser disponibilizado em diferentes plataformas como: Web, Android e Apple. O tamanho do aplicativo é de 13,4 MB e foi desenvolvido utilizando a plataforma OutSystems, utilizando a Apache Cordova. O protótipo do aplicativo ImplantoPUC já pode ser acessado através do link https://includesistemas.outsystemcloud.com/implantpuc/homescreen Resultados: O aplicativo ainda continua em teste nas clínicas da PUC Minas, mas em virtude da pandemia o seu uso está abaixo do esperado. Na Play Store a sua avaliação tem nota máxima 5,0, com mais de 50 downloads até o momento. Conclusão: O ImplantoPUC torna a tarefa de informar mais interativa e de fácil compreensão para os pacientes, auxiliando também os profissionais da área na obtenção de informações atualizadas e ao alcance das mãos, podendo também ser utilizado em outras instituições de ensino da Odontologia, tornando-se uma referência na área da Implantodontia.

Development of a smartphone app for neuromuscular facial training.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have demonstrated a significant benefit of neuromuscular facial training in the rehabilitation of patients with facial palsy. However, printed instructions for home training are often not of optimum quality and associated with low adherence to therapy. Professional guidance, e.g., by occupational therapists, is regarded as being of high quality, but is associated with a high cost burden, particularly in chronic forms of disease. OBJECTIVE: The idea to develop a smartphone app for facial training arose from the above-described situation. The aim was to provide structured exercises for the mimic muscles in the sense of neuromuscular training with visual feedback via the front camera of the device. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A native app architecture in iOS was chosen to implement the graphical and content-related concept. In the Apple Xcode (Apple, Cupertino, CA, US) development environment, the app's code was written in the Swift programming language (Apple) and the graphical user interface was created. RESULTS: An app prototype was implemented that provides step-by-step instructions on selected mimic exercises via animated smileys. The duration and speed of the exercise can be varied within a limited range. In the development environment, the correct functionality of both physical and virtual devices was successfully tested. CONCLUSION: App-based facial training offers attractive opportunities to motivate patients for improved adherence to treatment, which could hypothetically lead to a better outcome. Evaluation of this question is planned in a clinical trial after completion of the development.

[Development of a smartphone app for neuromuscular facial training. German Version]. / Entwicklung einer Smartphone-App für neuromuskuläres Fazialistraining.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have demonstrated a significant benefit of neuromuscular facial training in the rehabilitation of patients with facial palsy. However, printed instructions for home training are often not of optimum quality and associated with low adherence to therapy. Professional guidance, e.g., by occupational therapists, is regarded as being of high quality, but is associated with a high cost burden, particularly in chronic forms of disease. OBJECTIVE: The idea to develop a smartphone app for facial training arose from the above-described situation. The aim was to provide structured exercises for the mimic muscles in the sense of neuromuscular training with visual feedback via the front camera of the device. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A native app architecture in iOS was chosen to implement the graphical and content-related concept. In the Apple Xcode (Apple, Cupertino, California, US) development environment, the app's code was written in the Swift programming language (Apple) and the graphical user interface was created. RESULTS: An app prototype was implemented that provides step-by-step instructions on selected mimic exercises via animated smileys. The duration and speed of the exercise can be varied within a limited range. In the development environment, the correct functionality of both physical and virtual devices was successfully tested. CONCLUSION: App-based facial training offers attractive opportunities to motivate patients for improved adherence to treatment, which could hypothetically lead to a better outcome. Evaluation of this question is planned in a clinical trial after completion of the development.

Technology Acceptance and Information System Success of a Mobile Electronic Platform for Nonphysician Clinical Students in Zambia: Prospective, Nonrandomized Intervention Study.

BACKGROUND: Zambia is still experiencing a severe shortage of health workers, which is impacting the national health care system. Very few people are trained, educational infrastructure is inadequate, and senior human resources for training are not yet sufficient to produce the number of health care workers needed, especially for currently underserved rural areas. Therefore, to strengthen the medical education program of medical licentiates, we implemented a tablet-based electronic learning platform (e-platform) with a medical decision-support component. OBJECTIVE: As the primary objective, this study aimed to explore the acceptance and information system (IS) success of an e-platform focused on offline-based tablet usage for nonphysician clinical students in a low-resource context in Zambia, Africa. Furthermore, we aimed to evaluate student demographic factors and prior technological experience, as well as medical lecturers' acceptance of technology of the e-platform. METHODS: We collected data for the study before and after the intervention. Before the intervention, we collected student demographic data and prior technological experience using a questionnaire. After the intervention, we collected results of the questionnaire on technology acceptance of students and IS success of the e-platform, as well as technology acceptance of medical lecturers. We calculated statistical measures such as means, standard deviations, and correlations of investigated variables. The study report was compiled using the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials-Electronic Health checklist. RESULTS: Overall, questionnaire results of students and medical lecturers indicated acceptance of the e-platform and showed higher ratings for overall net benefits and information quality (students) and perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness (medical lecturers) as compared with ratings of other categories. The lowest scores were conveyed for system use and service quality (students) and attitude and behavioral intention (medical lecturers). CONCLUSIONS: Acceptance of the e-platform as a learning technology for strengthening medical education in a low-resource context in Zambia was generally high for students and medical lecturers, but shortcomings were also identified. Results indicated low overall usage of the e-platform as a learning and teaching tool. One hindering factor was the tablets' overall weak reliability with regard to its service life and battery life span, and another was the teachers' low engagement with the e-platform. Next steps may include other hardware and more technology-based training for medical lecturers. The evaluation results indicated that the e-platform may open new promise for further strengthening and expanding medical education in this context, especially with more affordable and viable technologies that are available.

A Peer-Led Electronic Mental Health Recovery App in a Community-Based Public Mental Health Service: Pilot Trial.

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing need for peer workers (people with lived experience of mental health problems who support others) to work alongside consumers to improve recovery and outcomes. In addition, new forms of technology (tablet or mobile apps) can deliver services in an engaging and innovative way. However, there is a need to evaluate interventions in real-world settings. OBJECTIVE: This exploratory proof-of-concept study aimed to determine if a peer worker-led electronic mental health (e-mental health) recovery program is a feasible, acceptable, and effective adjunct to usual care for people with moderate-to-severe mental illness. METHODS: Overall, 6 consumers and 5 health service staff participated in the evaluation of a peer-led recovery app delivered at a community-based public mental health service. The peer worker and other health professional staff invited attendees at the drop-in medication clinics to participate in the trial during June to August 2017. Following the intervention period, participants were also invited by the peer worker to complete the evaluation in a separate room with the researcher. Consumers were explicitly informed that participation in the research evaluation was entirely voluntary. Consumer evaluation measures at postintervention included recovery and views on the acceptability of the program and its delivery. Interviews with staff focused on the acceptability and feasibility of the app itself and integrating a peer worker into the health care service. RESULTS: Consumer recruitment in the research component of the study (n=6) fell substantially short of the target number of participants (n=30). However, from those who participated, both staff and consumers were highly satisfied with the peer worker and somewhat satisfied with the app. Health care staff overall believed that the addition of the peer worker was highly beneficial to both the consumers and staff. CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary findings from this proof-of-concept pilot study suggest that a peer-led program may be a feasible and acceptable method of working on recovery in this population. However, the e-mental health program did not appear feasible in this setting. In addition, recruitment was challenging in this particular group, and it is important to note that these study findings may not be generalizable. Despite this, ensuring familiarity of technology in the target population before implementing e-mental health interventions is likely to be of benefit.

Assessing the Quality of Mobile Apps Used by Occupational Therapists: Evaluation Using the User Version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale.

BACKGROUND: The continuous development of mobile apps has led to many health care professionals using them in clinical settings; however, little research is available to guide occupational therapists (OTs) in choosing quality apps for use in their respective clinical settings. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to use the user version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale (uMARS) to evaluate the quality of the most frequently noted mobile health (mHealth) apps used by OTs and to demonstrate the utility of the uMARS to assess the quality of mHealth apps. METHODS: A previous study surveying OTs' use of apps in therapy compiled a list of apps frequently noted. A total of 25 of these apps were evaluated individually by 2 trained researchers using the uMARS, a simple, multidimensional analysis tool that can be reliably used to evaluate the quality of mHealth apps. RESULTS: The top 10 apps had a total quality score of 4.3, or higher, out of 5 based on the mean scores of engagement, functionality, and aesthetics. Apps scored highest in functionality and lowest in engagement. Apps noted most frequently were not always high-quality apps; apps noted least frequently were not always low-quality apps. CONCLUSIONS: Determining the effectiveness of using apps in clinical settings must be built upon a foundation of the implementation of high-quality apps. Mobile apps should not be incorporated into clinical settings solely based on frequency of use. The uMARS should be considered as a useful tool for OTs, and other professionals, to determine app quality.

Perspectives of Nonphysician Clinical Students and Medical Lecturers on Tablet-Based Health Care Practice Support for Medical Education in Zambia, Africa: Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Zambia is faced with a severe shortage of health workers and challenges in national health financing. This burdens the medical licentiate practitioner (MLP) program for training nonphysician clinical students in Zambia because of the shortage of qualified medical lecturers and learning resources at training sites. To address this shortage and strengthen the MLP program, a self-directed electronic health (eHealth) platform was introduced, comprising technology-supported learning (e-learning) for medical education and support for health care practice. MLP students were provided with tablets that were preloaded with content for offline access. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore MLP students' and medical lecturers' perceptions of the self-directed eHealth platform with an offline-based tablet as a training and health care practice support tool during the first year of full implementation. METHODS: We conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with 8 MLP students and 5 lecturers and 2 focus group discussions with 16 students to gain insights on perceptions of the usefulness, ease of use, and adequacy of self-directed e-learning and health care practice support accessible through the offline-based tablet. Participants were purposively sampled. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed following hypothesis coding. RESULTS: The eHealth platform (e-platform), comprising e-learning for medical education and health care practice support, was positively received by students and medical lecturers and was seen as a step toward modernizing the MLP program. Tablets enabled equal access to offline learning contents, thus bridging the gap of slow or no internet connections. The study results indicated that the e-platform appears adequate to strengthen medical education within this low-resource setting. However, student self-reported usage was low, and medical lecturer usage was even lower. One stated reason was the lack of training in tablet usage and another was the quality of the tablets. The mediocre quality and quantity of most e-learning contents were perceived as a primary concern as materials were reported to be outdated, missing multimedia features, and addressing only part of the curriculum. Medical lecturers were noted to have little commitment to updating or creating new learning materials. Suggestions for improving the e-platform were given. CONCLUSIONS: To address identified major challenges, we plan to (1) introduce half-day training sessions at the beginning of each study year to better prepare users for tablet usage, (2) further update and expand e-learning content by fostering collaborations with MLP program stakeholders and nominating an e-platform coordinator, (3) set up an e-platform steering committee including medical lecturers, (4) incorporate e-learning and e-based health care practice support across the curriculum, as well as (5) implement processes to promote user-generated content. With these measures, we aim to sustainably strengthen the MLP program by implementing the tablet-based e-platform as a serious learning technology for medical education and health care practice support.

Use of Mobile Devices to Help Cancer Patients Meet Their Information Needs in Non-Inpatient Settings: Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The shift from inpatient to outpatient cancer care means that patients are now required to manage their condition at home, away from regular supervision by clinicians. Subsequently, research has consistently reported that many patients with cancer have unmet information needs during their illness. Mobile devices, such as mobile phones and tablet computers, provide an opportunity to deliver information to patients remotely. To date, no systematic reviews have evaluated how mobile devices have been used specifically to help patients meet to their information needs. OBJECTIVE: A systematic review was conducted to identify studies that describe the use of mobile interventions to enable patients with cancer meet their cancer-related information needs in non-inpatient settings, and to describe the effects and feasibility of these interventions. METHODS: MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO databases were searched up until January 2017. Search terms related to "mobile devices," "information needs," and "cancer" were used. There were no restrictions on study type in order to be as inclusive as possible. Study participants were patients with cancer undergoing treatment. Interventions had to be delivered by a mobile or handheld device, attempt to meet patients' cancer-related information needs, and be for use in non-inpatient settings. Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklists were used to assess the methodological quality of included studies. A narrative synthesis was performed and findings were organized by common themes found across studies. RESULTS: The initial search yielded 1020 results. We included 23 articles describing 20 studies. Interventions aimed to improve the monitoring and management of treatment-related symptoms (17/20, 85%), directly increase patients' knowledge related to their condition (2/20, 10%), and improve communication of symptoms to clinicians in consultations (1/20, 5%). Studies focused on adult (17/20; age range 24-87 years) and adolescent (3/20; age range 8-18 years) patients. Sample sizes ranged from 4-125, with 13 studies having 25 participants or fewer. Most studies were conducted in the United Kingdom (12/20, 52%) or United States (7/20, 30%). Of the 23 articles included, 12 were of medium quality, 9 of poor quality, and 2 of good quality. Overall, interventions were reported to be acceptable and perceived as useful and easy to use. Few technical problems were encountered. Adherence was generally consistent and high (periods ranged from 5 days to 6 months). However, there was considerable variation in use of intervention components within and between studies. Reported benefits of the interventions included improved symptom management, patient empowerment, and improved clinician-patient communication, although mixed findings were reported for patients' health-related quality of life and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: The current review highlighted that mobile interventions for patients with cancer are only meeting treatment or symptom-related information needs. There were no interventions designed to meet patients' full range of cancer-related information needs, from information on psychological support to how to manage finances during cancer, and the long-term effects of treatment. More comprehensive interventions are required for patients to meet their information needs when managing their condition in non-inpatient settings. Controlled evaluations are needed to further determine the effectiveness of these types of intervention.

Effects of a 12-Week Digital Care Program for Chronic Knee Pain on Pain, Mobility, and Surgery Risk: Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Chronic knee pain, most commonly caused by knee osteoarthritis, is a prevalent condition which in most cases can be effectively treated through conservative, non-surgical care involving exercise therapy, education, psychosocial support, and weight loss. However, most people living with chronic knee pain do not receive adequate care, leading to unnecessary use of opiates and surgical procedures. OBJECTIVE: Assess the efficacy of a remotely delivered digital care program for chronic knee pain. METHODS: We enrolled 162 participants into a randomized controlled trial between January and March 2017. Participants were recruited from participating employers using questionnaires for self-assessment of their knee pain, and randomized into treatment (n=101) and control (n=61) groups. Participants in the treatment group were enrolled in the Hinge Health digital care program for chronic knee pain. This is a remotely delivered, home-based 12-week intervention that includes sensor-guided exercise therapy, education, cognitive behavioral therapy, weight loss, and psychosocial support through a personal coach and team-based interactions. The control group received three education pieces regarding self-care for chronic knee pain. Both groups had access to treatment-as-usual. The primary outcome was the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Pain subscale and KOOS Physical Function Shortform (KOOS-PS). Secondary outcomes were visual analog scales (VAS) for pain and stiffness respectively, surgery intent, and self-reported understanding of the condition and treatment options. Outcome measures were analyzed by intention to treat (excluding 7 control participants who received the digital care program due to administrative error) and per protocol. RESULTS: In an intent-to-treat analysis the digital care program group had a significantly greater reduction in KOOS Pain compared to the control group at the end of the program (greater reduction of 7.7, 95% CI 3.0 to 12.3, P=.002), as well as a significantly greater improvement in physical function (7.2, 95% CI 3.0 to 11.5, P=.001). This was also reflected in the secondary outcomes VAS pain (12.3, 95% CI 5.4 to 19.1, P<.001) and VAS stiffness (13.4, 95% CI 5.6 to 21.1, P=.001). Participants' self-reported likelihood (from 0% to 100%) of having surgery also reduced more strongly in the digital care program group compared to the control group over the next 1 year (-9.4 percentage points, pp, 95% CI -16.6 to -2.2, P=.01), 2 years (-11.3 pp, 95% CI -20.1 to -2.5, P=.01), and 5 years (-14.6 pp, 95% CI -23.6 to -5.5, P=.002). Interest in surgery (from 0 to 10) also reduced more so in the digital care program compared to control group (-1.0, 95% CI -1.7 to -0.2, P=.01). Participants' understanding of the condition and treatment options (on a scale from 0 to 4) increased more substantially for participants in the digital care program than those in the control group (0.9, 95% CI 0.6 to 1.3, P<.001). In an analysis on participants that completed the intervention (per protocol analysis) all primary and secondary outcomes remained significant at greater effect magnitudes compared to intention to treat, with those completing the program showing a 61% (95% CI 48 to 74) reduction in VAS pain compared to 21% (95% CI 5 to 38) in the control group (P<.001). Accounting for the cost of administering the program, we estimate net cost savings on surgery alone of US $4340 over 1 year and $7900 over 5 years for those participants completing the digital care program compared to those in the control group receiving treatment-as-usual. In an exploratory subgroup analysis including only participants exhibiting clinical symptoms of osteoarthritis the program proved equally effective. CONCLUSIONS: This trial provides strong evidence that a comprehensive 12-week digital care program for chronic knee pain, including osteoarthritis, yields significantly improved outcomes for pain, physical function, stiffness, surgery risk, and understanding of the condition, compared to a control group. TRIAL REGISTRATION: International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) 13307390; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN13307390 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6ycwjGL73).

Handheld Echocardiography: Current State and Future Perspectives.

Echocardiography is the primary imaging modality for diagnosing cardiac conditions. Over the past 2 decades, technological advancements have resulted in the emergence of miniaturized handheld ultrasound equipment that is compact and battery operated, and handheld echocardiography can be readily performed at the point of care with reasonable image quality. The simplicity of use, availability at the patient's bedside, easy transportability, and relatively low cost have encouraged physicians to use these devices for prompt medical decision making. As a consequence, the use of handheld echocardiography is on the rise even among nonechocardiographers (intensivists, emergency care physicians, internists, and medical students). One of the real utilities of ultrasound-augmented clinical diagnosis is in evaluating patients efficiently and selecting patients for appropriate downstream diagnostic testing including comprehensive echocardiography. Although clinical evidence supports the use of handheld devices in various clinical settings and by different users, proficiency in point-of-care ultrasound requires dedicated training in both performance and interpretation. This review summarizes the existing literature on the use of handheld echocardiography in conducting focused cardiac examinations: its training requirements, challenges, opportunities, and future perspectives in the care of the cardiovascular patient.

Effectiveness of mobile health (mHealth) interventions for promoting healthy eating in adults: A systematic review.

Unhealthy eating is a major risk factor for chronic disease. However, many current strategies to promote healthy eating are not sustainable over the longer-term. More cost-effective wide-reaching initiatives are urgently needed. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions, delivered via mobile devices, could provide a solution. This systematic review summarized the evidence on the effect of mHealth interventions for promoting healthy eating in adults. A comprehensive systematic search of five scientific databases was conducted using methods adapted from the Cochrane Handbook. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), published up to 1 July 2016, which examined healthy eating interventions delivered via mobile device. Of 879 articles identified, 84 full text articles were potentially eligible and further assessed, and 23 included. Narrative review results indicated small positive effects of mHealth interventions on healthy eating (5/8 trials) and weight loss (5/13 trials). However, the current evidence base is insufficient (studies are of poor quality) to determine conclusive positive effects. More rigorous RCTs with longer-term (>6months) follow-up are warranted to determine if effects are maintained.

Assessing the accommodation response after near visual tasks using different handheld electronic devices / Avaliação da resposta de acomodação após tarefas visuais próximas usando diferentes dispositivos eletrônicos portáteis

ABSTRACT Purpose: To assess the accommodation response after short reading periods using a tablet and a smartphone as well as determine potential differences in the accommodation response at various stimulus vergences using a Hartmann- Shack aberrometer. Methods: Eighteen healthy subjects with astigmatism of less than 1 D, corrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better, and normal findings in an ophthalmic examination were enrolled. Accommodation responses were obtained under three different conditions: accommodation system of the eye relaxed and visually stressed with a tablet and an smartphone for 10 min, at a distance of 0.25 m from the subject's eyes. Three measurements of accommodation response were monocularly acquired at stimulus vergences ranging from 0 to 4 D (1-D step). Results: No statistically significant differences were found in the accommodation responses among the conditions. A moderate but gradually increasing root mean square, coma-like aberration was found for every condition. Conversely, the spherical aberration decreased as stimulus vergences increased. These outcomes were identified in comparison to the one-to-one ideal accommodation response, implying that a certain lag value was present in all stimulus vergences different from 0 D. Conclusions: The results support the hypothesis that the difference between the ideal and real accommodation responses is mainly attributed to parameters associated with the accommodation process, such as the near visual acuity, depth of focus, pupil diameter, and wavefront aberrations. The wavefront aberrations were dependent on the 3-mm pupil size selected in this study. The accommoda tion response was not dependent on the electronic device employed in each condition, and it was mainly associated with young age and level of amplitude of accommodation of the subjects.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a resposta de acomodação após períodos de leitura curtos usando um tablet e um smartphone, bem como para determinar potenciais diferenças na resposta de acomodação em estímulos de várias vergências com uma aberrômetro Hartmann-Shack. Método: Dezoito indivíduos saudáveis com astigmatismo inferior a 1 D, apresentando acuidade visual corrigida de 20/20 ou melhor com exame oftalmológico normal foram avaliados. As respostas acomodativas foram obtidas em três condições diferentes: sistema de acomodação com o olho relaxado, e visualmente estressado com um tablet e um smartphone por 10 min, a uma distância de 0,25 m dos olhos dos sujeitos. Três medidas de resposta acomodativa foram obtidas monocularmente com estímulos cujas vergências variaram de 0 a 4 D (intervalos de 1 D). Resultados: Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre as respostas acomodativas em todas as condições. Foi observada moderada aberração do tipo coma com aumento progressivo para cada condição, enquanto houve diminuição da aberração esférica com o aumento das vergências do estímulo. Estes resultados foram identificados em comparação com a resposta acomodativa de um-para-um ideal, o que implica que um certo valor de desfasagem estava presente em todos os estímulos com vergências diferentes de 0 D. Conclusões: Os resultados apoiam a hipótese de que a diferença entre as respostas acomodativas ideal e real é atribuída principalmente a parâmetros tais como a acuidade visual para perto, profundidade de foco, diâmetro pupilar e aberrações de frente de onda, associados ao processo acomodativo. As aberrações de frente de onda foram dependentes do tamanho da pupila de 3 mm, selecionado neste estudo. A resposta acomodativa não foi dependente do dispositivo eletrônico empregue em cada condição e foi associada principalmente à idade jovem e ao nível da amplitude de acomodação dos sujeitos avaliados.