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Abstract Background Reminders via digital technology offer a novel and efficient means to address medication forgetfulness, as they are easily accessible and user-friendly for patients. In particular mobile text message reminders are more suitable for chronic patients, as they require few technical skills, can operate without internet connectivity, and are less expensive than other technologies. This study aimed to assess the intention to use mobile text message reminders for medication adherence among hypertensive patients at the Gondar City health facilities. Methods A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted. A simple random sampling method was used to select 423 hypertensive patients. Data was collected from April 1 to May 15, 2023. Data was collected using Kobo Toolbox, and the collected data was exported to MS Excel. Subsequently, the data was imported and analyzed using the SPSS version 20. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to assess factors associated with the outcome variable. Result The finding indicates that 64.5% of the patients have an Intention to use mobile text message reminders for medication adherence. Perceived usefulness (AOR = 2.53: 95%CI: 1.41, 4.52), perceived ease of use (AOR = 3.28: 95% CI: 1.81, 5.95), forgetting to take medication (AOR = 2.20: 95%CI: 1.38, 3.50) and patient holds their mobile phone always (AOR = 1.96: 95%CI: 1.04, 3.68) were associated factors with outcome variable. Conclusion Forget taking medication, the patient holds their mobile phone always, Perceived ease of use and Perceived usefulness were significantly associated with the outcome variable. We recommend designing and implementing user-friendly text message reminder systems and educating hypertensive patients about the system’s benefits.

Abstract Aim This study aimed to assess the impact of Mobile health (M-health) on medication time adherence among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Methods The study included all PLWHA who were receiving care at the Federal University Teaching Hospital Owerri (FUTH) and Imo State Specialist Hospital (ISSH) Umugumma during the study duration. The test group (FUTH) received a 2-way text message sent three times a week and a once-a-week phone call, while the control group (ISSH) received only the standard care. Findings The result shows that the adherence was higher among PLWHA in the test group compared to those in the control group (P = 0.000, χ2 = 168.62, 95% confidence interval (CI): 7.22 to 16.19). Conclusion M-health intervention significantly improved the medication time adherence among the participants in the test group compared to those in the control group.

Abstract Background Interest in mental health smartphone applications has grown in recent years. Despite their effectiveness and advantages, special attention needs to be paid to two aspects to ensure app engagement: to include patients and professionals in their design and to guarantee their usability. The aim of this study was to analyse the perceived usability and quality of the preliminary version of RegulEm, an app based in the Unified Protocol, as part of the second stage of the app development. Methods A parallel mixed methods study was used with 7 professionals and 4 users who were previously involved in the first stage of the development of the app. MARS, uMARS and SUS scales were used, and two focus groups were conducted. Descriptive statistical analysis and a thematic content analysis were performed in order to gather as much information as possible on RegulEm’s usability and quality as well as suggestions for improvement. Results RegulEm’s usability was perceived through the SUS scale scores as good by users (75 points) and excellent by professionals (84.64 points), while its quality was perceived through the uMARS and MARS scales as good by both groups, with 4 and 4.14 points out of 5. Different areas regarding RegulEm’s usability and suggestions for improvement were identified in both focus groups and 20% of the suggestions proposed were implemented in the refined version of RegulEm. Conclusion RegulEm’s usability and quality were perceived as good by users and professionals and different identified areas have contributed to its refinement. This study provides a more complete picture of RegulEm’s usability and quality prior analysing its effectiveness, implementation and cost-effectiveness in Spanish public mental health units.

IntroductionAnxiety and depression are major causes of disability in Arab countries, yet resources for mental health services are insufficient. Mobile devices may improve mental health care delivery (mental m-Health), but the Arab region's mental m-Health app landscape remains under-documented. This study aims to systematically assess the features, quality, and digital safety of mental m-Health apps available in the Arab marketplace. We also contrast a set of recommended Australian apps to benchmark current strategies and evidence-based practices and suggest areas for improvement in Arabic apps.MethodsFifteen Arab country-specific iOS Apple Stores and an Android Google Play Store were searched. Apps that met the inclusion criteria were downloaded and evaluated using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) and the Mobile App Development and Assessment Guide (MAG).ResultsTwenty-two apps met the inclusion criteria. The majority of apps showed no evidence of mental health experts being involved in the app design processes. Most apps offered real-time communication with specialists through video, text, or audio calls rather than evidence-based self-help techniques. Standardized quality assessment showed low scores for design features related to engagement, information, safety, security, privacy, usability, transparency, and technical support. In comparison to apps available in Australia, Arabic apps did not include evidence-based interventions like CBT, self-help tools and crisis-specific resources, including a suicide support hotline and emergency numbers.DiscussionIn conclusion, dedicated frameworks and strategies are required to facilitate the effective development, validation, and uptake of Arabic mental mHealth apps. Involving end users and healthcare professionals in the design process may help improve app quality, dependability, and efficacy.

The impact of e-Health and m-health interventions on mental health, highlighting their potential to address psychological problems. E-health is defined as the use of information and communication technologies in support of health, while mobile health refers to the usage of mobile technologies for health purposes. Both offer benefits such as availability, accessibility, cost-effectiveness and content personalization. The effectiveness of mobile apps in improving quality of life, reducing symptoms of stress and depression, and promoting emotional well-being. The importance of integrating psychological theories into these applications is highlighted and the need for more research, especially in populations such as older adults and health workers. Accessibility and reach of psychological services through m-health are crucial, but challenges are observed in adoption and usability, especially in environments such as that of university students. The need to carefully consider the socio-cultural experiences and preferences of users when developing m-health applications is highlighted. There are three examples of interventions in Mexico, highlighting the implementation of preventive strategies for adolescents, augmented reality in psychology teaching, and a smoking cessation programme for adults. Although successful, it is recognized that there is little scientific evidence related to mobile applications in the Mexican population. It highlights the potential of mobile technology in mental health, but also points to challenges and the need for ongoing research to ensure the ethical and effective development of applications in this field.

Abstract Background Exercise and medication have similar benefits in reducing blood pressure (BP); however, hypertension management initiatives primarily focus on medicines. This is due to scarce research on the effectiveness of implementation strategies for optimal exercise adoption and adherence. Smartphones were found to be effective in delivering hypertension care and increase exercise adherence. Despite this, only a small number of research projects in India have used smartphones as a strategy for managing hypertension. Methods We hypothesized that smartphone application‐based care would lead to higher exercise adherence among adults (30–79 years) with hypertension compared to those who receive usual care. It will be a multicentric, randomized controlled, parallel‐design, superiority clinical trial. The outcome assessor and data analyst will be blinded to group allocation. Participants in the intervention group will receive mobile application‐based care for 6 weeks. Participants in the usual care group will receive a standard intervention. Both groups will receive the same number of follow‐ups. Results The primary outcome is the difference in the proportion of people adherent to the recommended level of physical activity evaluated using an exercise adherence rating scale in the intervention group and the control group. Exercise adoption will be measured as the percentage of eligible participants in each study setting willing to initiate the exercise program. The secondary outcome includes differences in systolic and diastolic BP and self‐management (evaluated using the Hypertension Self‐Care Profile). The trial outcome will be accompanied by a process evaluation. Conclusions This research will inform about the comparative effectiveness of conventional and m‐health interventions for exercise adoption and adherence in people with hypertension in resource‐constrained settings.

Abstract Background None of the early M-Health applications are designed for case management care services. This study aims to describe the process of developing a M-health component for the case management model in breast cancer transitional care and to highlight methods for solving the common obstacles faced during the application of M-health nursing service. Methods We followed a four-step process: (a) Forming a cross-functional interdisciplinary development team containing two sub-teams, one for content development and the other for software development. (b) Applying self-management theory as the theoretical framework to develop the M-health application, using contextual analysis to gain a comprehensive understanding of the case management needs of oncology nursing specialists and the supportive care needs of out-of-hospital breast cancer patients. We validated the preliminary concepts of the framework and functionality of the M-health application through multiple interdisciplinary team discussions. (c) Adopting a multi-stage optimization strategy consisting of three progressive stages: screening, refining, and confirmation to develop and continually improve the WeChat mini-programs. (d) Following the user-centered principle throughout the development process and involving oncology nursing specialists and breast cancer patients at every stage. Results Through a continuous, iterative development process and rigorous testing, we have developed patient-end and nurse-end program for breast cancer case management. The patient-end program contains four functional modules: “Information”, “Interaction”, “Management”, and “My”, while the nurse-end program includes three functional modules: “Consultation”, “Management”, and “My”. The patient-end program scored 78.75 on the System Usability Scale and showed a 100% task passing rate, indicating that the programs were easy to use. Conclusions Based on the contextual analysis, multi-stage optimization strategy, and interdisciplinary team work, a WeChat mini-program has been developed tailored to the requirements of the nurses and patients. This approach leverages the expertise of professionals from multiple disciplines to create effective and evidence-based solutions that can improve patient outcomes and quality of care.

Abstract Introduction Neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) entail a group of mostly inherited genetic disorders with heterogeneous phenotypes impacting muscles, the central or peripheral nervous system. They can lead to severe disabilities and shortened lifespans. Despite their severity, NMDs often lack in public awareness and appropriate medical and social support. Telemedicine can improve patients’ and caregivers’ lives by enhancing continuity of and access to care. The first aim of this systematic review was to summarise the status quo of telemedicine services for patients with NMDs. Secondly, barriers and facilitators of the respective implementation processes should be analysed. Methods The databases PubMed, Web of Science and CENTRAL by Cochrane were searched in May 2022. To be truly explorative, any original evidence from any setting was included. Two independent researchers completed the screening process. Data was extracted and analysed using the taxonomy of Bashshur et al. (2011) and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Results Fifty-seven original papers were included in the systematic review. The results showed a high representation of teleconsultations and remote monitoring studies. Teleconsultations replaced in person appointments and telemonitoring mostly focused on ventilation. Physical therapy, pulmonology, neurology, and psychology were the most represented medical specialties. We found barriers and facilitators relating to implementation mainly referred to the intervention and the individuals involved. Technical errors and inaccessibility due to a lack of technical devices or the patient’s disability were stated as hindrances. A positive mindset of users as well as patient empowerment were necessary for the adoption of new technology. Technophobia or uncertainty around technology negatively impacted the implementation process. Discussion This systematic review provides an overview of the current use of telemedicine in patients with NMDs. The distribution of telemedicine interventions between the defined domains was very heterogenous. Previous research has neglected to fully describe the implementation process of telemedicine for NMDs. Conclusion The evidence shows that telemedicine can benefit patients with NMDs in a multitude of ways. Therefore, health policies should endorse and incentivise the uptake of telemedicine by institutions and health care workers. Further research needs to be conducted to confirm the current evidence and close existing research gaps.

Summary: Background: Contact tracing was described as a key strategy to contribute to controlling the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome of Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) but implementing it can be a challenge. Digitalisation of contact tracing is among the proposed solutions being explored in sub-Saharan African settings. We assessed the effectiveness of a digital tool to expand SARS-CoV-2 testing in exposed individuals in Cameroon. Methods: We conducted a cluster-randomised (1:1) trial in eight health districts, including 22 facilities and SARS-CoV-2 testing units, randomly assigned to a digital (intervention) or standard (control) contact tracing approach. The intervention consisted of a contact tracing module added to the digital platform “Mamal PRO” used for monitoring and coordination of Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic response in Cameroon. The primary outcome was the proportion of contacts declared by SAR-CoV-2 index patients who were successfully traced and tested for SARS-CoV-2 evaluated with a Poisson regression model with cluster adjustment. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05684887). Findings: Between October 18, 2022, and March 31, 2023, we enrolled 164 index patients in the intervention arm and 149 in the control arm, who identified 854 and 849 contacts, respectively. In the intervention arm, 93.8% (801/854) of identified contacts were successfully reached by the tracing unit versus 54.5% (463/849) in the control arm. The intervention significantly increased the likelihood of successfully tracing contacts (adjusted relative risks (RR) 1.72 [95% CI: 1.00–2.95], p = 0.049). The median (interquartile range, IQR) time to successfully tracing contacts was 0 days [IQR: 0, 1] in the intervention and 1 day [IQR: 0, 2] in the control arm. In the intervention arm, 21.3% (182/854) of identified contacts received SARS-CoV-2 testing compared to 14.5% (123/849) in the control arm (adjusted RR 1.47 [95% CI: 0.44–4.90], p = 0.530). Interpretation: Digitalising the contact tracing process improved exposure notification and facilitated the tracing of a greater number of contacts of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 in resource-limited settings. Funding: The study was funded by FIND, United Kingdom (FCDO 40105983), Switzerland (81066910), Netherlands (SDD 4000004160), Canada (DFATD 7429348), The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (FIND—ACT-A DX PARTNERSHIP 20.08.2020), The Rockefeller Foundation (2020 HTH 059), Germany (BMZ Covid-19 Diagnostic and Surveillance Response 27.07.2021), Australia (DFAT 76442), Kuwait (M239/2020), The Government of Portugal and Partners (ANF, BCP, CGF, APIFARMA) and The BlackRock Foundation (Grant Agreement as of April 20, 2022).

Abstract Background The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity has become an urgent public health problem, evidence showed that intervention for childhood obesity bring enormous health benefits. However, an effective individualized intervention strategy remains to be developed, and the accompanying remission of related complications, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), needs to be assessed. This study aimed to develop an m-Health-assisted lifestyle intervention program targeting overweight/obese children and assess its effectiveness on indicators of adiposity and NAFLD. Methods This is a cluster-randomized controlled trial that conducted in children with overweight/obesity in Ningbo city, Zhejiang Province, China. Students in Grade 3 (8–10 years old) were recruited from six primary schools, with three be randomized to intervention group and three to usual practice group. The intervention program will last for one academic year and consists of health education, dietary guidance, and physical activity reinforcement. This program is characterized by encouraging four stakeholders, including School, Clinic, famIly, and studENT (SCIENT), to participate in controlling childhood obesity, assisted by m-Health technology. Assessments will be conducted at baseline and 3 months, 9 months, 24 months, and 36 months after baseline. The primary outcome will be the differences between the two groups in students’ body mass index and fatty liver index at the end of the intervention (9 months after baseline). During the implementation process, quality control methods will be adopted. Discussion The program will test the effectiveness of the m-Health-assisted lifestyle intervention on children with obesity and NAFLD. The results of this study will provide evidence for establishing effective lifestyle intervention strategy aimed at childhood obesity and NAFLD and may help develop guidelines for the treatment of obesity and NAFLD in Chinese children. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT05482191. Registered on July 2022.

Background. Considering the widespread influence of mobile phones in life and its various features, it is necessary to use value-added services of mobile phones in the field of treatment and health. This study aimed to identify and categorize the factors affecting the use of mobile value-added services in the field of health. Methods. This qualitative research was conducted using thematic analysis. A total of 74 articles were extracted from scientific databases. Next, 51 related articles were fully reviewed using thematic analysis method. After that, basic, organizing, and inclusive themes were extracted, and the model was implemented. Validity of the research was confirmed by experts according to the degree of connection between the components and the mobile value-added services model in the field of health. The reliability coefficient was 97%, which indicated a high reliability. Results. Based on the review and analysis of the articles, the final model consisted of 64 basic themes, 16 organizing themes (understanding benefits, understanding well-being, user values, customer outcomes, community outcomes, organizational outcomes, technology infrastructure, reducing fear of technology, learning and development, occupational factors, support and incentives, technical reliability, human reliability, risk reduction, attitude, and expectation), and six global themes (user understanding, effects and consequences, technology development, environmental influencing conditions, reliability, and mindset and expectations). Conclusion. According to the factors identified in this research, policy makers and health managers can have the right planning for the use of mobile value-added services in the field of health.

Background: Pediatric obesity treatment is based on high-intensity lifestyle counseling. However, high dropout rates and low effectiveness have been reported, even in specialized centers. Mobile health technologies have been used to overcome these limits with contrasting results. This study aims at evaluating the effectiveness of a six-month intervention with a mobile app for the treatment of pediatric obesity at 6 and 12 months of follow-up. Methods: Seventy-five patients were randomly assigned to standard care or standard care plus mobile app (2:1) using an online randomizer system. The mobile app delivered high-intensity lifestyle counseling for diet and physical activity. Results: At six months of follow-up, the M-App group showed significantly lower dropout rates compared to standard care (p = 0.01). The risk of dropout was significantly higher in controls compared to the intervention group (OR 3.86, 95% C.I. 1.39–10.42, p = 0.01). After one year, we observed lower albeit non-statistically significant dropout rates in the M-App compared to the standard care group (p = 0.24). No differences were observed in z-score BMI and percentage of BMI reduction between the two groups. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the mobile app might help in the clinical management of children and adolescents with obesity in terms of dropout reduction.

Abstract Background Current health care demonstrates an insufficient provision and utilization of physical exercises despite their recommendation as a first-line treatment in clinical guidelines for patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Mobile health (m-health) technologies offer new opportunities to guide and monitor home-based exercise programs by using mobile devices and inertial sensors in combination with a digital application (app). This study will evaluate patient benefits resulting from the use of the specific digital health application re.flex for patients with knee OA. Methods This monocentric, two-arm, randomized controlled parallel-group trial will evaluate the effectiveness of the app- and sensor-guided exercise program re.flex for patients with moderate-to-severe knee OA. We aim to recruit 200 participants via newspapers, newsletters and information events. Participants will be randomly allocated to the intervention group and the control group in a 1:1 ratio. Participants in the control group will not receive any study intervention or instruction for any change to their previous health care utilization. Despite this, they are allowed to make use of usual care provided by their treating physician. The intervention group comprises a 12-week home training program with three sessions per week in addition to usual care. Exercises will be guided and monitored by use of the training app (re.flex) and two accelerometers that are attached proximally and distally to the affected knee joint. Pre- and postmeasurements will take place at baseline (t0) and after 12 weeks (t1). Primary outcomes will be osteoarthritis-specific pain and physical function measured with the Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) subscales Pain and Function in daily living (ADL). Second, further self-reported health outcomes, a performance measurement, app logfiles and safety will be assessed. Intervention effects will be calculated by baseline-adjusted analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) using an intention-to-treat approach. Multiple imputation will be applied. Discussion Re.flex can bridge part of the gap between recommendations for strengthening exercises in patients with knee OA and the insufficient actual care situation. This randomized controlled trial is designed to provide conclusions on the effectiveness of the health application re.flex for the population under study and will provide further insight into adherence rates and the safety of its use. Trial registration The trial was registered on 20/01/2023 at www.drks.de (ID: DRKS00030932).

Abstract Background Accurate and timely decision-making in lung transplantation (LTx) programs is critical. The main objective of this study was to develop a mobile-based evidence-based clinical decision support system (CDSS) to enhance the management of lung transplant candidates. Method An iterative participatory software development process was employed to develop the ImamLTx CDSS. This study was accomplished in three phases. First, required data and standard clinical workflow were identified according to the literature review and expert consensus. Second, a rule-based knowledge-based CDSS application was developed. In the third phase, this CDSS was evaluated. The evaluation was done using the standard Post-Study System Usability Questionnaire (PSSUQ 18.3) and ten usability heuristics factors for user interface design. Results According to expert consensus, fifty-five data items were identified as essential data sets using the Content Validity Ratio (CVR) formula. By integrating information flow in clinical practices with clinical protocols, more than 450 rules and 500 knowledge statements were extracted. This CDSS provides clinical decision support on an Android platform regarding inclusion and exclusion referral criteria, optimum transplant time based on the type of lung disease, findings of initial assessment, and the overall evaluation of lung transplant candidates. Evaluation results showed high usability ratings due to the fact provided accuracy and sensitivity of this lung transplant CDSS with the information quality domain receiving the highest score (6.305 from 7). Conclusion Through a stepwise approach, the ImamLTx CDSS was developed to provide LTx programs with timely patient data access via a mobile platform. Our results suggest integration with existing workflow to support clinical decision-making and provide patient-specific recommendations.

The aim of this article was to analyze the literature on technological development in telemedicine through bibliometrics, by identifying the state of the art, research gaps, and trends in the literature. The analysis covers a total of 67 articles related to the field of study, published between 2010-2020 in the Springer Link, Science Direct, Wiley Online Library, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. The data was processed using the software StArt, Excel, IBM SPSS Statistics, and Iramuteq. The results presented bibliometric analysis of the articles, classified into the areas of Management (52.2%), IT (25.4%), and Medicine (22.4%), along with a Table of 34 suggestions for future research. Literature trends encompassed six study clusters (health, study, service, technology, patient, and telemedicine), which further subdivided into nine research themes (digital platform, telemedicine service management, telemedicine service operation, end-user perception, business opportunities, healthcare professional perception, covid-19, regulation, and robotics). An observed outcome was a significant increase in the number of publications in the area due to covid-19.

Electronic health, or e-Health, can revolutionize the clinical management of tuberculosis (TB) through enhanced treatment efficiency and effectiveness, among other benefits. Regarding TB, this may entail teleconsultation, which allows medical professionals to speak with TB specialists remotely, or telemonitoring, which allows patients to be remotely monitored using digital technology. This paper aims to determine the effectiveness of tele-counselling in enhancing adherence to patient tuberculosis. We used the Scopus database, Science Direct, Ebsco Host, and PubMed for English published between 2018 and 2023: the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines assessed eligibility, PRISMA quality, and a checklist to guide this review. The articles have case-control, quasi-experimental, mixed method studies, and randomized control trials (RCT). E-counseling was included in the analysis if they focused on tuberculosis and were excluded if unrelated to other disease areas. Fifteen articles that could be used in this review were found. The majority of the population were adults. Results of the review showed that most m-Health apps support tuberculosis treatment. There are numerous ways that electronic counseling, or “e-counseling,” may improve adherence to TB treatment. This study illustrated how m-health might improve patient comprehension and adherence. The five goals of the World Health Organization (WHO) e-Health framework are being met using more e-Health treatments to treat TB. Among the technology interventions demonstrated to have a significant, positive effect on disease outcomes are smartphone apps, mobile voice conversations, SMS, and instructive films. Keywords: E-counselling; m-Health; tuberculosis; patient adherence

Low user engagement in m-Health applications has been driving the use of retention techniques that aim to ensure a satisfactory long-term user experience. The aim was to understand the experience of hypertensive patients interacting with a mobile health application for 12 months. A qualitative/exploratory study was conducted after 12 months, with the same experimental group of participants as the non-randomized controlled clinical trial conducted in 2019. The mean age of the 16 participants was 57 years (SD=8), of which11 were female. All had low socioeconomic and educational levels. Content analysis showed no engagement with the m-health app over time. The main factors contributing to the lack of engagement were; inability of the user to use the app, lack of support and technical problems. When designing m-Health interventions, it is important to understand users' behavioral characteristics, motivations for treatment, level of involvement in health care, and ability to use technology.

The goal of this study was to develop a mobile app that would be used as a self-help and stress-reduction tool for university students. The StressonCampus app adopted a hybrid questionnaire based on the DASS-21 and Kessler PT models, which identifies the level of stress and, likewise, provides suggestions for relaxation exercises. The improved version of the app includes a chatbot or conversation agent that allows a dialogue with the student to detect the student's stress situation and present a relaxation recommendation based on it.

Resumen: Objetivo: Aportar la mejor evidencia científica disponible sobre la efectividad de los programas de educación terapéutica mediante salud digital en pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca. Diseño: Revisión sistemática de ensayos clínicos aleatorizados. Bases de datos: Se incluyeron 6 bases de datos por su relevancia en Ciencias de la Salud: PubMed, EMBASE, Scielo, Cochraine, CINAHL y Web of Science. Selección de los estudios: Se seleccionaron estudios realizados entre el año 2018 y 2023, en idioma inglés y español, tras evaluar la calidad metodológica de los estudios; se utilizó la herramienta Jadad para discriminar aquellos que no cumplían con dicha calidad. En total se incluyeron 8 artículos de 6 países diferentes. Extracción de datos: La revisión y análisis de los documentos se realizó por pares de manera independiente. Para evaluar el riesgo de sesgo se utilizó la herramienta Cochrane para ensayos clínicos aleatorizados RoB 2. Resultados: Todas las aplicaciones contaban con educación terapéutica; también se valoró que contasen con monitorización, evaluación de signos y síntomas, titulación de fármacos y seguimiento de profesionales a través de la aplicación. Conclusión: Esta revisión revela el impacto significativo de la educación terapéutica en el aumento de conocimiento del paciente, la reducción de reingresos hospitalarios y la mejora del estado funcional y el autocuidado. Esto convierte a la salud digital en una herramienta válida para complementar la atención enfermera en pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca. Abstract: Objective: To provide the best scientific evidence available on the effectiveness of therapeutic education programs through digital health in patients with heart failure. Design: Systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Data sources: Six databases were included due to their relevance in Health Sciences: PubMed, EMBASE, Scielo, Cochrane, CINAHL, and Web of Science. Selection of studies: In English and Spanish, studies carried out between 2018 and 2023 were selected. After evaluating the methodological quality of the studies, the Jadad tool was used to discriminate those that did not meet said quality. In total, 8 articles from 6 different countries were included. Data extraction: The review and analysis of the documents were carried out by independent pairs. The Cochrane tool for RoB 2 randomized clinical trials was used to assess the risk of bias. Results: All the applications had therapeutic education, it was also assessed that they had monitoring, evaluation of signs and symptoms, drug titration, and professional follow-up through the application. Conclusion: This review reveals the significant impact of therapeutic education in increasing patient knowledge, reducing hospital readmissions, and improving functional status and self-care. This makes digital health a valuable tool to complement nursing care in patients with heart failure.

Mobile health (m-health) is considered an undeniable part of health service delivery, planning, and marketing, which has dramatically changed due to the unique situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Forth International Congress of Mobile Health, from February 14th to 16th, 2021, in Shiraz, Iran, aimed to provide a venue to exchange ideas, techniques, relevant experiments, and applications with a particular focus on the COVID-19 pandemic impacts. More than 70 experts from different countries in engineering, biomedical sciences, and humanities presented their recent experiences in m-health advancements, particularly in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. In this article, highlights of the most valuable ideas presented at the congress are concisely summarized to give scientists, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and other stakeholders a better understanding of the growing opportunities, and challenges toward the development of m-health

Introduction and purpose: Providing mobile-based cognitive-behavioral interventions reduces physical complications and enhances the quality of life in diabetic patients by improving physical activities. The present study aimed to determine the effect of a model-based intervention based on the health action process approach model (HAPA) on physical activity in the elderly with type 2 diabetes in Qazvin. Methods: The current study was a randomized controlled trial, and using a simple random sampling method, 120 elderly people with type 2 diabetes participated in experimental and control groups. The educational intervention consisted of six virtual training sessions with the aim of promoting the psychological constructs affecting physical activity through short lectures, group discussions, and individual counseling associated with educational pamphlets, audio files, and educational SMS. The scales related to the HAPA model and international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQs) were completed by two groups before and three months after the educational intervention. The data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 25.0), and a significance level of less than 0.05 was considered. Results: The mean age of the participants was 60.7 ± 9.23 years, and 64.17% of cases were female. The results of covariance analysis demonstrated that by controlling the effect of the pre-test, the mean of HAPA constructs as perceived risk, outcome expectancy, social support, action self-efficacy, maintenance self-efficacy, recovery self-efficacy, action planning, coping planning, behavioral intention, and the level of physical activity improved in the experimental group (P

Abstract Background Although it is well known that regular physical activity and exercise, as well as maintaining adequate nutritional status is important to delaying symptom development and maintaining physical capacity and function in people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), many are unable to follow self-management recommendations. Active interventions have shown short-term effects, but there is a need for interventions that facilitate self-management over the course of the disease. Until now, no studies have combined exercise and nutritional interventions with an individual self-management approach in PD. Thus, we aim to examine the effect of a six-month mobile health technology(m-health)-based follow-up programme, focusing on self-management in exercise and nutrition, after an in-service interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme. Methods A single-blinded, two-group randomised controlled trial. Participants are Adults aged 40 or older, with idiopathic PD, Hoehn and Yahr 1–3, living at home. The intervention group receives a monthly, individualized, digital conversation with a PT, combined with use of an activity tracker. People at nutritional risk get additional digital-follow-up from a nutritional specialist. The control group receives usual care. The primary outcome is physical capacity, measured by 6-min walk test (6MWT). Secondary outcomes are nutritional status, Health related quality of life (HRQOL), physical function and exercise adherence. All measurements are performed at baseline, after 3 months and after 6 months. Sample size, based on primary outcome, is set at 100 participants randomized into the two arms, including an estimated 20% drop out. Discussion The increasing prevalence of PD globally makes it even more important to develop evidence-based interventions that can increase motivation to stay active, promote adequate nutritional status and improve self-management in people with PD. The individually tailored digital follow-up programme, based on evidence-based practice, has the potential to promote evidence-based decision-making and to empower people with PD to implement exercise and optimal nutrition in their daily lives and, hopefully, increase adherence to exercise and nutritional recommendations. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04945876). First registration 01.03.2021.

Transgender women (TGW) in India, especially those who engage in sex work, are at high risk for HIV. Guided by the information-motivation-behavioral skills model and qualitative formative research findings, Sakhi (girlfriend), a 3-week smartphone-based pilot intervention consisting of short videos (one/week) and text messages (two/week), was implemented using a one-group pre- and post-test design to test its efficacy in promoting condom use and HIV testing among TGW (n = 50) who engage in sex work in Chennai. Changes in outcomes were assessed by conducting multivariable analyses using generalized estimating equations. Participants’ mean age was 26 years, and the mean monthly income was INR 21700 (USD 292). About one-third completed college, and 96% were HIV-negative. Significant changes in the desired direction were observed in the primary outcomes: condom use – decrease in the engagement of condomless anal sex with male partners (12% to 2%, p < 0.05) and HIV testing – increase in intentions to undergo HIV testing every 6 months (34% to 86%, p < 0.001); and in some of the secondary outcomes: decrease in alcohol use before sex, increase in intentions to use condoms consistently and increase in the well-being score. This study demonstrated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the Sakhi intervention and warrants a larger randomized trial among diverse subgroups in diverse settings.

Background: Smartphone use is increasing among transgender women (TGW), including those who engage in sex work. Current government-supported HIV prevention interventions focus on physical venue-based outreach among TGW, missing the opportunity to reach them through smartphone-based interventions. Objective: We examined the use of smartphones among TGW, especially in relation to social and sexual networking, and explored their perspectives on their willingness to use smartphone-based HIV prevention interventions. Materials and Methods: Through an exploratory descriptive-interpretive qualitative research design, we conducted 6 focus groups with a purposive sample of 30 TGW (70% in sex work) and 4 key informant in-depth interviews in Chennai and Hyderabad, India. Data were explored using framework analysis. Results: Through smartphones, TGW used social media (e.g., WhatsApp and Facebook) and dating applications for socialization, meeting sexual partners, and entertainment. Low-literacy TGW used voice or video messaging. TGW expressed interest in receiving short health-related videos and text messages on HIV, mental health, and gender transition. Conclusion: At-risk TGW could potentially be reached through smartphone-based online health promotion interventions, but those interventions need to be holistic – moving beyond HIV.

Objective: Mobile health (m-health) is a fast-growing service that enables users to consult with doctors remotely. This research investigates the factors influencing m-health adoption in Indonesia using The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). Design/Methods/Approach: A quantitative method was applied by distributing an online questionnaire to active users of the m-health application in Greater Jakarta. The data from 242 respondents was collected through non-probability sampling techniques and analyzed by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Findings: The findings show that performance expectancy and price value have significant positive effects on behavioural intention. Behavioural intention significantly encourages actual usage behaviour of m-health services among consumers. Originality: This study discusses the applicability of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) mobile health application in the Indonesian market and adds a perceived risk variable to the model to determine the influence of this variable on behavioural intention in the Indonesian context. Practical/Policy implication (optional): The findings of this research offer recommendation for m-health service providers regarding health service and the fit value of consumers.

Abstract Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common neurological disorders worldwide, and self-management is considered an essential dimension in its control. This study aimed to develop an evidence-based mobile application for MS self-management and evaluate it. Methods This study was undertaken in three phases: content preparation, design, and evaluation. In the content preparation phase, the researchers extracted MS self-management needs based on related guidelines and guides, existing apps on the self-management of MS, and the field experts' views and confirmation. The design phase was conducted in five steps: defining app functionalities, depicting the wireframe, preparing the media, coding the app, and testing the app’s performance. The app was developed using the Android Studio environment and Java programming language for the Android operating system. The performance of the developed app was tested separately in several turns, and existing defects were corrected in each turn. Finally, after using the app for three weeks, the app was evaluated for its short-term impact on MS management and user-friendliness using a researcher-constructed questionnaire from participants’ (N = 20) perspectives. Results The IDoThis app is an offline app for people with MS that includes five main modules: three modules for training or informing users about different aspects of MS, one module for monitoring the user's MS condition, and a reporting module. In the initial evaluation of the app, 75% (n = 15) of participants mentioned that using this app improved MS self-management status at intermediate and higher levels, but 25% (n = 5) of the participants mentioned that the effect of using the app on the self-management tasks was low or was very low. The majority of users rated the user-friendliness of the app as high. The users found the sections “exercises in MS” and “monitoring of MS status” beneficial to their self-management. Still, the fatigue and sleep management sections are needed to meet users' expectations. Conclusion Using IDoThis app as a self-management tool for individuals with MS appears feasible, that can meet the need for a free and accessible self-management tool for individuals with MS. Future directions should consider the users’ fatigue and sleep management expectations.

Abstract Background Despite effectiveness of action and coping planning in digital health interventions to promote physical activity (PA), attrition rates remain high. Indeed, support to make plans is often abstract and similar for each individual. Nevertheless, people are different, and context varies. Tailored support at the content level, involving suggestions of specific plans that are personalized to the individual, may reduce attrition and improve outcomes in digital health interventions. The aim of this study was to investigate whether user information relates toward specific action and coping plans using a clustering method. In doing so, we demonstrate how knowledge can be acquired in order to develop a knowledge-base, which might provide personalized suggestions in a later phase. Methods To establish proof-of-concept for this approach, data of 65 healthy adults, including 222 action plans and 204 coping plans, were used and were collected as part of the digital health intervention MyPlan 2.0 to promote PA. As a first step, clusters of action plans, clusters of coping plans and clusters of combinations of action plans and barriers of coping plans were identified using hierarchical clustering. As a second step, relations with user information (i.e. gender, motivational stage, ...) were examined using anova’s and chi2–tests. Results First, three clusters of action plans, eight clusters of coping plans and eight clusters of the combination of action and coping plans were identified. Second, relating these clusters to user information was possible for action plans: 1) Users with a higher BMI related more to outdoor leisure activities (F = 13.40, P

Background: A small fraction of individuals in need of treatment for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) seek care, owing largely to barriers to accessing treatment. In the present pilot study, we examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of an m-health intervention combining cognitive behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy for individuals with AUD. Methods: Adults with AUD (N?=?26) recruited through online, social media-based advertising were enrolled in a 12-week, integrated telemedicine intervention combining psychosocial treatment with medical management: Quit Genius for AUD (QG-A). Feasibility, acceptability, perceived helpfulness, treatment engagement, retention, completion, and clinical outcomes including alcohol use and secondary mental health outcomes were assessed. Results: Participants found the QG-A intervention to be acceptable and helpful in facilitating action toward their therapeutic goals concerning alcohol use. Treatment completion, achieved by the majority (85%) of participants, was excellent. On average, participants reduced their past 30-day alcohol use from baseline (mean proportion of days of abstinent?=?0.13) to follow-up (M?=?0.59), t(19)?=??4.97, p?0.001, and consumed fewer drinks per drinking day from baseline (M?=?6.7) to follow-up (M?=?2.0), t(19)?=?3.61, p?

Abstract Aim To study the feasibility and effectiveness of a m‐Health app in improving the management of rheumatoid arthritis. Design Randomized controlled trial. Methods Sixty rheumatoid arthritis participants will be recruited for a 6‐month feasibility study. Patients meeting the inclusion criteria will be randomly allocated to receive standard care or standard care plus the m‐Health intervention. The primary outcome is the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial. In addition, we will investigate patient satisfaction in using the “Rheumatism Center” app in the intervention group. The secondary outcomes include the scores for the simplified disease activity index, clinical disease activity index, disease activity score 28, health assessment questionnaire and 6‐item self‐efficacy scale for chronic diseases. The assessments will be performed at baseline and at 4 weeks, 3 months and 6 months after the study is initiated. At the end of the study, we will also collect user views of the app through qualitative interviews. Results This study is ongoing. The findings of this study will determine the feasibility and effectiveness of m‐Health intervention in the management of rheumatoid arthritis, hoping to enhance the awareness of disease management and quality of life for rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Background: We developed a three-pronged complex intervention to improve selfcare and deliver whole person care for patients with heart failure, underpinned by the ‘extant cycle’ theory – a theory based on our formative work. Methods: This is a 3 centre, 2-arm, 1:1, open, adaptive stratified, randomized controlled trial. We included patients aged ≥ 18 years with heart failure, taking any of the key guideline directed medical treatments, with a history of or currently on a high ceiling diuretic. We excluded end stage renal disease, clinically diagnosed severe mental illness or cognitive dysfunction and having no caregivers. Interventions included, (i) trained hospital based lay health worker mediated assessment of patients' current selfcare behaviour, documenting barriers and facilitators and implementing a plan to ‘transition’ the patient toward optimal selfcare. (ii) m-health mediated remote monitoring and (iii) dose optimization through a ‘physician supervisor’. Results: We recruited 301 patients between Jan 2021 and Jan 2022. Mean age was 59.8 (±11.7) years, with 195 (64.8 %) from rural or semi-urban areas and 67.1 % having intermediate to low health literacy. 190 (63.1 %) had an underlying ischemic cardiomyopathy. In the intervention arm, 142 (94.1 %) had a Selfcare in Heart Failure Index (SCHFI) score of ≤70, with significant barriers being ‘lack of knowledge’ 105 (34.5 %) and ‘behavioural passivity’ 23 (7.5 %). Conclusion: This is the first South Asian trial evaluating a complex intervention underpinned by behaviour change theory for whole person heart failure care. These learnings can be applied to heart failure patient care in other resource constrained health systems.

IntroductionPerinatal depression affects mothers, babies and society. Preventive interventions are needed, but face barriers to access. E-health interventions could be an effective and accessible option. To date, few studies have attempted to understand the use of mobile health (m-health) applications and why they are not more widely used. This study aims to understand the demographic characteristics of enrolled participants and examine dropout patterns through the Healthy Moms and Babies app.MethodsA longitudinal study was conducted with a sample of 511 women recruited between 2020 and 2022. Data were collected from the app, including sociodemographic information, the participant’s progress through the modules of the app, and the permissions granted to use the app.ResultsOut of the 511 women who completed the initial form to initiate participation, 279 downloaded the app and completed the evaluation. Results indicated that granting permission to be notified about the module’s availability is related to an increase in the use of the first modules.ConclusionThis study shows the importance of establishing follow-ups in the use of mobile apps during the perinatal period.

Objectives: Patient self-management support (SMS) interventions help stroke survivors control stroke risk factors and assist with secondary prevention. We examined utility and preliminary effectiveness of mobile video-teleconferencing (VT) to deliver SMS to stroke survivors in rural and low-income urban Texas communities. Methods: We applied a within-subjects design to assess improvement in self-management behaviors and stroke risk factors among stroke survivors receiving SMS intervention through mobile VT. Adults with stroke and two or more uncontrolled stroke risk factors were eligible. The SMS program, Video-teleconference-Self-management TO Prevent stroke (V-STOP) was delivered over 6 weeks by trained health coaches through VT. We applied Generalized Estimating Equations with site and time in intervention as covariates to evaluate psychological, social, physiological outcomes, self-management behaviors, and quality of life. Results: Mean age of 106 participants was 59.3 (?10.9); most were White, Hispanic men, living with someone, with low income. Approximately 69% completed all measures at 6 weeks. Median number of sessions attended was 5 (interquartile range 3) potentially avoiding 210 km of travel per person. Satisfaction with V-STOP and VT delivery was high, at (4.8 [?0.5]) and (4.7 [?0.5]), respectively. Stroke knowledge was improved from 8.8 (?1.0) at baseline to 9.6 (?0.7) at 12 weeks, (p?0.0001). Improvements were observed in self-efficacy, exercise behaviors, depression and anxiety, disability, and quality of life. Conclusion: Implementation of SMS is feasible and shows good utility and preliminary effectiveness of using mobile VT to provide stroke follow-up care to stroke survivors. Participants improved self-management behaviors and stroke risk factors.

IntroductionThere is a rapid increase in using digital technology for strengthening delivery of reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) services. Although digital health has potentially many benefits, utilizing it without taking into consideration the possible risks related to the security and privacy of patients' data, and consequently their rights, would yield negative consequences for potential beneficiaries. Mitigating these risks requires effective governance, especially in humanitarian and low-resourced settings. The issue of governing digital personal data in RMNCH services has to date been inadequately considered in the context of low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs). This paper aimed to understand the ecosystem of digital technology for RMNCH services in Palestine and Jordan, the levels of maturity of them, and the implementation challenges experienced, particularly concerning data governance and human rights.MethodsA mapping exercise was conducted to identify digital RMNCH initiatives in Palestine and Jordan and mapping relevant information from identified initiatives. Information was collected from several resources, including relevant available documents and personal communications with stakeholders.ResultsA total of 11 digital health initiatives in Palestine and 9 in Jordan were identified, including: 6 health information systems, 4 registries, 4 health surveillance systems, 3 websites, and 3 mobile-based applications. Most of these initiatives were fully developed and implemented. The initiatives collect patients' personal data, which are managed and controlled by the main owner of the initiative. Privacy policy was not available for many of the initiatives.DiscussionDigital health is becoming a part of the health system in Palestine and Jordan, and there is an increasing use of digital technology in the field of RMNCH services in both countries, particularly expanding in recent years. This increase, however, is not accompanied by clear regulatory policies especially when it comes to privacy and security of personal data, and how this data is governed. Digital RMNCH initiatives have the potential to promote effective and equitable access to services, but stronger regulatory mechanisms are required to ensure the effective realization of this potential in practice.

Background: World Health Organization, through a partnership with European Union, encourages the implementation e-health systems. E-health is a relatively old concept that is upgraded with new technologies and is directed toward monitoring different health conditions with the help of technology.

Childhood obesity is a complex disease with multiple biological and psychosocial risk factors. Recently, novel digital programs were developed with growing evidence for their effectiveness in pediatric weight management studies. The ENDORSE platform consists of mobile applications, wearables, and serious games for the remote management of childhood obesity. The pilot studies included 50 mothers and their children aged 6–14 years and resulted in a clinically significant BMI z-score reduction over 4 to 5 months. This secondary analysis of the ENDORSE study focuses on parenting styles and psychosocial factors. Methodology: Semi-structured clinical interviews were conducted with all participating mothers pre-and post-intervention. The Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ) evaluated the mothers’ parenting styles. The psychosocial functioning of the participating children was assessed with the parental version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The relationship between parenting styles, psychosocial parameters, and weight outcomes was investigated using a linear regression analysis. Results: Weight-related stigma at school (56%), body image concerns (66%), and difficulties in family relationships (48%) were the main concerns documented during the initial psychological interviews. According to the SDQ, there was a significant decrease in children’s conduct problems during the study’s initial phase (pre-pilot group). A decrease in maternal demandingness (i.e., strict parenting style) was associated with a decrease in BMI z-score (beta coefficient = 0.314, p-value = 0.003). Conclusion: Decreasing parental demandingness was associated with better weight outcomes, highlighting the importance of assessing parenting factors in pediatric weight management programs.

This paper proposes a new system based on the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) for the monitoring of Mobile Health (m-Health) of workers in the underground mining industry. The proposed architecture uses a hybrid model in data transmission. Visible Light Communication (VLC) is used for downlink because of its narrow coverage, which aids in worker positioning. Radio frequency (RF) communication technology is used to send data for primary vital signs in the uplink, which is more efficient in transmission and is a viable solution according to the problem raised. The results obtained in terms of coverage and transmission for the downlink and uplink links show the feasibility of implementing the proposed system.

The Internet of Things (IoT) has positioned itself globally as a dominant force in the technology sector. IoT, a technology based on interconnected devices, has found applications in various research areas, including healthcare. Embedded devices and wearable technologies powered by IoT have been shown to be effective in patient monitoring and management systems, with a particular focus on pregnant women. This study provides a comprehensive systematic review of the literature on IoT architectures, systems, models and devices used to monitor and manage complications during pregnancy, postpartum and neonatal care. The study identifies emerging research trends and highlights existing research challenges and gaps, offering insights to improve the well-being of pregnant women at a critical moment in their lives. The literature review and discussions presented here serve as valuable resources for stakeholders in this field and pave the way for new and effective paradigms. Additionally, we outline a future research scope discussion for the benefit of researchers and healthcare professionals.

Home health monitoring can facilitate patient monitoring remotely for diabetes and blood pressure patients. Early detection of hypertension and diabetes is extremely important, as these chronic diseases often result in life-threatening complications when found at a later stage. This work proposes a smart home health monitoring system that helps to analyze the patient’s blood pressure and glucose readings at home and notifies the healthcare provider in case of any abnormality detected. A combination of conditional decision-making and machine-learning approaches is used to predict hypertension and diabetes status, respectively. The goal is to predict the hypertension and diabetes status using the patient’s glucose and blood pressure readings. Using supervised machine learning classification algorithms, herein a system is trained to predict the patient’s diabetes and hypertension status. After analyzing all the classification algorithms, support vector machine classification algorithm was found to be most accurate and thus chosen to train the model. This proposed work develops an application for a home health monitoring system with a user-friendly easy-to-use graphical user interface to diagnose blood pressure and diabetes status of patients along with sending categorized alerts and real-time notifications to their registered physician or clinic all from home.

Adherence to treatment regimens is a significant challenge faced by patients with chronic illnesses and healthy individuals, including through m-Health—a new model of remote health delivery via mobile phones. Middle-aged adults often need more internet skills, especially concerning internet self-efficacy and online trust behavior in health services. This study aims to elucidate the relationship between internet self-efficacy and adherence to medical advice among middle-aged m-Health users, mediated by online trust behavior. A cross-sectional study was conducted from 4 July to 4 September 2022, involving 214 respondents selected through convenient sampling from various cities and regencies in Indonesia. Data were collected using online forms distributed to the participants. The statistical analysis employed a structural equation model (SEM) with the LISREL version 8.7. The results showed a chi-square value of 438.61, df=187, p=0.00000, RMSEA=0.079, NFI=0.93, NNFI=0.95, CFI=0.95, and IFI=0.95. These findings indicate that online trust behavior successfully mediates the relationship between internet self-efficacy and adherence. However, internet self-efficacy does not directly affect adherence. This means that adherence will increase when trust in health services.

BackgroundHigh-salt diet is an important risk factor for several non-communicable diseases. School-based health education has been found effective in reducing salt intake among children and their families in China. However, no such interventions have been scaled up in the real world. For this purpose, a study was launched to support the development and scale-up of an mHealth-based system (EduSaltS) that integrated routine health education and salt reduction and was delivered through primary schools. This study aims to elaborate the framework, development process, features, and preliminary scaling-up of the EduSaltS system.MethodsThe EduSaltS system evolved from previously successfully tested interventions to reduce family salt intake by empowering schoolchildren through school health education. EduSaltS was designed by following the WHO’s conceptual framework for developing a scaling-up strategy which accounted for the nature of the innovation, the capacity of the implementing organizations, the characteristics of the environment, the resources available, and type of scaling up. The system was then developed step by step from determination of online platform architecture, definition of component interventions and activities, development of specific educational materials and tools, to the development of the online/offline hybridized system. The system was tested and refined by a pilot in two schools and a preliminary scale-up in two cities in China.ResultsEduSaltS was developed as an innovative health education system, including an online WeChat-based education platform, a set of offline activities, and an actual administrative website showing the progress and setting the system. The WeChat platform could be installed on users’ smartphones to automatically deliver 20 sessions of five-minute well-structured cartoon video classes, followed by other online interactive activities. It also helps support project implementation and real-time performance evaluation. As a first-stage roll-out, a one-year course has been successfully implemented among 54,538 children and their families from 209 schools in two cities, and the average course completion rate was 89.1%.ConclusionAs an innovative mHealth-based health education system, EduSaltS was developed based on successfully tested interventions and an appropriate framework for scaling up. The early-stage roll-out has shown its preliminary scalability, and further evaluation is ongoing.

Abstract Introduction Pelvic floor exercises are effective in the treatment of urinary incontinence (UI) and are routinely prescribed, along with bladder training, by primary healthcare providers as first line conservative management. Mobile phone applications are increasingly popular within the healthcare setting and can provide opportunities for patients to complete treatments at home. To date, there has not been a systematic review examining outcomes from randomised controlled trials on the effectiveness of mobile applications to improve UI. Methods A systematic review of randomized controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness of mobile applications to improve UI was carried out according to the PRISMA reporting guidelines. The online databases MEDLINE, Embase, PsychINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, The Cochrane Library, Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI), Google Scholar were searched for papers published between 2007 to 2020. Keywords and MeSH terms were used to identify relevant English language studies. The quality and risk of bias within included studies was assessed by two independent reviewers, RCT JBI critical appraisal tool. Due to heterogeneity in the outcome of studies, a meta-analysis of the data could not be conducted. Findings Four studies reported an improvement in the outcome assessed post-intervention, suggesting that using mobile phone applications for pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) was an acceptable and valid intervention to improve UI. Conclusion Mobile applications for PFMT indicated that increase adherence to treatment and decrease UI. The integration of this treatment modality into current practice is recommended. Mobile phone applications for PFMT show promise in the conservative management of UI. Further research is required to support the use of this technology in the conservative management of UI.

Abstract Background Rates of maternal mortality and morbidity in Africa remain unacceptably high, as many women deliver at home, without access to skilled birth attendants and life-saving medications. In rural Tanzania, women face significant barriers accessing health care facilities for their deliveries. Methods From January 2017 to February 2019 we conducted a multiple baseline (interrupted time series) trial within the four divisions of Rorya District, Tanzania. We collected baseline data, then sequentially introduced a complex intervention in each of the divisions, in randomized order, over 3 month intervals. We allowed for a 6 month transition period to avoid contamination between the pre- and post-intervention periods. The intervention included using community health workers to educate about safe delivery, distribution of birth kits with misoprostol, and a transport subsidy for women living a distance from the health care facility. The primary outcome was the health facility birth rate, while the secondary outcomes were the rates of antenatal and postpartum care and postpartum hemorrhage. Outcomes were analyzed using fixed effects segmented logistic regression, adjusting for age, marital status, education, and parity. Maternal and baby morbidity/mortality were analyzed descriptively. Results We analyzed data from 9565 pregnant women (2634 before and 6913 after the intervention was implemented). Facility births increased from 1892 (71.8%) before to 5895 (85.1%) after implementation of the intervention. After accounting for the secular trend, the intervention was associated with an immediate increase in the odds of facility births (OR = 1.51, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.01, p = 0.0045) as well as a small gradual effect (OR = 1.03 per month, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.07, p = 0.0633). For the secondary outcomes, there were no statistically significant immediate changes associated with the intervention. Rates of maternal and baby morbidity/mortality were low and similar between the pre- and post-implementation periods. Conclusions Access to health care facilities can be improved through implementation of education of the population by community health workers about the importance of a health care facility birth, provision of birth kits with misoprostol to women in late pregnancy, and access to a transport subsidy for delivery for women living at a distance from the health facility. Clinical trials registration NCT03024905 19/01/2017.

Specific 5G Release 17 work items are dealing with critical medical applications. Moreover, the adoption of mobile health (m-health) and e-health has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper first examines the requirements of critical medical applications that 5G is expected to support. Then it illustrates possible data protection, management, and privacy issues. Finally, it shows a first implementation of an m-health framework supporting physical distance management. Experimental results show that, by exploiting 5G connectivity and the computing capacity provided by an accelerated edge cloud, the proposed framework can detect physical distance violations faster than a user equipment (UE)-based implementation, while saving UE energy.

Purpose: As the COVID-19 outbreak expanded over the world, governments looked for smartphone-based technological solutions to reduce the disease's dangers and prevent it. Most leading governments initially sought to use new smartphone-based applications (apps). In this study, we review articles that have evaluated these official government apps. The objective of this review is to answer the following question: “In evaluating or analyzing governmental apps for COVID-19, which methods have researchers used?”. Methods: This study reviews existing scholarly literature, to identify and analyze the investigations into the usability evaluation of official (governmental) mobile apps developed in the COVID-19 era. Study parameters specified that articles must be originally published in peer-reviewed journals or short articles, written in English, and must be published between 2019 and 2022 and indexed in PubMed, OVID, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus. Additionally, the articles had to analyze and evaluate at least one mobile app that was launched and/or supported by a government. Reports, letters to the editor, review articles, and meta-analyses were excluded; also excluded were articles processing non-governmental apps. Results: 11 studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria. These studies evaluate a total of 40 governmental, “official”, mobile apps, developed in 41 countries from the five continents. This study finds that the heuristic method, thematic analysis, and comparative analysis are the most popular research methods used for evaluating or analyzing governmental apps for COVID-19. Conclusion: This review of articles developed by various governments to combat COVID-19 leads the authors to conclude that most researchers sought to emphasize the strengths of these apps as opposed to limitations. Based on this review, we find that existing literature can sufficiently cover the effectiveness of these mobile apps.

Emotional Disorders have become the most prevalent mental disorders in the world. In relation to their high prevalence, mental health care from public health services faces major challenges. Consequently, finding solutions to deliver cost-effective evidence-based treatments has become a main goal of today's clinical psychology. Smartphone apps for mental health have emerged as a potential tool to deal with it. However, despite their effectiveness and advantages, several studies suggest the need to involve patients and professionals in the design of these apps from the first stage of the development process. Thus, this study aimed to identify, from both a group of users and professionals, the needs, opinions, expectations and design aspects of a future smartphone app based in the Unified Protocol (UP), that will allow to develop the subsequent technical work of the app engineers. Two focus groups were conducted, one with 7 professionals and the other with 9 users, both groups familiar with the UP. A thematic content analysis based in grounded theory was performed in order to define emergent categories of analysis derived from the interview data. The results revealed 8 common topics in both focus groups and 5 specific key topics were identified in the professionals' focus group. Of the total proposals, 93 % of the professionals' and 78 % of the users' are implemented in the preliminary version of the app.

The newest phase of the Internet of Things is the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), which has applications for smart healthcare systems. In a pandemic, healthcare workers face many issues while treating patients. IoMT equipment keeps tabs on the patient's wellbeing. The initial safety measures can be implemented individually based on the outcome. The healthcare sector is heavily relying on it to boost the precision, dependability, and effectiveness of electronic instruments. IoMT can link actual, physical objects in the physical environment for communication and information exchange. It also guarantees the standard of service. To diagnose, simple communication protocols are utilized to track biological signals. The IoMT will assist doctors, nurses, public health officials, and patients in monitoring, identifying, educating, and directing them to receive the proper medical care as well as ensuring the quick and accurate dissemination of data in a controlled situation.

Noot AlOtaibi,1 Sarah Alsaleebi,2 Fahad Alanezi,3 Hala Alhodaib,4 Bashair AlThani,5 Duaa Aljabri,1 Demah Alsalman,1 Asma Al-Fayez,1 Amjad Saadah,1 Sumaiah Alrawiai,1 Norah Alyousif,6 Turki Alanzi1 1Department of Health Information Management and Technology, College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 2Blood Bank, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 3Community College, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyad, Saudi Arabia; 5College of Business Administration, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 6Information Technology Department, Saudi Aramco, Dhahran, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Turki AlanziDepartment of Health Information Management and Technology, College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, King Faisal Road, Dammam, 31441, Saudi ArabiaTel +966 133331211Email talanzi@iau.edu.saPurpose: The main objective of this research was to investigate the opinion of the population of Saudi Arabia on the use and acceptability of the Wateen application.Methods: This research was a quantitative cross-sectional study in which an online questionnaire was distributed among the target population who were healthy people over 18 years of age that had used or known about the Wateen application. A total of 352 participants responded to the questionnaire. The data collection was carried out between November and December 2020. A basic descriptive statistical analysis was used to analyze the data.Results: The participants had used the Wateen app to follow the donation record, as a reminder of donation dates, to find lists and blood bank locations, to request blood donation, and to find donation requests on social media. After receiving the blood donation request from the Wateen app, majority of the respondents felt encouraged, motivated, and educated to donate blood, and about blood donation, respectively. Participants also indicated that the application helped them to find donors. Besides, majority of the respondents stated that the Wateen app had reduced the gap between blood donors and the need for blood. However, few participants expressed that they had not received or observed a post about the Wateen application on social media networks.Conclusion: The results of this research indicated that there is a general acceptance of the use of the Wateen app among the participants of this study. However, the importance of the Wateen app needs to be further advertised so that it can be used in the blood donation process in all regions of Saudi Arabia. In this way, the people of Saudi Arabia will be more aware of the importance of the Wateen app in the blood donation process, and the goal of the Ministry of Health of bridging the gap between donation centers and blood donors could be achieved.Keywords: Wateen application, blood donation, m-health, Saudi Arabia, user acceptability

Abstract Background Road traffic accidents have been one of the leading causes of death. Despite the increasing trend of road traffic apps, there is no comprehensive analysis of their features and no taxonomy for the apps based on traffic safety theories. This study aimed to explore the characteristics of available mobile apps on road traffic health/safety and classify them with emphasis on Haddon’s matrix. Methods The researchers examined the mobile applications related to road traffic health/safety using qualitative content analysis. Google Play was searched using a combination of the keywords. Haddon’s matrix was applied to analyze and classify those mobile apps residing in the categories of Road Traffic health & Safety, and Road Traffic Training. Results Overall, 913 mobile apps met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. Classification of the apps based on their features resulted in 4 categories and 21 subcategories. A total number of 657 mobile apps were classified based on Haddon’s matrix. About 45.67% of these apps were categorized as the road traffic health & safety group. Conclusions Haddon’s matrix appears to have the potential to reveal the strengths and weaknesses of existing mobile apps in the road traffic accident domain. Future development of mobile apps in this domain should take into account the existing gap.

In order to help patients monitor their personal health in real time, this paper proposes an intelligent mobile health monitoring system and establishes a corresponding health network to track and process patients' physical activity and other health-related factors in real time. Performance was analyzed. The experimental results show that after comparing the accuracy, delay time, error range, efficiency, and energy utilization of Im-HMS and existing UCD systems, it is found that the accuracy of Im-HMS is mostly between 98 and 100%, while the accuracy of UCD is mostly between 98 and 100%. Most of the systems are between 91 and 97%; in terms of delay comparison, the delay of the Im-HMS system is between 18 and 39 ms, which is far lower than the lowest value of the UCD system of 84 ms, and the Im-HMS is significantly better than the existing UCD system; the error range of Im-HMS is mainly between 0.2 and 1.4, while the error range of UCD system is mainly between −2 and 14; and in terms of efficiency and energy utilization, Im-HMS values are higher than those of UCD system. In general, the Im-HMS system proposed in this study is more accurate than UCD system and has lower delay, smaller error, and higher efficiency, and energy utilization is more efficient than UCD system, which is of great significance for mobile health monitoring in practical applications.