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Copyright of Biomédica: Revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud is the property of Instituto Nacional de Salud of Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Accurate and efficient data collection is crucial for effective evaluation of quality of care. The objective of this study is to compare two methods of data collection used to score quality indicators for musculoskeletal injury management in Emergency departments: prospective observation, and chart audit. An analysis was undertaken of data collected from 633 patients who presented with a musculoskeletal injury to eight emergency departments in Queensland, Australia in 2016–17. Twenty-two quality indicators were scored using both prospective observation and chart audit data for each occasion of service. Quality indicators were included if they were originally published with both collection methods. Analyses were performed to compare firstly, the quality indicator denominators, and secondly, the quality indicator trigger rates, scored using each collection method. Chi Square statistics were used to identify significant differences. Prospectively collected data scored quality indicator denominators significantly (p value<0.05) more often than chart audit data for five (22.7 %) of the 22 quality indicators. The remaining 17 quality indicators (77.3 %) showed no statistical differences. When comparing quality indicator trigger rates, 16 (72.7 %) had significantly different results between methods with 12 (54.5 %) scoring higher using prospective data and four (18.2 %) with chart audit data. The remaining six quality indicators (27.3 %) in this comparison showed no significant difference between chart and prospective data. Quality indicators including aspects of care associated with patient safety, and those relying on clinician written orders or forms were adequately scored using either prospective observation or chart audit data. Whereas quality indicators relying on time-sensitive information, elements of a social history, general physical exams and patient education and advice scored higher using prospective observation data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte is the property of Redprint Editora Ltda. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Ciência & Saúde Coletiva is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Pos-Graduacao em Saude Coletiva and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria is the property of Thieme Medical Publishing Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista de Saúde Pública is the property of Faculdade de Educacao da Universidade de Sao Paulo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The goal of designing innovative curricula and programs in medical education is to create interventions that will change the attitudes, knowledge, skills, and behaviors of learners in order to prepare them to contribute to the health of patients and communities they serve. Systematic evaluation allows curriculum/program developers to optimize their curriculum/program and ensure that the goals of the curriculum/program are met. While curriculum/program evaluation is distinct from educational research, when approached in a rigorous manner, curriculum/program evaluation can be published as educational scholarship. The goal of our paper is to equip readers with tools to apply a scholarly approach to curriculum/program evaluation to produce findings that will advance the field. We start by defining curricula, educational programs, learner assessment, and evaluation. We then briefly describe examples of best practice models for curriculum/program development that incorporate the critical step of planning for evaluation. Building on published work, we distinguish the use of best practice models and conceptual frameworks to inform curriculum/program development and evaluation. More specifically, we outline steps to plan an evaluation that demonstrates WHAT was effective, describes HOW the curriculum/program contributed to the outcomes achieved, and points to WHY the curriculum/program led to the outcomes observed. We conclude with key considerations for publishing findings of an evaluation, including what to include in each section of a manuscript. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess a clinical training program on management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) incorporating a diabetes tool, the Simpler™ tool. Subsequently pharmacists' experience utilising the tool to deliver structured, consistent, evidence-based T2DM care was explored. Methods: Full-time non-credentialed diabetes pharmacists providing diabetes medication management services in community settings were purposively recruited. Participants had either face-to-face or online training on diabetes management using the tool which took about two hours and 20 minutes to complete. Their diabetes management knowledge was assessed pre- and post-training using quantitative methodology. They were then required to apply the tool in daily practice for one month. Feedback on both the training sessions and tool utilisation were obtained through semi-structured interviews and analysed using a qualitative approach. Results: Twelve pharmacists participated: Six from Australia and six from Malaysia. Before attending the training session, their median test score was 6.5/27, IQR 1.4 (1st marker) and 5.3/27, IQR 2.0 (2nd marker). After training, the scores doubled to 14.3/27, IQR 4.5 (1st marker) and 11.3/27, IQR 3.1 (2nd marker), showing significant improvements (p=0.002). Interview data identified perceived effectiveness factor through use of the tool. Participants found the content relevant, structured, concise and easy to understand; enabled comprehensive medication reviews; focused on achieving glycaemic improvement; facilitated documentation processes and pharmacists' role in T2DM management; and as a specific aid for diabetes management. Barriers included lack of accessibility to patients' laboratory data in Australia. Conclusions: The targeted training improved pharmacists' knowledge on diabetes management and supported the Simpler™ tool use in practice as a structured and beneficial method to deliver evidence-based T2DM care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early intravenous to oral (IV-PO) antibiotics switch, which is one of the important elements in antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is not well implemented in Malaysian district hospitals. A systematic interventional strategy is required to facilitate IV-PO antibiotic switch. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of printed AMS recommendations on early IV-PO antibiotics switch practice in district hospitals. Methods: This study was an interventional study conducted in medical wards of eight Sarawak district hospitals from May to August 2015. In pre-intervention phase, pharmacists performed the conventional practice of reviewing medication charts and verbally informed the prescribers on eligible IV-PO switches. In post-intervention phase, pharmacists attached printed checklist which contained IV-PO switch criteria to patients' medical notes on the day patients were eligible for the switch. Stickers of IV-PO switch were applied to the antibiotic prescription to serve as reminders. Results: 79 and 77 courses of antibiotics were studied in the pre-intervention phase and post-intervention phase respectively. Timeliness of switch was improved by 1.63 days in the post-intervention phase (95%CI 1.26:2.00 days, p<0.001). Mean duration of IV antibiotics in the post-intervention phase was shorter than pre-intervention phase (2.81 days (SD=1.77) vs 4.05 days (SD=2.81), p<0.001). The proportion of IV-PO switches that were only performed upon discharge reduced significantly in the post-intervention phase (31.2% vs 82.3%, p<0.001). Length of hospital stay in the post-intervention phase was shortened by 1.44 days (p<0.001). Median antibiotic cost savings increased significantly in the post-intervention phase compared to the pre-intervention phase [MYR21.96 (IQR=23.23) vs MYR13.10 (IQR=53.76); p=0.025)]. Conclusions: Pharmacist initiated printed AMS recommendations are successful in improving the timeliness of IV-PO switch, reducing the duration of IV, reducing the length of hospitalisation, and increasing antibiotic cost savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Saúde e Sociedade is the property of Universidade de Sao Paulo, Faculdade de Saude Publica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose Current outcome tools for hypospadias have limited focus on the caregiver or patient perspective of important patient centered outcomes. In this study we collaborated with patients, caregivers, and lay and medical experts to develop and pilot a patient reported outcome measure for hypospadias. Materials and Methods We developed a patient reported outcome measure based on systematic review of the literature and focus group input. The patient reported outcome measure was piloted in caregivers for boys younger than 8 years and in patients older than 8 years who presented for urology consultation before meeting with the surgeon. Patients were classified with uncorrected hypospadias, successful repair or failed repair based on the presence or absence of complications (fistula, diverticulum, meatal stenosis/stricture, greater than 30-degree recurrent curvature, glans dehiscence and/or skin reoperation). Results A patient reported outcome measure was developed and administered to 347 patients and/or caregivers-proxies, including 105 uncorrected cases, 162 successful repair cases and 80 failed cases. Satisfaction with appearance was highest in those with successful hypospadias repair compared to failed repair and uncorrected hypospadias (93% vs 77% and 67%, respectively). Voiding symptoms such as spraying or a deviated stream were highest in failed and uncorrected cases (39% and 37%, respectively). Overall dissatisfaction with voiding was highest for uncorrected hypospadias and failed repair compared to successful cases (54% and 47%, respectively, vs 15%). Conclusions The evaluation of patient and caregiver-proxy reported outcomes in preoperative and postoperative patients with hypospadias allows for the quantification of benefits derived from hypospadias repair and may ultimately represent the gold standard outcome measure for hypospadias. This pilot study identified preliminary patient centered themes and demonstrated the feasibility of administering hypospadias patient reported outcome measures in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Biomédica: Revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud is the property of Instituto Nacional de Salud of Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This evidence-based review examined the evidence supporting the use of occupation-based interventions to improve areas of occupation and social participation poststroke. A total of 39 studies met the inclusion criteria and were critically evaluated. Most of the literature targeted activity of daily living (ADL)–based interventions and collectively provided strong evidence for the use of occupation-based interventions to improve ADL performance. The evidence related to instrumental ADLs was much more disparate, with limited evidence to support the use of virtual reality interventions and emerging evidence to support driver education programs to improve occupational performance poststroke. Only 6 studies addressed leisure, social participation, or rest and sleep, with sufficient evidence to support only leisure-based interventions. The implications of this review for research, education, and practice in occupational therapy are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This evidence-based review was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions to prevent or mitigate the effects of psychological or emotional impairments after stroke. Thirty-nine journal articles met the inclusion criteria. Six types of interventions were identified that addressed depression, anxiety, or mental health–related quality of life: exercise or movement based, behavioral therapy and stroke education, behavioral therapy only, stroke education only, care support and coordination, and community-based interventions that included occupational therapy. Evidence from well-conducted research supports using problem-solving or motivational interviewing behavioral techniques to address depression. The evidence is inconclusive for using multicomponent exercise programs to combat depression after stroke and for the use of stroke education and care support and coordination interventions to address poststroke anxiety. One study provided support for an intensive multidisciplinary home program in improving depression, anxiety, and health-related quality of life. The implications of the findings for practice, research, and education are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This evidence-based review was conducted to determine which interventions are effective in improving occupational performance after stroke. Forty-six articles met the inclusion criteria and were examined. Interventions for the following impairments were reviewed: general cognitive deficits, executive dysfunction, apraxia, memory loss, attention deficits, visual field deficits (included because of their close relationship with neglect), and unilateral neglect. Evidence is available from a variety of clinical trials to guide interventions regarding general cognition, apraxia, and neglect. The evidence regarding interventions for executive dysfunction and memory loss is limited. There is insufficient evidence regarding impairments of attention and mixed evidence regarding interventions for visual field deficits. The effective interventions have some commonalities, including being performance focused, involving strategy training, and using a compensatory as opposed to a remediation approach. The implications of the findings for practice, research, and education are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a review to determine the effectiveness of interventions to improve occupational performance in people with motor impairments after stroke as part of the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Evidence-Based Practice Project. One hundred forty-nine studies met inclusion criteria. Findings related to key outcomes from select interventions are presented. Results suggest that a variety of effective interventions are available to improve occupational performance after stroke. Evidence suggests that repetitive task practice, constraint-induced or modified constraint-induced movement therapy, strengthening and exercise, mental practice, virtual reality, mirror therapy, and action observation can improve upper-extremity function, balance and mobility, and/or activity and participation. Commonalities among several of the effective interventions include the use of goal-directed, individualized tasks that promote frequent repetitions of task-related or task-specific movements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Biomédica: Revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud is the property of Instituto Nacional de Salud of Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: The objective of this study was to compare the use of the cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and the double radiographic superimposition method to evaluate root canal preparations. Material and methods: Forty mesiobuccal canals of extracted human mandibular first molars were divided into 2 groups. Group 1: 20 canals were evaluated with the double radiographic superimposition before and after instrumentation; Group 2: 20 canals were evaluated by CBCT before and after instrumentation. Results: In group 1, 100% of the root canals showed presence of centralization in the coronal and middle thirds. 75% of the root canals showed presence of centralization in the apical third. In group 2, in the buccolingual and mesiodistal measurements, the presence of centralization could be observed in 100% of the root canals in the coronal, middle, and apical thirds. Conclusion: The double radiographic superimposition technique showed limitations, only allowing a two-dimensional evaluation of the root canal. The CBCT imaging system used in this study provided a repeatable, accurate, and noninvasive method of evaluating certain aspects of endodontic instrumentation, such as the centering ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To assess costs and consequences of prenatal care on perinatal morbidity and mortality. METHODS: Evaluation study using two types of analysis: implementation and efficiency analysis, carried out at 11 Family Health Units in the Recife, Northeastern Brazil, in 2006. The costs were calculated by means of the activity-based costing technique and the cost-effectiveness ratio was calculated for each consequence. Data sources were information systems of the Ministry of Health and worksheets of costs provided by the Health Department of Recife and Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira. Healthcare units with implemented or partially implemented prenatal care were compared in terms of their cost-effectiveness and perinatal results. RESULTS: In 64% of the units, prenatal care was implemented with a mean total cost of R$ 39,226.88 and variation of R$ 3,841,87 to R$ 8,765.02 per healthcare unit. In the units with partially implemented prenatal care (36%), the mean total cost was R$ 30,092.61 (R$ 4,272.12 to R$ 11,774.68). The mean cost per pregnant woman was R$ 196.13 with implemented prenatal care and R$ 150.46 with partially implemented prenatal care. A higher proportion of low birth weight, congenital syphilis, perinatal and fetal deaths was found in the partially implemented group. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal care is cost-effective for several studied consequences. The adverse effects measured by the health indicators were lower in the units with implemented prenatal care. The mean cost in the partially implemented group was higher, which suggests a possible waste of resources, as the teams' productivity is insufficient for the installed capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to analyze dental research trends in Brazil over the past nine years. All abstracts presented at the 26th Annual Meeting of the Brazilian Society for Dental Research in 2009 (n = 2648) were classified based on field of knowledge, home institution and geographic region. Data were compared with those previously published based on abstracts presented at various meetings. Between 2001 and 2006, five fields of knowledge had a greater than 10% representation among the total number of studies. These fields included restorative dentistry/dental materials (RD/DM), periodontics, endodontics, pediatric dentistry and population-based oral health. In 2009, only RD/DM maintained a greater than 10% proportion of meeting abstracts, and basic fields comprised the second position among those fields with greater representation (9.8%). The majority of research studies were performed at public institutions, and the number of abstracts per state increased significantly in 2009 (Wilcoxon test, p < 0.001). The southeastern region of Brazil submitted the greatest number of abstracts; however, other regions also demonstrated increased participation in research (11%). The percentage distribution of abstracts between states remained constant (Wilcoxon test, p = 0.255; rs = 0.873). The results of the present study suggest a slight shift in the scientific research profile in Brazilian dentistry: fields related to professional disciplines have declined in relative research participation, while increasing interest has been observed in basic fields and new specialties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Saúde Pública is the property of Faculdade de Educacao da Universidade de Sao Paulo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The abstract is often best organized through use of the following headings. Objectives Clearly state the purpose of the study. Method Explicitly state the research design, type of intervention, clinical population, sample size, participant allocation method, length of intervention and use of follow-up points, and outcome measures. Results State the primary results using statistical significance levels and effect sizes. Describe the implication of the results for the profession, the larger society, or both. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gaps in acute care staff knowledge, skills, and attitudes towards dementia exist. Innovative training approaches that improve the delivery of care for people with dementia are needed. We were commissioned by Health Education England to develop and evaluate a new dementia education intervention 'Dementia Education And Learning Through Simulation 2' (DEALTS2), a simulation toolkit to enhance delivery of dementia training nationally across England. Evaluate differences in trainer dementia knowledge scores pre and post training, satisfaction with DEALTS2 Train-The-Trainer (TTT) workshops and simulation toolkit, confidence to use training approaches, and spread of implementation. A questionnaire survey using a pre-test – post-test design with measures completed: before (pre-test); after (T1); and 12 months post training (T2). Twelve one-day DEALTS2 TTT workshops delivered across England in 2017. National Health Service Trust staff employed in dementia training roles (n = 199 trainers). Trainers attended DEALTS2 TTT workshops and received the simulation toolkit. Data were collected between 2017 and 2018 using a questionnaire capturing differences in dementia knowledge scores, Likert scales and closed-ended questions measured satisfaction, confidence and implementation. Data were analysed using quantitative methods. Response rate was 92% (n = 183) at pre-test/T1 and 26% (n = 51) at T2. Trainer dementia knowledge scores increased from pre-test to T1 (p < 0.001) and were retained after 12 months in 5 of the 6 areas measured (pre-test to T2, p < 0.002); largest gains in 'humanised approaches to dementia care'. 96% (n = 176/183) were satisfied with DEALTS2 TTT workshops and simulation toolkit; 66.7% (n = 34/51) felt confident to deliver dementia training informed by DEALTS2. Adherence rates were good with 45% (n = 23/51) using the innovative training approaches within twelve months. The results show DEALTS2 effectively increased trainer dementia knowledge and confidence to utilise innovative dementia training approaches. Implementation of DEALTS2 varied across organisations, therefore further research should explore factors determining successful implementation. • This educational intervention increased trainer dementia knowledge and confidence. • There was good adherence using innovative training approaches in twelve months. • Trainer perspectives were vital in understanding efficacy of training programmes. • Further research is needed to explore the determinants of successful implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mass media campaigns for public health are increasingly using digital media platforms, such as web-based advertising and social media; however, there is a lack of evidence on how to best use these digital platforms for public health campaigns. To generate this evidence, appropriate campaign evaluations are needed, but with the proliferation of digital media-related metrics, there is no clear consensus on which evaluation metrics should be used. Public health campaigns are diverse in nature, so to facilitate analysis, this review has selected tobacco control campaigns as the scope of the study.Objective: This literature review aimed to examine how tobacco control campaigns that use traditional and digital media platforms have been evaluated.Methods: Medicine and science databases (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online [MEDLINE], EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature [CINAHL], and Scopus), and a marketing case study database (World Advertising Research Center) were searched for articles published between 2013 and 2018. Two authors established the eligibility criteria and reviewed articles for inclusion. Individual campaigns were identified from the articles, and information on campaigns and their evaluations were supplemented with searches on Google, Google Scholar, and social media platforms. Data about campaign evaluations were tabulated and mapped to a conceptual framework.Results: In total, 17 campaigns were included in this review, with evaluations reported on by 51 articles, 17 marketing reports, and 4 grey literature reports. Most campaigns were from English-speaking countries, with behavioral change as the primary objective. In the process evaluations, a wide range of metrics were used to assess the reach of digital campaign activities, making comparison between campaigns difficult. Every campaign in the review, except one, reported some type of engagement impact measure, with website visits being the most commonly reported metric (11 of the 17 campaigns). Other commonly reported evaluation measures identified in this review include engagement on social media, changes in attitudes, and number of people contacting smoking cessation services. Of note, only 7 of the 17 campaigns attempted to measure media platform attribution, for example, by asking participants where they recalled seeing the campaign or using unique website tracking codes for ads on different media platforms.Conclusions: One of the key findings of this review is the numerous and diverse range of measures and metrics used in tobacco control campaign evaluations. To address this issue, we propose principles to guide the selection of digital media-related metrics for campaign evaluations, and also outline a conceptual framework to provide a coherent organization to the diverse range of metrics. Future research is needed to specifically investigate whether engagement metrics are associated with desired campaign outcomes, to determine whether reporting of engagement metrics is meaningful in campaign evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Digital health can empower citizens to manage their health and address health care system problems including poor access, uncoordinated care and increasing costs. Digital health interventions are typically complex interventions. Therefore, evaluations present methodological challenges.Objective: The objective of this study was to provide a systematic overview of the methods used to evaluate the effects of internet-based digital health interventions for citizens. Three research questions were addressed to explore methods regarding approaches (study design), effects and indicators.Methods: We conducted a systematic review of reviews of the methods used to measure the effects of internet-based digital health interventions for citizens. The protocol was developed a priori according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis Protocols and the Cochrane Collaboration methodology for overviews of reviews. Qualitative, mixed-method, and quantitative reviews published in English or French from January 2010 to October 2016 were included. We searched for published reviews in PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CINHAL and Epistemonikos. We categorized the findings based on a thematic analysis of the reviews structured around study designs, indicators, types of interventions, effects and perspectives.Results: A total of 20 unique reviews were included. The most common digital health interventions for citizens were patient portals and patients' access to electronic health records, covered by 10/20 (50%) and 6/20 (30%) reviews, respectively. Quantitative approaches to study design included observational study (15/20 reviews, 75%), randomized controlled trial (13/20 reviews, 65%), quasi-experimental design (9/20 reviews, 45%), and pre-post studies (6/20 reviews, 30%). Qualitative studies or mixed methods were reported in 13/20 (65%) reviews. Five main categories of effects were identified: (1) health and clinical outcomes, (2) psychological and behavioral outcomes, (3) health care utilization, (4) system adoption and use, and (5) system attributes. Health and clinical outcomes were measured with both general indicators and disease-specific indicators and reported in 11/20 (55%) reviews. Patient-provider communication and patient satisfaction were the most investigated psychological and behavioral outcomes, reported in 13/20 (65%) and 12/20 (60%) reviews, respectively. Evaluation of health care utilization was included in 8/20 (40%) reviews, most of which focused on the economic effects on the health care system.Conclusions: Although observational studies and surveys have provided evidence of benefits and satisfaction for patients, there is still little reliable evidence from randomized controlled trials of improved health outcomes. Future evaluations of digital health interventions for citizens should focus on specific populations or chronic conditions which are more likely to achieve clinically meaningful benefits and use high-quality approaches such as randomized controlled trials. Implementation research methods should also be considered. We identified a wide range of effects and indicators, most of which focused on patients as main end users. Implications for providers and the health system should also be included in evaluations or monitoring of digital health interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Librarian Infobutton Tailoring Environment (LITE) is a Web-based knowledge capture, management, and configuration tool with which users can build profiles used by OpenInfobutton, an open source infobutton manager, to provide electronic health record users with context-relevant links to online knowledge resources.Objective: We conducted a multipart evaluation study to explore users' attitudes and acceptance of LITE and to guide future development.Methods: The evaluation consisted of an initial online survey to all LITE users, followed by an observational study of a subset of users in which evaluators' sessions were recorded while they conducted assigned tasks. The observational study was followed by administration of a modified System Usability Scale (SUS) survey.Results: Fourteen users responded to the survey and indicated good acceptance of LITE with feedback that was mostly positive. Six users participated in the observational study, demonstrating average task completion time of less than 6 minutes and an average SUS score of 72, which is considered good compared with other SUS scores.Conclusions: LITE can be used to fulfill its designated tasks quickly and successfully. Evaluators proposed suggestions for improvements in LITE functionality and user interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Graham JE, Karmarkar AM, Ottenbacher KJ. Small sample research designs for evidence-based rehabilitation: issues and methods. Conventional research methods, including randomized controlled trials, are powerful techniques for determining the efficacy of interventions. These designs, however, have practical limitations when applied to many rehabilitation settings and research questions. Alternative methods are available that can supplement findings from traditional research designs and improve our ability to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments for individual patients. The focus on individual patients is an important element of evidenced-based rehabilitation. This article examines one such alternate approach: small-N research designs. Small-N designs usually focus on 10 or fewer participants whose behavior (outcomes) are measured repeatedly and compared over time. The advantages and limitations of various small-N designs are described and illustrated using 3 examples from the rehabilitation literature. The challenges and opportunities of applying small-N designs to enhance evidence-based rehabilitation are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]