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In einigen Studien wurde ein signifikanter Nutzen von neuromuskularem Fazialistraining bei der Rehabilitation von Patienten mit einer Fazialisparese nachgewiesen. Ubungsanleitungen in Papierform fur das Training zu Hause sind jedoch haufig nicht von optimaler Qualitat und gehen mit einer geringen Therapieadharenz einher. Eine professionelle Anleitung ist als qualitativ hochwertig anzusehen, jedoch insbesondere bei chronischen Verlaufsformen mit einer hohen Kostenbelastung verbunden. Aus der genannten Situation heraus entstand die Idee, eine Smartphone-App fur Fazialistraining zu entwickeln. Diese sollte strukturierte Ubungen fur die mimische Muskulatur im Sinne eines neuromuskularen Trainings mit visuellem Feedback uber die Frontkamera des Endgerats bieten. Zur Umsetzung des grafischen und inhaltlichen Konzepts wurde eine native App-Architektur unter iOS gewahlt. In der Entwicklungsumgebung Apple Xcode (Fa. Apple, Cupertino, CA, USA) wurde der Code der App in der Programmiersprache Swift (Fa. Apple) geschrieben und die grafische Benutzeroberflache erstellt. Es wurde ein App-Prototyp umgesetzt, der eine schrittweise Anleitung zu ausgewahlten mimischen Ubungen uber animierte Smileys bietet. Die Ubungsdauer und -geschwindigkeit ist in einem begrenzten Rahmen variierbar. In der Entwicklungsumgebung wurde die korrekte Funktionsweise sowohl auf physischen als auch virtuellen Endgeraten erfolgreich getestet. App-basiertes Fazialistraining bietet attraktive Moglichkeiten, Patienten zu einer hoheren Therapieadharenz zu motivieren, was hypothetisch zu einem besseren Ergebnis (Outcome) fuhren konnte. Eine Evaluation dieser Fragestellung ist nach Abschluss der Entwicklung im Rahmen einer klinischen Studie geplant.

Objective: development of an application for mobile computer devices, mobile phones and tablets, which contains educational material for patients and professionals in the area of Implantology. The use of ImplantoPUC at PUC Minas implant dentistry clinics aims at a more effective communication between professionals and patients, with better visualization of the proposed treatments, improving the understanding of patients. Methods: for the development of ImplantoPUC, a responsive technology was used, and the application windows can adapt to different screen formats, consequently, the application can be made available on different platforms such as: Web, Android and Apple. The application size is 13.4 MB and was developed using the OutSystems platform using Apache Cordova. The prototype of the ImplantoPUC application can already be accessed through the link https://includesistemas.outsystemcloud.com/implantpuc/homescreen. Results: the application is still under test at PUC Minas implant dentistry clinics, but due to the pandemic its use is still below expectations. In the Play Store your rating has a maximum rating of 5.0, with more than 50 downloads so far. Conclusion: Implanto PUC makes the task of informing more interactive and easy to understand for patients, also assisting professionals in the area in obtaining updated information and at the reach of hands, and can also be used in other Dentistry Educational Institutions, becoming a reference in the area of implant dentistry. RESUMO Objetivo: desenvolvimento de um aplicativo para dispositivos móveis de informática, celulares e tablets, que contém material educacional para os pacientes e profissionais da área da Implantodontia. A utilização do ImplantoPUC nas clínicas de Implantodontia da PUC Minas visa uma comunicação mais efetiva entre profissionais e pacientes, com melhor visualização dos tratamentos propostos, melhorando o entendimento dos pacientes. Métodos: Para o desenvolvimento do ImplantoPUC foi utilizado uma tecnologia responsiva, podendo as janelas do aplicativo se adaptarem a diferentes formatos de telas, consequentemente, o aplicativo pode ser disponibilizado em diferentes plataformas como: Web, Android e Apple. O tamanho do aplicativo é de 13,4 MB e foi desenvolvido utilizando a plataforma OutSystems, utilizando a Apache Cordova. O protótipo do aplicativo ImplantoPUC já pode ser acessado através do link https://includesistemas.outsystemcloud.com/implantpuc/homescreen Resultados: O aplicativo ainda continua em teste nas clínicas da PUC Minas, mas em virtude da pandemia o seu uso está abaixo do esperado. Na Play Store a sua avaliação tem nota máxima 5,0, com mais de 50 downloads até o momento. Conclusão: O ImplantoPUC torna a tarefa de informar mais interativa e de fácil compreensão para os pacientes, auxiliando também os profissionais da área na obtenção de informações atualizadas e ao alcance das mãos, podendo também ser utilizado em outras instituições de ensino da Odontologia, tornando-se uma referência na área da Implantodontia.

Objective: Media characters are used to market snacks that are typically of poor nutritional value, which has been linked to childhood obesity. This study examines whether children's snack selections and consumption patterns are influenced by an app depicting a popular children's media character, as well as the role that children's awareness of the character plays. The results can increase our understanding of how to encourage healthier snack selection and consumption in newer game-based marketing venues, such as apps. Materials and Methods: Four- and 5-year-old children (N = 132) played a bowling game on an iPad with no character or with a character holding either healthier or unhealthy snacks. After app-play, children selected and consumed healthier or unhealthy snacks. Children's awareness of the character was measured by children's verbalizations of the character's name during or after app-play. Results: An ordered logistic regression found no significant effect of treatment conditions compared with the control group. Within treatment conditions, awareness of the character led to selection and consumption of more healthy snacks in the healthier condition (odds ratio β = 10.340, P = 0.008), and of unhealthy snacks in the unhealthy condition (odds ratio β = 0.228, P = 0.033), but children were unaware that the character influenced their decisions. Conclusions: Results suggest that young children will choose and consume healthier, not just unhealthy, products when they are aware that a popular character in an app is associated with the snack, potentially leading to healthier eating patterns.

The increased availability of “small screens,” wireless devices with Internet-enabled connections, and their associated applications has almost overnight changed the way that we interact with our phones. The current work outlines some of the aspects of this problem as it relates to the influence of small screens on driving safety. Small screens are highly compelling to drivers, both for the information they convey and because the ability to ignore them while driving is impaired by cognitive resources used by the driving task itself. However, much is unknown about why people make choices to multitask while driving. Given the safety risks, it is recommended that parents, the public, and regulators take a stand against the use of Internet-enabled small screens unrelated to driving when the vehicle is in motion.

Many children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and/or developmental disabilities are unable to meet their daily communication needs with speech alone. These individuals are considered potential candidates for speech-generating devices (SGDs) and mobile technologies with AAC-specific applications. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of systematic instruction on teaching multistep requesting skills using an iPad loaded with Proloquo2Go to children with ASD and other developmental disabilities. The participants in this study were four children between the ages of 8 and 10 years diagnosed with ASD and/or other developmental disabilities. The results indicated that for these participants, the intervention was effective in increasing multistep requesting using the iPad. All participants were successful to varying degrees in navigating across pages and combining symbols to request preferred items. Additionally, the participants demonstrated generalization of newly acquired skills by requesting different preferred items and activities during the generalization probes. Results are discussed and implications for research and practice are presented.

Access2Aphasia™ is an iPad™-based aphasia assessment application that enables real-time audiovisual communication between people with aphasia (PWA) and speech-language pathologists (SLPs), and the use of supported conversation techniques. This study aimed to establish the reliability of aphasia assessment across the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) using Access2Aphasia, and compare it with face-to-face (FTF) assessment. Consumer perspectives of Access2Aphasia were also examined.Thirty PWA were randomized into two conditions: online-led and FTF assessment. Participants in the online-led group were assessed remotely using Access2Aphasia™ in their own homes, while an FTF SLP scored silently simultaneously. Participants in the FTF group were assessed FTF using standard administration materials. Assessment included two subtests of the Psycholinguistic Assessment of Language Processing Activities (PALPA) and the Assessment of Living with Aphasia (ALA) to allow for outcomes to be captured across the ICF domains. Consumer perspectives on Access2Aphasia were obtained from both PWA and research SLPs in the online-led group.Kappa statistics indicated moderate to almost perfect agreement between online and FTF SLPs (k = 0.71-1.00). Intrarater and interrater reliability was excellent (ICC = 0.99-1.00) and equivalent for the online-led and FTF conditions. Both PWA and research SLPs in the online-led group reported being satisfied with the experience overall, with suggestions provided by research SLPs to improve Access2Aphasia.This study supports the provision of iPad-based aphasia assessments across the ICF in the online environment, with comparable reliability to FTF assessments. Future research is warranted to support the development of iPad-based aphasia assessment and treatment as an alternative mode of service delivery to PWA.

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

To investigate the effects of touch-screen tablet use on the fine motor development of preschool children without developmental delay.40 children who used a touch-screen tablet more 60 minutes per week for at least 1 month received a 24-week home fine motor activity program using a touch-screen-tablet. 40 children matched for age (mean = 61.0 months) and sex who did not meet the criteria for previous tablet use received a 24-week program consisting of manual play activities. Motor performance was measured using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency. The two-factor mixed design ANOVA was used to compare performance of the touch-screen tablet and non-touch-screen tablet groups.Pretest analysis showed no group differences in motor performance and pinch strength. At posttest, children in the nontouch-screen-tablet group made significantly greater changes in fine motor precision (p0.001), fine motor integration (p = 0.008), and manual dexterity (p = 0.003).Using a touch screen tablet extensively might be disadvantageous for the fine motor development of preschool children.

Poor-quality medicines are a major problem for health-care systems in resource-poor settings as identifying falsified medicines requires a complex laboratory infrastructure such as a Medicines Quality Control Laboratory. We report here an evaluation of a low-cost, handheld near-infrared spectrometer (NIRS) device by analyzing a library of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) medicines to determine its usefulness as a drug-screening tool. The "SCiO" research prototype device was used to collect NIR spectra of a library of ACT and artesunate monotherapy medicine samples previously collected in Bioko Island and Equatorial Guinea and Kintampo, Ghana. The quality of these samples had been categorized as falsified, substandard, and quality assured based on the amount of stated active pharmaceutical ingredients detected using high-performance liquid chromatography photodiode array. Numerical analyses were performed on the NIR spectra to assess the usefulness of NIR to identify falsified and substandard medicines. The NIRS device was successful at detecting falsified medicines in all cases where the library contained both quality assured and falsified medicines of the same stated brand of medicines. The NIRS device was successful at identifying substandard amounts of artesunate but not amodiaquine in the ACT samples (N = 15) of artesunate-amodiaquine. This work reveals that this low-cost, portable NIRS device is promising for screening ACTs for falsified samples and could enable widespread drug screening at all points of the health system.

To describe use of several electronic devices among individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI).Cross-sectional survey.Community.Potential participants consisted of all individuals with traumatic SCI, ages 7 and older, who had received care through a large academic medical center in the Midwest between January 1, 2003, and January 2, 2013. All eligible individuals received the survey as part of a four-stage mailing that asked questions about electronic device use in addition to questions about demographic and injury-related characteristics.Mailings were sent to 820 individuals; of those, 451 completed and returned the survey. Descriptive and nonparametric statistics were performed. Individuals with high-level tetraplegia were less likely to use tablet and handheld electronic devices than individuals at all other SCI levels. Individuals aged 65 years and older were less likely to own or use tablet computers and handheld devices than all other age groups.While electronic devices hold considerable potential as a treatment modality for individuals who have sustained SCI, there is diversity in the particular electronic devices that are used by such individuals due to injury-related characteristics and age.

In this study, we explored the relationship between the clinical features and motor impairments related to the graphomotor function of individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) and essential tremor (ET). We recruited 46 participants: 12 with PD, 13 with ET, and 21 controls. All participants were asked to perform six graphomotor tasks on a digitizer tablet: drawing straight lines, cursive-connected loops, discrete circles, and continuous circles, and making goal-aimed movements with a stylus in two different directions with three different accuracy constraints. The results showed that although participants with PD were able to draw straight lines slightly faster than controls, they produced cursive-connected loops much slower than controls. In addition, in contrast to controls and individuals with ET, PDs also drew the cursive loops progressively smaller. In the aiming task, we found that equivalent movements with high accuracy constraints were drawn slower by individuals with ET or PD than by controls. However, when performing the equivalent movements with moderate or low accuracy constraints, PDs performed similarly to controls. In contrast to the equivalent movements, PD and ET participants both performed nonequivalent movements slower than controls, no matter the demands arising from the accuracy constraints. The present study shows that simple graphic tasks can differentiate impairments in fine motor function resulting from ET and PD.

Background: The use of telemedicine in the diagnosis and treatment of acute stroke, or telestroke, is a well-accepted method of practice improving geographic disparities in timely access to neurological expertise. We propose that mobile telestroke assessment during ambulance transport is feasible using low-cost, widely available technology. Materials and Methods: We designed a platform including a tablet-based end point, high-speed modem with commercial wireless access, external antennae, and portable mounting apparatus. Mobile connectivity testing was performed along six primary ambulance routes in a rural network. Audiovisual (AV) quality was assessed simultaneously by both an in-vehicle and an in-hospital rater using a standardized 6-point rating scale (≥4 indicating feasibility). We sought to achieve 9 min of continuous AV connectivity presumed sufficient to perform mobile telestroke assessments. Results: Thirty test runs were completed: 93% achieved a minimum of 9 min of continuous video transmission with a mean mobile connectivity time of 18 min. Mean video and audio quality ratings were 4.51 (4.54 vehicle; 4.48 hospital) and 5.00 (5.13 in-vehicle; 4.87 hospital), respectively. Total initial cost of the system was $1,650 per ambulance. Conclusions: In this small, single-centered study we maintained high-quality continuous video transmission along primary ambulance corridors using a low-cost mobile telemedicine platform. The system is designed to be portable and adaptable, with generalizability for rapid assessment of emergency conditions in which direct observational exam may improve prehospital diagnosis and treatment. Thus mobile telestroke assessment is feasible using low-cost components and commercial wireless connectivity. More research is needed to demonstrate clinical reliability and efficacy in a live-patient setting.

Hintergrund: Derzeit sind bereits viele Applikationen (Apps) auch fur ophthalmologische Anwendungen, darunter u. a. fur die Farbsehtestung, verfugbar. Es gibt allerdings bis jetzt keine Farbsehtest-App, die durch klinische Studien auf einem Tablet-PC evaluiert ist. Methode: Unter standardisierten Testbedingungen wurden Farbsehtests mittels HMC-Anomaloskop und 19 Velhagen/Broschmann/Kuchenbecker-Farbtafeln unter Verwendung eines Tablet-PCs (iPad2®) durchgefuhrt. Dabei wurden die Tafeln abwechselnd als Erstes mittels Buch (Pigmentfarbtafeln) oder mittels Tablet-PC (iPad®) prasentiert. Es wurden insgesamt 77 freiwillige Probanden untersucht. 62 Probanden waren farbnormal und 15 mannliche Probanden wiesen eine Farbsehstorung auf. Es wurde die Ubereinstimmung und das 95 %-Konfidenzintervall bestimmt. Ergebnisse: Das Durchschnittsalter aller Probanden (n = 77) betrug 42,8 ± 16,9 Jahre. Der mittlere Nahvisus aller Probanden betrug 0,99 ± 0,15. Die Ubereinstimmung der Ergebnisse aller Probanden von Buch und Tablet-PC betrug 88,0 %. Das 95 %-Konfidenzintervall reichte von 81,6 bis 89,6 %. Bei den Probanden mit Farbsehstorungen (n = 15) bestand eine Ubereinstimmung von 83,3 %. Das 95 %-Konfidenzintervall reichte von 78,4 bis 87,3 %. Bei den Probanden ohne Farbsehstorung (n = 62) bestand eine Ubereinstimmung von 89,1 %. Das 95 %-Konfidenzintervall reichte von 87,1 bis 90,8 %. Die Uberlappung der Fehleranzahl von Farbnormalen und Farbfehlsichtigen lag beim Buch bei 2 Fehlern und beim Tablet PC bei 5 Fehlern. Schlussfolgerungen: Bei der Untersuchung des Farbsehens mittels Buch und Tablet-PC konnten nur in etwa vergleichbare Ergebnisse erzielt werden. Die Trennscharfe des Buches war besser und die Tafeln wiesen eine unterschiedliche Eignung auf, sodass nur einige Tafeln auf einem Tablet-PC Verwendung finden konnten.

The modern conveniences and enjoyment brought about by electronic devices bring with them some health concerns. In particular, personal electronic devices are responsible for rising cases of several skin disorders, including pressure, friction, contact dermatitis, and other physical dermatitis. The universal use of such devices, either for work or recreational purposes, will probably increase the occurrence of polymorphous skin manifestations over time. It is important for clinicians to consider electronics as potential sources of dermatological ailments, for proper patient management. We performed a literature review on skin disorders associated with the personal use of modern technology, including personal computers and laptops, personal computer accessories, mobile phones, tablets, video games, and consoles.

Purpose:To investigate test–retest reproducibility of visual acuities obtained with a popular mobile application (app) and to explore the agreement with the standard clinic charts.Methods:Records of patients who had visual acuity measured during the same routine clinic visit with Snellen chart, Rose

Purpose: Parental perceptions are key to the uptake of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices for their children with complex communication needs. This study aimed to explore the ...

RESUMEN: El objetivo de este trabajo fue conocer los recursos, flujos de trabajo y percepción de las enfermeras de una unidad de medicina interna, relacionados con los registros electrónicos, con el fin de determinar si la implantación de tablets en las unidades de hospitalización, podrían responder a sus expectativas. Se llevó a cabo un estudio descriptivo, transversal, muestreo no probabilístico, consecutivo durante los meses de julio y agosto del 2016. Se realizaron 31 observaciones, a 18 enfermeras, 392 pacientes ingresados. Las variables: turno, metodología de trabajo, tiempo “ronda”, tiempo transcripción de datos, tiempo total, número de pacientes ingresados y tiempo invertido por paciente. También se preguntó a cada enfermera sobre cómo trabajaban y el motivo. La media de tiempo total fue 59,16 min (DT:16,6), y 12,65 (DT:1,11) pacientes ingresados. Tiempo invertido por paciente 4,65 min (DT:1,15), inferior en el turno tarde [M:4,14; DT: 0,84] que el de noche [M: 5,47; DT: 1,12]. El turno noche siempre utilizaba el mismo método de trabajo y era el turno tarde que presentaba sistemáticas diferentes. Las enfermeras manifestaron la necesidad de un sistema de registro ligero, en tiempo real, a pie de cama del enfermo, evitando desplazamientos, de fácil acceso para la consulta e intercambio de información. Los dos métodos de trabajo de la unidad de observación no satisfacen las necesidades de las enfermeras, son lentos, pesados y dificultan el acceso a la información y el registro. La incorporación de tablets podría reducir estos problemas y cubrir sus expectativas, abriendo una nueva línea de investigación. ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to identify the resources, workflows and perception of nurses of internal medicine unit, related to electronic records in order to determine if the implementation of tablets in hospital units could cover the nurses’ needs more satisfactorily. A descriptive, cross-sectional study with non-probability sampling was carried out during July and August of 2016. The study involved 31 observations of 18 nurses, with 392 patients admitted. The variables were: shift, working methodology, "round" time, time taken to write up data, total time, number of patients admitted and time spent per patient. Each nurse was asked how they worked and why. The average total time was 59,16 min (DT:16,6), and 12.65 (DT:1,11) patients admitted. Time spent per patient was 4,65 min (DT:1,15) and was lower during the afternoon shift [M:4,14; [DT: 0.84] than during the night shift [M: 5.47; DT: 1,12]. The night shift always used the same method of work, whereas different systems were used during the afternoon. The nurses expressed the need for a lightweight record system that would enable them to record information in real time near the patient without having to go elsewhere, and which would make it easy to consult and exchange information. The two working methods used in the observation unit do not satisfy the needs of nurses, are slow and cumbersome and make it difficult for nurses to access and record information. The adoption of tablets could reduce these problems and meet nurses’ expectations and thus opens a new line of research.

This study compared first graders' attitudes toward a peer who used an iPad(®)-based speech-generating device (SGD) versus a non-electronic AAC system, as well as preferences regarding the systems. In all, 115 first graders were randomly assigned to view a video of a peer using either the SGD or the non-electronic system. Participants then completed the Assessment of Attitudes Toward Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AATAAC) and answered preference questions about the systems. Results showed that attitudes toward the peer did not vary significantly as a function of the type of AAC system the peer used. Girls tended to have more positive attitudes than boys toward the peer who used AAC. A majority of participants preferred the SGD for their peer's and for their own use.

To develop a Tablet-based Symbol Digit Modalities Test (T-SDMT) and to examine the test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of the T-SDMT in patients with stroke.The study had two phases. In the first phase, six experts, nine college students and five outpatients participated in the development and testing of the T-SDMT. In the second phase, 52 outpatients were evaluated twice (2 weeks apart) with the T-SDMT and SDMT to examine the test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of the T-SDMT.The T-SDMT was developed via expert input and college student/patient feedback. Regarding test-retest reliability, the practise effects of the T-SDMT and SDMT were both trivial (d=0.12) but significant (p≦0.015). The improvement in the T-SDMT (4.7%) was smaller than that in the SDMT (5.6%). The minimal detectable changes (MDC%) of the T-SDMT and SDMT were 6.7 (22.8%) and 10.3 (32.8%), respectively. The T-SDMT and SDMT were highly correlated with each other at the two time points (Pearson's r=0.90-0.91).The T-SDMT demonstrated good concurrent validity with the SDMT. Because the T-SDMT had a smaller practise effect and less random measurement error (superior test-retest reliability), it is recommended over the SDMT for assessing information processing speed in patients with stroke. Implications for Rehabilitation The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), a common measure of information processing speed, showed a substantial practise effect and considerable random measurement error in patients with stroke. The Tablet-based SDMT (T-SDMT) has been developed to reduce the practise effect and random measurement error of the SDMT in patients with stroke. The T-SDMT had smaller practise effect and random measurement error than the SDMT, which can provide more reliable assessments of information processing speed.

The introduction of low energy lighting and the widespread use of computer and mobile technologies have changed the exposure of human eyes to light. Occasional claims that the light sources with emissions containing blue light may cause eye damage raise concerns in the media. The aim of the study was to determine if it was appropriate to issue advice on the public health concerns. A number of sources were assessed and the exposure conditions were compared with international exposure limits, and the exposure likely to be received from staring at a blue sky. None of the sources assessed approached the exposure limits, even for extended viewing times.

Background Recent experimental evidence supports a role for binocular visual experience in the treatment of amblyopia. The purpose of this study was to determine whether repeated binocular visual experience with dichoptic iPad games could effectively treat amblyopia in preschool children. Methods A total of 50 consecutive amblyopic preschool children 3-6.9 years of age were assigned to play sham iPad games (first 5 children) or binocular iPad games (n = 45) for at least 4 hours per week for 4 weeks. Thirty (67%) children in the binocular iPad group and 4 (80%) in the sham iPad group were also treated with patching at a different time of day. Visual acuity and stereoacuity were assessed at baseline, at 4 weeks, and at 3 months after the cessation of game play. Results The sham iPad group had no significant improvement in visual acuity ( t 4 = 0.34, P = 0.75). In the binocular iPad group, mean visual acuity (plus or minus standard error) improved from 0.43 ± 0.03 at baseline to 0.34 ± 0.03 logMAR at 4 weeks (n = 45; paired t 44 = 4.93; P t 44 = 1.35, P = 0.18). Children who played the binocular iPad games for ≥8 hours (≥50% compliance) had significantly more visual acuity improvement than children who played 0-4 hours ( t 43 = 4.21, P = 0.0001). Conclusions Repeated binocular experience, provided by dichoptic iPad game play, was more effective than sham iPad game play as a treatment for amblyopia in preschool children.

There has been concern in recent times about the excessive usage of mobile devices (computers, phones, and other electronic devices) by children. Mobile device use has been reported to have signifi...

The purpose of the residency interview is to determine the extent to which a well-qualified applicant is a good fit with a residency program. However, questions asked during residency interviews tend to be standard and repetitive, and they may not elicit information that best differentiates one applicant from another. The iCAT (interactive Candidate Assessment Tool) is a novel interview instrument that allows both interviewers and interviewees to learn about each other in a meaningful way. The iCAT uses a tablet computer to enable the candidate to select questions from an array of video and nonvideo vignettes. Vignettes include recorded videos regarding some aspect of the program, while other icons include questions within recognizable categories. Postinterview surveys demonstrated advantages over traditional interview methods, with 93% agreeing that it was an innovative and effective tool for conducting residency program interviews. The iCAT for residency interviews is a technological advancement that facilitates in-depth candidate assessment.

BACKGROUND Proficiency and self-confidence in the physical examination is poor among internal medicine residents and interest in ultrasound technology has expanded.

We report the results of a new amblyopia treatment device used in 7 children with anisometropic amblyopia. The Occlu-pad was created by removing the polarizing film layer from the liquid crystal display screen of an iPad Air (Apple Inc, Cupertino, CA). Patients were asked to wear special glasses that contained a polarizing filter for their amblyopic eye and a light reduction filter for their normal eye and instructed to play an amblyopia training game displayed only to the amblyopic eye. In 5 patients corrected distance visual acuities in the amblyopic eyes improved after 2 months' treatment on average by 0.38 (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution).

Seller: Joseph Pechter. Category: Medical Updated: April 18, 2011 Version: 1.0 Size: 2.1 MB Rating: Rated 4+ Family sharing: Yes Compatibility: Requires iOS 4.3 or greater. Compatible with iPad Languages: English App icon URL: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/brain-mriatlas/id431556580?mt=8 App name: Brain MRI Atlas App developer: Taboom App developer Website: http://www.radlynx.com/ App price: Free Apple App Store URL: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ brain-mri-atlas/id431556580?mt=8 Google Play Store URL: NA Category: educational, clinical, medical Tags: clinical educational free anatomy radiology iOS iPad brain MRI Works offline: Yes FDA approval: NA Promotion code: None Quick Review

The current study investigated the effectiveness of a home practice program based on the iPad (Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA), implemented after 2 weeks of intensive language therapy, for maintaining and augmenting treatment gains in people with chronic poststroke aphasia. Five of eight original participants completed the 6-month home practice program in which they autonomously practiced retrieving words for objects and actions. Half of these words had been trained and half were untrained during therapy. Practice included tasks such as naming to confrontation, repeating from a video model, and picture/word matching presented on an iPad. All participants maintained advances made on words trained during the intensive treatment and additionally were able to learn new words by practicing daily over a 6-month period. The iPad and other tablet devices have great potential for personalized home practice to maintain and augment traditional aphasia rehabilitation. It appears that motivation to use the technology and adequate training are more important factors than age, aphasia type or severity, or prior experience with computers.

The Kinect-based physical rehabilitation receives increasing recognition as an approach to provide convenience for the patients who need the therapy usually from the health professions. Most of the previous studies were driven from the patients' point of view. This paper proposes a system aiming to simplify the recovery instruction from therapists, increasing patients' motivation to participate in the rehabilitation exercise. Furthermore, the architecture for developing such rehabilitation system is designed by motion capture, human action recognition and standard exercises prototype with Kinect device.

The use of massive transfusion protocols (MTPs) is now common in civilian trauma settings, and early activation of MTP has been shown to increase survival of MTP recipients. Numerous MTP prediction tools have been developed; however, they are often cumbersome to use efficiently or have traded predictive power for ease of use. We hypothesized that a highly accurate predictor of massive transfusion could be created and incorporated into a smartphone application that would provide an additional tool for clinicians to use in directing the resuscitation of critically injured patients.Data from all trauma admissions since the inception of MTP were put in place at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, were collected. A predictive model was developed using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and 10-fold cross validation. Data were resampled over 500 iterations, each using a unique and random subset of 80% of the data for model training and 20% for validation.The trauma registry contained 13,961 cases between 2007 and November 2011, of which 10,900 were complete and 394 received MTP. Of 44 input terms, only the mechanism of injury, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and base deficit were found to be important predictors of massive transfusion. Our model has an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.96 (against data not used during model training) and accurately predicted MTP status for 97% of all patients. The model accurately discriminated full MTPs from MTP activations that did not meet criteria for massive transfusion. While complex to calculate by hand, our model has been packaged into a mobile application, allowing for efficient use while minimizing potential for user error.We have developed a highly accurate model for the prediction of massive transfusion that has potential to be easily accessed and used within a simple and efficient mobile application for smartphones.Prognostic/epidemiologic study, level III.

Background: Trauma registries (TRs) play a vital role in the assessment of trauma care, but are often underutilized in countries with a high burden of injuries. Objectives: We investigated whether information and communications technology (ICT) such as mobile health (mHealth) could enable the design of a tablet-based application for healthcare professionals. This would be used to inform trauma care and acquire surveillance data for injury control and prevention in Oman. This paper focuses on documenting the implementation process in a healthcare setting. Methods: The study was conducted using an ICT implementation framework consisting of multistep assessment, development and pilot testing of an electronic tablet-based TR. The pilot study was conducted at two large hospitals in Oman, followed by detailed evaluation of the process, system and impact of implementation. Results: The registry was designed to provide comprehensive information on each trauma case from the location of injury until hospital discharge, with variables organized to cover 11 domains of demographic and clinical information. The pilot study demonstrated that the registry was user friendly and reliable, and the implementation framework was useful in planning for the Omani hospital setting. Data collection by trained and dedicated nurses proved to be more feasible, efficient and reliable than real-time data entry by care providers. Conclusions: The initial results show the promising potential of a user-friendly, comprehensive electronic TR through the use of mHealth tools. The pilot test in two hospitals indicates that the registry can be used to create a multicenter trauma database.