mobile phones

INTRODUCTION: Strategic communication plays a decisive role in public health planning and project implementation. However, Portuguese Local Public Health Units, which are responsible for community interventions, still lack guidance models, tools, specialized resources, and training in health communication. The aim of this study was to develop a conceptual model of strategic organizational communication for local public health services, in Portugal. METHODS: This study presents a conceptual model of strategic organizational communication for Local Public Health Units, which was developed through a three-round, modified Delphi online panel...

IMPORTANCE: Community participation of autistic adults is important for health and well-being. Many clinical efforts and interventions aim to enhance community participation in this population. OBJECTIVE: To empirically examine the relationship between community participation and community mobility. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial using data from baseline and 4- to 6-wk follow-up. SETTING: Community organizations serving autistic adults in Philadelphia...

BACKGROUND: Carers often assume key roles in cancer care. However, many carers report feeling disempowered and ill-equipped to support patients. Our group published evidence-based guidelines (the Triadic Oncology [TRIO] Guidelines) to improve oncology clinician engagement with carers and the management of challenging situations involving carers. OBJECTIVE: To facilitate implementation of the TRIO Guidelines in clinical practice, we aimed to develop, iteratively refine, and conduct user testing of a suite of evidence-based and interactive web-based education modules for oncology clinicians (e-Triadic Oncology [eTRIO]), patients with cancer, and carers (eTRIO for Patients and Carers [eTRIO-pc])...

BACKGROUND: Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is the second most common autoimmune rheumatic disease, and the range of symptoms includes fatigue, dryness, sleep disturbances, and pain. Smartphone apps may help deliver a variety of cognitive and behavioral techniques to support self-management in SS. However, app-based interventions must be carefully designed to promote engagement and motivate behavior change. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore self-management approaches and challenges experienced by people living with SS and produce a corresponding set of design recommendations that inform the design of an engaging, motivating, and evidence-based self-management app for those living with SS...

BACKGROUND: The increasing prevalence of Alzheimer disease and Alzheimer disease-related dementia in the United States has amplified the health care burden and caregiving challenges, especially for caregivers of people living with dementia. A web-based care planning tool, Olera.care, was developed to aid caregivers in managing common challenges associated with dementia care. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to preliminarily evaluate the quality and usability of the Olera...

BACKGROUND: The high prevalence of cannabis use among young adults poses substantial global health concerns due to the associated acute and long-term health and psychosocial risks. Digital modalities, including websites, digital platforms, and mobile apps, have emerged as promising tools to enhance the accessibility and availability of evidence-based interventions for young adults for cannabis use. However, existing reviews do not consider young adults specifically, combine cannabis-related outcomes with those of many other substances in their meta-analytical results, and do not solely target interventions for cannabis use...

PURPOSE: We evaluated the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a standardized nurse delivered mobile phone intervention to improve adherence to antiretroviral treatment and clinical outcomes. METHODS: Feasibility and acceptability of the phone intervention was assessed with rates of eligibility, completed visits, and attritions. Intervention fidelity was assessed by checking recorded calls and feedback. Efficacy was assessed using a randomized controlled trial in which 120 women living with HIV and psychosocial vulnerabilities, were randomized to Treatment as Usual (TAU = 60) or TAU plus the mobile phone intervention (N = 60)...

BACKGROUND: As the use of electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and computers continues to rise globally, concerns have been raised about their potential impact on human health. Exposure to high energy visible (HEV) blue light, emitted from digital screens, particularly the so-called artificial light at night (ALAN), has been associated with adverse health effects, ranging from disruption of circadian rhythms to cancer. Breast cancer incidence rates are also increasing worldwide...

The CONfidence app was developed to address an unmet need for access to self-help advice and information for bladder and bowel incontinence. The app was developed by the Bladder and Bowel CONfidence Health Integration Team and Expert Self Care and this paper describes the evolution of this innovation to empower patients and the public with bladder and bowel leakage. The app is intended to provide a proactive approach to continence promotion and not replace formal healthcare. Crucial steps were identified to ensuring this resource was accessible and understandable for the intended audience including: input from national clinical experts and individuals with lived experience to co-produce content, clear definition of scope, technical expertise in app development, clear language avoiding jargon or medical terms, credibility assurance and a strategic plan for dissemination...

BACKGROUND: Accurately assessing an individual's diet is vital in the management of personal nutrition and in the study of the effect of diet on health. Despite its importance, the tools available for dietary assessment remain either too imprecise, expensive, or burdensome for clinical or research use. Image-based methods offer a potential new tool to improve the reliability and accessibility of dietary assessment. Though promising, image-based methods are sensitive to adherence, as images cannot be captured from meals that have already been consumed...

BACKGROUND: Recently, digital media, including internet websites and smartphone apps, have become popular resources for parents in searching for child health care information. Higher health literacy among parents in obtaining adequate health care information and making proper decisions may lead to improved child health outcomes and a reduction in the burden on health care professionals. However, few studies have examined the association between the provision of child health care information apps and parents' health literacy...

Vision can provide useful cues about the geometric properties of an object, like its size, distance, pose, and shape. But how the brain merges these properties into a complete sensory representation of a three-dimensional object is poorly understood. To address this gap, we investigated a visual illusion in which humans misperceive the shape of an object due to a small change in one eye's retinal image. We first show that this illusion affects percepts of a highly familiar object under completely natural viewing conditions...

We propose a method of computer-generated holography (CGH) using incoherent light emitted from a mobile phone screen. In this method, we suppose a cascade of holograms in which the first hologram is a color image displayed on the mobile phone screen. The hologram cascade is synthesized by solving an inverse problem with respect to the propagation of incoherent light. We demonstrate a three-dimensional color image reproduction using a two-layered hologram cascade composed of an iPhone and a spatial light modulator...

Although mobile phones as a rapid communication vehicle can lead to improved quality of healthcare, they can also facilitate the transmission of pathogens to patients. This current research focuses on genetic diversity, and genes involved in resistance and biofilm production of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from mobile phones of medical students. Antibiotic resistance profiling and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of antibiotic resistance and biofilm-related genes were investigated and statistically analyzed...

BACKGROUND: Although comprehensive lifestyle habits are crucial for healthy aging, their adherence tends to decline as individuals grow older. Sustaining a healthy life over time poses a motivational challenge. Some digital tools, such as smartphone apps aimed at promoting healthy habits, have been used to counteract this decline. However, a more profound investigation is necessary into the diverse experiences of users, particularly when it concerns older adults or those who are unfamiliar with information and communications technologies...

OBJECTIVES: We aim to independently assess the validity of the damage index for antiphospholipid syndrome (DIAPS) in thrombotic antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) patients by exploring the prevalence and risk factors of organ damage and evaluating its impact on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). METHODS: Cross-sectional study including all thrombotic APS patients (Sydney criteria) attending a Portuguese tertiary centre. Damage was assessed using the DIAPS, and HR-QoL using the 3- and 5-level EuroQol HR-QoL (EQ-D5-3L and 5L), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) applied via a phone questionnaire...

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular and metabolic diseases include a large group of pathologies and constitute one of the most serious chronic health problems facing the 21st century, with high rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Unhealthy diets influence the development of these pathologies. The Mediterranean diet can be an important part in the treatment of these diseases. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of a program that aims to increase adherence to the Mediterranean diet on the improvement of different cardiometabolic risk parameters...

The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive resource for shoulder proprioception assessment and its integration into clinical decision making as well as targeted rehabilitation protocols. Data for this review were acquired from peer-reviewed articles from computerized online databases, namely PubMed and Medline, published between 1906 and 2021. The development of digital/smart phone goniometers can improve shoulder joint range of motion (ROM) measurements and demonstrate comparable measurement accuracy to the universal standard goniometer...

BACKGROUND: Shortness of breath is a common complaint among individuals contacting emergency communication center (EMCCs). In some prehospital system, emergency medical services include an advanced life support (ALS)-capable team. Whether such team should be dispatched during the phone call or delayed until the BLS-capable paramedic team reports from the scene is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the impact of delayed MMT dispatch until receiving the paramedic review compared to immediate dispatch at the time of the call on patient outcomes...

BACKGROUND: Women's inability to recognize ovarian cancer (OC) causation myths to be incorrect may lead to behavioral changes that could distract them from actual risk factors and impact their treatment decision making. This study examined Palestinian women's recognition of OC mythical causes, and explored factors associated with good recognition. METHODS: A national cross-sectional study was conducted. Adult Palestinian women were recruited from hospitals, primary healthcare facilities, and public areas in 11 governorates...