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Advances in Technology Enabled Health and Care

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 March 2018) | Viewed by 28608

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Technology is providing exciting opportunities to significantly improve the quality of care and quality of life for people—older people, those with long term conditions, people with physical and mental health concerns, children and families, and carers can, and do, all benefit from access to technology enabled care. It enables personalised, outcomes focussed approaches that support personal choice and control, giving patients and their carers both information and options and improving their connections with clinicians and other care professionals.

This is a rapidly-developing area of activity and it is imperative we continually strive to be ambitious, creative and practical in our design, development and delivery of technology enabled care. Adoption of innovative solutions is a longstanding challenge in healthcare and the underlying factors that cause that reluctance or resistance to change is increasingly becoming understood around the world. To secure safe, effective and sustainable health and care systems across the world needs a change in our existing service models. There is a need to understand the opportunities that digital tools and services can present in supporting this transformative change, as well as the challenges and barriers to adoption.

This Special Issue is calling for papers that explore any aspect of technology enabled care from innovation including new service models, the area of health technology assessment, the opportunities that “next generation” technologies may bring, through to the exploration of the deployment and scaling up of digital services.

Prof. Dr. George Crooks
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Technology Enabled Care
  • Innovation
  • Telehealth
  • Telemedicine
  • Telecare
  • Digital Health
  • Deployment
  • Scaling Up

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 2538 KiB  
Article
Cognitive Impact and Psychophysiological Effects of Stress Using a Biomonitoring Platform
by Susana Rodrigues, Joana S. Paiva, Duarte Dias, Marta Aleixo, Rui Manuel Filipe and João Paulo S. Cunha
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(6), 1080; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15061080 - 26 May 2018
Cited by 32 | Viewed by 4931
Abstract
Stress can impact multiple psychological and physiological human domains. In order to better understand the effect of stress on cognitive performance, and whether this effect is related to an autonomic response to stress, the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) was used as a [...] Read more.
Stress can impact multiple psychological and physiological human domains. In order to better understand the effect of stress on cognitive performance, and whether this effect is related to an autonomic response to stress, the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) was used as a testing platform along with a 2-Choice Reaction Time Task. When considering the nature and importance of Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) work and the fact that they are subjected to high levels of stress, this study was conducted with a sample of ATCs (n = 11). Linear Heart Rate Variability (HRV) features were extracted from ATCs electrocardiogram (ECG) acquired using a medical-grade wearable ECG device (Vital Jacket® (1-Lead, Biodevices S.A, Matosinhos, Portugal)). Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) were also used to measure perceived stress. TSST produced statistically significant changes in some HRV parameters (Average of normal-to-normal intervals (AVNN), Standard Deviation of all NN (SDNN), root mean square of differences between successive rhythm-to-rhythm (RR) intervals (RMSSD), pNN20, and LF/HF) and subjective measures of stress, which recovered after the stress task. Although these short-term changes in HRV showed a tendency to normalize, an impairment on cognitive performance was evident. Despite that participant’s reaction times were lower, the accuracy significantly decreased, presenting more errors after performing the acute stress event. Results can also point to the importance of the development of quantified occupational health (qOHealth) devices to allow for the monitoring of stress responses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Technology Enabled Health and Care)
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11 pages, 1445 KiB  
Article
Reducing Amputations in People with Diabetes (RAPID): Evaluation of a New Care Pathway
by Sandra MacRury, Kate Stephen, Fiona Main, Jane Gorman, Sandra Jones and David Macfarlane
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(5), 999; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15050999 - 16 May 2018
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4940
Abstract
People with diabetes are at increased risk of foot ulcers, which, if left untreated, can lead to infection, gangrene, and subsequent amputation. Management by a multidisciplinary diabetes foot team has been shown to reduce amputation rates; however, accessing specialist treatment is made particularly [...] Read more.
People with diabetes are at increased risk of foot ulcers, which, if left untreated, can lead to infection, gangrene, and subsequent amputation. Management by a multidisciplinary diabetes foot team has been shown to reduce amputation rates; however, accessing specialist treatment is made particularly difficult when living in remote and rural locations, such as many individuals cared for within NHS Highland. The RAPID project was made up of two phases: firstly, to evaluate the technical feasibility of a new integrated care pathway using innovative technology, and secondly, to establish process enhancement of the pathway to justify a larger-scale study. Omni-HubTM enabled a face-to-face consultation by the community podiatrist to be enhanced by virtual consultation with members of the multidisciplinary foot team, including specialist diabetes podiatrists and a diabetes consultant. The technical feasibility study provided recommended changes focused around adaptations to the equipment used and the best means to gain successful connectivity. The process enhancement study demonstrated positive outcomes in the process with positive effects both in the service received by patients and experiences of healthcare professionals involved. The RAPID project provides evidence and justification for a larger-scale empirical study to test an embedded pathway and technology solution, which will inform policy change and a paradigm shift in the management of foot ulceration in the community. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Technology Enabled Health and Care)
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18 pages, 1477 KiB  
Article
Children’s Imaginaries of Human-Robot Interaction in Healthcare
by Núria Vallès-Peris, Cecilio Angulo and Miquel Domènech
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(5), 970; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15050970 - 12 May 2018
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 5056
Abstract
This paper analyzes children’s imaginaries of Human-Robots Interaction (HRI) in the context of social robots in healthcare, and it explores ethical and social issues when designing a social robot for a children’s hospital. Based on approaches that emphasize the reciprocal relationship between society [...] Read more.
This paper analyzes children’s imaginaries of Human-Robots Interaction (HRI) in the context of social robots in healthcare, and it explores ethical and social issues when designing a social robot for a children’s hospital. Based on approaches that emphasize the reciprocal relationship between society and technology, the analytical force of imaginaries lies in their capacity to be embedded in practices and interactions as well as to affect the construction and applications of surrounding technologies. The study is based on a participatory process carried out with six-year-old children for the design of a robot. Imaginaries of HRI are analyzed from a care-centered approach focusing on children’s values and practices as related to their representation of care. The conceptualization of HRI as an assemblage of interactions, the prospective bidirectional care relationships with robots, and the engagement with the robot as an entity of multiple potential robots are the major findings of this study. The study shows the potential of studying imaginaries of HRI, and it concludes that their integration in the final design of robots is a way of including ethical values in it. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Technology Enabled Health and Care)
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23 pages, 2667 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of a Digital Consultation and Self-Care Advice Tool in Primary Care: A Multi-Methods Study
by Julie Cowie, Eileen Calveley, Gillian Bowers and John Bowers
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(5), 896; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15050896 - 02 May 2018
Cited by 46 | Viewed by 7943
Abstract
Digital services are often regarded as a solution to the growing demands on primary care services. Provision of a tool offering advice to support self-management as well as the ability to digitally consult with a General Practitioner (GP) has the potential to alleviate [...] Read more.
Digital services are often regarded as a solution to the growing demands on primary care services. Provision of a tool offering advice to support self-management as well as the ability to digitally consult with a General Practitioner (GP) has the potential to alleviate some of the pressure on primary care. This paper reports on a Phase II, 6-month evaluation of eConsult, a web-based triage and consultation system that was piloted across 11 GP practices across Scotland. Through a multi-method approach the evaluation explored eConsult use across practices, exposing both barriers and facilitators to its adoption. Findings suggest that expectations that eConsult would offer an additional and alternative method of accessing GP services were largely met. However, there is less certainty that it has fulfilled expectations of promoting self-help. In addition, low uptake meant that evaluation of current effectiveness was difficult for practices to quantify. The presence of an eConsult champion(s) within the practice was seen to be a significant factor in ensuring successful integration of the tool. A lack of patient and staff engagement, insufficient support and lack of protocols around processes were seen as barriers to its success. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Technology Enabled Health and Care)
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15 pages, 394 KiB  
Article
Mobile Exergaming in Adolescents’ Everyday Life—Contextual Design of Where, When, with Whom, and How: The SmartLife Case
by Ayla Schwarz, Ann DeSmet, Greet Cardon, Sebastien Chastin, Ruben Costa, António Grilo, Josue Ferri, Jorge Domenech and Jeroen Stragier
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(5), 835; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15050835 - 24 Apr 2018
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5173
Abstract
Exergames, more specifically console-based exergames, are generally enjoyed by adolescents and known to increase physical activity. Nevertheless, they have a reduced usage over time and demonstrate little effectiveness over the long term. In order to increase playing time, mobile exergames may increase potential [...] Read more.
Exergames, more specifically console-based exergames, are generally enjoyed by adolescents and known to increase physical activity. Nevertheless, they have a reduced usage over time and demonstrate little effectiveness over the long term. In order to increase playing time, mobile exergames may increase potential playing time, but need to be engaging and integrated in everyday life. The goal of the present study was to examine the context of gameplay for mobile exergaming in adolescents’ everyday life to inform game design and the integration of gameplay into everyday life. Eight focus groups were conducted with 49 Flemish adolescents (11 to 17 years of age). The focus groups were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed by means of thematic analysis via Nvivo 11 software (QSR International Pty Ltd., Victoria, Australia). The adolescents indicated leisure time and travel time to and from school as suitable timeframes for playing a mobile exergame. Outdoor gameplay should be restricted to the personal living environment of adolescents. Besides outdoor locations, the game should also be adaptable to at-home activities. Activities could vary from running outside to fitness exercises inside. Furthermore, the social context of the game was important, e.g., playing in teams or meeting at (virtual) meeting points. Physical activity tracking via smart clothing was identified as a motivator for gameplay. By means of this study, game developers may be better equipped to develop mobile exergames that embed gameplay in adolescents’ everyday life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Technology Enabled Health and Care)
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