Mobile Technology-Based Interventions in Healthcare

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "TeleHealth and Digital Healthcare".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2024 | Viewed by 4300

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
Interests: chronic diseases; heart failure; technology-based interventions; mobile health; hospital admissions; clinical outcomes; improved self-care

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Globally, approximately one in three adults suffers from multiple chronic conditions, varying from 16% to 58%, which increases healthcare expenditure. Certain conditions cluster together more frequently, such as chronic heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, cancer, and depression.

Teaching patients how to address symptoms of chronic diseases and make informed decisions about their chronic condition improves quality of life and reduces instances of hospitalization. Self-management education (SME) programs have helped patients learn and manage their symptoms, improve their eating and sleeping habits, reduce stress, and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Innovative technology affords a low-cost, flexible means to supplement formal healthcare education and is central to reshaping chronic care at home. If designed and implemented carefully, technological interventions are a powerful means to improve healthcare provider practice and help patients live more successfully with chronic disease, with patient-centered care to manage chronic diseases and improve patient-related outcomes.

Dr. Ponrathi Athilingam
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • chronic diseases
  • self-care
  • clinical outcomes
  • technology-based interventions
  • mobile apps

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 4623 KiB  
Article
A Mobile Application for Enhancing Caregiver Support and Resource Management for Long-Term Dependent Individuals in Rural Areas
by Niruwan Turnbull, Chanaphol Sriruecha, Ruchakron Kongmant, Le Ke Nghiep and Kukiat Tudpor
Healthcare 2024, 12(15), 1473; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12151473 - 24 Jul 2024
Viewed by 908
Abstract
The “SmartCaregivers” 1.0 mobile application is a beacon of hope for caregivers (CG) in rural areas, often facing limited access to facilities and support. This study, conducted from February to August 2021, aimed to comprehensively analyze the need for developing a [...] Read more.
The “SmartCaregivers” 1.0 mobile application is a beacon of hope for caregivers (CG) in rural areas, often facing limited access to facilities and support. This study, conducted from February to August 2021, aimed to comprehensively analyze the need for developing a database system and a mobile application tailored to enhance caregiver support and resource management for long-term dependent individuals in the rural areas of Maha Sarakham province, Thailand. The research followed a rigorous research and development (R & D) approach, specifically the ADDIE model (analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation). Data were collected from 402 caregivers and 10 key informants through surveys and interviews, as well as from 402 caregivers during the implementation and evaluation phases. The application’s impact was assessed using a quasi-experimental design with a one-group pre–post-test, and its acceptance was evaluated through the technology acceptance model (TAM). The application significantly improved caregivers’ knowledge scores, with a mean increase from 10.49 ± 2.53 to 12.18 ± 2.76 post-intervention. High scores for perceived usefulness (4.36 ± 0.62) and ease of use (4.31 ± 0.59) reassure the audience about the application’s effectiveness in providing rapid access to health information, aiding decision-making, and improving care coordination. The system quality was also highly rated, with users appreciating the variety of functions and structural design. This potential for transformation and improvement instills hope and optimism for the future of caregiving in rural areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mobile Technology-Based Interventions in Healthcare)
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14 pages, 1834 KiB  
Article
Effectiveness of a Mobile Health Application for Educating Outpatients about Bowel Preparation
by Hui-Yu Chen, Ming-Hsiang Tu and Miao-Yen Chen
Healthcare 2024, 12(14), 1374; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12141374 - 10 Jul 2024
Viewed by 872
Abstract
Colonoscopy is an essential method for diagnosing and treating colorectal cancer, relying on effective bowel preparation to thoroughly examine the large intestinal mucosa. Traditional education involves printed instructions and verbal explanations but does not guarantee clear patient understanding. Poor bowel preparation can obscure [...] Read more.
Colonoscopy is an essential method for diagnosing and treating colorectal cancer, relying on effective bowel preparation to thoroughly examine the large intestinal mucosa. Traditional education involves printed instructions and verbal explanations but does not guarantee clear patient understanding. Poor bowel preparation can obscure mucosal visibility, delaying cancer diagnosis and treatment. A mobile medical model using Android devices for bowel preparation education was tested in a single-blind, randomized trial. This trial enrolled outpatients undergoing colonoscopy at the Endoscopy Center for Diagnostic and Treatment between 27 October 2021 and 31 December 2022. This study introduced the ColonClean app alongside traditional methods. After examination, endoscopists rated the preparation quality using the Aronchick scale. A data analysis was conducted using SPSS 25.0 to determine if there was a significant improvement in bowel preparation quality between the control group (traditional method) and the experimental group (traditional method plus the ColonClean app). Forty patients were recruited in each group. In the experimental group, all ratings were “fair”, with 75% receiving an “excellent” or “good” rating, showing statistical significance (p = 0.016). The ColonClean app improves bowel preparation quality more effectively than traditional care instructions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mobile Technology-Based Interventions in Healthcare)
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18 pages, 2117 KiB  
Article
Using Digital Health Technologies to Monitor Pain, Medication Adherence and Physical Activity in Young People with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Feasibility Study
by Sonia Butler, Dean Sculley, Derek Santos, Xavier Girones, Davinder Singh-Grewal and Andrea Coda
Healthcare 2024, 12(3), 392; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12030392 - 2 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1996
Abstract
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis can be influenced by pain, medication adherence, and physical activity. A new digital health intervention, InteractiveClinics, aims to monitor these modifiable risk factors. Twelve children, aged 10 to 18 years, received daily notifications on a smartwatch to record their pain [...] Read more.
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis can be influenced by pain, medication adherence, and physical activity. A new digital health intervention, InteractiveClinics, aims to monitor these modifiable risk factors. Twelve children, aged 10 to 18 years, received daily notifications on a smartwatch to record their pain levels and take their medications, using a customised mobile app synchronised to a secure web-based platform. Daily physical activity levels were automatically recorded by wearing a smartwatch. Using a quantitative descriptive research design, feasibility and user adoption were evaluated. The web-based data revealed the following: Pain: mean app usage: 68% (SD 30, range: 28.6% to 100%); pain score: 2.9 out of 10 (SD 1.8, range: 0.3 to 6.2 out of 10). Medication adherence: mean app usage: 20.7% (SD, range: 0% to 71.4%), recording 39% (71/182) of the expected daily and 37.5% (3/8) of the weekly medications. Pro-re-nata (PRN) medication monitoring: 33.3% (4/12), one to six additional medications (mean 3.5, SD 2.4) for 2–6 days. Physical activity: watch wearing behaviour: 69.7% (439/630), recording low levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (mean: 11.8, SD: 13.5 min, range: 0–47 min). To conclude, remote monitoring of real-time data is feasible. However, further research is needed to increase adoption rates among children. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mobile Technology-Based Interventions in Healthcare)
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