International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications最新文献

{"title":"Environmental Factors for Sustained Telehealth Use in Mental Health Services: A Mixed Methods Analysis.","authors":"Benjamin Werkmeister, Anne M Haase, Theresa Fleming, Tara N Officer","doi":"10.1155/2024/8835933","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/8835933","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> The mental health service delivery gap remains high globally. Appropriate telehealth use may increase capacity through flexible remote care provision. Despite the historical lack of telehealth integration into publicly funded mental health services, during COVID-19 lockdowns, services rapidly switched to telephone and audiovisual care provision. In Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), this was abandoned when no longer required by COVID-19 restrictions. This study explores environmental factors associated with telehealth implementation and ongoing use or discontinuation across a multiregional outpatient mental health service. This work contributes to understanding system-level factors influencing telehealth use and thus informs policy and practice in postpandemic environments. <b>Methods:</b> This mixed methods study applied an interpretive description methodology. Semistructured interviews with 33 mental health clinicians were thematically analysed. Qualitative findings were reframed and evaluated using time series analyses of population-level quantitative data (prior to and throughout the pandemic). Findings were synthesised with qualitative themes to develop an understanding of environmental factors contributing to telehealth use. <b>Results:</b> Findings highlighted an increase in clients assessed by mental health services and declining clinician numbers, contributing to pressure placed on clinicians. There was a lack of culture supporting telehealth, including limited awareness, leadership, and champions to facilitate implementation. Some teams provided services suited to telehealth; other subspeciality teams had limited applications for telehealth. There was a general lack of policy and guidelines to support telehealth use and limited technical support for clinicians unfamiliar with audiovisual software. <b>Conclusion:</b> Disorganised telehealth adoption in the study regions provides insight into wider environmental drivers affecting telehealth uptake. For telehealth to become a workable service delivery mode following COVID-19, stewardship and culture shifts are required, including policy development, technical support, and resources to support clinical teams. Telehealth may address growing service demand by improving interfaces with primary care and providing timely access to specialist input.</p>","PeriodicalId":45630,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications","volume":"2024 ","pages":"8835933"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11419844/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142308740","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors Influencing Public Attitudes and Willingness to Utilize Telepharmacy Services in the UAE.","authors":"Anan S Jarab, Walid Al-Qerem, Tareq Mukattash, Ahmad Al-Azayzih, Zelal Kharaba, Shrouq Abu Heshmeh, Joud Al-Momani, Rama Hamdan, Yazid N Al Hamarneh, Judith Eberhardt","doi":"10.1155/2024/5755493","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/5755493","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Telepharmacy, utilizing telecommunications to dispense pharmaceutical products and deliver patient care, offers numerous benefits for both the public and pharmacists. Previous research on exploring attitudes and willingness to use telepharmacy services has primarily focused on pharmacists rather than the general population. <b>Aim:</b> This study is aimed at assessing the attitudes and willingness of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) population to utilize telepharmacy services and identifying the factors influencing their inclination to use these services. <b>Methods:</b> In this cross-sectional study, a survey was distributed using convenience and snowball sampling to individuals aged 18 or older across the UAE through various social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, and WhatsApp. The survey domains included sociodemographics, attitudes, and readiness to utilize a telepharmacy service. A binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate the variables associated with participants' willingness to utilize telepharmacy in the future. <b>Results:</b> In total, 963 individuals participated in the study. Participants showed overall positive attitudes towards telepharmacy, with 70.9% believing that telepharmacy saved time and effort. While only 32% of the participants acknowledged that numerous telepharmacy services were available for use in the UAE, most were interested in using telepharmacy services in the future (79.2%). Participants who had higher attitude scores (AOR = 1.147, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11-1.18) and those who had used these services previously (AOR = 3.270, 95% CI: 1.692-6.320) were more interested in using telepharmacy services in the future. <b>Conclusion:</b> Forthcoming healthcare strategies should focus on expanding the availability of telepharmacy services throughout various regions of the country. This expansion will facilitate the broader utilization of these services and ultimately contribute to improved health outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":45630,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications","volume":"2024 ","pages":"5755493"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11347028/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142074241","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Functional and Nonfunctional Requirements of Virtual Clinic Mobile Applications: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Zahra Parsaei, Majid Jangi, Shahram Tahmasebian, Asghar Ehteshami","doi":"10.1155/2024/7800321","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/7800321","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction:</b> The Virtual Clinic Mobile Application (VCMA) is a valuable tool for managing and remotely monitoring patients with various medical conditions. It can alleviate the strain on outpatient services and offer follow-up options for patients who do not require a physical examination. A thorough understanding of recent literature can assist in identifying suitable functionalities for new development and future improvement of current applications (apps). This review study is aimed at identifying functional and nonfunctional requirements for VCMA. <b>Methods:</b> This study conducted a systematic search using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, Science Direct, ProQuest, and IEEE to gather requirements of VCMA articles published in English from the inception of the databases up to April 2022. Out of a total of 1223 articles, 76 met the inclusion criteria. These articles were then analyzed using conventional content analysis to extract and categorize their requirements. <b>Results:</b> Two main themes and 8 subthemes in terms of VCMA requirements were extracted as follows: (1) functional requirements with 3 subthemes (demographic data documentation, health record, general features of the user interface (UI)); (2) nonfunctional requirements with 5 subthemes (usability, accessibility, compatibility, efficiency, and security). <b>Conclusion:</b> The findings highlight the importance of mHealth solutions for virtual care and the need for the development of apps based on the extracted functional and nonfunctional requirements for VCMA; however, controlled trials are necessary. It is recommended that transparent reporting of mHealth interventions be prioritized to enable effective interpretation of the extracted data.</p>","PeriodicalId":45630,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications","volume":"2024 ","pages":"7800321"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2024-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11186682/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141427920","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Barriers and Facilitators Experienced During the Implementation of Web-Based Teleradiology System in Public Hospitals of the Northwest Ethiopia: An Interpretive Description Study.","authors":"Araya Mesfin Nigatu, Tesfahun Melese Yilma, Lemma Derseh Gezie, Yonathan Gebrewold, Monika Knudsen Gullslett, Shegaw Anagaw Mengiste, Binyam Tilahun","doi":"10.1155/2024/5578056","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/5578056","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction:</b> Teleradiology allows distant facilities to electronically transmit images for interpretation, thereby bridging the radiology service gap between urban and rural areas. The technology improves healthcare quality, treatment options, and diagnostic accuracy. However, in low resource settings like Ethiopia, teleradiology services are limited, posing challenges for implementation. Therefore, this study is aimed at exploring the factors that facilitated or hindered the implementation of web-based teleradiology in the public hospitals of the South Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia. <b>Methods:</b> In this study, a purposive sampling method was employed to select seventeen participants, including hospital managers, physicians, emergency surgeons, and radiologists, for an in-depth interview (IDI). The interviews were conducted from March to May 2023. A reflexive thematic analysis was conducted using an abductive coding technique at the semantic/explicit level. Data were collected through semistructured interviews conducted face-to-face and virtually, with audio recordings transcribed, translated, and analyzed using Open Code version 4.02 software. Trustworthiness was ensured through prolonged engagement, reflective journaling, and review by coauthors. <b>Results:</b> The study examined eight main themes, with barriers to sustainable teleradiology implementation falling into five categories: technological, organizational, environmental, individual, and workflow and communication. Conversely, identified facilitators included improved radiology service efficiency, system accessibility, collaboration opportunities, and user trust in the radiology ecosystem. Within each theme, factors with potential impacts on teleradiology system sustainability were identified, such as the lack of system handover mechanisms, absence of a central image consultation center, and inadequate staffing of full-time radiologists and technical personnel. <b>Conclusions:</b> The study highlights the positive user perception of a web-based teleradiology system's user-friendliness and efficiency. Overcoming challenges and leveraging facilitators are crucial for optimizing teleradiology and improving service delivery and patient outcomes. A centralized consultation center with dedicated radiologists and technical personnel is recommended for maximizing efficiency.</p>","PeriodicalId":45630,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications","volume":"2024 ","pages":"5578056"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11178418/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141332185","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Telehealth and Technology for Diabetes in Pregnancy Clinics: Staff Perspectives from South Auckland, New Zealand.","authors":"Megan Singhal, Charlotte Oyston","doi":"10.1155/2024/6429519","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/6429519","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Providing care for patients with diabetes in pregnancy (DiP) provides unique challenges beyond those faced in standard antenatal care or diabetes outside of pregnancy. Teleclinics (use of telephone, email, or other technologies) as an alternative to in-person clinic appointments have become more widely used for care since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. To understand how teleclinics might be improved for ongoing use, it is important to understand the experiences and perceptions of the clinicians involved in DiP care. <i>Aim</i>. To understand staff experiences of DiP teleclinics and gain their perspectives on if and how teleclinics and other technologies might be best used in the future. <i>Methods</i>. A qualitative study using semistructured interviews of healthcare providers in a large DiP service. Twenty staff members (midwifery, obstetrics, physician, dietician, and administration) were approached to participate. Fifteen staff across 5 specialties consented to be interviewed. Template analysis of interview transcripts was performed, with a focus on 3 themes: collaboration and working together are important for providing care for DiP, a need for flexibility in scheduling and the ability to individualise the way care is provided, and challenges to adapting to new technology. <i>Results</i>. Potential benefits of teleclinics were acknowledged, but respondents also viewed teleclinics as not suitable for all DiP patients due to different needs and risks. Challenges to using teleclinics include establishing good rapport and the current limited infrastructure and patient resources. <i>Conclusion</i>. Healthcare providers viewed teleclinics as a way of supporting rather than replacing current care. Maintaining flexibility in clinic scheduling to allow incorporation of teleclinics into patient's current schedule of visits <i>ad hoc</i> and providing extra technical and administrative support are important considerations for developing a teleclinic service.</p>","PeriodicalId":45630,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications","volume":"2024 ","pages":"6429519"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10957257/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140185960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High Diagnostic Accuracy of Long-Term Electrocardiogram Interpretation by General Practitioners.","authors":"Jarle Jortveit, Miroslav Boskovic, Edvard Liljedahl Sandberg, Jonas Vegsundvåg, Sigrun Halvorsen","doi":"10.1155/2024/6624344","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/6624344","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>Traditional long-term ECG monitoring systems have primarily been used by cardiologist. New remote and wearable easy-to-use devices have led to increased use of ECG recordings also outside cardiology clinics. The aims of this study were to assess the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of interpretation of the one-lead ECG recordings from a patch ECG device (ECG247 Smart Heart Sensor system) by general practitioners (GP).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Norwegian GPs were invited to digitally assess 10 long-term ECG recordings with different arrhythmias performed by the ECG247 Smart Heart Sensor system. For all ECG examinations, the presence/absence of different arrhythmias was registered.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 40 GPs accepted the invitation and assessed all the 10 long-term ECG recordings. All the tests were assessed as interpretable by all the GPs. Arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation/flutter, supraventricular tachycardia, and ventricular tachycardia) were correctly identified in most cases, with sensitivity of 98% (95% CI 95-99%), specificity of 75% (95% CI 68-82%), and diagnostic accuracy of 89% (85-92%). Incorrect automatic system algorithm interpretations were rarely corrected by the GPs.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>GPs interpreted one-lead recordings by the ECG247 Smart Heart Sensor system with high diagnostic accuracy for common arrhythmias. However, in cases with rare arrhythmias, we recommend consulting a cardiologist to confirm the diagnosis before treatment is initiated. This trial is registered with NCT04700865.</p>","PeriodicalId":45630,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications","volume":"2024 ","pages":"6624344"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10904176/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139997817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Feasibility of Leveraging Consumer Wearable Devices with Data Platform Integration for Patient Vital Monitoring in Low-Resource Settings.","authors":"Elsie Effah Kaufmann, Richmond Tackie, J Benjamin Pitt, Samuel Mba, Bismark Akwetey, Danielle Quaye, Godfrey Mills, Clement Nyame, Henry Bulley, Matthew Glucksberg, Hassan Ghomrawi, William Appeadu-Mensah, Fizan Abdullah","doi":"10.1155/2024/8906413","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/8906413","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Manual monitoring of vital signs, which often fails to capture the onset of deterioration, is the main monitoring modality in most Ghanaian hospitals due to the high cost and inadequate supply of patient bedside monitors. Consumer wearable devices (CWDs) are emerging, relatively low-cost technologies for continuous monitoring of physiological status; however, their validity has not been established in low-resource clinical settings. We aimed to (1) investigate the validity of the heart rate (HR) and oxygen saturation (SpO2) data from two widely used CWDs, the Fitbit Versa 2 and Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6, against gold standard bedside monitors in one Ghanaian hospital and (2) develop a web application to capture and display CWD data in a clinician-friendly way. A healthy volunteer simultaneously wore both CWDs and blood pressure cuffs to measure HR and SpO2. To test for concordance, we conducted the Bland-Altman and mean absolute percentage error analyses. We also developed a web application that retrieves and displays CWD data in near real time as text and graphical trends. Compared to gold standards (patient monitor and manual), the Fitbit Versa 2 had 96.87% and 96.67% measurement accuracies for HR, and the Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6 had 94.24% and 93.21% measurement accuracies for HR. The Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6 had 98.79% measurement accuracy for SpO2. The strong concordance between CWD and gold standards supports the potential implementation of these devices as a novel method of vital sign monitoring to replace manual monitoring, thus saving costs and improving patient outcomes. Further studies are needed for confirmation.</p>","PeriodicalId":45630,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications","volume":"2024 ","pages":"8906413"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10869189/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139742290","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing Aotearoa, New Zealand's Free Healthline Service through Image Upload Technology.","authors":"Miriama K Wilson, Fiona Pienaar, Ruth Large, Matt Wright, Verity F Todd","doi":"10.1155/2024/6644580","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/6644580","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Healthline is one of the 39 free telehealth services that Whakarongorau Aotearoa/New Zealand Telehealth Services provides to New Zealanders. In early 2021, an image upload system for viewing service user-uploaded images was implemented into the Healthline service.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>The aim of this research was to understand the utilisation of Healthline's image upload system by clinicians and service users in New Zealand.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a retrospective observational study analysing Healthline image upload data over a two-year period: March 2021 through to December 2022. A total of 40,045 images were analysed, including demographics of the service users who uploaded an image: ethnicity, age group, and area of residence. The outcome or recommendation of the Healthline call was also assessed based on whether an image was included.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Images uploaded accounted for 6.0% of total Healthline calls (<i>n</i> = 671,564). This research found that more service users were advised to go to an Emergency Department if they did not upload an image compared to service users who used the tool (13.5% vs. 7.7%), whereas a higher proportion of service users were given a lower acuity outcome if they included an image, including visiting an Urgent Care (24.0% vs. 16.9%) and GP (36.7% vs. 24.3%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Service users who did not upload an image had a higher proportion of Emergency Department outcomes than service users who did use the tool. This image upload tool has shown the potential to decrease stress on Emergency Departments around Aotearoa, New Zealand, through increased lower acuity outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":45630,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications","volume":"2024 ","pages":"6644580"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10857879/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139724440","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinicodemographic Profile and Clinical Outcome of Children Presenting to Telemedicine Center at Institute of National Importance of India: A Prospective Observational Study.","authors":"N Yankappa, Anil Kumar, Arun Prasad, Lokesh Tiwari, Pradeep Kumar","doi":"10.1155/2024/5341988","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/5341988","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>There is a global shortage of healthcare professionals, especially in developing countries, leading to disparities in access to healthcare, worsened by the pandemic. Telemedicine is emerging as a solution, with growing adoption worldwide due to advancements in technology and increased awareness. <i>Research Problem</i>. The establishment of telemedicine depends on resources, infrastructure, and knowledge about healthcare needs. Further studies are needed to monitor and address evolving issues in telemedicine. <i>The Overall Purpose of the Study</i>. Rural health disparities stem from multiple factors, like limited healthcare access, workforce shortages, lifestyle choices, and lower socioeconomic status, leading to higher mortality and chronic diseases. Addressing these challenges is vital for rural community well-being. Telemedicine centers present a promising solution, bridging gaps, and improving healthcare outcomes for underserved remote populations. <i>Methodology</i>. Objective: This study assessed the clinicodemographic profile and clinical outcome of children presenting to the telemedicine center at the Institute of National Importance in India. Design: Prospective observational study. Setting: A single-center tertiary care level. Participants: This study included 79 children aged up to 18 years. <i>Major Findings and Summary of Interpretations</i>. In our study, 79 children using telemedicine found a near-equal gender distribution. 8.9% needed emergency care, with common complaints being respiratory issues, fever, abdominal pain, and vomiting. After two weeks, 83.5% showed improvement, emphasizing telemedicine's effectiveness in pediatric care.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our study underscores telemedicine's positive impact on pediatric healthcare, emphasizing its potential to enhance access, outcomes, and cost-efficiency. Wider telemedicine adoption can reduce morbidity and mortality, support preventive care, and streamline posttreatment services, alleviating pressure on specialized facilities. While our focus was pediatrics, the telemedicine model is adaptable to various age groups and conditions, but it should be seen as a valuable supplement to, not a total substitute for, in-person healthcare visits.</p>","PeriodicalId":45630,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications","volume":"2024 ","pages":"5341988"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10849814/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139703692","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Developing a Content Model of a Mobile-Based Application to Manage Patients with Low-Back and Neck Pain","authors":"Yasaman Farjami Rad, Leila Shahmoradi, Noureddin Nakhostin Ansari, Scott Hasson, Maryam Ebrahimi, Meysam Rahmani Katigari","doi":"10.1155/2024/8415777","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/8415777","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction. As a complementary tool in health, the design of mobile applications to influence care and increase awareness of patients has grown a lot. The purpose of this study is to design and validate the content model of a mobile-based application for managing patients with low-back and neck pain. Methods. This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in two main stages to determine the content model of the application. The first stage consisted of three steps: finding the right exercise, determining the right scale to assess the pain intensity, and determining the appropriate features of the application. In the second stage, data elements collected from the previous stage were prepared in the form of a questionnaire that was given to 12 experts in physical therapy and sports medicine for validation. After collecting the questionnaire, data elements in all parts were analyzed based on the content validity ratio (CVR) and descriptive statistics indicators. Result. The content of the application was prepared in the three axes of exercises for low-back and neck pain, assessment of pain intensity, and features of the application. In the axis of sports exercises, 8 exercises for back pain and 3 exercises for neck pain were included according to the reference books. A Functional Rating Index (FRI) scale with 10 elements was selected in the axis of determining pain intensity. Also, 12 features such as the daily exercise section, using the animation, and using an audio file to explain how to do exercises were included in the model. Conclusion. According to the gaps identified in the existing applications, determining the content model of the application that is based on evidence and according to the opinion of experts is useful in improving the apps. The content model of this study was presented in 3 axes to increase the patient’s willingness to do exercises, the correct way to perform exercises, conservative treatment, and check the progress of the treatment. The software developers can use these findings as a basis for designing new apps to manage low-back pain and neck pain.","PeriodicalId":45630,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications","volume":"28 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139382631","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}