How mobile health affects primary healthcare? Questionnaire design and attitude assessment

Comparison of the Clinical Effectiveness of Telerehabilitation with Traditional Rehabilitation Methods in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Systematic Review

Background: The rehabilitation process for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients is long and complex, which can lead to reduced rehabilitation outcomes and reduced quality improvement. Thus, there is a need to use new methods to boost traditional rehabilitation. Innovations such as telerehabilitation can be helpful to remove the obstacles to treatment, but evidence for their effectiveness is limited. The objective of this work was to compare the clinical effectiveness of telerehabilitation with traditional interventions in MS patients. Methods: Seven bibliographic databases (PubMed, Cochran Library, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, Embase, and ProQuest) were used in this research. The initial search resulted in the extraction of 8,239 articles; after the review of the title, abstract, and full text, 11 articles were selected. In addition, backward reference list checking of the selected studies was conducted. Studies that were related to our objectives were included. Quality assessment was performed using the CONSORT checklist. Then, data extraction was done using the form set by the researcher in Word 2016 software. Results: Overall, telerehabilitation achieved more positive effects compared to traditional rehabilitation on physical (n = 6), cognitive (n = 3), cognitive, and physical outcomes (n = 2), respectively. Synchronous telerehabilitation was more effective than other modalities (n = 8). In four studies, virtual reality-based telerehabilitation was used. Also, telerehabilitation in home offered better clinical outcomes compared to rehabilitation center (n = 9). Conclusions: This review provides evidence for the potential effectiveness of telerehabilitation for the improvement of clinical outcomes in MS patients. However, more robust randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the observed positive effects.

Healthcare professionals' and patients' assessments of listed mobile health apps in China: a qualitative study

Background

In recent years, mobile health (mHealth) has gradually developed in China, and intelligent medicine has become an important research topic. However, there are still significant problems in mHealth applications (apps). Although healthcare professionals and patients are the main users, few studies have focused on their perceptions of the quality of mHealth apps.

Objective

This study aimed to (1) understand the respective perceptions of healthcare professionals and patients regarding mHealth apps, (2) assess what barriers exist that influence the user experience, and (3) explore how to improve the quality of mHealth apps and the development of the mHealth market in China. The study aims to promote the standardization of mHealth apps and provide effective information for the improvement and development of mHealth apps in the future.

Methods

Semistructured interviews with 9 patients and 14 healthcare professionals were conducted from January 2022 to April 2022 in the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University. The participants used mHealth apps for more than 3 months, including the "Good Mood" and "Peace and Safe Doctors" apps and apps developed by the hospital that were popular in China. Interview transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

The following five themes were extracted: different concerns, hidden medical dangers, distance and insecurity, barriers for older people, and having positive perceptions of mHealth apps. Healthcare professionals prioritized simplicity in regard to mHealth apps, whereas patients rated effectiveness as the most crucial factor. The study also revealed several problems with mHealth apps, including insufficient information about physician qualifications, inaccurate medical content, nonstandard treatment processes, and unclear accountability, which led to a sense of distance and insecurity among participants. Older individuals faced additional obstacles when using mHealth apps. Despite these issues, the participants remained optimistic about the future of mHealth app development.

Conclusion

The utilization, advantages, and obstacles of mHealth applications for healthcare professionals and patients were explored through semistructured interviews. Despite the promising prospects for mHealth apps in China, numerous issues still need to be addressed. Enhancing the safety monitoring system and developing user-friendly mHealth apps for older adult patients are essential steps to bridge the gap between healthcare providers and patients.

Development, usability and quality evaluation of the resilient mobile application for women with breast cancer

Introduction

Mental health problems as a consequence of cancer lower the quality of life of cancer patients. Despite increasing studies of breast cancer-focused mobile health applications (m-Health apps), there is less research on breast cancer patients' quality of life or well-being. The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate the usability and quality of an educational m-Health app aimed at improving the resilience of breast cancer in women.

Methods

This study was conducted in four phases. It included extracting the requirements of the app through the nominal group technique. Based on these results, an m-Health app was developed and evaluated in terms of usability and quality by two scales, System Usability Scale and Mobile App Rating Scale questionnaires, respectively. Finally, the role of patients' age and educational backgrounds in the use of the app was assessed. The relationship between learnability and usability of the app was measured by the T-Test.

Results

The app was developed with three user interfaces. Its usability developed from the patient's point of view scored a remarkable score of 83.20 with a 95% confidence interval. This value was too indicative of high satisfaction with the usefulness and the possibility of recommending it to other cancer survivors. The results of the quality evaluation from an expert's point of view showed that this app had good functionality. Evaluation of the role of demographic information in the use of the app showed that it can be used for all age groups with different levels of education. The app did not differ significantly between learnability and usability.

Conclusion

The development of m-Health apps, based on usability principles that are suitable for all age groups with different levels of education, is welcomed by cancer patients.

Evaluation of m‐Health‐rehabilitation for respiratory disorders: A systematic review

Background and Aims

Chronic respiratory diseases are prominent causes of morbidity worldwide that impose significant social and economic burdens on individuals and communities. Pulmonary rehabilitation is one of the main aspects of medical rehabilitation. Nowadays, mobile health apps deliver pulmonary rehabilitation support via smartphones. This article presents a systematic review of the literature on m‐Health apps used in respiration disorders rehabilitation.

Methods

A systematic search was performed on MEDLINE (through PubMed), Web of Science, and Scopus in May 2021 without any date limitation. This study was using a combination of keywords and MeSH terms associated with pulmonary rehabilitation. Relevant studies were selected by two independents and were categorized studies results. The inclusion criterion was m‐Health apps for pulmonary rehabilitation and exclusion criteria mobile‐based interventions, by voice call or short message service and cardiopulmonary articles.

Results

Searching scientific databases yielded 161 relevant articles. Then, 27 articles were included in the study with a complete evaluation of the articles. Sixty percent of them were related to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Rehabilitation aiming to improve the quality of life, promote self‐management, encourage physical activity, and reduce the symptoms as the most common goals of pulmonary rehabilitation using m‐Health apps; 89% of these studies showed that m‐Health apps can be effective in improving pulmonary rehabilitation. In addition, 37% of studies reported high usability and acceptance. However, the results of some studies show that adherence to apps decreases in the long run.

Conclusion

Our study shows that m‐Health pulmonary rehabilitation apps are effective in improving the quality of life, self‐management, and physical activity. According to the results, it seems that using the m‐Health apps for pulmonary rehabilitation can be useful in the COVID‐19 pandemic and help reduce respiratory disorders in patients with COVID‐19 disease.