Geriatric Care Management System Powered by the IoT and Computer Vision Techniques

Enhancing Behavioural Changes: A Narrative Review on the Effectiveness of a Multifactorial APP-Based Intervention Integrating Physical Activity

The rapid evolution of technologies is a key innovation in the organisation and management of physical activities (PA) and sports. The increase in benefits and opportunities related to the adoption of technologies for both the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and the management of chronic diseases is evident. In the field of telehealth, these devices provide personalised recommendations, workout monitoring and injury prevention. The study aimed to provide an overview of the landscape of technology application to PA organised to promote active lifestyles and improve chronic disease management. This review identified specific areas of focus for the selection of articles: the utilisation of mobile APPs and technological devices for enhancing weight loss, improving cardiovascular health, managing diabetes and cancer and preventing osteoporosis and cognitive decline. A multifactorial intervention delivered via mobile APPs, which integrates PA while managing diet or promoting social interaction, is unquestionably more effective than a singular intervention. The main finding related to promoting PA and a healthy lifestyle through app usage is associated with "behaviour change techniques". Even when individuals stop using the APP, they often maintain the structured or suggested lifestyle habits initially provided by the APP. Various concerns regarding the excessive use of APPs need to be addressed.

The use of smart technologies for enhancing palliative care: A systematic review

Introduction

With the rapid advancement of technology, smart technologies have permeated various sectors, including palliative care in healthcare. Based on the available literature, similar studies have elucidated the application of individual and isolated smart technologies in palliative care, with their benefits, and limitations. This research, therefore, focuses on the conceptualisation of various smart technologies and makes holistic recommendations on the effective and efficient use of smart technologies in healthcare to enhance palliative care.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to systematically review the existing literature to conceptualise the role of various key smart technologies in palliative care, and their benefits and make recommendations on how smart technologies can enhance healthcare in palliative care.

Methodology

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were adopted in this study. Using the keywords: 'smart technologies', 'healthcare' and 'palliative care' (using Booleans AND/OR in different ways, including their synonyms), an exhaustive search was done on four major databases: MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus and CINAHL. Resultantly, 19 articles met the inclusion criteria and were analysed.

Findings

The main results reveal that smart technologies enhance the quality of life and efficiency of palliative care, notably telemedicine, wearable devices, and mobile health apps. They reduce hospital visits and carer stress by improving patient-doctor communication, enabling remote monitoring, and forecasting health outcomes. However, there are challenges such as the digital divide, privacy issues, and the need for comprehensive integration and training into the current frameworks.

Conclusion and implications

The study emphasises the significant impact of smart technologies in improving palliative care. It emphasises the importance of considering technological, ethical, and practical factors to ensure that these advancements truly enhance palliative care. This research has important implications for healthcare professionals and policymakers, indicating a need for a patient-centred palliative care model that integrates technology more effectively.

Smart Devices for Health and Wellness Applied to Tele-Exercise: An Overview of New Trends and Technologies Such as IoT and AI

This descriptive article explores the use of smart devices for health and wellness in the context of telehealth, highlighting rapidly evolving technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Key innovations, benefits, challenges, and opportunities related to the adoption of these technologies are outlined. The article provides a descriptive and accessible approach to understanding the evolution and impact of smart devices in the tele-exercise reality. Nowadays, technological advances provide solutions that were unthinkable just a few years ago. The habits of the general population have also changed over the past few years. Hence, there is a need to investigate this issue and draw the attention of the scientific community to this topic by describing the benefits and challenges associated with each topic. If individuals no longer go to exercise, the exercise must go to their homes instead.