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Aboye GT, Vande Walle M, Simegn GL, Aerts JM. mHealth in sub-Saharan Africa and Europe: A systematic review comparing the use and availability of mHealth approaches in sub-Saharan Africa and Europe. Digit Health 2023; 9:20552076231180972. [PMID: 37377558 PMCID: PMC10291558 DOI: 10.1177/20552076231180972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background mHealth can help with healthcare service delivery for various health issues, but there's a significant gap in the availability and use of mHealth systems between sub-Saharan Africa and Europe, despite the ongoing digitalization of the global healthcare system. Objective This work aims to compare and investigate the use and availability of mHealth systems in sub-Saharan Africa and Europe, and identify gaps in current mHealth development and implementation in both regions. Methods The study adhered to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines for article search and selection to ensure an unbiased comparison between sub-Saharan Africa and Europe. Four databases (Scopus, Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, and PubMed) were used, and articles were evaluated based on predetermined criteria. Details on the mHealth system type, goal, patient type, health concern, and development stage were collected and recorded in a Microsoft Excel worksheet. Results The search query produced 1020 articles for sub-Saharan Africa and 2477 articles for Europe. After screening for eligibility, 86 articles for sub-Saharan Africa and 297 articles for Europe were included. To minimize bias, two reviewers conducted the article screening and data retrieval. Sub-Saharan Africa used SMS and call-based mHealth methods for consultation and diagnosis, mainly for young patients such as children and mothers, and for issues such as HIV, pregnancy, childbirth, and child care. Europe relied more on apps, sensors, and wearables for monitoring, with the elderly as the most common patient group, and the most common health issues being cardiovascular disease and heart failure. Conclusion Wearable technology and external sensors are heavily used in Europe, whereas they are seldom used in sub-Saharan Africa. More efforts should be made to use the mHealth system to improve health outcomes in both regions, incorporating more cutting-edge technologies like wearables internal and external sensors. Undertaking context-based studies, identifying determinants of mHealth systems use, and considering these determinants during mHealth system design could enhance mHealth availability and utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genet Tadese Aboye
- M3-BIORES (Measure, Model & Manage Bioreponses), Division of Animal and Human Health Engineering, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Martijn Vande Walle
- M3-BIORES (Measure, Model & Manage Bioreponses), Division of Animal and Human Health Engineering, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Jean-Marie Aerts
- M3-BIORES (Measure, Model & Manage Bioreponses), Division of Animal and Human Health Engineering, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Vilamala S, Puig M, Ochoa S, Martín-Martínez JR, Hernández A, Balsera J, Verdaguer-Rodríguez M, Villellas R, Arenas O, García-Franco M. Assessment of the treatment needs of community recovery Services in Spain: From the perspective of service users, families, and mental health professionals. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY 2022; 30:e5819-e5830. [PMID: 36073979 DOI: 10.1111/hsc.14013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Profile of Community Recovery Services users has changed over the years and has become more diverse. To explore the evolution of treatment needs, this study aimed to identify users' needs, from the point of view of different agents implicated in the recovery process. We explored the consistency between the agents using the focus group technique. We defined four groups (n = 58): service users, family members, professionals, and referring professionals. We pre-identified topics related to recovery, such as illness-related losses, imaginary of CRS, expectations, activities, and life goals. All agents recognised losses related to the mental illness, the need for carrying activities out of the Community Recovery Services, and for including families in the recovery process. The groups differed in some areas, such as the identification of activities that should be encouraged, or the importance of promoting vital expectations. Our findings suggest that it is important to identify the needs of different agents involved in the recovery process. There is consistency in the service users' needs, but there are some differences that need to be considered. Interventions should be personalised, covering functional, cognitive, and relational losses related to the mental illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Vilamala
- Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
- Etiopatogènia i tractament dels trastorns mentals greus (MERITT), Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IRSJD), Esplugues de Llobregat Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Puig
- Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
- Etiopatogènia i tractament dels trastorns mentals greus (MERITT), Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IRSJD), Esplugues de Llobregat Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susana Ochoa
- Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
- Etiopatogènia i tractament dels trastorns mentals greus (MERITT), Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IRSJD), Esplugues de Llobregat Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
- Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Ana Hernández
- Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
- Etiopatogènia i tractament dels trastorns mentals greus (MERITT), Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IRSJD), Esplugues de Llobregat Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joaquin Balsera
- Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
- Etiopatogènia i tractament dels trastorns mentals greus (MERITT), Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IRSJD), Esplugues de Llobregat Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marina Verdaguer-Rodríguez
- Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
- Etiopatogènia i tractament dels trastorns mentals greus (MERITT), Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IRSJD), Esplugues de Llobregat Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raul Villellas
- Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
- Etiopatogènia i tractament dels trastorns mentals greus (MERITT), Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IRSJD), Esplugues de Llobregat Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Mar García-Franco
- Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
- Etiopatogènia i tractament dels trastorns mentals greus (MERITT), Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu (IRSJD), Esplugues de Llobregat Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
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Magnitude of terminological bias in international health services research: a disambiguation analysis in mental health. Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci 2022; 31:e59. [PMID: 35993182 PMCID: PMC9428902 DOI: 10.1017/s2045796022000403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Health services research (HSR) is affected by a widespread problem related to service terminology including non-commensurability (using different units of analysis for comparisons) and terminological unclarity due to ambiguity and vagueness of terms. The aim of this study was to identify the magnitude of the terminological bias in health and social services research and health economics by applying an international classification system. METHODS This study, that was part of the PECUNIA project, followed an ontoterminology approach (disambiguation of technical and scientific terms using a taxonomy and a glossary of terms). A listing of 56 types of health and social services relevant for mental health was compiled from a systematic review of the literature and feedback provided by 29 experts in six European countries. The disambiguation of terms was performed using an ontology-based classification of services (Description and Evaluation of Services and DirectoriEs - DESDE), and its glossary of terms. The analysis focused on the commensurability and the clarity of definitions according to the reference classification system. Interrater reliability was analysed using κ. RESULTS The disambiguation revealed that only 13 terms (23%) of the 56 services selected were accurate. Six terms (11%) were confusing as they did not correspond to services as defined in the reference classification system (non-commensurability bias), 27 (48%) did not include a clear definition of the target population for which the service was intended, and the definition of types of services was unclear in 59% of the terms: 15 were ambiguous and 11 vague. The κ analyses were significant for agreements in unit of analysis and assignment of DESDE codes and very high in definition of target population. CONCLUSIONS Service terminology is a source of systematic bias in health service research, and certainly in mental healthcare. The magnitude of the problem is substantial. This finding has major implications for the international comparability of resource use in health economics, quality and equality research. The approach presented in this paper contributes to minimise differentiation between services by taking into account key features such as target population, care setting, main activities and type and number of professionals among others. This approach also contributes to support financial incentives for effective health promotion and disease prevention. A detailed analysis of services in terms of cost measurement for economic evaluations reveals the necessity and usefulness of defining services using a coding system and taxonomical criteria rather than by 'text-based descriptions'.
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