-
BMC Neurology May 2023Most individuals with access to the internet use social media platforms. These platforms represent an excellent opportunity to disseminate knowledge about management and...
Most individuals with access to the internet use social media platforms. These platforms represent an excellent opportunity to disseminate knowledge about management and treatment to the benefit of patients. The International Headache Society, The European Headache Federation, and The American Headache Society have electronic media committees to promote and highlight the organizations' expertise and disseminate research findings. A growing mistrust in science has made dealing with infodemics (i.e., sudden access to excessive unvetted information) an increasing part of clinical management. An increasing role of these committees will be to address this challenge. As an example, recent studies have demonstrated that the most popular online content on migraine management is not evidence-based and is disseminated by for-profit organizations. As healthcare professionals and members of professional headache organizations, we are obliged to prioritize knowledge dissemination. A progressive social media strategy is associated not only with increased online visibility and outreach, but also with a higher scientific interest. To identify gaps and barriers, future research should assess the range of available information on headache disorders in electronic media, characterize direct and indirect consequences on clinical management, and recognize best practice and strategies to improve our communication on internet-based communication platforms. In turn, these efforts will reduce the burden of headache disorders by facilitating improved education of both patients and providers.
Topics: Humans; United States; Headache Disorders; Social Media; Migraine Disorders; Health Personnel; Headache
PubMed: 37198539
DOI: 10.1186/s12883-023-03196-5 -
Cancer Metastasis Reviews Mar 2023The study of the metastatic cascade has revealed the complexity of the process and the multiple cellular states that disseminated cancer cells must go through. The tumor... (Review)
Review
The study of the metastatic cascade has revealed the complexity of the process and the multiple cellular states that disseminated cancer cells must go through. The tumor microenvironment and in particular the extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in regulating the transition from invasion, dormancy to ultimately proliferation during the metastatic cascade. The time delay from primary tumor detection to metastatic growth is regulated by a molecular program that maintains disseminated tumor cells in a non-proliferative, quiescence state known as tumor cell dormancy. Identifying dormant cells and their niches in vivo and how they transition to the proliferative state is an active area of investigation, and novel approaches have been developed to track dormant cells during dissemination. In this review, we highlight the latest research on the invasive nature of disseminated tumor cells and their link to dormancy programs. We also discuss the role of the ECM in sustaining dormant niches at distant sites.
Topics: Humans; Neoplasms; Extracellular Matrix; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 36802311
DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10094-2 -
Cureus Oct 2022Blastomycosis is caused by Blastomyces dermatitidis, which is endemic in certain areas in North America. It usually causes lung infection, and it can disseminate to...
Blastomycosis is caused by Blastomyces dermatitidis, which is endemic in certain areas in North America. It usually causes lung infection, and it can disseminate to other organs in immunocompromised individuals. Common sites for dissemination include skin, central nervous system (CNS), and bone. Dermatological spread is the commonest site for extrapulmonary spread. The diagnosis can be easily missed due to nonspecific presentation and variable dermatological presentations. Treatment is necessary even if the patient has improvement in symptoms without previous treatment. We present a case of disseminated blastomycosis in a 40-year-old male without known risk factors that went undiagnosed for over a year.
PubMed: 36407244
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.30391 -
Cureus Aug 2022Cryptococcosis is an invasive systemic mycosis caused by , a genus of yeast. Causative organisms for human cryptococcosis include and . Disease due to is...
Cryptococcosis is an invasive systemic mycosis caused by , a genus of yeast. Causative organisms for human cryptococcosis include and . Disease due to is conventionally seen in patients with underlying immunosuppression, whereas -related infection is usually seen in immunocompetent people. The fact that the infection can occur among otherwise healthy individuals underscores the importance of having a necessary understanding of the pathophysiology and clinical and radiological presentations of the disease. We report a case of disseminated pulmonary and central nervous system (CNS) cryptococcosis in an apparently immunocompetent individual with unusual radiological findings necessitating probing for alternative diagnoses. We have attempted to supplement and revise the existing data on the radiological manifestations of .
PubMed: 36168385
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.28344 -
JMIR MHealth and UHealth Jan 2024Among the millions of mobile apps in existence, thousands fall under the category of mobile health (mHealth). Although the utility of mHealth apps has been demonstrated...
BACKGROUND
Among the millions of mobile apps in existence, thousands fall under the category of mobile health (mHealth). Although the utility of mHealth apps has been demonstrated for disease diagnosis, treatment data management, and health promotion strategies, to be effective they must reach and be used by their target audience. An appropriate marketing strategy can ensure that apps reach potential users and potentially convert them to actual users. Such a strategy requires definitions of target end users, communication channels, and advertising content, as well as a timeline for effectively reaching and motivating end users to adopt and maintain engagement with the mHealth app.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to identify strategies and elements that ensure that end users adopt and remain engaged with mHealth apps.
METHODS
A systematic search of the PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and CINAHL databases was conducted for suitable studies published between January 1, 2018, and September 30, 2022. Two researchers independently screened studies for inclusion, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias. The main outcome was dissemination strategies for mHealth apps.
RESULTS
Of the 648 papers retrieved from the selected databases, only 10 (1.5%) met the inclusion criteria. The marketing strategies used in these studies to inform potential users of the existence of mHealth apps and motivate download included both paid and unpaid strategies and used various channels, including social media, emails, printed posters, and face-to-face communication. Most of the studies reported a combination of marketing concepts used to advertise their mHealth apps. Advertising messages included instructions on where and how to download and install the apps. In most of the studies (6/10, 60%), instructions were oriented toward how to use the apps and maintain engagement with a health intervention. The most frequently used paid marketing platform was Facebook Ads Manager (2/10, 20%). Advertising performance was influenced by many factors, including but not limited to advertising content. In 1 (10%) of the 10 studies, animated graphics generated the greatest number of clicks compared with other image types. The metrics used to assess marketing strategy effectiveness were number of downloads; nonuse rate; dropout rate; adherence rate; duration of app use; and app usability over days, weeks, or months. Additional indicators such as cost per click, cost per install, and clickthrough rate were mainly used to assess the cost-effectiveness of paid marketing campaigns.
CONCLUSIONS
mHealth apps can be disseminated via paid and unpaid marketing strategies using various communication channels. The effects of these strategies are reflected in download numbers and user engagement with mHealth apps. Further research could provide guidance on a framework for disseminating mHealth apps and encouraging their routine use.
Topics: Humans; Advertising; Benchmarking; Communication; Databases, Factual; Mobile Applications; Telemedicine
PubMed: 38180796
DOI: 10.2196/50293 -
Implementation Science : IS Oct 2020Research has the potential to influence US social policy; however, existing research in this area lacks a coherent message. The Model for Dissemination of Research... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Research has the potential to influence US social policy; however, existing research in this area lacks a coherent message. The Model for Dissemination of Research provides a framework through which to synthesize lessons learned from research to date on the process of translating research to US policymakers.
METHODS
The peer-reviewed and grey literature was systematically reviewed to understand common strategies for disseminating social policy research to policymakers in the United States. We searched Academic Search Premier, PolicyFile, SocINDEX, Social Work Abstracts, and Web of Science from January 1980 through December 2019. Articles were independently reviewed and thematically analyzed by two investigators and organized using the Model for Dissemination of Research.
RESULTS
The search resulted in 5225 titles and abstracts for inclusion consideration. 303 full-text articles were reviewed with 27 meeting inclusion criteria. Common sources of research dissemination included government, academic researchers, the peer reviewed literature, and independent organizations. The most frequently disseminated research topics were health-related, and legislators and executive branch administrators were the most common target audience. Print materials and personal communication were the most common channels for disseminating research to policymakers. There was variation in dissemination channels by level of government (e.g., a more formal legislative process at the federal level compared with other levesl). Findings from this work suggest that dissemination is most effective when it starts early, galvanizes support, uses champions and brokers, considers contextual factors, is timely, relevant, and accessible, and knows the players and process.
CONCLUSIONS
Effective dissemination of research to US policymakers exists; yet, rigorous quantitative evaluation is rare. A number of cross-cutting strategies appear to enhance the translation of research evidence into policy.
REGISTRATION
Not registered.
Topics: Communication; Humans; Policy; Research Personnel; United States
PubMed: 33059748
DOI: 10.1186/s13012-020-01046-3 -
The Science of the Total Environment Jul 2023Plastic waste is ubiquitous in the environment and can become colonised by distinct microbial biofilm communities, known collectively as the 'plastisphere.' The...
Plastic waste is ubiquitous in the environment and can become colonised by distinct microbial biofilm communities, known collectively as the 'plastisphere.' The plastisphere can facilitate the increased survival and dissemination of human pathogenic prokaryotes (e.g., bacteria); however, our understanding of the potential for plastics to harbour and disseminate eukaryotic pathogens is lacking. Eukaryotic microorganisms are abundant in natural environments and represent some of the most important disease-causing agents, collectively responsible for tens of millions of infections, and millions of deaths worldwide. While prokaryotic plastisphere communities in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments are relatively well characterised, such biofilms will also contain eukaryotic species. Here, we critically review the potential for fungal, protozoan, and helminth pathogens to associate with the plastisphere, and consider the regulation and mechanisms of this interaction. As the volume of plastics in the environment continues to rise there is an urgent need to understand the role of the plastisphere for the survival, virulence, dissemination, and transfer of eukaryotic pathogens, and the effect this can have on environmental and human health.
Topics: Humans; Plastics; Public Health; Environmental Pollution; Eukaryota; Bacteria
PubMed: 36996975
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163093 -
The Nursing Clinics of North America Dec 2022Despite the unprecedented obstacles created by the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing professional development practitioners and nurse educators successfully harnessed... (Review)
Review
Despite the unprecedented obstacles created by the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing professional development practitioners and nurse educators successfully harnessed educational technology to disseminate an extraordinary amount of vital information needed to provide care to a society in crisis. The agile adoption of educational technology allowed rapid access and dissemination of information that carried institutions through the uncharted waters of the pandemic and created a roadmap for mass education techniques to guide not only future disaster preparedness and crisis intervention but also application of nursing education in all arenas.
Topics: Humans; Pandemics; COVID-19; Education, Nursing; Faculty, Nursing; Technology
PubMed: 36280294
DOI: 10.1016/j.cnur.2022.06.005 -
Implementation Science : IS Mar 2020While there is an ample literature on the evaluation of knowledge translation interventions aimed at healthcare providers, managers, and policy-makers, there has been... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
While there is an ample literature on the evaluation of knowledge translation interventions aimed at healthcare providers, managers, and policy-makers, there has been less focus on patients and their informal caregivers. Further, no overview of the literature on dissemination strategies aimed at healthcare users and their caregivers has been conducted. The overview has two specific research questions: (1) to determine the most effective strategies that have been used to disseminate knowledge to healthcare recipients, and (2) to determine the barriers (and facilitators) to dissemination of knowledge to this group.
METHODS
This overview used systematic review methods and was conducted according to a pre-defined protocol. A comprehensive search of ten databases and five websites was conducted. Both published and unpublished reviews in English, Spanish, or Portuguese were included. A methodological quality assessment was conducted; low-quality reviews were excluded. A narrative synthesis was undertaken, informed by a matrix of strategy by outcome measure. The Health System Evidence taxonomy for "consumer targeted strategies" was used to separate strategies into one of six categories.
RESULTS
We identified 44 systematic reviews that describe the effective strategies to disseminate health knowledge to the public, patients, and caregivers. Some of these reviews also describe the most important barriers to the uptake of these effective strategies. When analyzing those strategies with the greatest potential to achieve behavioral changes, the majority of strategies with sufficient evidence of effectiveness were combined, frequent, and/or intense over time. Further, strategies focused on the patient, with tailored interventions, and those that seek to acquire skills and competencies were more effective in achieving these changes. In relation to barriers and facilitators, while the lack of health literacy or e-literacy could increase inequities, the benefits of social media were also emphasized, for example by widening access to health information for ethnic minorities and lower socioeconomic groups.
CONCLUSIONS
Those interventions that have been shown to be effective in improving knowledge uptake or health behaviors should be implemented in practice, programs, and policies-if not already implemented. When implementing strategies, decision-makers should consider the barriers and facilitators identified by this overview to ensure maximum effectiveness.
PROTOCOL REGISTRATION
PROSPERO: CRD42018093245.
Topics: Caregivers; Communication; Evidence-Based Medicine; Health Behavior; Health Education; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Information Dissemination; Patients; Systematic Reviews as Topic; Translational Research, Biomedical
PubMed: 32131861
DOI: 10.1186/s13012-020-0974-3 -
Geriatric Nursing (New York, N.Y.) 2022Randomized controlled trials are considered the most rigorous research design in efficacy and effectiveness research; however, such trials present numerous challenges...
Randomized controlled trials are considered the most rigorous research design in efficacy and effectiveness research; however, such trials present numerous challenges that limit their applicability in real-world settings. As a consequence, pragmatic trials are increasingly viewed as a research design that overcomes some of these barriers with the potential to produce data that are more reproducible. Although pragmatic methodology in long-term care is receiving increasing attention as an approach to improve successful dissemination and implementation, pragmatic trials present complexities of their own. To address these complexities and related issues, experts with experience conducting pragmatic trials, developing nursing home policy, participating in advocacy efforts, and providing clinical care in long-term care settings participated in a virtual consensus conference funded by the National Institute on Aging in Spring 2021. Participants recommended 4 cross-cutting principles key to dissemination and implementation of pragmatic trial interventions: (1) engage stakeholders, (2) ensure diversity and inclusion, (3) assess organizational strain and readiness, and (4) learn from adaptations. Specifically related to implementation, participants provided 2 recommendations: (1) integrate interventions into existing workflows and (2) maintain agility and responsiveness. Finally, participants had 3 recommendations specific to dissemination: (1) package the message for the audience, (2) engage diverse audiences, and (3) apply dissemination and diffusion tools. Participants emphasized that implementation processes must be grounded in the perspectives of the people who will ultimately be responsible for implementing the intervention once it is proven to be effective. In addition, messaging must speak to long-term care staff and all others who have a stake in its outcomes. Although our understanding of dissemination and implementation strategies remains underdeveloped, this article is designed to guide long-term care researchers and community providers who are increasingly aware of the need for pragmatism in disseminating and implementing evidence-based care interventions.
Topics: Humans; Long-Term Care; Nursing Homes; Pragmatic Clinical Trials as Topic
PubMed: 35219533
DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2022.02.006