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Journal of Medical Internet Research Feb 2024Emerging digital health technology has moved into the reproductive health market for female individuals. In the past, mobile health apps have been used to monitor the...
BACKGROUND
Emerging digital health technology has moved into the reproductive health market for female individuals. In the past, mobile health apps have been used to monitor the menstrual cycle using manual entry. New technological trends involve the use of wearable devices to track fertility by assessing physiological changes such as temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate.
OBJECTIVE
The primary aims of this study are to review the types of wearables that have been developed and evaluated for menstrual cycle tracking and to examine whether they may detect changes in the menstrual cycle in female individuals. Another aim is to review whether these devices are effective for tracking various stages in the menstrual cycle including ovulation and menstruation. Finally, the secondary aim is to assess whether the studies have validated their findings by reporting accuracy and sensitivity.
METHODS
A review of PubMed or MEDLINE was undertaken to evaluate wearable devices for their effectiveness in predicting fertility and differentiating between the different stages of the menstrual cycle.
RESULTS
Fertility cycle-tracking wearables include devices that can be worn on the wrists, on the fingers, intravaginally, and inside the ear. Wearable devices hold promise for predicting different stages of the menstrual cycle including the fertile window and may be used by female individuals as part of their reproductive health. Most devices had high accuracy for detecting fertility and were able to differentiate between the luteal phase (early and late), fertile window, and menstruation by assessing changes in heart rate, heart rate variability, temperature, and respiratory rate.
CONCLUSIONS
More research is needed to evaluate consumer perspectives on reproductive technology for monitoring fertility, and ethical issues around the privacy of digital data need to be addressed. Additionally, there is also a need for more studies to validate and confirm this research, given its scarcity, especially in relation to changes in respiratory rate as a proxy for reproductive cycle staging.
Topics: Female; Humans; Fertility; Heart Rate; Menstrual Cycle; Menstruation; Reproductive Health; Wearable Electronic Devices
PubMed: 38358798
DOI: 10.2196/45139 -
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Feb 2024Many young people (YP) are diagnosed with mental illnesses and require support. Web-based mental health interventions (W-MHIs) have been increasingly utilized by YP,... (Review)
Review
Many young people (YP) are diagnosed with mental illnesses and require support. Web-based mental health interventions (W-MHIs) have been increasingly utilized by YP, healthcare providers, and parents due to reasons including convenience and anonymity. W-MHIs are effective in improving mental health in YP. However, real-world engagement with W-MHIs remains low. Therefore, understanding barriers/facilitators of user engagement with W-MHIs is necessary to promote W-MHIs and help users gain optimal benefits through higher engagement. This review aims to identify barriers/facilitators of user engagement with W-MHIs in YP aged 10-24 years. A systematic search of five databases for English language, peer-reviewed publications was conducted between January 2010 and February 2023. Studies examining factors influencing user engagement with W-MHIs, described as barriers or facilitators, were included. Study quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. A narrative synthesis was performed. Of 4088 articles identified, 69 studies were included. Barriers/facilitators were reported by young people (63 studies), providers (17 studies), and parents/caregivers (8 studies). YP perceived that usefulness and connectedness were the most common facilitators, whereas low-perceived need was the most reported barrier. Both providers and parents reported that perceived usefulness for YP was the most common facilitator, whereas concerns about program effectiveness and privacy were noted as barriers. This review found that program- and individual-related factors were important determinants of engagement with W-MHIs. This review provides guidance on the future design and development of new interventions, narrowing the gap between existing W-MHIs and unmet needs of users.
PubMed: 38356043
DOI: 10.1007/s00787-024-02386-x -
Journal of Medical Systems Feb 2024This systematic review examines the recent use of artificial intelligence, particularly machine learning, in the management of operating rooms. A total of 22 selected... (Review)
Review
This systematic review examines the recent use of artificial intelligence, particularly machine learning, in the management of operating rooms. A total of 22 selected studies from February 2019 to September 2023 are analyzed. The review emphasizes the significant impact of AI on predicting surgical case durations, optimizing post-anesthesia care unit resource allocation, and detecting surgical case cancellations. Machine learning algorithms such as XGBoost, random forest, and neural networks have demonstrated their effectiveness in improving prediction accuracy and resource utilization. However, challenges such as data access and privacy concerns are acknowledged. The review highlights the evolving nature of artificial intelligence in perioperative medicine research and the need for continued innovation to harness artificial intelligence's transformative potential for healthcare administrators, practitioners, and patients. Ultimately, artificial intelligence integration in operative room management promises to enhance healthcare efficiency and patient outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Artificial Intelligence; Operating Rooms; Neural Networks, Computer; Algorithms; Machine Learning
PubMed: 38353755
DOI: 10.1007/s10916-024-02038-2 -
Disability and Rehabilitation.... Feb 2024Throughout the world, mobility devices are usually distributed using product-based business models, where a device is provided to a user, and serviced or replaced when... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Throughout the world, mobility devices are usually distributed using product-based business models, where a device is provided to a user, and serviced or replaced when the user returns to the clinic with an issue. Moving to a service-based business model can provide continuous and customised support for the user, and provide the clinicians and manufacturers with better data to base their decisions on. This study reviews papers on assistive technology service-based business models and considerations in designing such a model to optimise economic and social value. It then applies the findings to the mobility device space.
METHOD
A systematic literature search was undertaken in PubMed, Web of Science, and OVID databases to analyse studies that discuss service delivery models used to provide assistive products. Inductive thematic analysis determined the themes, facilitators and barriers associated with providing a service. Findings were applied to mobility device service provision.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION
Themes from the 29 relevant papers were grouped into four categories: (affordability/availability/education), (customisability/usability/adaptability), (quality/sustainability/impact), and (policy/privacy/security). The most common themes were customisability, affordability, availability, and education. There is a need for service-based delivery models to replace conventional product-based models, and many considerations to optimise their design. No publications discussed the design and implementation of a service-based model for mobility device provision that uses modern sensors, software and other digital technologies to optimise the service. Service-based models that use modern digital technologies are new for the mobility device field, but much can be learnt from other fields.
PubMed: 38349125
DOI: 10.1080/17483107.2024.2313077 -
Medical Science Monitor : International... Feb 2024Telemedicine technologies allow distribution of health-related services and information and can include electronic and telecommunication technologies, remote patient and...
A Systematic Review of Publications on Perceptions and Management of Chronic Medical Conditions Using Telemedicine Remote Consultations by Primary Healthcare Professionals April 2020 to December 2021 During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Telemedicine technologies allow distribution of health-related services and information and can include electronic and telecommunication technologies, remote patient and clinician contact, referral and prescribing, patient education, and monitoring. This systematic review aimed to evaluate publications on the perceptions and management of chronic medical conditions using telehealth remote consultations by primary healthcare professionals between April 2020 and December 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Electronic databases, including Cinhal, PubMed, Science Direct, and ProQuest were searched to extract qualitative studies relevant to the topic. Inclusion criteria were developed based on the Population, Exposure, and Outcomes scoping framework. The target population was healthcare professionals working in primary care settings. Included studies encompassed various types of telemedicine, such as synchronous telemedicine, video conferencing, telephone conversations, and smart devices. Eight studies were included. Synchronous telemedicine was highly effective in ensuring the continuity of care and treatment, providing patients with convenience, improved access to treatment, and earlier disease management. Video conferencing and telephone consultations were the most common methods used. Challenges included concerns about patient privacy, technology literacy, and acceptance. Telemedicine was commended for its ability to provide access to immediate expert medical advice and eliminate the need for long-distance travel, contributing to increased patient compliance. Synchronous telemedicine is a promising solution for managing chronic conditions during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, offering benefits to patients and healthcare professionals. To maximize its potential, concerns regarding patient privacy, confidentiality, and technology literacy need to be addressed. Proper legislation and regulations are required for long-term success of telemedicine, making it a valuable component of healthcare systems.
Topics: Humans; Remote Consultation; COVID-19; Pandemics; Telemedicine; Chronic Disease; Primary Health Care
PubMed: 38341609
DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943383 -
Cell Reports. Medicine Feb 2024Federated learning (FL) is a distributed machine learning framework that is gaining traction in view of increasing health data privacy protection needs. By conducting a...
Federated learning (FL) is a distributed machine learning framework that is gaining traction in view of increasing health data privacy protection needs. By conducting a systematic review of FL applications in healthcare, we identify relevant articles in scientific, engineering, and medical journals in English up to August 31st, 2023. Out of a total of 22,693 articles under review, 612 articles are included in the final analysis. The majority of articles are proof-of-concepts studies, and only 5.2% are studies with real-life application of FL. Radiology and internal medicine are the most common specialties involved in FL. FL is robust to a variety of machine learning models and data types, with neural networks and medical imaging being the most common, respectively. We highlight the need to address the barriers to clinical translation and to assess its real-world impact in this new digital data-driven healthcare scene.
Topics: Humans; Machine Learning; Medicine; Neural Networks, Computer
PubMed: 38340728
DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101419 -
Medical Image Analysis Apr 2024With the massive proliferation of data-driven algorithms, such as deep learning-based approaches, the availability of high-quality data is of great interest. Volumetric...
With the massive proliferation of data-driven algorithms, such as deep learning-based approaches, the availability of high-quality data is of great interest. Volumetric data is very important in medicine, as it ranges from disease diagnoses to therapy monitoring. When the dataset is sufficient, models can be trained to help doctors with these tasks. Unfortunately, there are scenarios where large amounts of data is unavailable. For example, rare diseases and privacy issues can lead to restricted data availability. In non-medical fields, the high cost of obtaining enough high-quality data can also be a concern. A solution to these problems can be the generation of realistic synthetic data using Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs). The existence of these mechanisms is a good asset, especially in healthcare, as the data must be of good quality, realistic, and without privacy issues. Therefore, most of the publications on volumetric GANs are within the medical domain. In this review, we provide a summary of works that generate realistic volumetric synthetic data using GANs. We therefore outline GAN-based methods in these areas with common architectures, loss functions and evaluation metrics, including their advantages and disadvantages. We present a novel taxonomy, evaluations, challenges, and research opportunities to provide a holistic overview of the current state of volumetric GANs.
Topics: Humans; Algorithms; Rare Diseases; Data Analysis
PubMed: 38340545
DOI: 10.1016/j.media.2024.103100 -
Annals of Medicine and Surgery (2012) Feb 2024Telemedicine (TM) and teleconsultation services flourished during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission to avoid COVID-19 infection and physical contact. Many... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Telemedicine (TM) and teleconsultation services flourished during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission to avoid COVID-19 infection and physical contact. Many physicians switched to the virtual treatment mode and nearly all types of health disciplines were covered. Through this systematic review, the authors tried to explore the strengths and weaknesses of TM, identify the barriers to adopting TM by population, and explain the limitations of this healthcare delivery model.
METHODS AND RESULTS
In this systematic review, 28 studies were included (>53% high-quality studies) as eligible, where nearly 75% (=21) of the studies were from India, and the remaining 25% (=7) were from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Advice related to cancer, autoimmune diseases, and neurological diseases were the most common among the health disciplines in which TM was used. A peak in teleconsultation was observed during the high transmission phase of COVID-19, although major queries were associated with existing health complications and comorbidities.
CONCLUSION
Other than a few concerns regarding connectivity, privacy, and diagnosis, TM was in fact affordable, timesaving, feasible, and accurate, which ensured a highly satisfying experience among the participants (>80%).
PubMed: 38333256
DOI: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000001649 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2023Paucity of information concerning the efficacy of gerontechnologies to support aging in place among community-dwelling older adults prevents potential users, healthcare...
OBJECTIVE
Paucity of information concerning the efficacy of gerontechnologies to support aging in place among community-dwelling older adults prevents potential users, healthcare professionals, and policymakers from making informed decisions on their use. The goal of this study was to identify gerontechnologies tested for home support in dyads of community-dwelling older adults with unimpaired cognition and their family caregivers, including their benefits and challenges. We also provide the level of evidence of the studies and recommendations to address the specific challenges preventing their use, dissemination, and implementation.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review of the literature published between 2016 and 2021 on gerontechnologies tested for home support in dyads. Two independent reviewers screened the abstracts according to the inclusion/exclusion criteria. A third reviewer resolved eligibility discrepancies. Data extraction was conducted by two independent reviewers.
RESULTS
Of 1,441 articles screened, only 13 studies met the inclusion criteria with studies of moderate quality. Mostly, these gerontechnologies were used to monitor the older adult or the environment, to increase communication with family caregivers, to assist in daily living activities, and to provide health information. Benefits included facilitating communication, increasing safety, and reducing stress. Common challenges included difficulties using the technologies, technical problems, privacy issues, increased stress and dissatisfaction, and a mismatch between values and needs.
CONCLUSION
Only a few gerontechnologies have proven efficacy in supporting community-dwelling older adults and their family caregivers. The inclusion of values and preferences, co-creation with end users, designing easy-to-use technologies, and assuring training are strongly recommended to increase acceptability and dissemination.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=310803, identifier CRD42022310803.
PubMed: 38327502
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1237694 -
Psycho-oncology Jan 2024Evidence suggests that people with severe mental illness (PwSMI) are 2.1 times more likely to die from cancer before the age of 75, compared to people without Severe... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Evidence suggests that people with severe mental illness (PwSMI) are 2.1 times more likely to die from cancer before the age of 75, compared to people without Severe mental illness (SMI). Yet, cancer screening uptake is low among PwSMI. This mixed-methods systematic review aimed to identify the barriers and facilitators for PwSMI deciding to access and attend primary cancer screening of the cervix, breast and colon.
METHODS
Six electronic databases and two grey literature sources were searched, with 1017 records screened against inclusion criteria. Included papers were appraised and data synthesised using the constructs of Normalisation Process Theory.
RESULTS
Twenty papers met the inclusion criteria. Factors that impact upon uptake of PwSMI accessing cancer screening were found to include age, gender, race, and income. Common barriers to attending screening included poor communication from healthcare staff, stigmatising attitudes, and accessibility problems such as no access to transportation. While, facilitators included social support from friends, family, and healthcare providers.
CONCLUSIONS
Due to ease and privacy, colorectal screening was found to have fewer barriers when compared to cervical and breast screening. The review identified multiple barriers that can be addressed and targeted to support decision-making for cancer screening among PwSMI. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022331781).
Topics: Female; Humans; Early Detection of Cancer; Mental Disorders; Health Personnel; Social Support; Neoplasms
PubMed: 38282230
DOI: 10.1002/pon.6274