BMC Health Serv Res. 2024 Nov 20;24(1):1442. doi: 10.1186/s12913-024-11939-4.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Telehealth has become increasingly essential in healthcare provision, also in the Prehospital Emergency Medical Services (EMS), where live video is implemented as a supplemental tool to assess and triage medical emergency calls. So far, using video for emergency calls seems beneficial for patient assessment and dispatcher-assisted first aid. However, the EMS dispatchers' experiences with and perceptions of using video during emergency calls are largely unexplored.

METHODS: In 2023, a nationwide survey study was conducted in Denmark, which is covered by five Emergency Medical Dispatch Centers. All Danish EMS dispatchers were invited to participate in the study. The survey explored the dispatchers' experience with using video during emergency calls, the perception of their own video use, and the process of implementing video as a new tool in their working procedure. Main questions were answered on a scale from 1 to 7, where higher scores indicate more agreement.

RESULTS: Of the 183 EMS dispatchers employed during the study period, 78% completed the survey. They found video easy to use (median = 7) and found video supportive in guidance and dispatch when the patient's problem was unclear (median = 7), but did not find video suitable for all emergency calls and expressed that complications with the technology was a barrier for using video. The EMS dispatchers were least likely to agree that they choose not to use video due to the risk of being emotionally affected by what they might see (median = 1). When dividing the sample based on EMS dispatcher's gender, age, seniority, and educational background, generally few differences between groups were found.

CONCLUSIONS: Live video during emergency calls is generally experienced as a useful supplemental tool by EMS dispatchers in Denmark, and the greatest self-perceived barriers for using video were not finding video suitable for all situations and the technology.

PMID:39567935 | DOI:10.1186/s12913-024-11939-4

Support Care Cancer. 2024 Nov 20;32(12):808. doi: 10.1007/s00520-024-08999-x.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Results from the pilot Group-basEd Telehealth behavioral Weight Loss (GET-WEL) Program (NCT04855552) showed that fewer Black breast cancer survivors (BCS) enrolled than White BCS. Black participants also lost less weight than White participants. Little is known about mitigating factors or how best to implement such programs equitably. In this study, we explored facilitators and barriers in Black and White BCS who did or did not participate in GET-WEL.

METHODS: BCS who are overweight or obese (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m²) and who had previously been assessed for their willingness to participate in GET-WEL were invited to participate in a semi-structured telephone interview conducted from June to August 2023. Interviewees were purposefully sampled from those who did (participants) and did not (non-participants) enroll in GET-WEL. Interviews were coded and analyzed via comparative thematic analysis.

RESULTS: Of the 24 interviewees, 9 (8 White, 1 Black) were GET-WEL participants, and 15 (8 White, 6 Black, 1 Asian) were non-participants. There were no thematic differences between Black and White BCS. Most non-participants lacked awareness that the Program was recruiting. Program accountability, session flexibility, and pre-existing exercise routines emerged as facilitators while inability to identify enjoyable physical activities, difficulty accessing healthy foods, and competing work/life priorities emerged as barriers.

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that enhancing Program awareness and outreach may increase enrollment in minoritized BCS. Resources providing healthy foods and support to ease competing work/life priorities may help BCS maintain healthy lifestyles during and after GET-WEL. These results may help inform future large-scale GET-WEL implementation.

PMID:39567374 | DOI:10.1007/s00520-024-08999-x

J Am Coll Cardiol. 2024 Nov 26;84(22):e313. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2024.07.061.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:39567047 | DOI:10.1016/j.jacc.2024.07.061

J Am Coll Cardiol. 2024 Nov 26;84(22):e311. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2024.06.051.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:39567046 | DOI:10.1016/j.jacc.2024.06.051

BMJ Open. 2024 Nov 19;14(11):e085995. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085995.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Evidence on the use of health apps to support healthcare and promote the health of individuals aged 55 and older is limited. Older adults face challenges with literacy, usability and accessibility of digital tools. This scoping review aims to explore how digital health apps promote healthy living and self-empowerment while identifying successful applications for older adults METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study will adopt the JBI methodology for scoping reviews, guided by the (Population, Concept, Context) framework. The results will be comprehensively reported in the final scoping review and illustrated using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. The inclusion criteria include studies from 2016 to 2024 that investigate the use of health applications within healthcare services for older adults.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval is not required for this scoping review. The findings will highlight potential directions for future research and improve knowledge among professionals, researchers and the public. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated through professional networks. Data will be available from the Open Science Framework.

PMID:39566944 | DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085995

J Eval Clin Pract. 2025 Feb;31(1):e14245. doi: 10.1111/jep.14245.

ABSTRACT

RATIONALE: Emerging digital technologies are accelerating the transition of healthcare services from traditional in-person settings to virtual platforms. As a result, digital literacy is becoming essential for individuals to effectively engage with these services. However, inadequate digital literacy poses a significant barrier to both accessing and utilising virtual healthcare, potentially widening existing health disparities.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This protocol outlines the approach for systematically reviewing and synthesising the existing literature on the influence of digital literacy on accessing and utilising virtual healthcare services.

METHODS: A comprehensive literature search will be conducted across five databases: Web of Science, Medline, Scopus, CINAHL and IEEE Xplore, covering publications from 2014 to 2024. The review will include all age cohorts and demographics, focusing on studies that examine digital literacy and measures of access to and utilisation of virtual healthcare services. Two independent reviewers will screen studies using pre-determined search strategies for inclusion.

CONCLUSION: Findings from this study will provide valuable insights into the challenges and facilitators of digital literacy in engaging with virtual healthcare services. This review will also offer evidence-based recommendations to optimise digital health interventions and promote inclusive, equitable healthcare delivery.

PMID:39564975 | DOI:10.1111/jep.14245

Indian J Psychol Med. 2024 Oct 19:02537176241286033. doi: 10.1177/02537176241286033. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Clinical training in traditional medical education often needs more translational value, especially for in-service MBBS doctors working in primary health centers (PHCs), who provide first-line treatment for psychiatric disorders. To address this gap, a psychiatrist-led personalized mentorship program incorporating three live consultation-driven training (CDT) methods was developed to integrate psychiatric care into PHCs.

METHODS: The authors designed and implemented a personalized mentorship program using three CDT methods tailored for in-service MBBS doctors. The CDT methods were applied through live consultations to facilitate real-time, real-life learning and integration of psychiatric care into primary health settings. Data from published articles and manuals on CDT methods were collected, focusing on their descriptions, effectiveness, principles, and advantages over traditional classroom training.

RESULTS: Data indicate the effectiveness of the CDT methods to translate to real-life skills (translational quotient). The personalized mentorship program showed promising results in enhancing the confidence and competence of MBBS doctors in managing psychiatric disorders in PHCs. The CDT methods were found to be superior to traditional classroom training in terms of practical applicability and real-time learning.

CONCLUSION: The psychiatrist-led personalized mentorship program with CDT methods demonstrates the potential for significant improvements in the training of in-service MBBS doctors, facilitating the integration of psychiatric care into PHCs. These methods offer a practical and effective approach to bridging the gap in clinical training and can be replicated among medical students and residents across various medical and surgical specialties. Further research and longitudinal studies are recommended to validate these preliminary findings and explore the program's broader applicability.

PMID:39564304 | PMC:PMC11572698 | DOI:10.1177/02537176241286033

Cureus. 2024 Oct 20;16(10):e71907. doi: 10.7759/cureus.71907. eCollection 2024 Oct.

ABSTRACT

Hyperglycemia known as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) can happen during pregnancy and poses a risk to the developing baby as well as the mother. Glycemic control, patient involvement, and diabetes management might all be improved via telemedicine (TM). Therefore, this study aimed to compare TM versus standard care for GDM in terms of maternal and fetal outcomes. The authors searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) contrasting TM with conventional care among gestational diabetes women across various databases including PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Studies, and Google Scholar from April 2010 to December 2023. This meta-analysis included a total of 2,192 pregnant women from 12 RCT studies and was analyzed by RevMan (version 5.4; Cochrane, London). Applying fixed and random effects was based on heterogeneity. There was a statistically significant difference in the effect on the control of blood glucose levels two-hour postprandial (MD = -0.45, 95%CI = (-0.84, -0.06), P = 0.02) and on the cesarean section effect (RR = 0.74, 95%CI = (0.63, 0.87), P < 0.001) when TM was compared to standard care for GDM. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the effect on other maternal or fetal outcomes such as HBA1c, fasting blood glucose, preterm birth, fetal macrosomia, or hypoglycemia. TM interventions are more successful than standard therapy in lowering the rate of cesarean section and decreasing the two-hour postprandial glucose level of GDM patients, which is essential for improving glycemic control and reducing cardiovascular disease.

PMID:39564055 | PMC:PMC11574696 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.71907

J Innov Card Rhythm Manag. 2024 Nov 15;15(11):6070-6078. doi: 10.19102/icrm.2024.15114. eCollection 2024 Nov.

ABSTRACT

Industry-employed allied professionals (IEAPs) provide technical assistance to physicians during cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation, programming, troubleshooting, and follow-up. The Heart Connect™ application (Boston Scientific Inc., Marlborough, MA, USA) is a data-sharing system that enables remote access and display sharing of the CIED Programmer. This report aims to describe the preliminary experience of remote IEAP support through the application during CIED follow-up in clinical practice. The application was downloaded on the programmer, and network connections were established and tested at six Italian centers. Staff members were trained and online meetings were scheduled with IEAPs during consecutive CIED follow-up visits. Data and user feedback were collected. A total of 20 operators received training, and online meetings were conducted during 208 patient visits. Of these, 202 (97%) visits were successfully completed with remote support, without the need for additional medical or technical assistance. The connection quality, audio, and video were rated as good or excellent in ≥95% of sessions. The average duration of online meetings ranged from 6-16 min, depending on the supported session type. Comprehensive CIED checks and tests were performed during the visits, leading to the identification of relevant conditions or programming changes in 29% of visits. All operators found the application to be user-friendly and effective. Overall, satisfaction with the remote support service was rated high in 80% of responses, particularly for managing unscheduled CIED follow-up visits. In conclusion, remote support during CIED follow-up appears to be feasible, effective, and well accepted. It offers a viable alternative to traditional on-site IEAP support for both scheduled and unscheduled follow-up visits.

PMID:39563992 | PMC:PMC11573302 | DOI:10.19102/icrm.2024.15114

J Multidiscip Healthc. 2024 Nov 14;17:5225-5235. doi: 10.2147/JMDH.S498125. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The utilization of telehealth as an effective means to provide quality services is steadily rising across different tiers of the health system. However, advancing telehealth utilization relies on the current healthcare systems' infrastructure, policies, cultural factors, and utilization requirements can influence the utilization of telehealth within Saudi Arabia's healthcare system.

PURPOSE: This study seeks to systematically review the literature related to examining the factors influencing telehealth adoption and identifying the barriers and determinants of the use of telehealth in Saudi's healthcare system.

METHODS: A systematic review methodology was utilized in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The methodology included an exploratory and narrative design, a dual-phase search strategy, eligibility criteria, and analysis. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tool was employed to assess the quality of the chosen papers.

RESULTS: The search yielded 3197 articles to which eligibility criteria were applied. Thirteen articles were deemed eligible, screened, and utilized for comprehensive analysis in the present study. Numerous articles indicated that the utilization of telehealth has risen in Saudi Arabia, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The investment strategies have aligned with the demand for telehealth systems. The primary challenges were resource limitations and the absence of cultural frameworks conducive to the utilization of telehealth in the country.

CONCLUSION: Telehealth represents a major technological breakthrough in the healthcare industry. However, there are some drawbacks to its adoption. The limited availability of Telehealth technologies poses a significant challenge. Secondly, relying solely on privatization might not adequately address the issue at hand. Third, there is a lack of knowledge and awareness regarding its associated benefits among healthcare staff. The establishment of telemedicine and telehealth infrastructure necessitates significant financial investment, which serves as a major factor and obstacle to the widespread adoption of telehealth.

PMID:39563833 | PMC:PMC11573687 | DOI:10.2147/JMDH.S498125