scholarly journals Using Mobile Apps for Health Management: A New Health Care Mode in China

10.2196/10299 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. e10299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Lv ◽  
Yutong Jiang ◽  
Jun Qi ◽  
Yanli Zhang ◽  
Xi Zhang ◽  
...  
10.2196/19487 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. e19487
Author(s):  
Yuan Wang ◽  
Yuqiao Liu ◽  
Yancui Shi ◽  
Yanjun Yu ◽  
Jucheng Yang

Background Virtual hospital apps are mobile apps that offer functionalities of online consultation, medical guidance, health community forums, referrals, outpatient appointments or virtual hospital-to-home care services. With an increasing number of online medical and health care consulting services, virtual hospital apps have made health care more accessible and fairer for all, especially in China. However, they have occurred without control or regulation. User evaluation can provide directions to help apps optimize identification, lower risks, and guarantee service quality. Objective We aimed to conduct a systematic search for virtual hospital apps in China. To get a global view, virtual hospital apps were assessed and characterized by means of quantitative analysis. To get a local view, we conducted a content feedback analysis to explore user requirements, expectations, and preferences. Methods A search was conducted of the most popular Apple and Android app stores in China. We characterized and verified virtual hospital apps and grouped apps according to quantification analysis. We then crawled apps and paid attention to corresponding reviews to incorporate users’ involvement, and then performed aspect-based content labeling and analysis using an inductive approach. Results A total of 239 apps were identified in the virtual hospital app markets in China, and 2686 informative corresponding reviews were analyzed. The evidence showed that usefulness and ease of use were vital facts for engagement. Users were likely to trust a consulting service with a high number of downloads. Furthermore, users expected frequently used apps with more optimization to improve virtual service. We characterized apps according to 4 key features: (1) app functionalities, including online doctor consultation, in-app purchases, tailored education, and community forums; (2) security and privacy, including user data management and user privacy; (3) health management, including health tracking, reminders, and notifications; and (4) technical aspects, including user interface and equipment connection. Conclusions Virtual hospitals relying on the mobile internet are growing rapidly. A large number of virtual hospital apps are available and accessible to a growing number of people. Evidence from this systematic search can help various types of virtual hospital models enhance virtual health care experiences, go beyond offline hospitals, and continuously meet the needs of individual end users.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Wang ◽  
Yuqiao Liu ◽  
Yancui Shi ◽  
Yanjun Yu ◽  
Jucheng Yang

BACKGROUND Virtual hospital apps are mobile apps that offer functionalities of online consultation, medical guidance, health community forums, referrals, outpatient appointments or virtual hospital-to-home care services. With an increasing number of online medical and health care consulting services, virtual hospital apps have made health care more accessible and fairer for all, especially in China. However, they have occurred without control or regulation. User evaluation can provide directions to help apps optimize identification, lower risks, and guarantee service quality. OBJECTIVE We aimed to conduct a systematic search for virtual hospital apps in China. To get a global view, virtual hospital apps were assessed and characterized by means of quantitative analysis. To get a local view, we conducted a content feedback analysis to explore user requirements, expectations, and preferences. METHODS A search was conducted of the most popular Apple and Android app stores in China. We characterized and verified virtual hospital apps and grouped apps according to quantification analysis. We then crawled apps and paid attention to corresponding reviews to incorporate users’ involvement, and then performed aspect-based content labeling and analysis using an inductive approach. RESULTS A total of 239 apps were identified in the virtual hospital app markets in China, and 2686 informative corresponding reviews were analyzed. The evidence showed that usefulness and ease of use were vital facts for engagement. Users were likely to trust a consulting service with a high number of downloads. Furthermore, users expected frequently used apps with more optimization to improve virtual service. We characterized apps according to 4 key features: (1) app functionalities, including online doctor consultation, in-app purchases, tailored education, and community forums; (2) security and privacy, including user data management and user privacy; (3) health management, including health tracking, reminders, and notifications; and (4) technical aspects, including user interface and equipment connection. CONCLUSIONS Virtual hospitals relying on the mobile internet are growing rapidly. A large number of virtual hospital apps are available and accessible to a growing number of people. Evidence from this systematic search can help various types of virtual hospital models enhance virtual health care experiences, go beyond offline hospitals, and continuously meet the needs of individual end users.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanjir Rashid Soron

UNSTRUCTURED Though health and shelter are two basic human rights, millions of refugees around the world are deprived of these basic needs. Moreover, the mental health need is one of least priority issues for the refugees. Bangladesh a developing country in the Southeast Asia where the health system is fragile and the sudden influx of thousands of Rohingya put the system in a more critical situation. It is beyond the capacity of the country to provide the minimum mental health care using existing resource. However, the refuges need immediate and extensive mental health care as the trauma, torture and being uprooted from homeland makes them vulnerable for various mental. Telepsychiatry (using technology for mental health service) opened a new window to provide mental health service for them. Mobile phone opened several options to reach to the refugees, screen them with mobile apps, connect them with self-help apps and system, track their symptoms, provide distance intervention and train the frontline health workers about the primary psychological supports. The social networking sites give the opportunity to connect the refugees with experts, create peer support group and provide interventions. Bangladesh can explore and can use the telepsychiatry to provide mental health service to the rohingya people.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurul Asilah Ahmad ◽  
Shahrul Azman Mohd Noah ◽  
Arimi Fitri Mat Ludin ◽  
Suzana Shahar ◽  
Noorlaili Mohd Tohit

BACKGROUND Currently, the use of smartphones to deliver health-related content has experienced a rapid growth, with more than 165,000 mobile health (mHealth) applications currently available in the digital marketplace such as iOS store and Google Play. Among these, there are several mobile applications (mobile apps) that offer tools for disease prevention and management among older generations. These mobile apps could potentially promote health behaviors which will reduce or delay the onset of disease. However, no review to date that has focused on the app marketplace specific for older adults and little is known regarding its evidence-based quality towards the health of older adults. OBJECTIVE The aim of this review was to characterize and critically appraise the content and functionality of mobile apps that focuses on health management and/or healthy lifestyle among older adults. METHODS An electronic search was conducted between May 2019 to December 2019 of the official app store for two major smartphone operating systems: iPhone operating system (iTunes App Store) and Android (Google Play Store). Stores were searched separately using predetermined search terms. Two authors screened apps based on information provided in the app description. Metadata from all included apps were abstracted into a standard assessment criteria form. Evidenced based strategies and health care expert involvement of included apps was assessed. Evidenced based strategies included: self-monitoring, goal setting, physical activity support, healthy eating support, weight and/or health assessment, personalized feedback, motivational strategies, cognitive training and social support. Two authors verified the data with reference to the apps and downloaded app themselves. RESULTS A total of 16 apps met the inclusion criteria. Six out of 16 (37.5%) apps were designed exclusively for the iOS platform while ten out of 16 (62.5%) were designed for Android platform exclusively. Physical activity component was the most common feature offered in all the apps (9/16, 56.3%) and followed by cognitive training (8/16, 50.0%). Diet/nutrition (0/16, 0%) feature, however, was not offered on all reviewed mobile apps. Of reviewed apps, 56.3% (9/16) provide education, 37.5% (6/16) provide self-monitoring features, 18.8% (3/16) provide goal setting features, 18.5% (3/16) provide personalized feedback, 6.3% (1/16) provide social support and none of the reviewed apps offers heart rate monitoring and reminder features to the users. CONCLUSIONS All reviewed mobile apps for older adults in managing health did not focused on diet/nutrition component, lack of functional components and lack of health care professional involvement in their development process. There is also a need to carry out scientific testing prior to the development of the app to ensure cost effective and its health benefits to older adults. Collaborative efforts between developers, researchers, health professionals and patients are needed in developing evidence-based, high quality mobile apps in managing health prior they are made available in the app store.


Author(s):  
Jummi Park ◽  
Nayeon Shin

Online-based infertility education provides a health management system to patients using electronic information and technology and no face-to-face interaction with patients and experts. This is a study to develop a web-based integrated support service system to meet the health care and nursing needs of infertile women. To develop a system that is most suitable and practically helpful to infertile women, who are end users of this system, research was conducted. This education system consists of introduction to women’s health care, information on women’s health, information on organizations for women, community for infertile women, and request for consultation for health management and nursing education of infertile women. This study introduced and applied a user-centered design that maximizes the value of use by first understanding the user’s convenience and needs when developing a program.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1290.1-1290 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Teodorovic ◽  
S. Djordjevic ◽  
L. Vranic

Background:In Serbia, regular examinations with a rheumatologist are scheduled on average every 3 to 4 months. With this in mind, there is a real possibility that many patient data during this period may not be presented to the doctor during the examination, either because the patient forgets them or because they may focus on other issues and may not highlight key factsObjectives:To overcome this problem, the Association of Patients with Rheumatic Diseases of Serbia-ORS in cooperation with an IT firm developed the application “MojRA”, which was presented at the annual rheumatology congress of Serbia held in September 2019. The application “MojRA” is intended for patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis - RA. The application enables efficient storage and systematization of data, allows doctors to monitor the condition of their patients between two examinations and have a medical history. “MojRA” is available for now from smartphones running the android operating system on the google play store. The privacy of patient information is guaranteed.Methods:Patients with RA will be able to record and store information about important moments during treatment in a simple and transparent way. At each subsequent visit they will be able to describe what happened to their illness in the meantime. The application can create different types of reports and views.At the same time, the doctor can use the app to inform the patient about her/his condition in real time, which will contribute to better and more meaningful communication. All this would improve the quality of health care, preserving work capacity and improving the quality of life.Results:In order to simplify biotherapy committee approval procedure for patients of RA, the “Charger” has been developed in association with ORS and URes. The “Charger” will connect data collected by MojRa to the registry of RA patients, making the whole approval procedure more efficient and transparent.Testing of the second version of this application is underway, meetings are held between the patients using the application and the IT company that created it.Plans are to expand the app to other types of arthritis in the near future, too, and will soon be completed for devices running Apple operating systems.Conclusion:In addition to being of great benefit to patients and doctors, it can in the future be of immeasurable importance for the savings in the overall health care system of the Republic of Serbia.References:[1]Mobile Apps for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Opportunities and Challenges, Mollard E, Michaud K, Rheum Dis Clin, May 2019, Volume 45, Issue 2, Pages 197–209[2]Apps for People With Rheumatoid Arthritis to Monitor Their Disease Activity: A Review of Apps for Best Practice and Quality, Rebecca Grainger, Hutt Hospital, JMIR Publications, Advancing Digital Health Research, Feb 27, 2017.[3]ACR Mobile Apps,https://www.rheumatology.org/Learning-Center/Apps,American College of Reumatology.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
A P N Fornereto ◽  
M N Ogata ◽  
T A Santos ◽  
A B C Franceschini ◽  
MCRLR Pinto ◽  
...  

Abstract Family Health Support Centres (NASFs, in Portuguese) aim to develop interprofessional practices anchored in the assumptions of Primary Health Care, guided by the criteria of shared care specific professional interventions, management processes, interdisciplinarity, intersectoriality, Continuing Education in Health and health promotion. This health management methodology (Matrix Support) still represents a challenge to workers and managers, as it switches the logic of clinical thought from individual-centred, ambulatory and disciplinary care to collective, territory and interdisciplinary care. This study might illustrate and allow sharing of experiences about a work management format for multidisciplinary teams in Primary Health Care. A partnership between the University and the state health department was established in order to elaborate a collaborative, educational and supportive action. We formed a group of workers in the target area (24 municipalities and 18 teams) who had a focus on Continuing Education in Health using Institutional Analysis as theoretical reference. The main goal of the action was to provide spaces to share experiences and learning in the perspective of Continuing Education in Health. How does Continuing Education in Health support interprofessional practices in the field of Collective Health? Among the main results, we list: reflection about organisation practices of multiprofessional work, reflection about care practices and clinic management in the technical-assistance and pedagogic perspectives of Matrix Support; encouragement to improve the services offered in this level of care and their relationship with other points of the network. This experience showed us the importance of three main aspects: Continuing Education in Health, as a strategy of critical analysis about work and workers; the partnership and integration between teaching and service; and interprofessional formation processes (necessary to NASF and Collective Health). Key messages Continuing Education in Health is a strategy to deal with challenges and possibilities of interprofessional practices in the field of Collective Health. Enabling experiences and providing spaces for health professionals to share experience and learning.


2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 508-534
Author(s):  
Remedios Calero ◽  
Carlota Lorenzo ◽  
Martina G. Gallarza

The present study aims to perform a segmentation of patients based on their loyalty behaviour. The analysis focuses on Valencia, a region in Spain that features a capitated financing and free-elective framework; such a framework is particularly suitable for this type of study because patient loyalty directly affects the system’s budget and economic viability. Using secondary data from the regional health council, the study focuses on relationships of influence and latent segmentation in answering seven research questions. The two-pronged statistical analysis is designed to analyse relationships of influence, on the one hand, and latent segmentation, on the other. Significant differences were found among the various scales analysed in the three patient loyalty behavioural models (capture, retention and desertion) for each variable within the scope, that is, subjective (gender, age and nationality) and circumstantial (size of the assigned and receiving hospital, location of the province of the assigned hospital). This finding indicates that it may be possible to develop patient profiles based on such variables to analyse different loyalty behaviours in patients and the impact of hospital communication strategies on these behaviours. Patient loyalty is essential to the viability of a capitated health care financing and management system. Likewise, identifying patient profiles would contribute to a better Valencian public health management. Accordingly, it might be applied to evaluate other health care financing systems.


10.2196/19072 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. e19072
Author(s):  
Susanne Grødem Johnson ◽  
Thomas Potrebny ◽  
Lillebeth Larun ◽  
Donna Ciliska ◽  
Nina Rydland Olsen

Background E-learning technologies, including mobile apps, are used to a large extent in health care education. Mobile apps can provide extendable learning environments and motivate students for adaptive and collaborative learning outside the classroom context. Developers should design practical, effective, and easy-to-use mobile apps. Usability testing is an important part of app development in order to understand if apps meet the needs of users. Objective The aim of this study is to perform a scoping review of usability methods and attributes reported in usability studies of mobile apps for health care education. Methods The scoping review is guided by the methodological framework developed by Arksey & O’Malley and further developed by Levac et al and Kahlil et al. The stages we will follow are as follows: (1) identifying the research question; (2) identifying relevant studies; (3) selecting studies; (4) charting the data; and (5) summarizing and reporting the results. We have developed two research questions to meet the aim of the study, which are as follows: (1) What usability methods are used to evaluate the usability of mobile apps for health care education? and (2) What usability attributes are reported in the usability studies of mobile apps for health care education? We will apply a comprehensive search of the literature, including 10 databases, a reference search, and a search for grey literature. Two review authors will independently screen articles for eligibility. Results The initial electronic database searches were completed in March 2019. The literature search identified 14,297 unique references. Following title and abstract screening, the full texts of 369 records were obtained. The scoping review is expected to be completed in spring 2021. Conclusions We expect the overview of usability methods and attributes reported in usability studies of mobile apps for health care education to contribute to the knowledge base for researchers and developers. It will give an overview of the research field and provide researchers and developers with relevant and important information on the usability research area, including highlighting possible research gaps. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/19072


10.2196/18513 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. e18513
Author(s):  
Alejandro Plaza Roncero ◽  
Gonçalo Marques ◽  
Beatriz Sainz-De-Abajo ◽  
Francisco Martín-Rodríguez ◽  
Carlos del Pozo Vegas ◽  
...  

Background Mobile health apps are used to improve the quality of health care. These apps are changing the current scenario in health care, and their numbers are increasing. Objective We wanted to perform an analysis of the current status of mobile health technologies and apps for medical emergencies. We aimed to synthesize the existing body of knowledge to provide relevant insights for this topic. Moreover, we wanted to identify common threads and gaps to support new challenging, interesting, and relevant research directions. Methods We reviewed the main relevant papers and apps available in the literature. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology was used in this review. The search criteria were adopted using systematic methods to select papers and apps. On one hand, a bibliographic review was carried out in different search databases to collect papers related to each application in the health emergency field using defined criteria. On the other hand, a review of mobile apps in two virtual storage platforms (Google Play Store and Apple App Store) was carried out. The Google Play Store and Apple App Store are related to the Android and iOS operating systems, respectively. Results In the literature review, 28 papers in the field of medical emergency were included. These studies were collected and selected according to established criteria. Moreover, we proposed a taxonomy using six groups of applications. In total, 324 mobile apps were found, with 192 identified in the Google Play Store and 132 identified in the Apple App Store. Conclusions We found that all apps in the Google Play Store were free, and 73 apps in the Apple App Store were paid, with the price ranging from US $0.89 to US $5.99. Moreover, 39% (11/28) of the included studies were related to warning systems for emergency services and 21% (6/28) were associated with disaster management apps.


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