scholarly journals Mobile Apps for Foot Measurement: A Scoping Review (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashad Kabir ◽  
Sowmen Rahman ◽  
Mohammad Mainul Islam ◽  
Sayed Ahmed ◽  
Craig Laird
Keyword(s):  
Software Quality ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Evaluation System ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Quality Characteristics ◽  
Foot Care ◽  
Foot Health ◽  
Custom Made ◽  
Care Health

BACKGROUND With the public coverage of smartphones now at a global level, a major growth in the use of apps related to the health category, specifically those concerned with foot health can be observed. Although new, these apps are being used practically for scanning feet with an aim to providing accurate information about various properties of the human foot. With the availability of many ‘foot scanning and measuring apps’ in the commercial market (app stores), the need for an evaluation system for such apps can be deemed necessary as little information regarding the evidence-based quality of these apps is available. OBJECTIVE To characterize the assessment of measurement techniques and essential software quality characteristics of mobile foot measuring apps, and determine their effectiveness for potential use as commercial professional tools for foot care health professionals such as pedorthists, podiatrists, orthotists and so on, to assist in measuring foot for custom shoes, and for individuals to enhance the awareness of foot health and hygiene and prevention of foot-related problems. METHODS An electronic search across Android and iOS app stores was conducted between July 2020 and August 2020 for apps related to foot measurement. Mobile apps with stated goals of foot measurement and general foot health were identified and selected by three independent raters and discrepancies regarding the selected apps were resolved via a fourth rater. A modified rating tool based on previous works of app rating tools was adopted and extended for rating of selected apps. The internal consistency of the rating tool was tested with a group of 6 people who rated the selected app over an interval of 5-6 days. This modified scale was then used to produce evaluation scores for the selected range of foot measurement apps and the inter-rater reliability of this study was also calculated. Discrepancies found for any criteria during app reviews were discussed mutually by the raters to arrive at a unified decision. RESULTS Evaluation inferences found all apps failing to meet even half of the measurement-specific criteria required for the proper manufacturing of custom-made footwear. 23% (6/26) of apps were found to utilize either external scanners or advanced algorithms to reconstruct 3D models of user foot that can possibly be used for ordering custom-made footwear (shoes, insoles/orthoses) and medical casts for fitting irregular foot sizes and shapes. Apps had varying levels of performance and usability, with the overall measurement functionality being subpar with mean 1.97 out of 5. Apps that were linked to online shops and stores (shoe recommending) were assessed to be more usable than other foot measuring apps, but didn’t work with custom shoe sizes and shapes. Overall, current apps for foot measurement do not follow any specific guidelines for measurement purposes. CONCLUSIONS Majority of the commercial apps in app stores cannot be comprehensively evaluated as viable apps ready for use as professional tools in assisting foot care health professionals or individuals in measuring their foot for custom-made footwear purposes. Apps lack software quality characteristics that are needed for proper measurement and for providing awareness about foot health and induce motivation to prevent and cure foot-related problems. Guidelines similar to the essential criteria items in this study are needed to be developed for future apps aimed at foot measurement for custom-made or individually fitted footwear and creating awareness about foot health.

scholarly journals The Quality of Mobile Apps Used for the Identification of Pressure Ulcers in Adults: Systematic Survey and Review of Apps in App Stores (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janine Koepp ◽  
Miriam Viviane Baron ◽  
Paulo Ricardo Hernandes Martins ◽  
Cristine Brandenburg ◽  
Ariane Tieko Frare Kira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Software Quality ◽  
Pressure Ulcers ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Quality Characteristics ◽  
End Users ◽  
Bibliographic Databases ◽  
Future Research ◽  
International Electrotechnical Commission ◽  
Systematic Survey ◽  
App Development

BACKGROUND The increasing global use of smartphones has contributed to the growing use of apps for various health conditions, showing promising results. Through mobile apps, it is possible to perform chronological and iconographic follow-up of wounds, such as pressure ulcers, using a simple and practical tool. However, numerous surveys have pointed out issues related to the functionality, design, safety, and veracity of app information. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review of published studies regarding mobile apps and a systematic survey in app stores looking for apps developed to identify, evaluate, treat, and/or prevent pressure ulcers in adults, and to evaluate those apps based on software quality characteristics. METHODS This review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The main bibliographic databases were searched between January 1, 2007 and October 15, 2018, and an app survey was performed in app stores. The selected studies were evaluated according to software quality characteristics by the International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission (ie, ISO/IEC 25010:2011) that involve functionality, efficiency, compatibility, usability, reliability, safety, maintenance, and portability. RESULTS The search in databases and web-based app stores returned a total of 2075 studies. After removal of duplicates and screening of titles and abstracts, 48 complete articles were evaluated for eligibility, and among these, six were included for qualitative synthesis. CONCLUSIONS In this review, it was observed that all studies involved the initial phase of app development or improvement, and therefore, the apps still need to be evaluated using different software quality characteristics, so that in the future, a gold standard can be approached. Therefore, the prescription of an app for the identification, evaluation, treatment, and/or prevention of pressure ulcers in adults is currently limited. However, the evaluated studies provided important insights for future research. It is of utmost importance that future surveys develop apps jointly with users, using collaborative and cocreative processes and assess patients in real-world situations across different service settings, and they should consider different ethnicities, so that apps are useful to end users, such as patients, family members, health professionals, and students, in the health area. In addition, it is necessary for studies to describe the methodological course of app development in a clear and objective way in order to ensure reproducibility of the study and to offer inputs to allow future research to approach the development of ideal apps that are geared to positively impact the health of end users. CLINICALTRIAL PROSPERO CRD42018114137; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=114137

scholarly journals The Quality of Mobile Apps Used for the Identification of Pressure Ulcers in Adults: Systematic Survey and Review of Apps in App Stores

10.2196/14266 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. e14266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janine Koepp ◽  
Miriam Viviane Baron ◽  
Paulo Ricardo Hernandes Martins ◽  
Cristine Brandenburg ◽  
Ariane Tieko Frare Kira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Software Quality ◽  
Pressure Ulcers ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Quality Characteristics ◽  
End Users ◽  
Bibliographic Databases ◽  
Future Research ◽  
International Electrotechnical Commission ◽  
Systematic Survey ◽  
App Development

Background The increasing global use of smartphones has contributed to the growing use of apps for various health conditions, showing promising results. Through mobile apps, it is possible to perform chronological and iconographic follow-up of wounds, such as pressure ulcers, using a simple and practical tool. However, numerous surveys have pointed out issues related to the functionality, design, safety, and veracity of app information. Objective The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review of published studies regarding mobile apps and a systematic survey in app stores looking for apps developed to identify, evaluate, treat, and/or prevent pressure ulcers in adults, and to evaluate those apps based on software quality characteristics. Methods This review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The main bibliographic databases were searched between January 1, 2007 and October 15, 2018, and an app survey was performed in app stores. The selected studies were evaluated according to software quality characteristics by the International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission (ie, ISO/IEC 25010:2011) that involve functionality, efficiency, compatibility, usability, reliability, safety, maintenance, and portability. Results The search in databases and web-based app stores returned a total of 2075 studies. After removal of duplicates and screening of titles and abstracts, 48 complete articles were evaluated for eligibility, and among these, six were included for qualitative synthesis. Conclusions In this review, it was observed that all studies involved the initial phase of app development or improvement, and therefore, the apps still need to be evaluated using different software quality characteristics, so that in the future, a gold standard can be approached. Therefore, the prescription of an app for the identification, evaluation, treatment, and/or prevention of pressure ulcers in adults is currently limited. However, the evaluated studies provided important insights for future research. It is of utmost importance that future surveys develop apps jointly with users, using collaborative and cocreative processes and assess patients in real-world situations across different service settings, and they should consider different ethnicities, so that apps are useful to end users, such as patients, family members, health professionals, and students, in the health area. In addition, it is necessary for studies to describe the methodological course of app development in a clear and objective way in order to ensure reproducibility of the study and to offer inputs to allow future research to approach the development of ideal apps that are geared to positively impact the health of end users. Trial Registration PROSPERO CRD42018114137; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=114137

scholarly journals Sustainable healthcare – Time for ‘Green Podiatry’

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Margaret Evans
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Allied Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
Main Body ◽  
Allied Health Professionals ◽  
Foot Health

Abstract Background Healthcare aims to promote good health and yet demonstrably contributes to climate change, which is purported to be ‘the biggest global health threat of the 21st century’. This is happening now, with healthcare as an industry representing 4.4% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Main body Climate change promotes health deficits from many angles; however, primarily it is the use of fossil fuels which increases atmospheric carbon dioxide (also nitrous oxide, and methane). These greenhouse gases prevent the earth from cooling, resulting in the higher temperatures and rising sea levels, which then cause ‘wild weather’ patterns, including floods, storms, and droughts. Particular vulnerability is afforded to those already health compromised (older people, pregnant women, children, wider health co-morbidities) as well as populations closer to equatorial zones, which encompasses many low-and-middle-income-countries. The paradox here, is that poorer nations by spending less on healthcare, have lower carbon emissions from health-related activity, and yet will suffer most from global warming effects, with scant resources to off-set the increasing health care needs. Global recognition has forged the Paris agreement, the United Nations sustainable developments goals, and the World Health Organisation climate change action plan. It is agreed that most healthcare impact comes from consumption of energy and resources, and the production of greenhouse gases into the environment. Many professional associations of medicine and allied health professionals are advocating for their members to lead on environmental sustainability; the Australian Podiatry Association is incorporating climate change into its strategic direction. Conclusion Podiatrists, as allied health professionals, have wide community engagement, and hence, can model positive environmental practices, which may be effective in changing wider community behaviours, as occurred last century when doctors stopped smoking. As foot health consumers, our patients are increasingly likely to expect more sustainable practices and products, including ‘green footwear’ options. Green Podiatry, as a part of sustainable healthcare, directs us to be responsible energy and product consumers, and reduce our workplace emissions.

scholarly journals Effects of Nurse and Care Worker-led Foot-Care Program on Older People’s Foot Conditions: Before and After Intervention Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 237796082110584
Author(s):  
Kashiko Fujii ◽  
Minna Stolt ◽  
Takuyuki Komoda ◽  
Mariko Nishikawa
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Day Care ◽  
Intervention Study ◽  
Care Program ◽  
Skin Lesions ◽  
Foot Care ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Foot Health ◽  
Day Care Centers ◽  
Before And After

Introduction An increasing number of older people with frailty in Japan use geriatric day care centers. Older people who have been certified as requiring long-term care attend centers during the day and receive nursing care help with bathing, excretion, meals, and functional training services. Many older people have foot problems with need foot care by nurses and care workers (NCWs) at geriatric day care centers. Objective This study explored the effects of NCWs’ foot-care programs on the foot conditions of older people attending daytime services. Methods A before-after intervention study was conducted at geriatric day care centers for older people, where the foot-care program was presented by NCWs for two months. The foot conditions of 23 clients (8 men, 15 women, mean age = 78.6 years, standard deviation = 9.2) were assessed before and after the program. Changes in foot condition and clients’ perceptions after the study were analyzed through descriptive statistics, McNemar, and paired t-tests. Results Although dramatic changes in foot conditions were not observed, some conditions were improved or maintained. Changes were observed in mean dry skin scores ( p < .01; right foot: 1.6→1.1, left foot: 1.6→1.1), skin lesions and long nails (skin lesions R: 0.2→0.1; long nail R: 1.4→1.0, L: 1.1→0.8), and edema (R: 43.5%→39.1%, L: 52.2%→47.8%). Further, clients started perceiving that foot health is important and discussed their feet with staff more often. Conclusion The NCWs’ foot-care program was effective in maintaining and improving foot health in older people and positively affected their perception of foot care.

scholarly journals Involving Primary Care Health Professionals in Geriatric Assessment

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 566-568 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Fougère ◽  
M. Cesari ◽  
H. Arai ◽  
J. Woo ◽  
R. A. Merchant ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Geriatric Assessment ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Primary Care Health ◽  
Care Health
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