scholarly journals What’s in Your Pocket? Trends in Mobile Apps for Biosurveillance and Decision-Making

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney D. Corley ◽  
Onicio Leal-Neto ◽  
Craig Taylor ◽  
César Escobar-Viera ◽  
Victor Del Rio Vilas
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Population Health ◽  
Future Development ◽  
Data Streams ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Audience Engagement ◽  
Web App ◽  
Participatory Surveillance

Mobile applications offer tremendous potential for collecting data for biosurveillance through participatory surveillance and the integration of new and traditional data streams. This panel features epidemiologists, data scientists, and technology partners who will address the full application lifecycle -- from the assessment of the specific demand, resource, and technology specifications, to implementation and evaluation-- of several innovative apps. Audience engagement using a new web app will gather input on other uses of mobile apps for data collection, visualization, and analyses. The panel and audience discussion will be compiled into guidance for future development of mobile apps for biosurveillance purposes to advance population health.

THE INTEGRAL INDEX OF PROBLEMS IN THE EVALUATION OF THE HEALTH STATE

2018 ◽  
pp. 12-14
Author(s):  
A.E. Vlasenko ◽  
N.M. Zhilina ◽  
A.A. Kozhevnikov ◽  
G.I. Chechenin
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Population Health ◽  
Economic Indicators ◽  
Health State ◽  
Integral Index ◽  
Municipal District ◽  
Risk Areas

The article presents the algorithm for calculating the integral index of problems in the evaluation of indicators of population health and identifying risk areas. The integral indices for Novokuznetsk municipal district were calculated. The index can be used by specialists of various levels and regions in assessing the level of health, environmental and socio-economic indicators for appropriate decision-making.

Mobile Applications for Health Management of Older Adults: A Scoping Review (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurul Asilah Ahmad ◽  
Shahrul Azman Mohd Noah ◽  
Arimi Fitri Mat Ludin ◽  
Suzana Shahar ◽  
Noorlaili Mohd Tohit
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Goal Setting ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Personalized Feedback ◽  
Self Monitoring ◽  
App Store ◽  
Evidenced Based ◽  
Google Play

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.

Assessment and Prediction of Privacy Concerns on Health Apps (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reham AlTamime ◽  
Vincent Marmion ◽  
Wendy Hall
Keyword(s):  
Data Sharing ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Retention Rate ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Privacy Concerns ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Mobile Health Apps ◽  
Specific Factors ◽  
And Control

BACKGROUND Mobile apps and IoT-enabled smartphones technologies facilitate collecting, sharing, and inferring from a vast amount of data about individuals’ location, health conditions, mobility status, and other factors. The use of such technology highlights the importance of understanding individuals’ privacy concerns to design applications that integrate their privacy expectations and requirements. OBJECTIVE This paper explores, assesses, and predicts individuals’ privacy concerns in relation to collecting and disclosing data on mobile health apps. METHODS We designed a questionnaire to identify participants’ privacy concerns pertaining to a set of 432 mobile apps’ data collection and sharing scenarios. Participants were presented with 27 scenarios that varied across three categorical factors: (1) type of data collected (e.g. health, demographic, behavioral, and location); (2) data sharing (e.g., whether it is shared, and for what purpose); and, (3) retention rate (e.g., forever, until the purpose is satisfied, unspecified, week, or year). RESULTS Our findings show that type of data, data sharing, and retention rate are all factors that affect individuals’ privacy concerns. However, specific factors such as collecting and disclosing health data to a third-party tracker play a larger role than other factors in triggering privacy concerns. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that it is possible to predict privacy concerns based on these three factors. We propose design approaches that can improve users’ awareness and control of their data on mobile applications

scholarly journals Adventure Code Camp: Library Mobile Design in the Backcountry

2014 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 45 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Ward ◽  
James Hahn ◽  
Lori Mestre
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Library Services ◽  
Mobile Web ◽  
Process Outcomes ◽  
Mobile Design ◽  
Web App ◽  
Software Services

<p>This article presents a case study exploring the use of a student Coding Camp as a bottom-up mobile design process to generate library mobile apps. A code camp sources student programmer talent and ideas for designing software services and features.  This case study reviews process, outcomes, and next steps in mobile web app coding camps. It concludes by offering implications for services design beyond the local camp presented in this study. By understanding how patrons expect to integrate library services and resources into their use of mobile devices, librarians can better design the user experience for this environment.</p>

scholarly journals Conducting Population Health Research during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Impacts and Recommendations

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3320
Author(s):  
Amy R. Villarosa ◽  
Lucie M. Ramjan ◽  
Della Maneze ◽  
Ajesh George
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Data Quality ◽  
Population Health ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Recruitment Methods ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many changes, including restrictions on indoor gatherings and visitation to residential aged care facilities, hospitals and certain communities. Coupled with potential restrictions imposed by health services and academic institutions, these changes may significantly impact the conduct of population health research. However, the continuance of population health research is beneficial for the provision of health services and sometimes imperative. This paper discusses the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the conduct of population health research. This discussion unveils important ethical considerations, as well as potential impacts on recruitment methods, face-to-face data collection, data quality and validity. In addition, this paper explores potential recruitment and data collection methods that could replace face-to-face methods. The discussion is accompanied by reflections on the challenges experienced by the authors in their own research at an oral health service during the COVID-19 pandemic and alternative methods that were utilised in place of face-to-face methods. This paper concludes that, although COVID-19 presents challenges to the conduct of population health research, there is a range of alternative methods to face-to-face recruitment and data collection. These alternative methods should be considered in light of project aims to ensure data quality is not compromised.

Citizen accountability in the ‘New NHS’ in England

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 418-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bob Hudson
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Future Development ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Citizen Engagement ◽  
Local Areas ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
Accountability Gap

The NHS is facing a combination of lower spending and increasing demand. In response, NHS England is requiring local areas to substantially rethink and reshape services through Sustainability and Transformation Plans. These have been devised largely without the involvement of patients and citizens, giving rise to widespread concerns about service loss. Other structural changes are also taking place that have no obvious place for citizen engagement. All of this is highlighting the problem of a lack of local accountability and legitimacy for decision-making in healthcare. This commentary describes the changes, identifies the accountability gap and suggests a framework for future development.

Data Collection

1994 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 55-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lesley B. Olswang ◽  
Barbara Bain
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Treatment Efficacy ◽  
Qualitative Information ◽  
Treatment Progress ◽  
Clinical Process ◽  
Birthday Party ◽  
Speech Language Pathologist ◽  
Intuitive Decision Making ◽  
Decision Making Model

For many of us, not having data concerning a client’s progress during treatment is tantamount to being unprepared for a lecture, or showing up at a birthday party without a present—totally unthinkable. This zealous position is based on the assumption that clinical decisions regarding treatment efficacy should be based on data. Data, in this case, refers to both quantitative and qualitative information that provides evidence for deciding the course of treatment. This is not to say that data can and should be collected on every aspect of the clinical process. Indeed, intuitive decision-making on the part of the speech-language pathologist is often warranted. But in general, a series of decisions regarding whether or not treatment is working, can and should be based on data. This article examines the ways in which we can measure treatment progress, and provides guidelines for the reader in the use of a data-based, decision-making model.

Mobile applications and patient education: Are currently available GERD mobile apps sufficient?

2016 ◽  
Vol 127 (8) ◽  
pp. 1775-1779 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Bobian ◽  
Aron Kandinov ◽  
Nour El-Kashlan ◽  
Peter F. Svider ◽  
Adam J. Folbe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Education ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Mobile Apps

Using digital data collection tools to improve overall cost-efficiency and provide timely analysis for decision making during invasive species eradication campaigns

2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 499 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Will ◽  
Karl J. Campbell ◽  
Nick D. Holmes
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Cost Efficiency ◽  
Relational Databases ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Digital Data ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Project Costs ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Data Collection Effort

Context Worldwide, invasive vertebrate eradication campaigns are increasing in scale and complexity, requiring improved decision making tools to achieve and validate success. For managers of these campaigns, gaining access to timely summaries of field data can increase cost-efficiency and the likelihood of success, particularly for successive control-event style eradications. Conventional data collection techniques can be time intensive and burdensome to process. Recent advances in digital tools can reduce the time required to collect and process field information. Through timely analysis, efficiently collected data can inform decision making for managers both tactically, such as where to prioritise search effort, and strategically, such as when to transition from the eradication phase to confirmation monitoring. Aims We highlighted the advantages of using digital data collection tools, particularly the potential for reduced project costs through a decrease in effort and the ability to increase eradication efficiency by enabling explicit data-informed decision making. Methods We designed and utilised digital data collection tools, relational databases and a suite of analyses during two different eradication campaigns to inform management decisions: a feral cat eradication utilising trapping, and a rodent eradication using bait stations. Key results By using digital data collection during a 2-year long cat eradication, we experienced an 89% reduction in data collection effort and an estimated USD42 845 reduction in total costs compared with conventional paper methods. During a 2-month rodent bait station eradication, we experienced an 84% reduction in data collection effort and an estimated USD4525 increase in total costs. Conclusions Despite high initial capital costs, digital data collection systems provide increasing economics as the duration and scale of the campaign increases. Initial investments can be recouped by reusing equipment and software on subsequent projects, making digital data collection more cost-effective for programs contemplating multiple eradications. Implications With proper pre-planning, digital data collection systems can be integrated with quantitative models that generate timely forecasts of the effort required to remove all target animals and estimate the probability that eradication has been achieved to a desired level of confidence, thus improving decision making power and further reducing total project costs.

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