RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Current mobile health (mHealth) technology is predominantly designed with a visual orientation, often resulting in user interfaces that are inaccessible to visually impaired users. While mHealth technology offers potential for facilitating chronic illness management and enhancing health behaviors among visually impaired older populations, understanding its usage remains limited. OBJECTIVE: This qualitative research aimed to explore the mHealth technology experiences of middle-aged and older individuals with visual impairments including the accessibility and usability issues they faced. METHODS: The qualitative exploration was structured using the mHealth for Older Users framework. Cross-sectional interviews were conducted via Zoom between June 1 and July 31, 2023, using an interview protocol for data collection. A thematic analysis approach was employed to analyze the transcribed interview scripts. RESULTS: Of the 7 participants who took part in the Zoom interviews, 3 were men and 4 were women, with ages ranging from 53 to 70 years. Most participants adopted mHealth apps and wearable devices for promoting health. They exhibited 3 distinct adoption patterns. Seven themes were emerged from the perceived challenges in using mHealth technologies: (1) a scarcity of accessible user manuals, (2) user interfaces that are not visually impaired-friendly, (3) health data visualizations that are not accessible, (4) unintuitive arrangement of app content, (5) health information that is challenging to comprehend, (6) cognitive overload caused by an excess of audible information, and (7) skepticism regarding the accuracy of health records. mHealth technologies seem to positively affect the health and health management of participants. CONCLUSIONS: Design considerations for mHealth technologies should consider individuals' disabilities and chronic conditions and should emphasize the importance of providing accessible manuals and training opportunities when introducing new mHealth solutions.

RESUMEN

The coronavirus disease pandemic has created a crisis for patients with chronic kidney disease, as far as getting treatment facilities are concerned. The crisis is more intense in developing countries where the health system is more vulnerable due to poor infrastructures and insufficient health professionals. Bangladesh, being a developing nation, is also facing similar challenges to provide sufficient services to patients with chronic kidney disease. In this short report, we have discussed the challenges and barriers non-COVID chronic kidney disease patients are facing in terms of healthcare access along with getting proper medical interventions and suggested probable strategies to minimize the suffering.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: With deteriorating ecosystems, the health of mankind is at risk. Future health care professionals must be trained to recognize the interdependence of health and ecosystems to address the needs of their patients and communities. Health issues related to, e.g. climate change and air pollution, are not, however, generally included in medical education. OBJECTIVES: To assess the inclusion of climate change and air pollution in medical curricula and to guide the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations' (IFMSA) Vision of Climate Change in the Medical Curriculum. METHODS: A study comprising three surveys (March 2019, August 2019, March 2020) explored medical students' perceptions of the current status of formal and non-formal elements of climate change and air pollution and health in their medical programs. RESULTS: Respondents originated from 2817 medical schools in 112 countries. Only 15% of medical schools have incorporated climate change and health into the curriculum. Students led climate-related activities in an additional 12% of medical schools. With regard to air pollution and health, only 11% of medical schools have formal education on the topic. CONCLUSIONS: It is crucial to acknowledge the current omissions from medical curricula and the importance of meaningful student involvement in curriculum transformation.

Asunto(s)