RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Information and communication technology (ICT) in the work environment continues to change the landscape of the workplace. This technology allows employees to have greater flexibility when accessing information and communicating with those not physically present. The goal of the current study was to investigate the relationships between workplace telepressure, workaholism, and ICT boundary creation. The moderating role of ICT boundary creation in the relationship between workaholism and workplace telepressure was also examined. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE: The sample consisted of 317 full-time faculty and staff at a large Southeastern university. Participants were recruited through an email distribution service, LISTSERV, that contains potential respondents' university email addresses. Prior to starting the Qualtrics survey, participants were shown an informed consent form indicating that their participation is voluntary, and responses will be confidential and anonymous. When they completed the form, respondents were evaluated on measures of workplace telepressure, workaholism, and ICT boundary creation. RESULTS: Workplace telepressure was positively related to workaholism (and its subscales) and negatively related to ICT boundary creation. Furthermore, workaholism was negatively related to ICT boundary creation. Additionally, both workaholism and ICT boundary creation had significant partial effects for predicting workplace telepressure. CONCLUSIONS: As ICTs become more popular in the workforce, organizations must be aware of how the additional ease of access that ICTs provide affects employees. Setting ICT boundaries serves as a way to reduce the negative influence that workaholism and workplace telepressure have on workers.

RESUMEN

OBJECTIVES: Later life is often categorized by higher-than-average levels of loneliness, but individual differences are vast and not well understood. Emerging evidence indicates that broad-based contextual factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic - and the use of the internet throughout - are differentially associated with the experience of loneliness. We therefore target internet usage and loneliness among middle-aged and older adults during the pandemic and examine the moderating role of age, gender, and limiting illness therein. METHODS: We applied hierarchical regression models to data from the COVID-19 sub-study Wave 1 (June/July 2020) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (N= 4,790; Mage= 70.2; SD= 9.0; range: 50-90; 43.5% male). RESULTS: Infrequent internet use was associated with less loneliness compared to very frequent users - an association that strengthened with age. Conversely, purpose of internet use was associated with more loneliness, with higher levels exhibited by those searching for health-related information - an effect stronger among those with a limiting illness. DISCUSSION: Findings imply that infrequent internet use may reduce loneliness, while health-related internet searches may increase loneliness among older adults with different physical capacities. Findings are contrary to pre-pandemic reports, underscoring the importance of broad-based contextual factors for understanding loneliness across adulthood and old age.

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) poses significant challenges for patients, requiring continuous monitoring and self-management to improve quality of life. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the viewpoints of individuals living with IBD on the use of information and communication technology (ICT) for the self-management of their condition, with a particular focus on the concept of a "smart" toilet seat as an example of ICT for IBD self-management. METHODS: We conducted an analysis of questionnaire responses obtained from 724 participants. They were encouraged to share their use cases and identify any perceived barriers associated with ICT adoption for managing their condition. To assess their responses, we used descriptive quantitative analysis, summative content analysis, and thematic qualitative analysis. We combined these results in an epistemic network analysis to look for meaningful patterns in the responses. RESULTS: Of the 724 participants, more than half (n=405, 55.9%) were already using various forms of ICT for IBD self-management. The primary factor influencing their use of ICT was their affinity for interacting with technology. Distinct differences emerged between individuals who were using ICT and those who were not, particularly regarding their perceived use cases and concerns. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides valuable insights into the perspectives of individuals with IBD on the use of ICT for self-management. To facilitate wider adoption, addressing privacy concerns, ensuring data security, and establishing reliable ICT integration will be critical.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

The regional boom in digital economy has provided people with remote conversations and socialization while reducing the risk of depression. This study aims to elucidate whether regional digital economy can be a savior for individual depression. The multi-source dataset collects 11,845 individuals from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2018 (CHARLS), with the combination of corresponding regional data from China City Statistical Yearbooks. A series of regressions with integrated mediation and moderation analyses are employed to bridge the link between the digital economy and depression. The results suggest that people living in areas with a higher level of digital economy are less likely to suffer from depression. The development of the digital economy helps people find solace or air grievances more easily, thereby reducing the risk of depression. Individual information and communications technology (ICT) engagement is found to mediate the relationship between the regional digital economy and individual depression. Residence type moderates the association between the three casual pairs of digital economy, ICT engagement, and depression. Improved digitization stimulates personal engagement with ICTs, which in turn expands social connections and support. Strengthened social interactions naturally keep depression away. Moreover, the urban-rural differences further confirm the underlying mechanism. Properly embracing the new digital world can therefore benefit from the transformative potential and mitigate depressive outcomes.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Initiatives to share assets in the life science sector through dedicated partnerships had and still have a multitude of different aspects in the past few decades. The range goes from industry partners, small and big companies, in bilateral agreements with academic institutions up to large privately and publicly funded consortia. In general, the term public-private partnership (PPP) is used when at least one public (non-profit, academic, and/or government) part and one or more private for-profit partners are involved. A Public-Private Partnership is often driven by a public body, i.e. a ministry or a public agency. Their synergism has been described 10 years ago (Dearing, Science 315(19):344-347, 2007; Casty and Wieman, Ther Innov Regul Sci 47(3):375-383, 2013; Stevens et al., Biotechnol Law Rep 34(4):153-165, 2015). So why view this synergism again today? It will be shown that the situation in life science has changed: novel partners acting digital, data expertise being involved on many levels and novel partnering models arising. Success and challenges will be described in this chapter.

RESUMEN

During the coronavirus pandemic, face-to-face simulation education became impossible. Therefore, we aimed to develop remote-access simulation education with a sense of realism through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) using a perinatal whole-body management and delivery simulator. In September 2021, we administered a multi-center simultaneous remote simulation based on our developed model. Ten universities in the Chugoku-Shikoku region were connected via a web-conferencing system to a live broadcast of a virtual vaginal birth in which a fictional hospitalized pregnant woman experienced accelerated labor and gave birth through vacuum delivery for fetal distress. A Video on Demand (VOD) was made beforehand using a new simulator that allowed for a visual understanding of the process of the inter-vaginal examination. We provided a participatory program that enhanced the sense of realism by combining VOD and real-time lectures on each scenario, with two-way communication between participants and trainee doctors using a chat function. Most participants answered "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with the content, level of difficulty, and level of understanding. From November 2021, we have used the videos of all processes in face-to-face classes. Our construction of a high-flexibility education system using remote simulation in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, especially in the vaginal delivery module, is unique, creative, and sustainable.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Unlabelled: Virtual care appointments expanded rapidly during COVID-19 out of necessity and to enable access and continuity of care for many patients. While previous work has explored health care providers' experiences with telehealth usage on small-scale projects, the broad-level adoption of virtual care during the pandemic has expounded opportunities for a better understanding of how to enhance the integration of telehealth as a regular mode of health care services delivery. Training and education for health care providers on the effective use of virtual care technologies are factors that can help facilitate improved adoption and use. We describe our approach to designing and developing an accredited continuing professional development (CPD) program using e-learning technologies to foster better knowledge and comfort among health care providers with the use of virtual care technologies. First, we discuss our approach to undertaking a systematic needs assessment study using a survey questionnaire of providers, key informant interviews, and a patient focus group. Next, we describe our steps in consulting with key stakeholder groups in the health system and arranging committees to inform the design of the program and address accreditation requirements. The instructional design features and aspects of the e-learning module are then described in depth, and our plan for evaluating the program is shared as well. As a CPD modality, e-learning offers the opportunity to enhance access to timely continuing professional education for health care providers who may be geographically dispersed across rural and remote communities.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Healthcare in Germany is divided into various service sectors, which differ in terms of outpatient and inpatient care as well as the legal and financial bases. The resulting breaks in consecutive patient care are to be overcome by integrating services into cross-sectoral processes (integrated care). Digitalization and the associated use of information and communication technology (ICT) play a decisive role in this. To derive implications and benefits it is necessary to classify the technical possibilities. For this purpose, eHealth is the basic generic term for all process support and direct patient applications that are based on the electronic exchange of data. A distinction can be made between technology for process support and technology for direct application on the patient. Applications in all categories are suitable for ensuring that interfaces in the flow of information between those involved in healthcare processes are adequately managed by eHealth. Furthermore, the allocation of specialized medicine through eHealth is independent of location and sector. New possibilities for generating and using structured data for evidence development and care research are realized through eHealth and the development of existing and new care models will be promoted.

RESUMEN

Background: Indonesia has rapidly embraced digital health, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 15 million daily health application users. To advance its digital health vision, the government is prioritizing the development of health data and application systems into an integrated health care technology ecosystem. This initiative involves all levels of health care, from primary to tertiary, across all provinces. In particular, it aims to enhance primary health care services (as the main interface with the general population) and contribute to Indonesia's digital health transformation. Objective: This study assesses the information and communication technology (ICT) maturity in Indonesian health care services to advance digital health initiatives. ICT maturity assessment tools, specifically designed for middle-income countries, were used to evaluate digital health capabilities in 9 provinces across 5 Indonesian islands. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from February to March 2022, in 9 provinces across Indonesia, representing the country's diverse conditions on its major islands. Respondents included staff from public health centers (Puskesmas), primary care clinics (Klinik Pratama), and district health offices (Dinas Kesehatan Kabupaten/Kota). The survey used adapted ICT maturity assessment questionnaires, covering human resources, software and system, hardware, and infrastructure. It was administered electronically and involved 121 public health centers, 49 primary care clinics, and 67 IT staff from district health offices. Focus group discussions were held to delve deeper into the assessment results and gain more descriptive insights. Results: In this study, 237 participants represented 3 distinct categories: 121 public health centers, 67 district health offices, and 49 primary clinics. These instances were selected from a sample of 9 of the 34 provinces in Indonesia. Collected data from interviews and focus group discussions were transformed into scores on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 indicating low ICT readiness and 5 indicating high ICT readiness. On average, the breakdown of ICT maturity scores was as follows: 2.71 for human resources' capability in ICT use and system management, 2.83 for software and information systems, 2.59 for hardware, and 2.84 for infrastructure, resulting in an overall average score of 2.74. According to the ICT maturity level pyramid, the ICT maturity of health care providers in Indonesia fell between the basic and good levels. The need to pursue best practices also emerged strongly. Further analysis of the ICT maturity scores, when examined by province, revealed regional variations. Conclusions: The maturity of ICT use is influenced by several critical components. Enhancing human resources, ensuring infrastructure, the availability of supportive hardware, and optimizing information systems are imperative to attain ICT maturity in health care services. In the context of ICT maturity assessment, significant score variations were observed across health care levels in the 9 provinces, underscoring the diversity in ICT readiness and the need for regionally customized follow-up actions.

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: As the global population ages and the number of older adults living alone increases, societies face the responsibility of building new support systems and providing novel forms of care to ensure the independence and happiness of sick or frail older individuals. This quasi-experimental study examined the association between information and communication technology-based smart care services and the physical and cognitive functions of older individuals living alone. METHODS: This study used a suite of smart technologies (artificial intelligence speaker, radar sensor, and personalized exercise App.) and interventions tailored to the initial physical functional scores of the participants. A total of 176 participants were recruited and assigned, with 88 participants in the intervention group and 88 in the control group. The short physical performance battery (SPPB), the digit span test (DST), and the Korean mini-mental state examination (K-MMSE) were used to assess participants before and after 12 weeks. RESULTS: No significant differences in gender, age, or educational levels were observed between the intervention and control groups. After adjusting for baseline performance, analysis of covariance revealed that the intervention group exhibited better outcomes in the SPPB five-time chair stand score (adjusted score difference: 0.329; P = 0.044) and the backward DST (adjusted score difference: 0.472; P = 0.007), but had lower score of K-MMSE (adjusted score difference: -0.935; P = 0.021), indicating enhanced lower limb muscle strength and cognitive function in working memory. CONCLUSION: ICT-based smart care services, combined with personalized exercise interventions, significantly support the physical and cognitive health of solitary older individuals. This approach highlights the potential of integrating smart technology and targeted physical activity to foster the well-being of the aging population living alone.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Globally, the carbon footprint (CF) is constantly increasing, contrasting with the decreasing trend observed for decades in the European Union (EU) countries, where EU guidelines are responsibly followed and outlined in its strategic documents. Information and communication technology (ICT) carbon emissions have historically increased in parallel with global emissions, contributing to continuous increases in ICT's CF over time, even when excluding full life cycle emissions. This study examines the impact of ICT on household electricity consumption, aiming to quantify the potential reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through improved household energy efficiency. The methodology includes the data collection on ICT device usage in households within the city of Novi Sad (Republic of Serbia), employing the survey method that queries respondents on device quantities and their usage patterns. This study provides results for decision-makers to recognize concrete benefits from the transition to a circular economy (CE) and low-carbon emissions, which are reflected as benefits for the local community and socio-economic environment.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Background and Objective: The utilization of information and communications technology (ICT) to support health, known as eHealth, is a crucial enabler of universal healthcare. It is important to identify various aspects that could support or hinder eHealth, especially in limited-resource settings. This study determined the factors influencing the implementation of eHealth solutions in the Philippines, in consideration of the development process and initial outputs of the Philippine eHealth Strategic Framework and Plan 2014-2020. Methods: The descriptive-qualitative study was conducted among 15 municipalities/cities in the Philippines, recognized as early adopters of eHealth programs. Records review of eHealth solutions and key informant interviews among stakeholders (i.e., physicians and nurses) per study site were facilitated to gather data. Using directed content analysis, contextual, process, and content factors influencing eHealth implementation in the country were synthesized. Results: Results showed a range of eHealth solutions in the selected facilities, majority of which involved electronic medical records. Various contextual, process, and content-related factors could serve as facilitators or barriers to eHealth implementation in the country. Particularly, contextual factors include individual characteristics (ICT experience/training, organizational commitment, readiness for change), perceived need/urgency for eHealth (provisions, policies, regulatory issues), and third-party involvement for financial/technical support. Meanwhile, process-related factors involve implementation team practices, appropriate top-down and bottom-up approaches in leader/member engagement, and resource management (ICT equipment, stable internet connection, power supply). Content-specific factors mainly include the eHealth design (complexity, adaptability to local context and service demands, interoperability or the capacity to connect or exchange information with other platforms/systems). Notably, limitations across the three dimensions could make eHealth implementation more complicated, which could lead to poor time management and resource wastage. Conclusion: This study highlighted the importance of a multidimensional understanding of factors that influence the utility of eHealth in the health system. There is a need for leadership and governance, stakeholder engagement, resource and funding, implementation readiness, appropriate design of eHealth solutions, and proper training to ensure the successful implementation of eHealth in the country.

RESUMEN

This research studies the prevalence of digital violence exercised through new information and communication technology (ICT) among university couples. A comparative study was carried out in England, United Kingdom, and in Spain with 831 participants. A quantitative methodology was applied with different sampling: in the United Kingdom, 303 (MAge = 22.79; SD; 47.32; 58.7% male) and in Spain, 528 (MAge = 24.29; SD = 21.41; 69.5% female). An ad hoc questionnaire was used, created for the detection, measurement and analysis of digital violence within affective-sexual relationships. The results reveal proportions of 51.04% and 49.82% in the perception of digital violence through electronic devices in dating relationships among young people; 15.84% and 11.05% in the prevalence of digital violence in young couples' relationships; 9.36% and 6.17% in the prevalence of traditional violence; and 35.78% and 22.43% in the tolerance of digital violence among students, for the English and Spanish samples, respectively. The results also show a slightly lower prevalence of digital violence in the Spanish sample with respect to the English sample, where females scored slightly higher in the perpetration of digital violence. There is a need to develop awareness, training and prevention programs against digital violence in the university context.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Background: The Hispanic community represents a sizeable community that experiences inequities in the US health care system. As the system has moved toward digital health platforms, evaluating the potential impact on Hispanic communities is critical. Objective: The study aimed to investigate demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors contributing to low telehealth use in Hispanic communities. Methods: We used a retrospective observation study design to examine the study objectives. The COVID-19 Research Database Consortium provided the Analytics IQ PeopleCore consumer data and Office Alley claims data. The study period was from March 2020 to April 2021. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the odds of using telehealth services. Results: We examined 3,478,287 unique Hispanic patients, 16.6% (577,396) of whom used telehealth. Results suggested that patients aged between 18 and 44 years were more likely to use telehealth (odds ratio [OR] 1.07, 95% CI 1.05-1.1; P<.001) than patients aged older than 65 years. Across all age groups, patients with high incomes were at least 20% more likely to use telehealth than patients with lower incomes (P<.001); patients who had a primary care physician (P=.01), exhibited high medical usage (P<.001), or were interested in exercise (P=.03) were more likely to use telehealth; patients who had unhealthy behaviors such as smoking and alcohol consumption were less likely to use telehealth (P<.001). Male patients were less likely than female patients to use telehealth among patients aged 65 years and older (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.93-0.95; P<.001), while male patients aged between 18 and 44 years were more likely to use telehealth (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.03-1.07; P<.001). Among patients younger than 65 years, full-time employment was positively associated with telehealth use (P<.001). Patients aged between 18 and 44 years with high school or less education were 2% less likely to use telehealth (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97-0.99; P=.005). Results also revealed a positive association with using WebMD (WebMD LLC) among patients aged older than 44 years (P<.001), while there was a negative association with electronic prescriptions among those who were aged between 18 and 44 years (P=.009) and aged between 45 and 64 years (P=.004). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that telehealth use among Hispanic communities is dependent upon factors such as age, gender, education, socioeconomic status, current health care engagement, and health behaviors. To address these challenges, we advocate for interdisciplinary approaches that involve medical professionals, insurance providers, and community-based services actively engaging with Hispanic communities and promoting telehealth use. We propose the following recommendations: enhance access to health insurance, improve access to primary care providers, and allocate fiscal and educational resources to support telehealth use. As telehealth increasingly shapes health care delivery, it is vital for professionals to facilitate the use of all available avenues for accessing care.

RESUMEN

eHealth interventions are becoming a part of standard care, with software solutions increasingly created for patients and health care providers. Testing of eHealth software is important to ensure that the software realizes its goals. Software testing, which is comprised of alpha and beta testing, is critical to establish the effectiveness and usability of the software. In this viewpoint, we explore existing practices for testing software in health care settings. We scanned the literature using search terms related to eHealth software testing (eg, "health alpha testing," "eHealth testing," and "health app usability") to identify practices for testing eHealth software. We could not identify a single standard framework for software testing in health care settings; some articles reported frameworks, while others reported none. In addition, some authors misidentified alpha testing as beta testing and vice versa. There were several different objectives (ie, testing for safety, reliability, or usability) and methods of testing (eg, questionnaires, interviews) reported. Implementation of an iterative strategy in testing can introduce flexible and rapid changes when developing eHealth software. Further investigation into the best approach for software testing in health care settings would aid the development of effective and useful eHealth software, particularly for novice eHealth software developers.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are the second largest occupational group and the largest group in the social and healthcare sector in Finland, and they have an extensive working environment. Like other health and social care professionals, LPNs also use health information systems (HIS) and client information systems (CIS) in their daily work. The aim of this study was to describe LPNs' perceptions of the benefits of information systems in daily patient care. The information systems include the main HIS or CIS that the respondents mainly use in their work. The data comprised 3 866 LPNs' responses were collected via an online survey in 2022. Most of the LPNs work in social care using the Lifecare system. ESKO is used in public health care and was rated as the most popular system that LPNs use regarding the benefits of information systems. Highly experienced LPNs seem to rate the benefits of information systems higher than LPNs who have just started working.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Aimed at bridging the gap in continuing medical education (CME) resource availability in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the "Continuing Medical Education on Stick" (CMES) program introduces two technological solutions: a universal serial bus (USB) drive and the CMES-Pi computer facilitating access to monthly updated CME content without data cost. Feedback from users suggests a lack of content on tropical infectious diseases (IDs) and content from a Western perspective, which may be less relevant in LMIC settings. METHODS: This quality improvement project was intended to identify areas for improvement of the CMES database to better meet the educational needs of users. We compared the CMES content with the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) Exam content outline to identify gaps. The curriculum map of the CMES library, encompassing content from 2019 to 2024, was reviewed. An anonymous survey was conducted among 47 global users to gather feedback on unmet educational needs and suggestions for content improvements. All healthcare workers who were members of the CMES WhatsApp group were eligible to participate in the survey. RESULTS: The curriculum map included 2,572 items categorized into 23 areas. The comparison with the ABEM outline identified gaps in several clinical areas, including procedures, traumatic disorders, and geriatrics, which were represented -5%, -5%, and -4% in the CMES library compared with the ABEM outline, respectively. Free responses from users highlighted a lack of content on practical skills, such as electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation and management of tropical diseases. Respondents identified emergency medical services (EMS)/prehospital care (81%), diagnostic imaging (62%), and toxicology/pharmacology (40%) as the most beneficial areas for clinical practice. In response to feedback from users, new content was added to the CMES platform on the management of sickle cell disease and dermatologic conditions in darkly pigmented skin. Furthermore, a targeted podcast series called "ID for Users of the CMES Program (ID4U)" has been launched, focusing on tropical and locally relevant ID, with episodes now being integrated into the CMES platform. CONCLUSIONS: The project pinpointed critical gaps in emergency medicine (EM) content pertinent to LMICs and led to targeted enhancements in the CMES library. Ongoing updates will focus on including more prehospital medicine, diagnostic imaging, and toxicology content. Further engagement with users and education on utilizing the CMES platform will be implemented to maximize its educational impact. Future adaptations will consider local relevance over the ABEM curriculum to better serve the diverse needs of global users.

RESUMEN

Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effect of fall prevention interventions using information and communication technology (ICT). Methods: A comprehensive search across four databases was performed. The inclusion criteria were fall prevention interventions including telehealth, computerized balance training, exergaming, mobile application education, virtual reality exercise, and cognitive-behavioral training for community-dwelling adults aged ≥60 years. Results: Thirty-four studies were selected. Telehealth, smart home systems, and exergames reduced the risk of falls (RR = 0.63, 95% CI [0.54, 0.75]). Telehealth and exergame improved balance (MD = 3.30, 95% CI [1.91, 4.68]; MD = 4.40, 95% CI [3.09, 5.71]). Telehealth improved physical function (SMD = 0.69, 95% CI [0.23, 1.16]). Overall, ICT fall interventions improved fall efficacy but not cognitive function. For quality of life (QOL), mixed results were found depending on the assessment tools. Conclusion: Future investigations on telehealth, smart home systems, or exergames are needed to motivate older adults to exercise and prevent falls.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: The management of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) in older populations is usually demanding and involves care provision by various health care services, resulting in a greater burden on health care systems in terms of costs and resources. The convergence of various health services within integrated health care models, which are enabled and adopted jointly with information and communication technologies (ICTs), has been identified as an effective alternative health care solution. However, its widespread implementation faces formidable challenges. Both the development and implementation of integrated ICTs are linked to the collaboration and acceptance of different groups of stakeholders beyond patients and health care professionals, with reported discrepancies in the needs and preferences among these groups. OBJECTIVE: Complementing a previous publication, which reported on the needs and requirements of end users in the development of the European Union-funded project PROCare4Life (Personalized Integrated Care Promoting Quality of Life for Older People), this paper aimed to report on the opinions of other key stakeholders from various fields, including academia, media, market, and decision making, for improving the acceptability and implementation of an integrated ICT-based health care platform supporting the management of NDDs. METHODS: The study included 30 individual semistructured interviews that took place between June and August 2020 in 5 European countries (Germany, Italy, Portugal, Romania, and Spain). Interviews were mostly conducted online, except in cases where participants requested to be interviewed in person. In these cases, COVID-19 PROCare4Life safety procedures were applied. RESULTS: This study identified 2 themes and 5 subthemes. User engagement, providing training and education, and the role played by the media were identified as strategic measures to ensure the acceptability of ICT-based health care platforms. Sustainable funding and cooperation with authorities were foreseen as additional points to be considered in the implementation process. CONCLUSIONS: The importance of the user-centered design approach in ensuring the involvement of users in the development of ICT-based platforms has been highlighted. The most common challenges that hinder the acceptability and implementation of ICT-based health care platforms can be addressed by creating synergies among the efforts of users, academic stakeholders, developers, policy makers, and decision makers. To support future projects in developing ICT-based health care platforms, this study outlined the following recommendations that can be integrated when conducting research on users' needs: (1) properly identify the particular challenges faced by future user groups without neglecting their social and clinical contexts; (2) iteratively assess the digital skills of future users and their acceptance of the proposed platform; (3) align the functionalities of the ICT platform with the real needs of future users; and (4) involve key stakeholders to guide the reflection on how to implement the platform in the future. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR2-10.2196/22463.

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: In the enhancement of allergy care involving multidisciplinary and multiple medical departments, there is a perceived need for education that targets not only specialists but also non-specialists. However, research on the need for and methods of such education remains inadequate. OBJECTIVE: To design a remote allergy care education program for all medical practitioners and to validate its necessity and utility. METHODS: The Empowering Next Generation Allergist/immunologist toward Global Excellence Task Force (ENGAGE-TF), supported by the Japanese Society of Allergology, initiated a virtual educational program called 'Outreach Lectures' in collaboration with Keio University and Fukui University. This initiative was widely promoted through social media and various institutions, and a survey was conducted through its mailing list. RESULTS: 1139 responses were obtained. More than half were physicians from non-allergy specialties, representing a diverse range of healthcare professions. Over 70% expressed being 'very satisfied,' and over 60% found the difficulty level 'appropriate.' Free-form feedback revealed differences in learning focus based on profession and learning approach based on years of experience. CONCLUSION: The high participation rate (90%) of non-specialist physicians underscores the demand for addressing allergic conditions in primary care. The effectiveness of virtual / recurrent education, particularly for healthcare professionals with over 11 years of experience, was implied. Further follow-up investigation focusing on quantitative and objective assessment of educational effectiveness is indispensable.

Asunto(s)