Phone Application Research Articles

Texting for life: a mobile phone application to connect pregnant women with emergency transport and obstetric care in rural Nigeria

BackgroundDifficulty in transportation to access skilled providers has been cited repeatedly as a major barrier to utilization of emergency obstetric care in Nigeria.ObjectiveThe objective of this paper is to describe the design, implementation, and outcomes of a mobile phone technology aimed at rapidly reaching rural Nigerian women who experience pregnancy complications with emergency transportation and access to providers.MethodThe project was implemented in 20 communities in two predominantly rural Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Edo State, in southern Nigeria, as part of a larger implementation project aimed at improving the access of rural women to skilled pregnancy care. The digital health innovation named Text4Life, allowed women to send a brief message from their mobile phone to a server linked to Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities and to access pre-registered transport owners. Pregnant women were registered and taught to text short messages to a server from their mobile phones or those of a friend or relative when they experience complications.ResultsOver 18 months, 56 women out of 1620 registered women (3.5%) texted the server requesting emergency transportation. Of this number, 51 were successfully transported to the PHC facilities, 46 were successfully treated at the PHC, and five were referred to higher-level care facilities. No maternal deaths occurred during the period, while four perinatal deaths were recorded.ConclusionWe conclude that a rapid short message sent from a mobile phone to a central server and connected to transport providers and health facility managers is effective in increasing the access of pregnant women to skilled emergency obstetric services in rural Nigeria.

Generation and application of a convolutional neural networks algorithm in evaluating stool consistency in diapers.

The aim of the study was to develop a deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) algorithm for automated assessment of stool consistency from diaper photographs and test its performance under real-world conditions. Diaper photographs were enrolled via a mobile phone application. The stool consistency was assessed independently according to the Brussels Infant and Toddler Stool Scale (BITSS) by paediatricians. These images were randomised into a training data set and a test data set. After training and testing, the new algorithm was used under real-world conditions by parents. There was an overall agreement of 92.9% between paediatricians and the CNN-generated algorithm. Post hoc classification into the validated 4 categories of the BITSS yielded an agreement of 95.4%. Spearman correlation analysis across the ranking of 7 BITSS photographs and validated 4 categories showed a significant correlation of rho=0.93 (95% CI, 0.92, 0.94; p < 0.001) and rho=0.92 (95% CI, 0.90, 0.93; p < 0.001), respectively. The real-world application yielded further insights into changes in stool consistency between age categories and mode of feeding. The new CNN-based algorithm is able to reliably identify stool consistency from diaper photographs and may support the communication between parents and paediatricians.

IMPEDIMENTS IN THE ADOPTION OF NEW TECHNOLOGY AMONG ELDERLY

A Smartphone is a mobile phone that allows you to do more than just make and receive phone calls and text messages. Smartphones are computer-like in that they can access the Internet and run software programmes. Users interact with smartphones via a touch screen. Thousands of smartphone apps are available, including games, personal-use apps, and business-use apps.&#x0D; The elderly have always had a lot of difficulties adopting new technology. However, as the world's population grows, seniors are increasingly adopting more digitally connected lifestyles. According to American research, more than half of older people who own cell phones now own a Smartphone, up from 23% in 2013. The percentage of seniors who own a smartphone varies greatly by age. Smartphones are owned by 59% of people aged 65 to 69, and 49% of people aged 70 to 74. This significantly decreases in the mid-70s and beyond. Previously, mobile phone applications could only make and receive calls and text messages. Modern phones, on the other hand, go far beyond their traditional functions and provide a diverse range of applications. It could be linked to self-management activities like instrumental daily living activities, increasing social contacts among older people to reduce loneliness, and expanding access to knowledge. It has recently been used to communicate with health experts, as well as to increase autonomy and self-care. However, the aforementioned pastimes remain the most popular among the elderly (Subramanyam, 2018).

Public Security vs Personal Privacy: Analysis of PeduliLindungi from Open Government and Surveillance State Perspectives

The COVID-19 pandemic has driven the development of the implementation of surveillance states in various countries worldwide. As various countries go all out to control the spread of the pandemic, the central pillar used in controlling the pandemic is tracking social mobility and collecting citizen data on a massive scale. The development of digital surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic has increasingly heated the debate regarding the dilemma between public security and citizens’ privacy. Indonesia’s PeduliLindungi is a mobile phone application that played a central role as the instrument for pandemic surveillance. This study aims to analyze PeduliLindungi as the object of research. The analysis focuses on whether PeduliLindungi is more likely based on the principles of open government or surveillance state. This study concludes that when viewed based on the features of the PeduliLindungi application, the terms and conditions of use of the application, to the privacy policy applied by the PeduliLindungi application, the PeduliLindungi application is more oriented toward open government rather than a surveillance state.&#x0D; Keywords: pandemic COVID-19, public security, personal privacy, PeduliLindungi, open government, surveillance state

An integrated system for the acoustic monitoring of goat farms

Effective precision livestock farming requires the availability of reliable and up-to-date data characterizing the animals and environment of interest. This work presents the design, architecture, and implementation of a wireless acoustic sensor network for monitoring goat farms on a 24/7 basis. In addition, we define a hierarchical organization of the involved sound classes exhaustively covering every aspect of the encountered goat vocalizations. Moreover, we developed an annotation tool tailored to the specifics of the problem at hand, i.e. a big, real-world data environment, able to meaningfully assist the annotation of goat vocalizations via a suitable sound classification module. On top of that, a mobile phone application was developed facilitating authorized users to remotely access information describing the situation on the farm site. Importantly, such a non-invasive monitoring framework was installed in 4 different sites located in Northern Italy while taking into account their diverse characteristics.

Effectiveness of mHealth Interventions in Medication Adherence among Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review.

mHealth interventions have been reported to improve adherence to long-term therapies in chronic conditions. Therefore, this study aimed at determining the effectiveness of mHealth interventions in medication adherence among patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), a leading cause of mortality globally. Relying on our inclusion criteria and the PRISMA recommendations, a literature search was carried out in the PubMed, Medline, and ProQuest databases for primary studies that investigated the impact of mHealth on medication adherence for cardiovascular disease (CVD) between 2000-2021. A total of 23 randomized controlled trials with 34,915 participants matched the selection criteria. The mHealth interventions used included text messages, mobile phone applications, and voice calls, which were used either as a single intervention or combined. Additionally, studies on enhancing drug adherence had contradictory findings: most of the studies elaborated positive results; however, six studies were unable to reveal any significant effect. Finally, a risk bias analysis revealed varying outcomes across all studies. This review, as a whole, supported the notion that mHealth interventions can be effective in improving adherence to CVD medication even though they could not improve adherence to all CVD medications when compared with controls. Further trials with more refined designs integrated with comprehensive interventions are needed to produce better health outcomes.

Interactive, Educational, and Fun? Yes, Learning Labs are Back!

Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Annual MeetingFull AccessInteractive, Educational, and Fun? Yes, Learning Labs are Back!Nick ZagorskiNick ZagorskiSearch for more papers by this authorPublished Online:26 Feb 2023https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.pn.2023.03.3.31AbstractAttendees can learn about such topics as entering a career in academic medicine and mastering social media, as well as improving their use of telepsychiatry in a post-pandemic world.Love it or loathe it, social media is becoming a massive platform for spreading news and information about mental health. Several sessions at this year’s Annual Meeting will discuss the role of social media in psychiatric practice, including a special presentation that will be a part of APA’s Learning Labs. Social Media–Related Sessions“#American Idols—the Role of Influencers in Shaping the Public’s Understanding and Utilization of Mental Health Care.” Chair: Anna Russell, D.O.“Alternatives to Facts: Mental Health Impact of Social Media, Phone Applications, and Technology.” Chair: Pratik Bahekar, M.B.B.S.“The Future of Mental Health Is Social Media.” Chair: Simone Ariel Bernstein, M.D.“Technologies to Advance Access to Mental Health: Social Media, Texting, and 988.” Chair: John Luo, M.D.“#American Idols—the Role of Influencers in Shaping the Public’s Understanding and Utilization of Mental Health Care.” Chair: Anna Russell, D.O.“Social Media and Psychiatry: Effects of Social Media on Users, Research, Advocacy, Networking, and Intervention Opportunities.” Chair: Mariana Pinto Da Costa, M.D.“Social Media for Seniors: Pros, Cons, and Scams.” Chair: Maria D. Llorente, M.D.“Virtually Represented: The Impact of Social Media Usage on Trainee Wellness.” Chair: Carisa Maureen Kymissis, M.D.“Mission-Based Media Collaborative Work Concerning ‘Controversial’ Topics in Psychiatry.” Chair: Jessica Gold, M.D.“Using Social Media to Educate, Advocate, and Empower.” Chair: Jake Goodman, M.D., M.B.A.Yes, APA’s popular educational workshops are making a grand return at the San Francisco meeting. The eight interactive sessions slated for this year include the panel session titled “Using Social Media to Educate, Advocate, and Empower,” which will be chaired by Jake Goodman, M.D. Goodman, a psychiatry resident at the University of Miami’s Jackson Memorial Hospital, became a social media sensation during the COVID-19 pandemic with a series of photos and videos advocating for mental health awareness and detailing his own challenges with depression to his more than 2 million followers. “Social media can appear overwhelming and intimidating. And that’s OK. We never had a lecture in medical school about how to create a video or write a tweet to educate the public about a new medical advancement,” Goodman said. But with a little help from the panelists, participants can learn how to write engaging content and build an online brand. All they need to do is bring a phone and an open mind.Other Learning Labs slated for this year include the following:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation [TMS]: Future Innovations and Clinical Applications for Psychiatric Practice: This panel session will highlight the many high-tech advances in TMS since the first magnetic device was cleared in 2008, as well as low-tech strategies any clinician can use to optimize TMS therapy.Launching and Navigating a Successful Career in Academic Medicine: Any young physician interested in academia has a chance to learn from one of the best: Laura A. Roberts, M.D., M.A., the Katharine Dexter McCormick and Stanley McCormick Memorial Professor and chair of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine.Crises Simulation Lab: In this returning event, participants will learn some of the basics of how to respond effectively in a crisis—natural or manmade—and get a chance to play one of many responder roles in a simulation of a crisis event.Learning Neuroscience Through Interactive Activities: Who said learning can’t be fun? Attendees at this workshop will get to experience the “Brain-ival” as they form teams and tackle puzzles, trivia, and more. Along the way, they will also learn important elements of neuroscience, the foundation of psychiatric knowledge.LAI Workshop: Long-acting injectable antipsychotics are a highly effective yet highly underused option for treating patients with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Donna Rolin, Ph.D., A.P.R.N., director of the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program at the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing, will offer important details on how to prepare and administer these injections.How to Set Up a Tele-Practice: While many psychiatrists are using telehealth services today, undoubtedly many still have questions on technical and regulatory guidelines. This interactive session will review the important considerations related to establishing and/or maintaining a fully virtual or hybrid practice. Topics include equipment selection, licensure requirements, maintaining privacy, and more.Hearing Voices: In this moving workshop, attendees will get an idea of what it’s like to experience auditory hallucinations. It is hoped that participants will gain empathy and reassess their thoughts on positive symptoms as they attempt to carry out routine clinical activities while experiencing distracting audio stimuli designed by people with lived experience. ■ ISSUES NewArchived

The role of secure instant messaging applications in medical education: Evaluating student satisfaction in a case-based learning program using Siilo.

Instant messaging applications for mobile phones have recently grown in popularity among medical personnel, including both physicians and medical students. During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical education was largely transferred to virtual platforms, making such applications an increasingly important tool for medical education. "Siilo" is a secure instant messaging application that was designed for medical professionals, and offers several advantages over other instant messaging services that are vital for its use in medical settings, including information security, data encryption, and a built-in blurring tool to maintain patient privacy. In addition, Siilo allows for the creation of individual folders for each case, enabling users to conduct separate discussions about multiple patients simultaneously. To evaluate student satisfaction in a case-based learning program using Siilo as a medical education tool in improving student learning outcomes and motivation. A case-based learning program was conducted with 24 fifth-year medical students using Siilo to evaluate its effectiveness as a medical education tool. The program was evaluated through the use of pre- and post-program questionnaires and focus group discussions to assess student satisfaction. The majority of students (83.3%) were highly satisfied with the Siilo platform and felt that it enhanced their learning experience, and a majority of students (79.1%) reported that the program was highly effective. Students reported that the platform was easy to use and provided a clear and organized way to follow discussions about cases. The focus group discussions further revealed that students appreciated the real-time communication and felt that the use of Siilo helped to improve the quality of communication and collaboration during the learning process. The use of Siilo as a medical education tool was found to contribute to positive relationships between doctors and students and improve student motivation for learning and outcomes. These findings suggest that Siilo can be a valuable resource for medical education, particularly due to its secure and convenient features, which are well-suited for use in medical settings. The use of Siilo in a case-based learning program was found to be effective in improving student satisfaction and learning outcomes and contributed to positive relationships between doctors and students. These results highlight the potential for utilizing mobile instant messaging apps as a tool for enhancing clinical teaching in medical education.

Use of Mobile Phone Applications in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: Scoping Review

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation has to start as early as possible to increase the survival rate of life. The mobile phone application is one of the method that can be used to deliver victims immediately to seek help and provide guidance in these situation. This study aims to search the literature and analyze articles discussing the use of mobile phones in Cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The design used was a scooping literature review with PRISMA adaptation. Articles were searched using databases: ProQuest, ScienceDirect, ResearchGate, which is accessed in Google Scholar. The keywords of article search were using mobile phone and CPR. The initial stage of searching for information with the online database accessed at lib.ui.ac.id appeared 62 articles that brought them to the database. Furthermore, a search was carried out on Google Scholar which displayed 4.220 articles. From the search results, nine articles were found that matched the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Then a selection was made according to the inclusion criteria, articles from 2020 due to the latest 2020 AHA references. Full text and free forms are available, articles related to mobile phones and CPR. Exclusion criteria, articles that appear only abstract, the year before AHA 2020 and the suitability of the content is different from keyword searches. Results: Based on nine literature that requirements according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, the use of mobile phones could show a positive effect by activating a cellphone-based warning system that could detect cardiac arrest victims out of hospital, provided guidance the procedure at the right time, and assisted CPR outcomes with return of spontaneous circulation. Mobile phone applications can assist initiated-CPR immediately, provide guidance of procedures, and leads to better outcomes. In Indonesia there is no mobile phone application for CPR assistance, taking into account the increasing number of cardiac arrests and respiratory arrests both outside the hospital and inside the hospital, this application is expected to be able to help victims in a timely manner, guide rescuers and return circulation. spontaneous

Assessing the accuracy of free automated plant identification applications

AbstractWidely available and inexpensive mobile phone applications offer users, whether professional ecologists or interested amateurs, the potential for simple and rapid automated identification of species, without the need to use field guides and identification keys. The increasing accuracy of machine learning is well established, but it is currently unclear if, and under what circumstances, free‐to‐use mobile phone applications are accurate for identifying plants to species level in real‐world field conditions.We test five popular and free identification applications for plants using 857 professionally identified images of 277 species from 204 genera. Across all applications, 85% of images were identified correctly in the top five suggestions, and 69% were correct with the first suggestion. Plant type (woody, forbs, grasses, rushes/sedges, ferns/horsetails) was a significant determinant of identification performance for each application. For some applications, image saliency was also important; exposure and focus were not significant.Applications performed well, with at least one of the three best‐performing applications identifying 96% of images correctly as their first suggestion. We conclude that, subject to some caveats, free phone‐based plant identification applications are valid and useful tools for those wanting rapid identification and for anyone wanting to engage with the natural world.Read the freePlain Language Summaryfor this article on the Journal blog.

Taking Placebos as Needed to Reduce Appetite: A Randomized Controlled Trial with Ecological Momentary Assessment.

Placebos can reduce appetite. However, when placebos are prescribed over a longer period of time, compliance and response rates are not always satisfactory. A new administration approach 'as needed' was tested to improve adherence to placebo treatment and its effectiveness. Participants could decide on the time of placebo intake (when their appetite had increased substantially). A randomized controlled trial was conducted over seven days. The participants were allocated to one of two groups: a placebo group (PG; n = 41) or a control group with no placebo treatment (CG; n = 34). During the intervention, participants used a mobile phone application to rate their daily appetite, mood, and the occurrence of binge-eating episodes in their normal environment. The placebo effect was short-lived; the placebo reduced self-reported appetite only on days 1 and 2 of the trial. The placebo neither influenced mood nor binge-eating frequency. This study found an app-assisted approach with continuous monitoring to be helpful for identifying the temporal course of the placebo response. Future placebo trials should implement this method.

The Effect of Health Belief Model-based Education on Empowering Cardiovascular Patients for Medication Adherence

Background: Medication adherence is one of the most significant factors in optimally controlling cardiovascular disease. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Health Belief Model (HBM)-based education on medication adherence of cardiovascular patients. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, participants were 45 patients discharged from CCU ward of Ali Ibn Abitalib Hospital in 2020, Rafsanjan, Iran. Participants allocated into intervention or control group by simple randomization. For five weeks, the intervention group received weekly medication adherence educational package using a mobile phone application, through the WhatsApp messenger. The control group received routine care. Data collected using demographic questionnaire and Morisky Drug Adherence scale as well as the researcher-made HBM questionnaire, before and three months after the intervention. The data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics and independent samples t-test, chi-square test and repeated measures ANOVA. Results: The drug adherence scores of the patients in the intervention group (6.63 ± 1.71) significantly increased than control group (5.29 ± 1.85) three months later (P = 0.006). Moreover, the mean score of the components of the HBM included perceived benefits, perceived self-efficacy and perceived barriers were significantly increased in the intervention group (P &lt; 0.001) Conclusions: Health Belief Model-based education through WhatsApp Messenger promote the drug adherence of cardiovascular patients, through improving self-efficacy, improving the understanding of the benefits as well as reducing perceived barriers. Therefore, utilizing this method may be a practical solution toward enhancing the drug adherence of cardiovascular patients.

A Multicenter Study Investigating the Surgeon Experience with a Robotic-Assisted Exoscope as Part of the Neurosurgical Armamentarium

Improvement of visualization tools in neurosurgery such as the exoscope has raised the question of how this technology compares to the conventional microscope for surgeon ergonomics, discomfort, and patient outcomes. Exoscopes have the advantage of greater optical zoom, resolution, and illumination at a lower light intensity. Heads-up display for both the primary surgeon and other assistants permits neutral positioning of the surgeons while placing the camera in more angled positions. In a survey sample, this study assesses the surgeon experience utilizing 3D exoscope in general neurosurgery cases. Data weere recorded by 8 surgeons at 5 separate hospitals utilizing a mobile phone application survey. Surgeons recorded information about case type, intraoperative clinical outcomes such as blood loss and extent of resection, whether fluorescence visualization was used, as well as surgeon pain when compared to matched cases using conventional tools. A total of 155 neurosurgical cases were recorded in this multisite study, including 72% cranial cases and 28% spinal cases. Of the cranial cases, 76% were brain tumor resections (31% of which were brain metastases). Surgeons reported significantly less neck (P < 0.0001) and back (P < 0.0001) pain in cases when using the robotic exoscope compared with the conventional microscope or surgical loupes. Surgeons did not convert to a microscope in any case. The exoscope provides excellent delineation of tissue with high resolution. Surgeon pain was markedly reduced with the robotic exoscope when compared with conventional technology, which may reduce work-related injury and fatigue, potentially leading to better patient outcomes.

Perceptions and attitudes of patients and healthcare workers towards the use of telemedicine in Botswana: An exploratory study.

In March 2020, the Botswana Ministry of Health and Wellness approved a National eHealth Strategy. Although a milestone, the strategy does not mention telemedicine. There is need to address this by developing an evidence-based adjunct strategy for telemedicine to facilitate its introduction and adoption. To do so, several stages of a published eHealth Strategy Development Framework were mimicked. This allowed situational awareness to be created through exploring behavioural factors and perceptions that might influence the adoption of telemedicine in Botswana. The study aim was to explore current issues, concerns, perceptions, attitudes, views, and knowledge of patients and healthcare professionals regarding health-related issues and telemedicine that might influence implementation of telemedicine in Botswana and thereby inform future development of a telemedicine strategy. An exploratory survey study was conducted using different survey questionnaires for patients and healthcare professionals, each using a mix of open- and closed-ended questions. These questionnaires were administered to convenience samples of healthcare professionals and patients at 12 public healthcare facilities in Botswana; seven clinics (three rural; four urban), and five hospitals (two primary, two district, and one tertiary), selected to align with the country's decentralised healthcare structure. Fifty-three healthcare professionals and 89 patients participated. Few healthcare professionals had actively used telemedicine for clinical consults and self-education using telephone calls, cell phone apps, or video conferencing (doctors 42%, nurses 10%). Only a few health facilities had telemedicine installations. Healthcare professional preference for future telemedicine uses were e-learning (98%), clinical services (92%), and health informatics (electronic records (87%). All healthcare professionals (100%) and most patients (94%) were willing to use and participate in telemedicine programmes. Open-ended responses showed additional perspective. Resource shortages (health human resources and infrastructure) were key to both groups. Convenience, cost effectiveness, and increased remote patient access to specialists were identified as enablers to telemedicine use. However inhibitors were cultural and traditional beliefs, although privacy, security and confidentiality were also identified. Results were consistent with findings from other developing countries. Although use, knowledge, and awareness of telemedicine are low, general acceptance, willingness to use, and understanding of benefits are high. These findings bode well for development of a telemedicine-specific strategy for Botswana, complementary to the National eHealth Strategy, to guide more systematic adoption and application of telemedicine in the future.

Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of ProActive Caring (PAC) phone application: Prevention of caregiver burden

Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of ProActive Caring (PAC) phone application: Prevention of caregiver burden

Early Hospital Discharge on Day Two Post Robotic Lobectomy with Telehealth Home Monitoring: A Pilot Study.

Despite the adoption of enhanced recovery programs, the reported postoperative length of stay after robotic surgery is 4 days even in highly specialized centers. We report preliminary results of a pilot study for a new protocol of early discharge (on day 2) with telehealth home monitoring after robotic lobectomy for lung cancer. All patients with a caregiver were discharged on postoperative day 2 with a telemonitoring device if they satisfied specific discharge criteria. Teleconsultations were scheduled once in the afternoon of post-operative day 2, twice on postoperative day 3, and then once a day until the chest tube removal. Post-discharge vital signs were recorded by patients at least four times daily through the device and were available for consultation by two surgeons through phone application. In case of sudden variation of vital signs or occurrence of adverse events, a direct telephone line was available for patients as well as a protected re-hospitalization path. Primary outcome was the safety evaluated by the occurrence of post-discharge complications and readmissions. Secondary outcome was the evaluation of resources optimization (hospitalization days) maintaining the standard of care. During the study period, twelve patients satisfied all preoperative clinical criteria to be enrolled in our protocol. Two of twelve enrolled patients were successively excluded because they did not satisfy discharge criteria on postoperative day 2. During telehealth home monitoring a total of 27/427 vital-sign measurements violated the threshold in seven patients. Among the threshold violations, only 1 out of 27 was a critical violation and was managed at home. No postoperative complication occurred neither readmission was needed. A mean number of three hospitalization days was avoided and an estimated economic benefit of about EUR 500 for a single patient was obtained if compared with patients submitted to VATS lobectomy in the same period. These preliminary results confirm that adoption of telemonitoring allows, in selected patients, a safe discharge on postoperative day 2 after robotic surgery for early-stage NSCLC. A potential economic benefit could derive from this protocol if this data will be confirmed in larger sample.

Ecological Validation and Practical Challenges of Conducting Dietary Analysis in Athletic Individuals Using a Novel Remote Food Photography Method Mobile Phone Application

PurposeDietary analysis is an important part of the sports nutrition practitioners’ role, however the ability to accurately collect and analyze dietary intake data is questionable. The remote food photography method (RFPM) has been proposed as a low-burden and potentially valid approach to collecting and interpreting dietary intake data. Preliminary research suggests that this is valid in some athletic populations, however the ecological validation in real-life settings warrants further investigation.MethodsTwenty athletic individuals completed simultaneous three-day RFPM diaries and weighed food diaries for the analysis of energy, protein, carbohydrate, and fat. Participants were required to provide details alongside provided photographs that did not include food weights to allow for the estimation of nutrient intake from minimally invasive photographs and descriptions.ResultsRFPM demonstrated non-significant random and systematic error against the weighed food diary for energy, protein, carbohydrate, and fat at − 20.0 ± 455.5 kcal, − 2.9 ± 34.6 g, − 12.4 ± 49.3 g and 2.3 ± 26.8 g, respectively. Coefficient of variation suggest acceptable agreement between RFPM and weighed food diary for energy and poor agreement for protein, carbohydrate, and fat. Considerable variability is observed in the individual calculated values, with the least and greatest difference being 0% and − 83.0%, respectively.ConclusionThe results indicate that the RFPM may be an ecologically valid tool for the collection and analysis of dietary intake data on a group level; on an individual basis, data and subsequent recommendations based on this method must be applied with caution.

Digital Technologies to Enhance Infectious Disease Surveillance in Tanzania: A Scoping Review.

Mobile phones and computer-based applications can speed up disease outbreak detection and control. Hence, it is not surprising that stakeholders in the health sector are becoming more interested in funding these technologies in Tanzania, Africa, where outbreaks occur frequently. The objective of this situational review is, therefore, to summarize available literature on the application of mobile phones and computer-based technologies for infectious disease surveillance in Tanzania and to inform on existing gaps. Four databases were searched-Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Excerpta Medica Database (Embase), PubMed, and Scopus-yielding a total of 145 publications. In addition, 26 publications were obtained from the Google search engine. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were met by 35 papers: they described mobile phone-based and computer-based systems designed for infectious disease surveillance in Tanzania, were published in English between 2012 and 2022, and had full texts that could be read online. The publications discussed 13 technologies, of which 8 were for community-based surveillance, 2 were for facility-based surveillance, and 3 combined both forms of surveillance. Most of them were designed for reporting purposes and lacked interoperability features. While undoubtedly useful, the stand-alone character limits their impact on public health surveillance.

Test–retest reliability and validity of cervical range of motion measurement using a smartphone clinometer and compass application among individuals with and without neck pain

Background/Aims Cervical disorders are major health problems in our society and an important source of disability. Assessing range of motion is a significant part of the physical therapist’s role when evaluating a patient presenting with cervical disorders. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intrarater relibility as well as the criterion validity of two phone applications (clinometer and compass) when assessing the cervical range of motion among individuals with and without neck pain. Methods In total, 80 participants were included in this study and split into two groups. Group A comprised 40 participants (18 women and 22 men) without neck pain. Group B included 40 participants (26 women and 14 men) with neck pain (mean pain rating on visual analogue scale 3.76 ± 0.93). Cervical range of motion was measured with the clinometer application (flexion, extension, right and left lateral flexion) and compass application (right and left rotation). The readings were compared with a universal goniometer. Estimates of reliability and validity were then established using the intraclass correlation coefficient, standard error of measurement and minimum detectable change. Results The smartphone applications had good intrarater reliability when compared to a universal goniometer, showing good to excellent validity (intraclass correlation coefficient &gt;0.65) for all six cervical ranges of motion in participants with and without neck pain. Conclusions The smartphone clinometer application was found to be valid and reliable in measuring frontal and sagittal cervical ranges of motion in participants with and without neck pain. The compass application was found to be valid and reliable when assessing the horizontal cervical range of motion in a seated position. The applications will benefit physiotherapists when assessing cervical range of motion.

Broadband Dual-Polarized mm-Wave Antenna Array With Grating Structure for Mobile Devices

In this letter, a broadband dual-polarized millimeter-wave (mm-wave) antenna array for smartphone application is proposed. Different from previous designations, this array utilizes circular-shaped slot to realize a wideband dual-polarized radiation. In addition, a novel grating structure is adopted for circular slot. With the proposed structure, a better radiation performance is realized. Operating frequency of this antenna array is measured from 26 to 38 GHz, which is calculated for more than 30% of bandwidth. In its operating band, return loss of each antenna units exceeds 10 dB and isolation between V-pol and H-pol reaches more than 15 dB. In addition, total efficiency of whole antenna array exceeds −2 dB. Peak realized gain of this antenna array reaches 12.6 and 12.5 dBi for V-pol and H-pol, respectively. Hence, the proposed antenna structure can be a promising candidate for mm-wave application in smartphone.