Digital Monitoring Technologies Research Articles

Influence of Digital Health Technologies among Healthcare Providers on Long-term Care Services Implementation for Elderly with Disabilities

Purpose: The traditional paradigm of home care in China is not up to the challenges posed by the country's increasing population's advancing age and lack of available resources. Digital monitoring technology solutions are thought to be advantageous for managing caregivers' workloads while also improving resident safety and care quality in assisted living facilities. To effectively provide the best possible services, teamwork is crucial in New Hampshire. Due to several issues such staffing shortages, rising resident expectations, and increased demands, NH are consequently embracing the use of Knowledge Management (KM) activities more and more to facilitate knowledge development, storage, transfer, and application. Method: In China, the lack of an established system for caring for the elderly is having a significant impact on society as a whole, making it imperative to establish one. The researcher examined the real impacts of their quality management system and KM efforts on service quality, as well as the KM adjustments made by two China state NH that adopted the E-Qalin management of quality model, in the qualitative research. Additionally, the researchers looked at the approaches used by two China private NH that address service quality from a knowledge management standpoint but have not implemented a certified management of quality program. There were eighty nursing professionals in the sample. Teamwork is crucial in every NH included in this study, and each participant in the researcher’s poll is a member of a team. In this work, the researchers used linear regression to analyse connections between individual variables. Results: Between the development, transmission, and application of knowledge in the state of New Hampshire regardless of the E-Qalin certificate, the researchers discovered a strong and favourable correlation. The researchers found a statistically significant and favourable association between knowledge storage and service quality, but only in New Hampshire with an E-Qalin certificate. Thus, the researcher’s study's findings highlight the necessity of learning more about quality control and knowledge management in the context of New Hampshire. Conclusion: The government, tech companies, and nursing homes need to further restructure the current system before more elderly people adopt sophisticated technology in home care settings. The study's findings, which centre on the transmission of tacit knowledge, substantially advance the field of knowledge management research in New Hampshire.

Patient-reported outcomes and daily activity assessed with a digital wearable device in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria treated with ravulizumab: REVEAL, a prospective, observational study

BackgroundParoxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare, chronic blood disorder. Symptoms such as fatigue can have a substantial impact on patients’ physical activity levels, sleep, quality of life, and work productivity. Ravulizumab treatment can reduce thrombosis risk, improve survival and quality of life, and reduce fatigue in PNH, but information is limited on how it impacts sleep and physical activity. Here, data on resting heart rate, daily physical activity, and sleep in ravulizumab-treated patients with PNH were passively collected via a digital wearable activity-tracking device and patient-reported outcome (PRO) data were collected via weekly surveys in the same cohort.MethodsREVEAL was a 32-week prospective observational cohort study in individuals with PNH receiving ravulizumab in the USA. A wrist-worn Fitbit™ collected data on resting heart rate, daily step count, and sleep duration from eligible patients. Patients also completed the following electronic weekly surveys: Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) – Fatigue, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Global Physical Health, PROMIS Global Mental Health, PROMIS Sleep-Related Impairment and Sleep Disturbance, and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire – Specific Health Problem (WPAI-SHP). Data collected from the activity trackers and surveys were compared against US general population values reported in the literature.ResultsTwenty-eight ravulizumab-treated patients were included (median age: 34 years; 54% female). PRO scores were within US general population normative values, including FACIT-Fatigue (40.0), PROMIS Global Physical Health (51.0), Global Mental Health (51.0), Sleep-Related Impairment (50.0), and Sleep Disturbance (49.0). Similarly, mean resting heart rate (67 bpm), daily step count (7476), and sleep duration (7.7 h) were within the range of US general population values. Daily step count was positively correlated with PROMIS Global Physical and Mental Health scores.ConclusionsThis was the first study to use digital monitoring technology to collect data on physical activity and sleep in patients with PNH. The findings indicate that ravulizumab treatment enables patients with PNH to achieve activity levels (heart rate, sleep duration, step count) and quality of life that are comparable to those of the US general population. A weak positive correlation was identified between patient-reported physical and mental health and daily physical activity levels.

Acceptability of Remote Monitoring in Assisted Living/Smart Homes in the United Kingdom and Associated Use of Sounds and Vibrations—A Systematic Review

The ageing of populations is increasing pressure on health and social care systems. Potentially, assistive technologies are a way to support the independence of older adults in their daily activities. Among existing assistive technologies, ambient sensing technologies have received less attention than wearable systems. Moreover, there has been little research into cheaper technologies capable of using multiple modalities. A systematic review of the acceptability of assisted living or smart homes in the United Kingdom and the simultaneous use of sounds and vibrations in remote monitoring of assisted living or smart homes will inform and encourage the use of digital monitoring technologies. The acceptability of sensing technologies depends on whether there is any social stigma about their use, for example, the extent to which they invade privacy. The United Kingdom studies reviewed suggest a lack of measurements of the perceived efficacy or effectiveness of the monitoring devices. The primary use of vibration or acoustic technologies has been for detecting falls rather than monitoring health. The review findings suggest the need for further exploration of the acceptability and applicability of remote monitoring technologies, as well as a need for more research into the simultaneous use of sounds and vibrations in health monitoring.

Evaluation of online teaching quality in colleges and universities based on digital monitoring technology

Evaluation of online teaching quality in colleges and universities based on digital monitoring technology

The use of numerical models within the BIM environment, for the issue of Cultural heritage restoration. Buildings designed until 1940 in Albania

The study is related to the historical and architectural heritage of the city of Tirana, based on the period of Italian influence until 1940. The stock of these buildings represents an interesting case, in terms of research, since they are close to the 100th anniversary after the construction and have great values for the city, as well as architectural heritage. The lifespan of these objects depends on interventions over the years, conservation, updating with digital monitoring technology and the inclusion of BIM and h-BIM tools in the treatment process. It is important to mention that the building does not only need facade maintenance and refinishing, but by getting to know its fragile parts we can have a seismic retrofit strategy ready. Specifically, this research focuses on several digitization processes, 3D models, simulation and intervention proposals. One of the main aspects is the communication between computer models, dealing with the FEM numerical model and the architectural model inside and outside the BIM environment, reducing the gap between them and without major data loss. After analyzing the collapse scenarios, it is intended to increase the accuracy of seismic retrofit interventions, with the sensitivity that belongs to a cultural heritage object. The application of numerical models for legacy objects presents a challenge since the complexity of handling an old building, the parameters of materials, calibrations and approaching the real response of the building in a seismic situation is known. Applications through BIM tools and files with numerous numerical data tend to make a contribution to the field of seismic engineering and heritage restoration in Albania. Variants with proposals on seismic retrofit strategies for protected buildings will be given at the end of this study.

In-Depth Co-Design of Mental Health Monitoring Technologies by People with Lived Experience

Advancements in digital monitoring solutions collaborate closely with electronic medical records. These fine-grained monitoring capacities can generate and process extensive electronic record data. Such capacities promise to enhance mental health care but also risk contributing to further stigmatization, prejudicial decision-making, and fears of disempowerment. This article discusses the problems and solutions identified by nine people with lived experience of being mental health care consumers or informal carers. Over the course of ten facilitated focus group format sessions (two hours) between October 2019 and April 2021, the participants shared their lived experience of mental health challenges, care, and recovery within the Australian context. To support the development, design, and implementation of monitoring technologies, problems, and solutions were outlined in the following areas—access, agency, interactions with medical practitioners, medication management, and self-monitoring. Emergent design insights include recommendations for strengthened consent procedures, flexible service access options, and humanized consumer interactions. While consumers and carers saw value in digital monitoring technologies that could enable them to take on a more proactive involvement in their personal wellness, they had questions about their level of access to such services and expressed concerns about the changes to interactions with health professionals that might emerge from these digitally enabled processes.

Contested Transparency: Digital Monitoring Technologies and Worker Voice

Contested Transparency: Digital Monitoring Technologies and Worker Voice

Contested Transparency: Digital Monitoring Technologies and Worker Voice

Contested Transparency: Digital Monitoring Technologies and Worker Voice

Research on Digital Monitoring Technology for Airport High-Pressure Rotary Jet Piles

Research on Digital Monitoring Technology for Airport High-Pressure Rotary Jet Piles

Exploring new digital therapeutics technologies for psychiatric disorders using BERTopic and PatentSBERTa

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has accelerated the growth of the digital therapeutics (DTx) market; therefore, development strategies for new DTx products are necessary to satisfy market needs. However, data-driven methods for recommending digital healthcare technologies for novel DTx applications are scarce. We propose a technology opportunity discovery framework that recommends 1) potential technologies as new DTx products, and 2) the applicable target disorders. We applied BERTopic and PatentSBERTa to patents filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and calculated the score of potential technologies on the basis of their thematic characteristics with respect to their digital capabilities and similarity to DTx technologies. By identifying the target disorder of similar technologies, specific disorders were proposed that can be treated with the proposed technique. By applying the proposed framework to psychiatric disorders—one of the largest therapeutic areas of DTx, we recommend digital monitoring technologies applicable to poor breathing or sleeping patterns for cognitive impairment. Furthermore, we provide strategies to utilize the recommended digital technologies for DTx for specific disorders to facilitate a direct intervention or treatment, which can contribute to the planning of roadmaps for DTx.

‘Protection of Employee Privacy in the Digital Workplace’: Arguments and Comments Presented during the Defence of Seili Suder’s Doctoral Thesis

The contribution is based on the opinion presented in the author’s role as designated opponent to the dissertation of Seili Suder, defended at the University of Tartu on 6 December 2021. The dissertation contributes to employment-specific discussion of privacy and data protection by exploring the main legal concerns and practical challenges that deployment of the ‘newest’ digital monitoring technologies poses under the current European privacy and data-protection framework. That framework, while indeed being among ‘the most substantial and thus influential around the world’, still leaves open the question of the need for establishment of specific/sectoral provisions at EU level that regulate privacy and data protection.

Emerging Role of Translational Digital Biomarkers Within Home Cage Monitoring Technologies in Preclinical Drug Discovery and Development.

In drug discovery and development, traditional assessment of human patients and preclinical subjects occurs at limited time points in potentially stressful surroundings (i.e., the clinic or a test arena), which can impact data quality and welfare. However, recent advances in remote digital monitoring technologies enable the assessment of human patients and preclinical subjects across multiple time points in familiar surroundings. The ability to monitor a patient throughout disease progression provides an opportunity for more relevant and efficient diagnosis as well as improved assessment of drug efficacy and safety. In preclinical in vivo animal models, these digital technologies allow for continuous, longitudinal, and non-invasive monitoring in the home environment. This manuscript provides an overview of digital monitoring technologies for use in preclinical studies including their history and evolution, current engagement through use cases, and impact of digital biomarkers (DBs) on drug discovery and the 3Rs. We also discuss barriers to implementation and strategies to overcome them. Finally, we address data consistency and technology standards from the perspective of technology providers, end-users, and subject matter experts. Overall, this review establishes an improved understanding of the value and implementation of digital biomarker (DB) technologies in preclinical research.

Evolution of close-range detection and data acquisition technologies towards automation in construction progress monitoring

Automated construction progress monitoring is the prevalent domain amongst researchers, with much potential for improving digital monitoring technologies and related processes. Effective, efficient, and timely collection of progress data are essential requirements for the success of the construction project. This study investigated and assessed the achievement level of automation attained in construction progress monitoring practices via digital data collection technologies for building construction projects. A mixed review methodology (bibliometric analysis and systematic review) was adopted, and a total of 1560 publications were collected and further screened to 205 articles. Bibliometric analyses were performed considering descriptive statistics, and bibliometric mapping for keywords and monitoring techniques. This study exemplified the framework for the overall conception of the automated construction progress monitoring process, utilising close-range data acquisition and detection technologies. These technologies under construction progress monitoring were analysed for their applications, implementation strategies on building construction projects, and BIM-integrated monitoring. This study also highlighted the current technical challenges, gaps and future opportunities for the modification and evolution of construction progress monitoring processes towards automation. • Bibliometric and systematic analysis of construction progress monitoring technologies. • Keyword analysis and state of the art technique analysis using VOSviewer. • General framework expounding automated construction monitoring process. • Data acquisition-detection technologies matrix of monitoring tools and techniques. • Data acquisition-detection technologies integration with BIM .

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk assessment tools: is one better than the others?

Purpose of reviewRisk assessment tools are essential in COPD care to help clinicians identify patients at higher risk of accelerated lung function decline, respiratory exacerbations, hospitalizations, and death.Recent findingsConventional methods of assessing risk have focused on spirometry, patient-reported symptoms, functional status, and a combination of these tools in composite indices. More recently, qualitatively and quantitatively assessed chest imaging findings, such as emphysema, large and small airways disease, and pulmonary vascular abnormalities have been associated with poor long-term outcomes in COPD patients. Although several blood and sputum biomarkers have been investigated for risk assessment in COPD, most still warrant further validation. Finally, novel remote digital monitoring technologies may be valuable to predict exacerbations but their large-scale performance, ease of implementation, and cost effectiveness remain to be determined.SummaryGiven the complex heterogeneity of COPD, any single metric is unlikely to fully capture the risk of poor long-term outcomes. Therefore, clinicians should review all available clinical data, including spirometry, symptom severity, functional status, chest imaging, and bloodwork, to guide personalized preventive care of COPD patients. The potential of machine learning tools and remote monitoring technologies to refine COPD risk assessment is promising but remains largely untapped pending further investigation.

Next of kin's experiences with and attitudes towards digital monitoring technology for ageing people with dementia in residential care facilities. A qualitative study based on the voices of next of kin and care providers.

To explore next of kin's experiences and attitudes regarding information surrounding the introduction and use of technology to monitor residential home residents with dementia. As our population ages, conditions increase health care and societal challenges. Digitalisation and welfare technology are important for developing health services for the ageing population; adapting information-sharing and communication about these pics with those involved, such as next of kin, will become increasingly important for developing appropriate services. This qualitative study has an exploratory and interpretative approach, using in-depth interviews based on a hermeneutical-phenomenological perspective. During the process of implementing a variety of residential care monitoring technologies, data were collected primarily via semi-structured, in-depth interviews with care providers and next of kin. In addition to the individual interviews, one focus group interview was carried out with care providers. Next of kin are a heterogeneous group who need differing types of information - and different styles of communication - to convey information about their relatives in residential care. General attitudes among the next of kin towards welfare technology were positive. Three analytic themes that illustrate the next of kin concerns emerged: (1) concern for safety, autonomy and ethics; (2) resistance and optimism towards technology; (3) information about the use of monitoring technology. Digital monitoring technology is increasingly being implemented in residential care. Next of kin are salient in this context. Accordingly, best practices for informing and communicating in a collaborative process must be developed. While some next of kin have resources and are able to be highly engaged, others are unable or unwilling to be active participants in their family members' lives. It is critical that care providers are aware that next of kin are a heterogeneous group. Our proposed profiles may prove helpful for giving the right information and attention to next of kin, and this may improve residential care services. These findings may aid in the tailoring of information and communication systems to individual next of kin's needs and in improving residential care services.

Meal Timing-Based Dietary Patterns Are Associated With Glucose Regulation, Insulin Resistance, and Incretin Effect in Individuals at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract Objectives Food is an external cue to entrain the circadian rhythm, and when and how to eat may be a crucial factor for glucose homeostasis. This study sought to quantify the impact of meal timing-based dietary habits on glucose homeostasis in prediabetic and normal individuals by using digital monitoring technologies. Methods 35 study participants (56.6 y; prediabetes n = 19 and normoglycemia n = 16) tracked their food intake and timing by a food-logging mobile app for at least two weeks. Gold-standard glucose metabolic tests were performed such as OGTT, insulin suppression test, and isoglycemic intravenous glucose infusion to quantify insulin resistance, beta-cell function, and incretin effects. The energy contribution of six meal timings to the total daily energy intake was determined. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to group participants in the cohort based on their meal timing patterns. Multivariate linear regression (MLR) models confirmed differences in each meal timing feature by glycemic control groups. Results A total of 2307 meals and 625 days of food logs were collected from study participants. From the PCA plot based on meal timing features, the cohort was clearly separated into two clusters by their HbA1c levels: normoglycemia (HbA1c < 5.7%) vs. prediabetes (5.7%< HbA1c < 6.5%). MLR models further showed that people with prediabetes had lower Meal_4 (2pm-5pm) energy contribution (P = 0.00,697) and higher Meal_5 (5pm-9pm) energy contribution (P = 0.0462) than normal group even after adjustment for age, sex, ethnicity, and BMI. Similarly, insulin resistant and sensitive groups were separated based on meal timing features, as did incretin function. However, beta-cell function groups were not distinguished by meal timing features. Conclusions The data suggest that meal timing-based dietary patterns can be used to predict different types of glucose metabolic dysregulation such as prolonged high blood glucose, insulin resistance, and incretin dysfunction. Funding Sources NIH 2T32HL09804911, NIH 5R01DK110186-02, Stanford PHIND Award.

Consensus Statement on Ethical & Safety Practices for Conducting Digital Monitoring Studies with People at Risk of Suicide and Related Behaviors.

Objective:Digital monitoring technologies (e.g., smart-phones and wearable devices) provide unprecedented opportunities to study potentially harmful behaviors such as suicide, violence, and alcohol/substance use in real-time. The use of these new technologies has the potential to significantly advance the understanding, prediction, and prevention of these behaviors. However, such technologies also introduce myriad ethical and safety concerns, such as deciding when and how to intervene if a participant’s responses indicate elevated risk during the study?Methods:We used a modified Delphi process to develop a consensus among a diverse panel of experts on the ethical and safety practices for conducting digital monitoring studies with those at risk for suicide and related behaviors. Twenty-four experts including scientists, clinicians, ethicists, legal experts, and those with lived experience provided input into an iterative, multi-stage survey, and discussion process.Results:Consensus was reached on multiple aspects of such studies, including: inclusion criteria, informed consent elements, technical and safety procedures, data review practices during the study, responding to various levels of participant risk in real-time, and data and safety monitoring.Conclusions:This consensus statement provides guidance for researchers, funding agencies, and institutional review boards regarding expert views on current best practices for conducting digital monitoring studies with those at risk for suicide—with relevance to the study of a range of other potentially harmful behaviors (e.g., alcohol/substance use and violence). This statement also highlights areas in which more data are needed before consensus can be reached regarding best ethical and safety practices for digital monitoring studies.

Zicht op werk: grenzen aan het digitaal meten van werkenden

Technological advancements in the field of data analytics, algorithms and AI have dramatically increased opportunities for workplace monitoring. In this article, we discuss some of these digital technologies, and examine their impact on employment relationships and the quality of work. Based on desk research, literature review and interviews, we examined a wide range of digital instruments, their scientific basis, implications for the quality of work and relevant legal frameworks. Digital monitoring technologies often quantify work activities. We argue that it is important for organisations to realise that such quantification often negatively impacts both job quality and employment relationships. Responsible use of digital monitoring tools not only requires a broad societal and political dialogue about privacy, discrimination and workload but also a critical reflection on the aim of organisations to use data to understand workers, while not everything of value can be captured in data.

Balancing the desire for privacy against the desire to hedge risk

Abstract An individual's desire to hedge risks, as implied by risk aversion, is accepted as a normative paradigm and documented as valid descriptively. Insurance markets satisfy this desire, wherein the individual's aversion to bear risk allows firms to demand a markup on the expected value of the insured loss. Insurance firms incrementally introduce digital monitoring technology into their policies, making policyholder's behavior transparent. We analyze the implications of such transparency insurance contracts for willingness to pay in a framed behavioral experiment and find that the loss of privacy in such contracts marginalizes the potential profits that insurers could earn on their policies. In particular, our results suggest that the reduction in willingness to pay from introducing digital monitoring is in the range of 25–50% of the expected loss. While an absolute as opposed to a relative monetary valuation concept of privacy appears more likely to explain our data, we cannot clearly confirm this conjecture empirically. Heterogeneous treatment effects for risk preferences are suggestive for increasing utility losses from transparency policies with increasing risk aversion but we also observe indications of nonlinearities in this relationship. Probability misperception is a salient characteristic of our experimental population, suggesting that profitability is less threatened under low-frequency risks as opposed to high-frequency risks.

Digital monitoring technologies could enhance tuberculosis medication adherence in Uganda: Mixed methods study

BackgroundEffective administration of tuberculosis therapy remains challenging. The recommended strategy of direct observed therapy is challenging and its implementation has been limited in many settings. Digital adherence technologies could be promising patient-centered strategies for monitoring adherence. However, few quality studies have assessed patients’ experiences with these technologies. ObjectiveTo explore TB patients’ perceptions of a digital adherence intervention composed of a digital adherence monitor and SMS texts. MethodsWe purposively sampled TB patients who owned phones, had been taking TB medication for at least a month, and were receiving their treatment from Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital. We interviewed 35 TB patients to elicit information on perceptions of the proposed intervention which electronically monitors how they take their medication, and sends SMS reminders to patients to help them take their medications, as well as send SMS notifications to patients’ social supporters to provide the patient with assistance if possible. We inductively analyzed data using content analysis to derive categories describing how participants perceived the intervention. ResultsParticipants anticipated that the intervention would enhance medication adherence by reminding them to take medication, and helping in the management of complicated regimen. Participants felt that monitoring adherence could enable them to demonstrate their commitment to adherence. Participants expressed concerns about not seeing the SMS on time and unintended TB status disclosure. ConclusionDigital adherence technologies may provide acceptable alternative approaches to monitoring TB medication, especially in settings where DOT is difficult to implement.