Digital Support Research Articles

Lessons From the Field From a Volunteer Telehealth Ambassador Program to Enhance Video Visits Among Low-Income Patients: Qualitative Improvement Study.

The prevalence of telehealth video use across the United States is uneven, with low uptake in safety-net health care delivery systems, which care for patient populations who face barriers to using digital technologies. This study aimed to increase video visit use in an urban safety-net delivery system. We piloted a telehealth ambassador program, in which volunteers offered technical support to patients with access to digital technologies to convert primary care visits already scheduled as telehealth audio-only visits to telehealth video visits. We used a descriptive approach to assess the feasibility, efficacy, and acceptability of the pilot telehealth ambassador program. Feasibility was quantified by the percentage of eligible patients who answered calls from telehealth ambassadors. Program efficacy was measured in two ways: (1) the percentage of patients with access to digital technology who interacted with the navigators and were successfully prepared for a telehealth video visit, and (2) the percentage of prepared patients who completed their scheduled video visits. Program acceptability was ascertained by a structured telephone survey. Telehealth ambassadors attempted to contact 776 eligible patients; 43.6% (338/776) were reached by phone, among whom 44.4% (150/338) were provided digital support between March and May 2021. The mean call duration was 8.8 (range 0-35) minutes. Overall, 67.3% (101/150) of patients who received support successfully completed a telehealth video visit with their provider. Among the 188 patients who were contacted but declined video visit digital support, 61% (114/188) provided a reason for their decline; 42% (48/114) did not see added value beyond a telehealth audio-only visit, 20% (23/114) had insufficient internet access, and 27% (31/114) declined learning about a new technology. The acceptability of the telehealth ambassador program was generally favorable, although some patients preferred having in-real-time technology support on the day of their telehealth video visit. This high-touch program reached approximately one-half of eligible patients and helped two-thirds of interested patients with basic video visit capability successfully complete a video visit. Increasing the program's reach will require outreach solutions that do not rely solely on phone calls. Routinely highlighting the benefits of video visits, partnering with community-based organizations to overcome structural barriers to telehealth use, and offering in-real-time technology support will help increase the program's efficacy.

Role of Synchronous, Moderated, and Anonymous Peer Support Chats on Reducing Momentary Loneliness in Older Adults: Retrospective Observational Study.

Older adults have a high rate of loneliness, which contributes to increased psychosocial risk, medical morbidity, and mortality. Digital emotional support interventions provide a convenient and rapid avenue for additional support. Digital peer support interventions for emotional struggles contrast the usual provider-based clinical care models because they offer more accessible, direct support for empowerment, highlighting the users' autonomy, competence, and relatedness. This study aims to examine a novel anonymous and synchronous peer-to-peer digital chat service facilitated by trained human moderators. The experience of a cohort of 699 adults aged ≥65 years was analyzed to determine (1) if participation, alone, led to measurable aggregate change in momentary loneliness and optimism and (2) the impact of peers on momentary loneliness and optimism. Participants were each prompted with a single question: "What's your struggle?" Using a proprietary artificial intelligence model, the free-text response automatched the respondent based on their self-expressed emotional struggle to peers and a chat moderator. Exchanged messages were analyzed to quantitatively measure the change in momentary loneliness and optimism using a third-party, public, natural language processing model (GPT-4 [OpenAI]). The sentiment change analysis was initially performed at the individual level and then averaged across all users with similar emotion types to produce a statistically significant (P<.05) collective trend per emotion. To evaluate the peer impact on momentary loneliness and optimism, we performed propensity matching to align the moderator+single user and moderator+small group chat cohorts and then compare the emotion trends between the matched cohorts. Loneliness and optimism trends significantly improved after 8 (P=.02) to 9 minutes (P=.03) into the chat. We observed a significant improvement in the momentary loneliness and optimism trends between the moderator+small group compared to the moderator+single user chat cohort after 19 (P=.049) and 21 minutes (P=.04) for optimism and loneliness, respectively. Chat-based peer support may be a viable intervention to help address momentary loneliness in older adults and present an alternative to traditional care. The promising results support the need for further study to expand the evidence for such cost-effective options.

Out-of-School Exposure to English in EFL Teenage Learners: Is It Related to Academic Performance?

Learning a Foreign Language (FL) beyond the classroom has become common practice thanks to advances in technology and the use of English as a Lingua Franca. This study explores the types and amount of out-of-school informal exposure to English that Spanish secondary school students typically receive in their daily lives. Informed by recent literature on the influence of extramural activities on FL proficiency, the second aim of this study is to investigate the potential relationship between out-of-school exposure and academic performance, as measured by English school grades. Data were obtained from a questionnaire answered by secondary school students aged 12–16 (N = 2015) regarding the different types and amounts of activities they perform in English outside school. Findings revealed that teenage learners were most frequently exposed to English through audiovisual input. Social media interaction, along with reading and writing (with or without digital support), were closely associated with their English marks. Other popular activities, such as listening to music or playing video games, were not found to be related to proficiency or even showed a negative correlation with it, while less popular activities, such as watching subtitled movies and series, could have greater potential for language learning. This study contributes to the understanding of informal practices in FL learning settings and provides insights that can help bridge interactive language practices and formal curriculum to create holistic learning experiences for language learners.

Housing construction management: practical aspects of digital intelligent support (on the example of the Aviator housing development, Irkutsk)

Housing construction management: practical aspects of digital intelligent support (on the example of the Aviator housing development, Irkutsk)

ИССЛЕДОВАНИЕ ВЛИЯНИЯ ГЛОБАЛЬНЫХ ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКИХ ТЕНДЕНЦИЙ И ГЕОПОЛИТИЧЕСКИХ СДВИГОВ НА ФОРМИРОВАНИЕ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЙ ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЙ ПОЛИТИКИ

The purpose of the article is to investigate the processes of influence of global economic trends and geopolitical shifts on the formation and implementation of regional economic policy. Discussion: theoretical research and practical aspects of research, identification and justification of directions for the formation and implementation of effective regional economic policy are very complex and contradictory, which confirms the importance and significance of the issue under consideration. Results: the article attempts to study the processes, trends and geopolitical shifts that have a significant impact on the effectiveness of regional economic policy, as well as analyze specific areas that should be formed to achieve strategic goals. The relevance of this article is determined by the fact that in order to form an effective economic policy in the regions, taking into account the ongoing global economic trends and geopolitical shifts, it is necessary to analyze and monitor processes, as well as identify deviations and possible weaknesses that require additional research at the meso level. This article serves as a starting point for a deeper understanding of the vectors of implementation of regional economic policy in the Russian Federation. Analyzing the ongoing processes and ongoing reforms, the degree of their impact on macro and meso-economic indicators and processes taking place in the external environment, the author makes a modest contribution to the scientific discourse on regional economic development. The scientific approach, combined with data and digital support from reputable sources, emphasize the importance of implemented strategies, taking into account the specifics of the region, to solve problems and use the existing potential and the transforming economic landscape. Thus, the study of the impact of global economic trends and geopolitical shifts on the formation of regional economic policy remains at the forefront of the regional economic agenda of the state.

Informational continuity of medication management in transitions of care: Qualitative interviews with stakeholders from the HYPERION-TransCare study.

The transition of patients between inpatient and outpatient care can lead to adverse events and medication-related problems due to medication and communication errors, such as medication discontinuation, the frequency of (re-)hospitalizations, and increased morbidity and mortality. Older patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy are particularly at high risk during transitions of care. Previous research highlighted the need for interventions to improve transitions of care in order to support information continuity, coordination, and communication. The HYPERION-TransCare project aims to improve the continuity of medication management for older patients during transitions of care. Using a qualitative design, 32 expert interviews were conducted to explore the perspectives of key stakeholders, which included healthcare professionals, patients and one informal caregiver, on transitions of care. Interviews were conducted between October 2020 and January 2021, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using content analysis. We narratively summarized four main topics (stakeholders' tasks, challenges, ideas for solutions and best practice examples, and patient-related factors) and mapped them in a patient journey map. Lacking or incomplete information on patients' medication and health conditions, inappropriate communication and collaboration between healthcare providers within and across settings, and insufficient digital support limit the continuity of medication management. The study confirms that medication management during transitions of care is a complex process that can be compromised by a variety of factors. Legal requirements and standardized processes are urgently needed to ensure adequate exchange of information and organization of medication management before, during and after hospital admissions. Despite the numerous barriers identified, the findings indicate that involved healthcare professionals from both the inpatient and outpatient care settings have a common understanding.

Protocol for a trial-based economic evaluation analysis of a complex digital health intervention including a computerised decision support tool: the iFraP intervention

Background Digital health interventions (DHI) are associated with significant promise. In recent years, the need to assess the value of these healthcare technologies has motivated a debate regarding the suitability of existing economic evaluation methods in the context of DHI evaluation. Some have argued that robust economic evaluation methods may not be capable of capturing relevant DHI’s characteristics. Others consider that assessing the value of DHI might not be feasible. This protocol paper challenges that view. More specifically, it describes early Health Technology Assessments (HTA) methods to rigorously assess the value for money of a complex intervention including a digital decision support tool i.e., Improving uptake of Fracture Prevention drug treatments (iFraP) as a tracer intervention. iFraP is a complex intervention consisting of a computerised decision support tool, a clinician training package, and information resources to facilitate shared decision-making, increase informed medicine initiation and reduce levels of medicine discontinuation. iFraP’s development was motivated by a view that good quality shared decision-making conversations have the potential to improve levels of osteoporosis medicine uptake. Methods An early economic evaluation of the iFraP intervention was designed to identify, measure, and evaluate the costs and health benefits of iFraP compared to usual practice in Fracture Liaison Services (FLSs). A within-trial cost-effectiveness from the perspective of the National Health Service and Personal Social Service in England will be conducted using patient’s self-reported health related quality of life (HRQoL) and resource use from the iFraP randomised controlled trial. Microanalysis will be used to estimate iFraP’s intervention cost. Finally, Bayesian Value of Information analysis will allow us to estimate an upper bound for the potential health benefits gained from reducing uncertainty on the impact of the iFraP intervention to support uptake and adherence with osteoporosis medicines. Trial registration ISRCTN10606407 - https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10606407

Public Library Services in Rural Australia: Challenges and Prospects

ABSTRACT This article reports the findings of a survey of more than 100 Australian outer regional and remote public library managers. Public libraries in these areas serve more than 2.5 million Australians, representing an important yet under-researched topic. Using an online questionnaire, with a response rate of more than 40%, we asked public library managers in rural Australia about the services provided by both fixed-site and mobile libraries (where applicable), as well as online and other outreach services. Questions also covered the value, issues and challenges of respondents’ library services. Findings suggest that while rural libraries perform some similar functions to their more urban counterparts, and share some challenges, they are especially valued by their communities in the absence of alternative services and social outlets, making the library even more of a key facilitator, potentially, of social inclusion and community interaction. Respondents also noted an increasing demand for IT services and digital literacy support among their users, a need sometimes at odds with the challenge these libraries face maintaining up-to-date technical infrastructure.

Efecto del proyecto ECHO en la desmonopolización de la atención médica

Efecto del proyecto ECHO en la desmonopolización de la atención médica

Evaluation of the digital support tool Gro Health W8Buddy as part of Tier 3 Weight Management Service

Evaluation of the digital support tool Gro Health W8Buddy as part of Tier 3 Weight Management Service

Simulated operations (SOs) apply mechanical support to structures to confirm symptom causation.

Simulated operations (SOs) are a direct application of the Integral Theory (IT) mantras, "structure and function are related" and "restore the structure and you will improve the function". SOs performed in a clinic setting, are the most effective way possible to test the validity of the IT predictions: stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and urge are mainly caused by laxity in the vagina or its supporting ligaments. The SUI prediction of the IT is validated if a hemostat applied vaginally in the position of the midurethra to mechanically support the pubourethral ligament (PUL) immediately stops urine loss on coughing. The urge and chronic pelvic pain (CPP) predictions of the IT are similarly validated if a patient states her urge and pain symptoms are relieved by insertion of the bottom blade of a bivalve speculum which supports the uterosacral ligaments (USLs). An important use of SOs is to preoperatively assess (by the hemostat test) whether sling surgery for SUI is likely to cure the patient. Similarly, the speculum is very useful for diagnosing whether severe urge or pain symptoms in a woman with minimal prolapse are originating from weak USLs. If digital support of a cystocele relieves urge symptoms, the patient can reasonably be informed that a cystocele repair should improve the urge as well her cystocele prolapse. Used intraoperatively under spinal anesthesia, SOs can determine whether a sling is sufficiently tight to reverse the loose PUL which is causing the SUI. Approximating both cardinal ligaments (CLs) intraoperatively can result in a remarkable disappearance of a transverese defect cystocele; approximating USLs intraoperatively can give an indication of how effective a USL plication would be surgically.

PORTE FOLIO DES COMPETENCES PRATIQUES DU RESIDENT EN CHIRURGIE PLASTIQUE AU MAROC

In Morocco, plastic surgery is a comprehensive specialty that encompasses various domains. The training is lengthy and rigorous, involving residents in a extensive curriculum with both theoretical education and practical hospital training. The study aims to assess residents skills, define mastered procedures, and collect feedback to enhance the quality of education.A secondary objective is to create a portfolio using digital support: https://sites.google.com/view/comptencespratiqueduresident/accueil. To enable residents to track their progress and make informed decisions about their career in plastic surgery. We hope this educational tool will find its rightful place in the training of plastic surgery residents.

예비유아교사의 디지털 역량에 대한 교육요구도 분석

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate early childhood pre-service teachers’ educational needs for digital competency.&#x0D; Methods We developed questions for digital competency survey according to the purpose of this study. Educational needs were analyzed based on paired-sample test, Borich need assessment, and the Locus for Focus Model.&#x0D; Results The results of this study can be summarized as follows. First, “Digital Thinking Ability” and “Digital Educational Environment Operation” were found to be important considered areas among digital competency of early childhood pre-service teachers. Second, as a result of analyzing the top and second priority for each area, “Digital Citizenship”, “Digital Data Utilization”, “Digital Educational Environment Operation” and “Digital Utilization Communication” was the top priority with needs.&#x0D; Conclusions This study provides basic data for the digital competency support plan for early childhood pre-service teachers and educational direction in the teacher training process.&#x0D;

유치원교사의 놀이교수효능감이 디지털놀이 지원역량에 미치는 영향

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine whether there is a mediating effect of digital competency in the effect of play teaching efficacy of kindergarten teachers on digital play support capabilities,&#x0D; Methods: The subject of the study was to collect 313 questionnaires targeting kindergarten teachers. Descriptive statistics analysis, correlation analysis, and hierarchical session analysis were conducted based on the data collected to find out the purpose of the study,&#x0D; Results: First, the relationship between play teaching efficacy, digital play support capabilities, and digital capabilities of kindergarten teachers was found to have a significant positive correlation. Second, digital competency was found to play a complete mediating role in the impact of kindergarten teachers' play teaching efficacy on digital play support capabilities.&#x0D; Conclusion: In this study, it is meaningful to examine the effect of play teaching efficacy of kindergarten teachers on digital play support capabilities and to verify that digital capabilities play a mediating role. This means that play teaching efficacy and digital competency are key factors in kindergarten teachers' digital play support capabilities.

Do Digital City Policies Promote Corporate ESG Performance? Evidence from Research on Textual Analysis of China

ABSTRACT One of the major aims of digital city development is to improve the cities’ natural and social environment friendliness, which aligns with the target of the ESG strategy. However, it is still unclear how to measure the impact of digital city development on ESG performance. This paper examines how digital city policies affect the ESG performance of firms. We propose a methodology to quantify digital city policies based on the textual analysis (BOW method) and measure the level of digital city policy support in each prefecture-level city in China from 2011 to 2022. Further, we introduce instrumental variables (IV), PSM, and other methods to empirically investigate the impact effects and obtain the following main conclusions: First, the digital city policy positively impacts firms’ ESG performance. After controlling for the fixed effects of the different dimensions, a 1% increase in the level of digital city policy support represented by the DCPI raises firms’ ESG scores by about 2%. Second, the facilitating effect of digital city policies on the sub-dimensions of ESG is asymmetric. Digital city policies significantly affect the environmental protection and corporate governance dimensions of firms, while the effect on CSR is not significant. Third, the impact of digital city policies on ESG performance is heterogeneous across different regions of China and cities with different population sizes. This paper will enrich the understanding of digital city policies and the research on institutional factors affecting ESG, which will provide some insights to both business managers and policymakers.

МОДЕЛИ СИСТЕМНОЙ ДИНАМИКИ ПРИ ОЦЕНКЕ ВЛИЯНИЯ ТРАНСПОРТНО-ЛОГИСТИЧЕСКОЙ СИСТЕМЫ НА СОЦИАЛЬНО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКИЕ ПОКАЗАТЕЛИ РЕГИОНОВ

The state and prospects for the development of the transport and logistics system, including its infrastructure and digital information support, directly affect the economy and society of countries and regions. In this regard, the issues of analyzing the interaction of transport, logistics and socio-economic systems and developing effective solutions for managing territories based on such analysis become relevant. At the same time, modern capabilities for processing Big Data to obtain multidimensional models of dependencies between various aspects and indicators of socio-economic systems of regions are of particular interest. The article carried out a systematic analysis of the problems of the functioning and development of transport; the effectiveness of transport planning and management processes was analyzed. The main provisions and approaches for assessing the impact of transport on the surrounding social system, limited territorially and administratively, are presented. A systematic analysis of the characteristics of the functioning and development of transport and the non-transport effect of improving transport services to consumers was carried out.

Exploring digital parenting awareness, self‐efficacy and attitudes in families with special needs children

AbstractThis study was conducted to measure the digital parenting awareness, attitude and self‐efficacy perceptions of parents of children with special needs and to determine whether they differ according to the disability status of their children. A total of 180 parents of children with special needs from various regions of Turkey participated in the study. This study was conducted using a relational screening model. Data were collected using digital parenting awareness, attitude and self‐efficacy perception scales and analysed using descriptive and correlational statistical methods. The findings revealed that parents had moderate levels of awareness, positive attitudes and self‐efficacy perceptions regarding digital parenting, but these variables showed significant differences according to the disability status of the children. In particular, parents of children with learning disabilities had higher digital parenting awareness than parents of other disability groups. In addition, a positive and significant relationship was found between parents' digital parenting awareness, attitudes and self‐efficacy perception. The findings of this study are important and contribute to both the practical and theoretical perspectives. In applicable terms, this study revealed the needs and expectations of parents of children with special needs regarding digital parenting. Theoretically, this is a rare study that examines the situation and experiences of parents with children with special needs in digital parenting. This study emphasizes the need for further research on digital parenting.Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic Existing research underscores the importance of digital parenting in the contemporary era, highlighting the need for parents to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by technology in child‐rearing. Parental self‐efficacy in managing digital resources has been identified as a crucial factor in promoting children's effective and safe use of technology. Positive parental attitudes towards technology have been associated with healthier digital habits and development in children. What this paper adds This study contributes to the literature by specifically focusing on parents of children with special needs and recognizing the unique challenges and opportunities they face in the realm of digital parenting. Findings revealed that parents of children with learning disabilities exhibit higher levels of digital parenting awareness, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions and support for different disability groups. The positive and significant relationship identified between digital parenting awareness, attitudes and self‐efficacy underscores the holistic nature of these factors and highlights the potential impact of comprehensive digital parenting programs. Implications for practice and/or policy Develop targeted digital parenting support programmes that address the specific needs of parents with children with special needs, considering the variations among different disability groups. Advocates of inclusive education policies that incorporate digital parenting education as a vital component, recognizing its significance in the overall well‐being. Recognize the role of both mothers and fathers in digital parenting and design interventions that consider the unique perspectives and challenges faced by each gender. Facilitate collaboration between digital parenting experts and special education professionals to create comprehensive resources and training materials that cater to the diverse needs of children with special needs. Conduct longitudinal studies to assess the long‐term impact of digital parenting interventions on the development, well‐being, and digital literacy of children with special needs. This can inform the refinement of future programs and policies in this domain.

Maternal mental health monitoring in an online community: a natural language processing approach

ABSTRACT Digital maternity support communities are increasingly popular. The communities are often based on discussion forums called ‘birth clubs’, to which users are assigned according to their estimated due months. Distinguishing between support-seeking and non-support-seeking posts submitted to these ‘birth clubs’ is a crucial first step for monitoring maternal mental health. This study utilised natural language processing (NLP) techniques on 52,558 posts collected from one of the largest online maternity communities in China, employing machine learning algorithms trained for post classification with a randomly selected and manually labelled subset of 3000 posts. The results validated the properties of information similarity and time sensitivity within the post data, and demonstrated the feasibility of employing simple algorithms and small training sets for effective maternal mental health monitoring.

The Urgent Need for an Evidence-Based Digital Mental Health Practice Model of Care for Youth.

Abstract Australian providers of mental health services and support for young people include private and public allied health providers, government initiatives (eg, headspace), nongovernment organizations (eg, Kids Helpline), general practitioners (GPs), and the hospital system. Over 20 years of research has established that many young people prefer to seek mental health support online; however, clear client pathways within and between online and offline mental health services are currently lacking. The authors propose a Digital Mental Health Practice model of care for youth to assist with digital mental health service mapping. The proposed model offers accessible pathways for a client to engage with digital mental health services, provides clear navigation to access support for individual needs, and facilitates a seamless connection with offline mental health services using a transferable electronic health records system. This future-looking model also includes emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and the metaverse, which must be accounted for as potential tools to be leveraged for digital therapies and support systems. The urgent need for a user-centered Digital Mental Health Practice model of care for youth in Australia is discussed, highlighting the shortcomings of traditional and existing online triage models evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the complex challenges that must be overcome, such as the integration of diverse mental health care providers and establishment of a robust electronic health records system. Potential benefits of such a model include reduced pressure on emergency rooms, improved identification of immediate needs, enhanced referral practices, and the establishment of a cost-efficient national digital mental health care model with global applicability. The authors conclude by stressing the consequences of inaction, warning that delays may lead to more complex challenges as new technologies emerge and exacerbate the long-term negative consequences of poor mental health management on the economic and biopsychosocial well-being of young Australians.

RESEARCH ON KEY INFLUENCING FACTORS OF DT OF SMEs IN CHINA

With the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is accelerating and leading various aspects of society toward digital transformation (DT). With the widespread application of digital technologies such as big data and cloud computing, the DT process of enterprises is constantly accelerating, and disruptive changes have occurred in product services, business processes, and so on. This article provides a systematic review of existing research on DT and identifies the influencing factors from the organizational level, management level, and environmental level based on the Strategic Change framework of Rajagoralan &amp;Spertizer (1997). Subsequently, an integrated analysis framework was proposed that includes five configuration factors: digital transformation infrastructure, employee skills, management support, market uncertainty, and technology uncertainty. This article not only deepens the understanding of the causal complexity issues behind the success of SMEs’ DT but also provides some beneficial insights for the practice of SMEs’ DT.