Information Tools Research Articles

A Vulnerability Index to Assess the Risk of SARS-CoV-2-Related Hospitalization/Death: Urgent Need for an Update after Diffusion of Anti-COVID Vaccines.

Background: There are algorithms to predict the risk of SARS-CoV-2-related complications. Given the spread of anti-COVID vaccination, which sensibly modified the burden of risk of the infection, these tools need to be re-calibrated. Therefore, we updated our vulnerability index, namely, the Health Search (HS)-CoVulnerabiltyIndex (VI)d (HS-CoVId), to predict the risk of SARS-CoV-2-related hospitalization/death in the primary care setting. Methods: We formed a cohort of individuals aged ≥15 years and diagnosed with COVID-19 between 1 January and 31 December 2021 in the HSD. The date of COVID-19 diagnosis was the study index date. These patients were eligible if they had received an anti-COVID vaccine at least 15 days before the index date. Patients were followed up from the index date until one of the following events, whichever came first: COVID-19-related hospitalization/death (event date), end of registration with their GPs, and end of the study period (31 December 2022). To calculate the incidence rate of COVID-19-related hospitalization/death, a patient-specific score was derived through linear combination of the coefficients stemming from a multivariate Cox regression model. Its prediction performance was evaluated by obtaining explained variation, discrimination, and calibration measures. Results: We identified 2192 patients who had received an anti-COVID vaccine from 1 January to 31 December 2021. With this cohort, we re-calibrated the HS-CoVId by calculating optimism-corrected pseudo-R2, AUC, and calibration slope. The final model reported a good predictive performance by explaining 58% (95% CI: 48-71%) of variation in the occurrence of hospitalizations/deaths, the AUC was 83 (95% CI: 77-93%), and the calibration slope did not reject the equivalence hypothesis (p-value = 0.904). Conclusions: Two versions of HS-CoVId need to be differentially adopted to assess the risk of COVID-19-related complications among vaccinated and unvaccinated subjects. Therefore, this functionality should be operationalized in related patient- and population-based informatic tools intended for general practitioners.

Quantum detection of new physics in top-quark pair production at the LHC

The recent observation of entanglement between top and anti-top quarks at the LHC opens the way to interpreting collider data with quantum information tools. In this work we investigate the relevance of quantum observables in searches of new physics. To this aim, we study spin correlations of \\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$t\\overline{t }$$\\end{document} pairs originating from various intermediate resonances, and compare the discovery reach of quantum observables compared to classical ones. We find that they provide complementary information and, in several notable cases, also the additional leverage necessary to detect new effects.

Cumulative cancer locations on prostate biopsy and active surveillance outcomes in the MRI era.

To validate the use of a cumulative cancer locations (CCLO) score, a measurement of tumor volume on biopsy, and to develop a novel magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)-informed CCLO (mCCLO) score to predict clinical outcomes on active surveillance (AS). The CCLO score is a sum of uniquely involved sextants with prostate cancer on diagnostic + confirmatory biopsy. The mCCLO score incorporates MRI findings into the CCLO score. Participants included 1284 individuals enrolled on AS between 1994 and 2022, 343 of whom underwent prostate MRI. The primary outcome was grade reclassification (GR) to grade group ≥2 disease; the secondary outcome was receipt of definitive treatment. Increasing CCLO and mCCLO risk groups were associated with higher risk of GR and undergoing definitive treatment (both p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, increasing mCCLO score was associated with higher risk of GR and receipt of definitive treatment (hazard ratios [HRs] per 1-unit increase: 1.26 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12-1.41] and 1.21 [95% CI: 1.07-1.36], respectively). The model using mCCLO score to predict GR (c-index: 0.671; 95% CI: 0.621-0.721) performed at least as well as models using the number of cores positive for cancer (0.664 [0.613-0.715]; p = 0.7) and the maximum percentage of cancer in a core (0.641 [0.585-0.696]; p = 0.14). The CCLO score is a valid, objective metric to predict GR and receipt of treatment in a large AS cohort. The ability of the MRI-informed mCCLO to predict GR is on par with traditional metrics of tumor volume but is more descriptive and may benefit from greater reproducibility. The mCCLO score can be implemented as a shorthand, informative tool for counseling patients about whether to remain on AS.

How Do Secondary-School Teachers Design STEM Teaching–Learning Sequences? A Mixed Methods Study for Identifying Design Profiles

AbstractDue to the increasing presence of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education paradigm in Spain, many teachers have embarked on the design of specific Teaching–Learning Sequences (TLS) to be implemented in schools. Understanding the views and perceptions about STEM that take shape in specific teachers’ designs should enrich the way in which STEM education is designed based on a more focused approach. This study aims to characterise how secondary school teachers from Catalonia (Spain) design STEM TLS, to identify specific design profiles that can be related to different understandings of STEM education based on a mixed-method analytical approach. We collected 345 canvases from teachers participating in a national STEM education training programme, outlining STEM TLS. The canvases were analysed with an assessment rubric consisting of 8 instructional components (Interdisciplinarity, STEM practices, Information and Communications Technology tools, Formalisation, Openness, Alignment, Authenticity and Values). We identified patterns in teachers’ designs while implementing a hierarchical cluster analysis of the results, obtaining 6 different clusters of 39, 36, 66, 49, 90, and 65 TLS, respectively. The diverse components prioritised or balanced in each cluster suggest how STEM education can be conceived of differently by participating teachers through the lens of component analysis. While authenticity appears to be a major force in the clustering process, direct relationships between components can be found (i.e., between Formalisation and Alignment), as well as inverse relationships (i.e., between Openness and Practices). These findings provide important clues to understand STEM TLS design and recognise the rubric and the cluster definition as powerful tools for teacher training and evaluation in STEM education.

Medical Students` perception Regarding Using Study Guides in Clinical Education

Introduction: Study guide is a tool that helps to direct learners on the education path as a road map and can facilitate their learning process. Moreover, it provides useful information for educators to achieve optimal learning outcomes. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the students' perception regarding the application of study guides in clerkship and internship courses in the clinical education process at Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This analytical-cross-sectional study was conducted at Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences in 2020-2021. In this study, the viewpoints of 62 students regarding the use of study guides in the process of clinical education were investigated through a validated Agarwal's (2017) questionnaire. The content validity ratio (CVR) in all items was higher than 0.49, and the content validity index (CVI) in all items was reported to be higher than 0.79, with no items being omitted from the questionnaire. The required data were collected using the field research method. Data were analyzed using descriptive (mean, standard deviation, and percentage) and inferential tests (Students T-Test) in SPSS software (version 16.0). Results: The mean age of participants in this study was 25.32±0.71 years, and 33 participants (53.2%) were female. The mean satisfaction scores of the students from the internship and clerkship courses were calculated as 3.55±0.97 and 3.44±1.59, respectively, indicating the acceptable satisfaction of the externs and interns with the study guide. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the views of the participants regarding the application of the study guide in internship and clerkship courses (P=0.45). The highest mean score was reported in the "instructiveness" item (4.14±0.69). Conclusion: The results showed that the students considered the study guide an informative tool and a motivator for creating motivation for learning through increasing awareness and knowledge concerning the educational program and the learning process. Systematic planning is recommended for the use of learning guides to manage students' learning in medical school.

Structured observation and informant report assessments in intellectual disability: Reflections of qualified and student speech-language pathologists

Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of qualified and student speech-language pathologists (SLPs) on the clinical utility of informant report and observation tools following a 1-day workshop using a decision tree. Method Each participant group (qualified [n = 4] or student SLP [n = 8]) attended a 1-day workshop where they engaged with informant report and structured observation tools using video case studies. Each workshop concluded in a focus group conducted by an independent researcher. NVivo 12 software supported inductive coding and subsequent thematic analysis of transcribed data. Result Thematic analysis revealed that participants’ perceptions of tools’ clinical utility could be conceptualised as three themes (a) tool characteristics, (b) external clinical work demands, and (c) clinician preparedness. Conclusion Participants’ views on the utility of informant report and structured observation were influenced by tensions between their desires, the realities of clinical practice, and their own capabilities. This has implications for workforce development in the field in providing clinician guidance, training, and support.

COVID-19 Information Platform for Primary Care: Emergence and Development of a Web-based Knowledge Platform in the COVID-19 Pandemic

The SARS-Cov-2 outbreak in the spring of 2020 challenged the health care system, and thus primary care, on an unprecedented scale. Knowledge about the new disease was low, whereas the dynamics of knowledge generation were high and inhomogeneous. A number of new primary care tasks related to the pandemic situation emerged. Guidance in the management of COVID-19 was therefore needed, although robust evidence was not yet available. The information required concerned not only the virus and the new disease COVID-19, but also regulatory requirements and organizational issues. In this situation, a flexible, web-based information tool, easy to update and usable at the point of care, was developed at Karl Landsteiner Private University Krems and put online under the name of "COVID-19: prevention and management in primary care practices" on March 25, 2020. In a retrospective process description, we describe the needs-triggered process of developing and disseminating a practice-based tool to support practicing primary care physicians in a period of high uncertainty with an urgent need for information. Afterwards, we reflect on the learning process from a purely pragmatic to an increasingly structured approach and try to draw conclusions regarding optimization possibilities in terms of creation and dissemination. In situations of high uncertainty combined with an acute need for action and decision-making, there is a significant need for information that is as reliable as possible. Science transfer must be done in such a way that information can be implemented quickly. Dissemination, as always, plays an essential role. Gaps must be accepted. A structured process of quality assurance must be established in parallel. Funds and resources for knowledge transfer should be included in future pandemic plans.

Analysis and Improvement of Geographic Information Systems for Problem Solving and Decision Making

The complexity of our way of life has increased due to the numerous parts of life developing quickly, which results in ongoing issues. To address these issues and respond to these rapid changes in the environment, solutions that were practical, quick, and easy to implement were needed. The use of geographic information tools, a contemporary innovation, allows for the implementation of difficult issues by enhancing users' abilities to comprehend problems thoroughly through the analysis of spatial data and the creation of digital maps. This allows decision-makers to save time, effort, and money by making informed choices that will result in the best possible solution to the issue at hand. In addition to a significant urban expansion, an increase in the number of people using vehicles, and a significant emigration of people from rural and small towns, the traffic jams that have recently engulfed much of the world, particularly in the major capitals and cities, are a result of these factors for transportation, have contributed to a complex problem in modern times. The goal of this study is to examine proposed elements and gauge their impact on the issue of traffic bottlenecks. It then suggests both long- and short-term remedies for this issue based on the study's findings, which are generally not found in the pertinent departments. In order to create a unique surface for these components and provide a comprehensive picture of the research region, it also makes satellite photos of the area available. geographical database for each of them, evaluate each layer's influence on the traffic jam independently by analyzing it, and then merge these levels to create full map that shows their location and the extent to which they affect the study problems. This process was done in order to arrive at the aforementioned solution.

Geomatic tools used in the management of agricultural activities: a systematic review

AbstractManaging agricultural activity encompasses technology, geographic information, spatial data and geomatic tools as support techniques. In this framework, agricultural mapping is an essential geomatic application due to its importance in managing food systems. This research aims to analyze the state of knowledge of geomatics tools and their applications in agriculture through a systematic review of scientific documents and methodological approaches, highlighting the use of geomatics in agricultural mapping to evaluate trends in agriculture management. The study methodology consists of a scientific base of publications on geomatics and its applications in sustainable agriculture, with a quantitative analysis of production and its approaches. Subsequently, PRISMA establishes a systematic review in search of the subject’s methods, applications and trends. The results show that of the total data analyzed, 60% corresponds to general agricultural mapping for crop/water/soil mapping using satellite images. Twenty percent for land use and coverage, considering the georeferencing that contributes to agricultural territorial planning. Nine percent consider geomatic key for agricultural cadastre (plot management). In addition, 6% corresponds to precision agriculture and 5% to watershed management. The most predominant geomatics tools are: Geographic Information System (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and remote sensing (RS). Also, among the most used geomatic techniques in agricultural cartography, photogrammetry in crop phenology and multispectral analysis in the optimisation and monitoring of agricultural production stand out. Studies show that the geomatic application promotes sustainability practices such as crop rotation, seeds dispersed and germinated by animals, agricultural irrigation through rivers/basins/streams, family gardens and generation of employment sources. The geomatics use is of great utility/potential for the acquisition and generation of geospatial data accurately, with time and cost savings that contribute to the decision-making of city councils, public cadastral administrations, enterprises, educational institutions and agricultural foundations.

Setting a dutch integrative medicine research agenda: Results of a consensus-based strategy

IntroductionThe WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014–2023 emphasises the significance of traditional medicine systems for preventing and treating diseases, worldwide. As a result, many countries have developed national research programmes and research institutes dealing with traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) (WHO Global Report on Traditional and Complementary Medicine, Geneva, 2019) or integrative medicine (IM). Despite considerable public interest in IM in the Netherlands, no Dutch programme or research institute has been established, yet. In 2018, a consortium for integrative care and health was founded, and developed a national research agenda with research priorities for the Netherlands. MethodsThe consensus-based strategy for developing the research agenda involved: (1) conducting a literature review, (2) organising an online consensus meeting with a select group of integrative medicine (IM) experts, (3) conducting a survey among IM stakeholders, and (4) organising a second consensus meeting with the same group of IM experts to discuss the survey results and further refine the research agenda. Snowball sampling was used to recruit IM stakeholders, starting from a list of those interested in or connected to IM. ResultsNinety-two stakeholders completed the survey. The most promising research areas were oncology, pain management and palliative care. Respondents awarded the highest priority to research on the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and safety of IM interventions. Directions for research included mind–body interventions, biological interventions and whole medical systems. Moreover, respondents strongly recommended developing reliable patient information tools. Facilitators for IM implementation were increasing attention on prevention, the rising incidence of chronic diseases and the shift from disease-focused to health-focused approaches. The identified barriers included a lack of knowledge about IM, the absence of health insurance reimbursement for complementary medicine, and governance structures of healthcare organisations. ConclusionsThe first Dutch IM research agenda was developed based on consensus among Dutch healthcare professionals, along with input from a smaller group of patients and researchers. This agenda provides clear research directions and distinguishes both positive developments and barriers for IM in the Netherlands.

ChatGPT as an information tool in rhinology. Can we trust each other today?

ChatGPT (Chat-Generative Pre-trained Transformer) has proven to be a powerful information tool on various topics, including healthcare. This system is based on information obtained on the Internet, but this information is not always reliable. Currently, few studies analyze the validity of these responses in rhinology. Our work aims to assess the quality and reliability of the information provided by AI regarding the main rhinological pathologies. We asked to the default ChatGPT version (GPT-3.5) 65 questions about the most prevalent pathologies in rhinology. The focus was learning about the causes, risk factors, treatments, prognosis, and outcomes. We use the Discern questionnaire and a hexagonal radar schema to evaluate the quality of the information. We use Fleiss's kappa statistical analysis to determine the consistency of agreement between different observers. The overall evaluation of the Discern questionnaire resulted in a score of 4.05 (± 0.6). The results in the Reliability section are worse, with an average score of 3.18. (± 1.77). This score is affected by the responses to questions about the source of the information provided. The average score for the Quality section was 3.59 (± 1.18). Fleiss's Kappa shows substantial agreement, with a K of 0.69 (p < 0.001). The ChatGPT answers are accurate and reliable. It generates a simple and understandable description of the pathology for the patient's benefit. Our team considers that ChatGPT could be a useful tool to provide information under prior supervision by a health professional.

Malaysian Science Teachers’ Tech-infused Instruction and Assessment Strategies

Science education consistently displays unique traits shaped by evolving educational landscapes, as well as global trends and developments. Despite global enthusiasm for technology in education, there is a notable dearth of studies on Malaysian science teachers' skills in integrating instructional technology. Studies in this region seldom delve deeply into the use of specific Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools and web platforms in teaching and assessment, indicating a significant gap in the literature on technology integration in Malaysian science classrooms. This paper presents a study carried out involving a survey of 36 science teachers across 16 secondary schools in a district in Kelantan, one of the eastern states in Malaysia. It aimed to achieve the following research objectives: 1) To examine science teachers’ use of digital tools and technology in lesson planning and the development of educational materials; 2) To investigate science teachers’ incorporation of technology into their science instruction; and 3) To determine how technology is integrated into the science assessment and reporting process. The findings reveal a high level of digital resourcefulness among teachers, contrasting with prior studies that indicated minimal technological integration in Malaysian classrooms. Teachers predominantly relied on web resources like YouTube and online textbooks for lesson planning, while Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Slides were frequently used in instruction. Google Classroom and Quizizz were identified as the most common platforms in science assessments. The findings highlight a significant shift in technology usage, advocating for continued professional development, collaborative networks, and policy reforms to further integrate technology into science education. It also suggests that future studies should focus on more specific aspects of technology use, aiming to enhance its impact on teaching methodologies and curriculum alignment, thus making a significant contribution to the discourse on instructional technology in Malaysian science education.

A Systemic Functional Analysis of Wole Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman

This paper is about the systemic functional analysis of Wole Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman, on the basis of the postulate that African classical literary works connote some significant functions. The methodology used in this analysis is the mixed method approach, which is a combination of both quantitative and qualitative linguistic data. Two extracts are therefore selected from the play on a qualitative basis, taking into account the relevance of the exchange in terms of information and the characters involved in the exchange. These are split into numbered and analyzable units referred to as clauses in which the various mood components are meticulously and quantitatively identified. The results reveal that the extracts are essentially concerned with propositions, that is, the exchange of information about the rite. Some services are realized through proposals. Modal variables are profusely used in the extracts under consideration, highlighting interlocutors’ various attitudes and judgments regarding the traditional ritual of the king’s horseman death. The analysis of the exchange has uncovered the pecking order defined by the colonial administrators whose behaviors are profoundly marked by prejudices regarding the rite. Thus, Soyinka’s play functions as a tool for information and education about the African worldview.

Methodology for comprehensive assessment of the fisheries complex enterprises' bankruptcy probability

Subject. Enterprises that are actively operating in the market are exposed to factors affecting their financial health. If the nature of the factors is negative, the enterprises will face adverse impact, like a decrease in financial stability and solvency. Objectives. The study aims at development of scientific and practical tools for information and analytical substantiation of bankruptcy probability assessment and monitoring of financial health of organizations of the fisheries complex when making management decisions. Methods. The methodological approach to assessing the probability of bankruptcy of fisheries enterprises relies on the study of multifactor models designed to predict bankruptcy. Results. The paper considers causes of bankruptcy and the influence of factors leading to loss of solvency of the enterprise, defines specific features of bankruptcy of fishing companies. We performed the analysis of financial condition of companies with 3.22.1 "Freshwater Industrial Fish Farming" core activity. On the basis of modern scientific research in the field of assessing insolvency and the probability of bankruptcy, we developed our own methodological approach for fishing companies. Conclusions. If used, the offered methodology will provide the company managers with reliable information on the possible occurrence of company's insolvency.

Анализ по методу иерархий информационных инструментов в обеспечении расчетов стоимости в гражданском судостроении

Currently, the development of shipbuilding is one of the critically important areas of Russia's industrial policy. According to the “Strategy for the development of the shipbuilding industry for the period up to 2035”, optimization of production facilities, their modernization and technical re-equipment, among others, are identified as its key tasks. The issue of digitalization of shipbuilding design is relevant, namely, the development and implementation of effective digital tools for the modernization and development of work on the design of shipbuilding facilities in terms of work on determining the cost of their construction and preparation of feasibility studies. The article considers the creation of a concept for the structure of digital tools to ensure the production of cost calculations in the process of designing civil shipbuilding facilities. A comprehensive analysis of the digitalization processes of the industry and the dynamics of the development of regulatory and methodological support for calculating the cost of designed products made it possible to formulate the key advantages of introducing digital technologies in the paradigm of digital transformation of shipbuilding, as well as to justify the expediency of searching and developing relevant digital tools in ensuring production processes in shipbuilding, in particular when preparing cost calculations for projected facilities. The choice of the most effective concept of an information tool in providing cost calculations for projected objects in the field of civil shipbuilding was carried out using the hierarchy analysis method. The criteria by which an effective alternative was chosen are formulated, three possible alternatives of an information tool in providing cost calculations for projected objects in the field of civil shipbuilding are considered.

Старый новый взгляд на форму завещания

This article discusses the problems associated with the use of information technology in the registration of inheritance cases by a notary. One of the common grounds for the emergence of hereditary rights of citizens is a will. Notaries, like any other specialists in the modern world, use information and communication technologies. The result of the use of these information tools is the drafting of a will through the use of audio, video digital and other equipment. The idea of developing a unifi ed state website for electronic wills is currently becoming important due to the development of digital technologies in the notary offi ce, which will affect the law enforcement practice of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation.The authors of the article focus their attention on the expediency of securing at the legislative level the possibility of using digital technologies in making a will.

COVID-19 Infection Percentage Estimation from Computed Tomography Scans: Results and Insights from the International Per-COVID-19 Challenge.

COVID-19 analysis from medical imaging is an important task that has been intensively studied in the last years due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, medical imaging has often been used as a complementary or main tool to recognize the infected persons. On the other hand, medical imaging has the ability to provide more details about COVID-19 infection, including its severity and spread, which makes it possible to evaluate the infection and follow-up the patient's state. CT scans are the most informative tool for COVID-19 infection, where the evaluation of COVID-19 infection is usually performed through infection segmentation. However, segmentation is a tedious task that requires much effort and time from expert radiologists. To deal with this limitation, an efficient framework for estimating COVID-19 infection as a regression task is proposed. The goal of the Per-COVID-19 challenge is to test the efficiency of modern deep learning methods on COVID-19 infection percentage estimation (CIPE) from CT scans. Participants had to develop an efficient deep learning approach that can learn from noisy data. In addition, participants had to cope with many challenges, including those related to COVID-19 infection complexity and crossdataset scenarios. This paper provides an overview of the COVID-19 infection percentage estimation challenge (Per-COVID-19) held at MIA-COVID-2022. Details of the competition data, challenges, and evaluation metrics are presented. The best performing approaches and their results are described and discussed.

Towards global model generalizability: independent cross-site feature evaluation for patient-level risk prediction models using theOHDSI network.

Predictive models show promise in healthcare, but their successful deployment is challenging due to limited generalizability. Current external validation often focuses on model performance with restricted feature use from the original training data, lacking insights into their suitability at external sites. Our study introduces an innovative methodology for evaluating features during both the development phase and the validation, focusing on creating and validating predictive models for post-surgery patient outcomes with improved generalizability. Electronic health records (EHRs) from 4 countries (United States, United Kingdom, Finland, and Korea) were mapped to the OMOP Common Data Model (CDM), 2008-2019. Machine learning (ML) models were developed to predict post-surgery prolonged opioid use (POU) risks using data collected 6 months before surgery. Both local and cross-site feature selection methods were applied in the development and external validation datasets. Models were developed using Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics (OHDSI) tools and validated on separate patient cohorts. Model development included 41929 patients, 14.6% with POU. The external validation included 31932 (UK), 23100 (US), 7295 (Korea), and 3934 (Finland) patients with POU of 44.2%, 22.0%, 15.8%, and 21.8%, respectively. The top-performing model, Lasso logistic regression, achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.75 during local validation and 0.69 (SD = 0.02) (averaged) in external validation. Models trained with cross-site feature selection significantly outperformed those using only features from the development site through external validation (P < .05). Using EHRs across four countries mapped to the OMOP CDM, we developed generalizable predictive models for POU. Our approach demonstrates the significant impact of cross-site feature selection in improving model performance, underscoring the importance of incorporating diverse feature sets from various clinical settings to enhance the generalizability and utility of predictive healthcare models.

Experiences of using the MINDSET Self-Management mobile health app among Hispanic Patients:Results of a qualitative study

BackgroundInterventions focusing on epilepsy self-management (ESM) are vital for promoting the health of people living with epilepsy. E-technology and mobile health (mHealth) tools are becoming increasingly integrated into practice to promote self-management strategies for chronic diseases, enhance care delivery, and reduce health disparities. Management Information and Decision Support Epilepsy Tool (MINDSET), a bilingual decision support tool (available in English and Spanish), was found to be both feasible and effective in facilitating goal-based ESM in the clinic. PurposeTo assess the experience of using MINDSET as an ESM intervention among Hispanic patients with epilepsy to inform future interventional studies. MethodsThis study used a Qualitative Descriptive (QD) framework to provide a rich and straightforward description of patients’ subjective experiences using MINDSET. Participants were enrolled in the intervention group of a larger parent study (RCT) to assess the efficacy of MINDSET among Hispanic People with Epilepsy (PWE). The purposive, convenient, criterion-based sample for this qualitative analysis comprised of 42 patients who agreed to participate in a semi-structured interview at the end of the larger RCT. This RCT was conducted between August 2017 and January 2019. Spanish and English-speaking Hispanic adult patients (n = 94) with epilepsy in Arizona (n = 53) and Texas (n = 41) were randomly assigned within 6 neurology clinics to treatment (MINDSET plus Usual Care, hereafter referred to as MINDSET; n = 46) and comparison (Usual Care Only; n = 48) conditions. ResultsPatient demographics, epilepsy conditions, and ESM behavioral characteristics were representative of the intervention group. Study participants were Hispanic, mainly of Mexican descent (94 %), with a mean age of 39 years, mostly female (53 %), and most of the participants reported having had one or more seizures per month (54 %). The MINDSET intervention revealed five ESM themes: (1) Awareness and Realization of Epilepsy Self-Management, (2) Communication and Partnership with Health Care Providers HCP, (3) Epilepsy Self-Management and Quality of Life, (4) Seizure Control, and (5) Optimism and Agency. ConclusionThe participants who used MINDSET as a self-management intervention reported an overall positive experience. Qualitative data in this study show that MINDSET is a valuable ESM tool for Hispanic patients with epilepsy. Findings from this qualitative study were consistent with results from a larger parent study that recognized MINDSET as an effective platform for improving epilepsy self-management adherence.

Determinants of Implementing an Information and Communication Technology Tool for Social Interaction Among Older People: Qualitative Content Analysis of Social Services Personnel Perspectives.

Older people are particularly vulnerable to social isolation and loneliness, which can lead to ill-health, both mentally and physically. Information and communication technology (ICT) can supplement health and social care and improve health among the vulnerable, older adult population. When ICT is used specifically for communication with others, it is associated with reduced loneliness in older populations. Research is sparse on how the implementation of ICT, used specifically for communication among older people in social services, can be performed. It is recommended to consider the determinants of implementation, that is, barriers to and facilitators of implementation. Determinants related to older people using ICT tools are reported in several studies. To the best of our knowledge, studies investigating the determinants related to the social services perspective are lacking. This study aims to explore the determinants of implementing the Fik@ room, a new, co-designed, and research-based ICT tool for social interaction among older people, from a social services personnel perspective. This study used an exploratory, qualitative design. An ICT tool called the Fik@ room was tested in an intervention study conducted in 2021 in 2 medium-sized municipalities in Sweden. Informants in this study were municipal social services personnel with experience of implementing this specific ICT tool in social services. We conducted a participatory workshop consisting of 2 parts, with 9 informants divided into 2 groups. We analyzed the data using qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach. The results included 7 categories of determinants for implementing the ICT tool. Being able to introduce the ICT tool in an appropriate manner concerns the personnel's options for introducing and supporting the ICT tool, including their competencies in using digital equipment. Organizational structure concerns a structure for communication within the organization. Leadership concerns engagement and enthusiasm as driving forces for implementation. The digital maturity of the social services personnel concerns the personnel's skills and attitudes toward using digital equipment. Resources concern time and money. IT support concerns accessibility, and legal liability concerns possibilities to fulfill legal responsibilities. The results show that implementation involves an entire organization at varying degrees. Regardless of how much each level within the organization comes into direct contact with the ICT tool, all levels need to be involved to create the necessary conditions for successful implementation. The prerequisites for the implementation of an ICT tool will probably change depending on the digital maturity of future generations. As this study only included 9 informants, the results should be handled with care. The study was performed during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has probably affected the results.