Internet-based Approaches Research Articles

Sustainable and Low-Input Techniques in Mediterranean Greenhouse Vegetable Production

In the modern agricultural landscape, numerous challenges, such as climate change, diminishing arable lands, and the reduction of water resources, represent significant threats. The Mediterranean greenhouse farming model relies on low-input strategies to maximize both yield and quality. Its protected horticulture is essential for the year-round cultivation of high-value crops, ensuring efficient and sustainable production. In the realm of future agricultural strategies, leveraging internet-based approaches emerges as a pivotal factor for real-time and remote control of various agricultural parameters crucial for crop growth and development. This approach has the potential to significantly optimize agronomic inputs, thereby enhancing the efficiency of targeted vegetable production. The aim of the present review is to underscore the challenges related to the intensive greenhouse production systems emphasizing various strategies leading to low-input greenhouse vegetable production. The goal is to promote more sustainable and resource-efficient approaches in the cultivation of greenhouse vegetables. This review highlights several key strategies for optimizing the greenhouse environment, including efficient water management through conservation tillage, drainage water reuse, and selecting the most appropriate irrigation systems and timing. Additionally, light modulation and temperature control—using solar energy for heating and pad-and-fan systems for cooling—are crucial for enhancing both crop performance and resource efficiency. The review also explores low-input agronomical strategies, such as pest and disease control—including solarization and optimized integrated pest management (IPM)—as well as fertilization and advanced growing techniques. These approaches are essential for sustainable greenhouse farming.

Application of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in Children and Adolescents Psychotherapy: An Umbrella Review.

Objective: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based psychological intervention that has gained increasing attention in recent years. While extensively studied for its effectiveness in adult populations, there has been growing interest in exploring the application of ACT in children and adolescents psychotherapy. This umbrella review aims to provide an overview of the current literature on the use and efficacy of ACT in children and adolescents, as well as to highlight potential considerations and future directions for research. Method : A comprehensive search was done in scientific databases, including Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Sciences, using keywords related to ACT, children, adolescents, and psychotherapy. Relevant articles were included, with a focus on systematic reviews and meta-analysis. Results: Our findings indicate consistent effectiveness for ACT and related interventions across various delivery formats, including in-person, group, and internet-based approaches, in reducing symptoms of internalizing and externalizing problems, as well as improving overall quality of life among children and adolescents. However, two articles comparing ACT with traditional cognitive behavioral therapy did not demonstrate superiority. Additionally, when comparing internet-based and in-person delivery modes, the included studies did not show significant differences between the two types. Conclusion: ACT shows promise as an effective therapeutic approach in children and adolescents psychotherapy. However, more research is warranted to establish its specific techniques and adaptations for different age groups and presenting problems. Additionally, future research should explore the feasibility and effectiveness of delivering ACT in varied settings.

Development and State of the Art of Entrepreneurship Education: A Bibliometric Review

Entrepreneurship education (EE) plays a vital role in fostering an entrepreneurial culture and promoting the growth of the small- and medium-sized business sector in a nation. Research on EE has advanced extremely rapidly in the last two decades. These changes are evident not only in the quantity of published works but also in the evolving methods of academic communication, the rise of emerging nations as prominent contributors to EE research, and the shifting areas of focus in study themes. This current study aims to provide a comprehensive picture of these processes based on a big-data-centred bibliometric analysis of a corpus of 3787 articles that appeared in the Web of Science literature database. The bibliographic metadata was analysed using Biblioshiny, CitNetExplorer, and VOSviewer. To understand the most significant development trends, researchers employed the triangulation method, which included scientific mapping and epistemological analysis in addition to standard tools of bibliometric analysis. This has led to the identification of some study needs. First, improving EE methods in secondary school curricula; second, EE in adult education and the practicality of the findings for andragogy; third, EE in least developed countries and its unique challenges; fourth, combining EE with internet-based, innovative training and education approaches like gamification and simulations; fifth, EE’s role and methodological development in societal economic integration; and sixth, women’s unique EE requirements. On top of that, this study provides the basis for policymakers and practitioners to consider incorporating entrepreneurial education programmes, which can help to create a prosperous entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Human biomonitoring without in-person interaction: public health engagements during the COVID-19 pandemic and future implications

BackgroundPublic health initiatives, including human biomonitoring, have been impacted by unique challenges since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, compounding a decades-long trend of declining public participation. To combat low public participation rates, public health professionals often employ extensive engagement approaches including in-person interactions related to enrollment and sampling, success of which is an essential component of a statistically defensible study. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic challenged public health programs to diversify engagement and sampling approaches, limiting direct interactions for the health and safety of the population. This study explores biomonitoring recruitment strategies through non-contact mechanisms and evaluate the application feasibility for population-based studies.MethodsThe Iowa Biomonitoring Program at the State Hygienic Laboratory developed a human biomonitoring study that utilized a multifaceted, distance-based approach. Traditional techniques, such as mailed recruitment invitations and phone-based discussions, were coupled with internet-based surveys and self-collected, shipped urine and water samples. Participation rates were evaluated by employing different mailing methods, and the demographics of enrolled participants were examined.ResultsThis non-human contact approach achieved a nearly 14% participation rate among a rural population, well above our target rates. Our improved mailing strategy for targeting initially unresponsive participants yielded a significantly increase in the participation rates. The respondents were predominantly individuals with educational attainment of at least high school level. Among all the eligible participants, 83% submitted self-collected samples, a rate comparable to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey which involved in-person interviews.ConclusionsThe practice of engaging a rural population during the COVID-19 pandemic by transitioning from face-to-face interactions to a combination of mailing and internet-based approaches resulted in higher-than-expected participant recruitment and sample collection rates. Given the declining trend in the response rates for population-based survey studies, our results suggest conducting human biomonitoring without direct human interaction is feasible, which provides further opportunity to improve response rates and the relevance and reach of public health initiatives.

Efficacy of in-person versus digital mental health interventions for postpartum depression: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

ABSTRACT Aim This meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy of in-person and digital mental health interventions in addressing Postpartum Depression. Methods Following PRISMA guidelines, the protocol for this meta-analysis was registered at the Open Science Framework (Retrieved from osf.io/wy3s4). This meta analysis included Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) conducted between 2013 and 2023. A comprehensive literature search identified 35 eligible RCTs from various electronic databases. Inclusion criteria focused on pregnant women over 18 years old, encompassing antenatal depression and up to two years postpartum. Diagnostic interviews or Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were used to establish PPD. Digital interventions included telephonic, app-based, or internet-based approaches, while in-person interventions involved face-to-face sessions. Results The meta-analysis revealed a moderate overall effect size of −0.69, indicating that psychological interventions are effective for PPD. Digital interventions (g = −0.86) exhibited a higher mean effect size than in-person interventions (g = −0.55). Both types of interventions displayed substantial heterogeneity (digital: I2 = 99%, in-person: I2 = 92%), suggesting variability in intervention content, delivery methods, and participant characteristics. Conclusion Digital mental health interventions show promise in addressing PPD symptoms, with a potentially greater effect size compared to in-person interventions. However, the high heterogeneity observed in both modalities underscores the need for further research to identify key drivers of success and tailor interventions to diverse populations. Additionally, the choice between digital and in-person interventions should consider individual needs and preferences. Ongoing research should further investigate and optimise intervention modalities to better serve pregnant women at risk of PPD.

Analysis of the Effects of the WeChat Health Management Platform on the Self-care Ability and Quality of Life of Patients with Liver Cancer Undergoing Interventional Therapy

Background: With the popularity of WeChat, Internet-based nursing approaches are gradually being applied to disease care, as they can better meet nursing requirements. Objectives: To explore the impact of the WeChat health management platform on the self-care ability and quality of life of patients with liver cancer undergoing interventional therapy Methods: A total of 82 patients with liver cancer who underwent interventional therapy were selected from January 2020 to January 2021 and randomly divided into the observation (n = 41) and control (n = 41) groups. The control group received routine nursing measures, while the observation group received the new nursing mode based on the WeChat health management platform. The WeChat health management platform can help patients develop health education plans, remind them of follow-up appointments, promote knowledge about nursing measures for liver cancer interventional therapies, provide feedback on medication use to doctors, and strengthen doctor–patient communication. The self-care ability and quality of life of the two groups of patients were compared before and after the intervention. Results: After the intervention, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) scores were lower in the patients of the observation group than those in the control group, indicating an improvement in the adverse moods and quality of life of patients in the observation group. Also, the psychological, physical, and social functions and overall health scores of patients in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (all P-values < 0.05). Conclusions: The WeChat health management platform could improve the self-care ability of liver cancer patients undergoing interventional therapy and their mood and quality of life, which is worthy of clinical reference.

“I was Treated by the Program, the Therapist, and Myself”: Feasibility of an Internet-Based Treatment Program for Gambling Disorder

The majority of people with problematic gambling behavior never seek or receive professional help. Internet-based treatment approaches have been shown to help patients overcome practical and psychological barriers associated with face-to-face therapy. In this uncontrolled pilot study, we explored the feasibility of the eight-module therapist-guided internet-based treatment program SpilleFri (“Free from Gambling”) for patients with gambling disorder (GD). We included 24 patients seeking treatment at a Danish hospital-based treatment clinic. The focus of the feasibility study was evaluation of recruitment and retention rates, data completion rates, treatment response, satisfaction, and program utility. In addition, a series of semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore patient-perceived acceptability and potential barriers to treatment completion and positive outcome. Treatment acceptability among therapists was examined in a focus group interview. Sixteen of the included patients completed the program, yielding an acceptable treatment dropout rate (29.17%), and 82.35% of treatment completers provided full data at all assessment points. Overall, patients were satisfied with the treatment received, and patient interviews highlighted multiple psychological as well as practical benefits associated with the treatment form and content. Patients with more severe gambling symptoms at baseline might be more likely to drop out before treatment completion than patients with less severe symptoms. The results suggest that SpilleFri may be a feasible alternative to face-to-face treatment for GD. However, the uncontrolled design and small sample size of the study limit the robustness of the findings. In the future, the effect of SpilleFri treatment should be examined in a randomized controlled trial.Clinical trial registrations: The study protocol was prospectively registered at clinicaltrials.gov (TRN: NCT05051085; registration date: September 21, 2021).

Retracted: Internet-Based Approaches to Designing an Online Fitness Platform.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1155/2022/9113569.].

Internet-Based Approaches to Designing an Online Fitness Platform.

In recent years, national fitness has become a hot topic. How to take healthy and effective exercise on a daily basis is an urgent problem to be tackled. Web-based platforms are accessible through cellphones, which include fitness records, teaching videos, and result feedback. These three aspects assist users in completing their initial evaluation, which further contributes to health improvement. Additionally, enhancement in the well-being of individuals is carried through video recommendations. In order to proceed fitness related videos suggestions, this platform uses a collaborative filtering algorithm, which is based on videos recommendation. To receive suggestions, this methodology acquires five queries to be completely addressed at the preliminary stage. This initial assessment is commonly known as a cold-start evaluation strategy. Furthermore, popularity punishment measures are incorporated to enhance productivity. Finally, this platform offers an online-based approach for the inspection, assessment of the national fitness, and orientation for the future improvement of the fitness database.

Application of Internet-based Cognitive Behavior Therapy Approaches for Female Adolescent with Major Depressive Disorder

The purpose of this study was to measure the decrease in depression symptoms experienced by the participant before and after following the intervention by applying the Internet-based Cognitive Behavior Therapy (iCBT) approach. The participant was HN, a 14-year-old female adolescent who refused school due to major depressive disorder. The design of this study was a single-subject design with pre-post measurement. The intervention program was held eight sessions with a pre-session one day before, and a follow-up session was given two weeks after. The instruments used for this research are Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) to measure depression symptoms and Mood-o-meter, which serves as a mood rating to measure HN's mood fluctuation. This study showed depression symptoms decreased and positive mindset change and behavior towards the social environment at the end of the intervention program.

Time-Varying Transmission Effects of Internet Finance Under Economic Policy Uncertainty and Internet Consumers’ Behaviors: Evidence from China

The modern finance industry is composed of not only numerous financial intermediaries but also internet-based mechanisms which are operated by mobile phone users and online consumers daily. In the coming 10 years, estimates suggest that over half of banks’ functions will likely be replaced by high-tech artificial intelligence. Given the great ongoing shifts in contemporary financial systems, the transmission effects of internet-based finance practices have introduced an important yet unaddressed empirical question on the coupling relationship between the internet finance industry and economic policy uncertainty (EPU). This paper adopts the time-varying parameter vector autoregressive model with stochastic volatility (TVP-SV-VAR) model and novel data from Alibaba Corp. to investigate this relationship. We find: First, the impact of internet-based financial approaches on EPU is greater than the reversal effect, indicating that China’s gross domestic product (GDP) is largely influenced by the online finance industry. Second, the lag impacts are time varying and become stable after 2016, corresponding to the current Chinese government’s long-term strategic plan that emphasizes maintaining the economy’s overall stability. Lastly, additional evidence shows that the online financial approaches are positively correlated with consumers’ behaviors, implying that the online finance industry is gaining its momentum when people are using e-currency rather than real cash. After all, it takes time to observe the real effect of these macro policies. With internet and information technology developing, artificial intelligence is being used in the areas of big data, credit lending, and risk control. This largely reduces the data analyzing cost for internet finance companies and makes risk control more convenient.

A review of Internet-based approaches for health promotion programs related to the COVID-19 pandemic and wellness education

COVID-19 pandemic continues to have significant impacts in various sectors of society worldwide, including Indonesia. One major impact of COVID-19 occurs in the health information sector especially with social distancing regulations that inhibit people to access health care providers. This has led to several other problems such as behavior alteration involving unhealthy lifestyles and misleading information. Due to the limitations of social interaction, health care providers have proposed various methods to provide health promotions related to COVID-19 and wellness education that are accessible by the whole society with or without Internet access. This study aimed to review the current strategies of health information systems to increase knowledge about COVID-19 and overall wellness by the implementation of Internet-based programs. This review is based on a secondary study conducted with online search engines. Some previous studies showed that online training has improved knowledge significantly. Other research also described how the success of a community education program depends on adequate motivation and access to proper information. Three main factors that cause the failure of community education are lack of self-efficacy, lack of information, and distraction without proper supervision. Lack of information is due to the difficulty to gain Internet access in some areas and for some populations. In conclusion, Internet-based approaches can be implemented for health promotion programs related to COVID-19 and wellness due to the massive growth of Internet use in Indonesia.

Effects of eHealth-Based Multiple Health Behavior Change Interventions on Physical Activity, Healthy Diet, and Weight in People With Noncommunicable Diseases: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BackgroundNoncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are associated with the burden of premature deaths and huge medical costs globally. There is an increasing number of studies combining a multiple health behavior change (MHBC) intervention paradigm with eHealth approaches to jointly promote weight-related health behaviors among people with NCD; yet, a comprehensive summary of these studies is lacking.ObjectiveThis review aims to meta-analyze the effectiveness and systematically summarize the characteristics of the relevant intervention studies for improving the outcomes of physical activity, healthy diet, and weight among people with NCD.MethodsFollowing PRISMA guidelines, 4 electronic databases (PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus) were systematically searched to identify eligible articles based on a series of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Article selection, quality assessment, and data extraction were independently performed by 2 authors. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was calculated to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for 3 intervention outcomes (physical activity, healthy diet, and weight), and subsequent subgroup analyses were performed for gender, age, intervention duration, channel, and theory. Calculations were conducted, and figures were produced in SPSS 22 and Review Manager 5.3.ResultsOf the 664 original hits generated by the systematic searches, 15 eligible studies with moderate to high quality were included. No potential publication bias was detected using statistical analyses. Studies varied in intervention channel, intensity, and content. The meta-analysis revealed that the eHealth MHBC interventions significantly promoted physical activity (SMD 0.85, 95% CI 0.23 to 1.47, P=.008) and healthy diet (SMD 0.78, 95% CI 0.13 to 1.43, P=.02), but did not contribute to a healthy weight status (SMD –0.13, 95% CI= –0.47 to 0.20, P=.43) among people with NCDs, compared to the control conditions. Results from subgroup analysis indicated that theory-based interventions achieved greater effect than nontheory-based interventions in promoting physical activity, and interventions with traditional approaches (SMS, telephone) were more effective than those with modern internet-based approaches in promoting healthy diet.ConclusionsThe results of this review indicates that eHealth MHBC interventions achieve preliminary success in promoting physical activity and healthy diet behaviors among people with NCD. Future studies could improve the intervention design to achieve better intervention effectiveness.Trial RegistrationPROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42019118629; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=118629

Using social media for research during COVID-19 pandemic in a cohort in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil

We aim to share our experience of participants recruitment for the Prospective Study about Mental and Physical Health (PAMPA) cohort study using social media. The recruitment strategies were based mainly on social media. The inclusion criteria were being 18 years old or more and resident of Rio Grande do Sul state. In the survey’s official Facebook® and Instagram® page some strategies were adopted, such as weekly posting schedule, use of hashtags, organic publications, and boosted publications. Over the first 13 days of study, 1773 people were reached by an organic engagement. Boosted campaigns increased the average interactions reaching a total of 34,376 people, leading to 857 clicks on the survey’s link. Social media is a useful tool for participants recruitment strategy in epidemiological researches. However, internet-based approaches aiming to reach a more heterogeneous sample should be developed.

The Landscape of Connected Cancer Symptom Management in Rural America: A Narrative Review of Opportunities for Launching Connected Health Interventions.

BackgroundThe 2016 President’s Cancer Panel called for projects focusing on improving cancer symptom management using connected health technologies (broadband and telecommunications). However, rural communities, like those in Appalachia, may experience a “double burden” of high cancer rates and lower rates of broadband access and adoption necessary for connected health solutions.PurposeTo better understand the current landscape of connected health in the management of cancer symptoms in rural America.MethodsA literature search was conducted using four academic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO) to locate articles published from 2010 to 2019 relevant to connected cancer symptom management in rural America. Text screening was conducted to identify relevant publications.ResultsAmong 17 reviewed studies, four were conducted using a randomized controlled trial; the remainder were formative in design or small pilot projects. Five studies engaged stakeholders from rural communities in designing solutions. Most commonly studied symptoms were psychological/emotional symptoms, followed by physical symptoms, particularly pain. Technologies used were primarily telephone-based; few were Internet-enabled video conferencing or web-based. Advanced mobile and Internet-based approaches were generally in the development phase. Overall, both rural patients and healthcare providers reported high acceptance, usage, and satisfaction of connected health technologies. Ten of the 17 studies reported improved symptom management outcomes. Methodological challenges that limited the interpretation of the findings were summarized.ImplicationsThe review identified a need to engage rural stakeholders to develop and test connected cancer symptom management solutions that are based on advanced mobile and broadband Internet technologies.

Attrition and HIV Risk Behaviors: A Comparison of Young Men Who Have Sex with Men Recruited from Online and Offline Venues for an Online HIV Prevention Program.

In addition to offline venue-based and time-space sampling, recruitment of young men who have sex with men (YMSM) into HIV surveillance and prevention studies has expanded over time to include Internet-based approaches. Despite broadening recruitment strategies, enrolling racially and ethnically diverse YMSM who are disproportionately impacted by HIV continues to be challenging. Additionally, there is little literature on the impact of recruitment venue on participant characteristics and likelihood to enroll YMSM into online randomized control trials (RCT). This study used data from the multisite RCT, Keep It Up! 2.0, to examine the impact of recruitment venue on participant demographics, behavioral HIV risks, and enrollment. A total of 2984 participants were screened for eligibility from community-based organizations, Facebook, dating apps, and outreach events. There were significant differences by venue in age (χ2[3] = 54.38, p < .001), race/ethnicity (χ2[9] = 110.78, p < .001), sexual orientation (χ2[3]= 7.85, p < .05), relationship status (χ2[6] = 27.71, p < .001), and region of recruitment (χ2[6] = 1480.51, p < .001). There were no significant differences by venue in attrition during the enrollment process. The only difference in attrition was by race/ethnicity. Compared to White participants, eligible Black (OR: 0.35, p < .01) and Latino (OR: 0.46, p < .05) participants were significantly less likely to enroll in the intervention. There were also no significant differences by recruitment venue in sexual risk behaviors among enrolled participants. These findings suggest that recruitment into online HIV interventions from a variety of venues is feasible for diverse YMSM who are at similar risk for HIV infection.

Concerns regarding complementary feeding practices among urban Chinese mothers: a focus group study in Xi\u2019an

BackgroundComplementary feeding (CF) is an important determinant of infant growth and development. However, CF practices are influenced by caregivers’ perceptions and knowledge. This study aimed to describe perceptions and factors that potentially influence CF practices among Chinese mothers living in Xi’an, a rapidly developing city in China.MethodsThis focus group study included three discussion groups. Topics related to practices and concerns regarding CF were discussed among women with at least one child aged 4–36 months. A brief questionnaire was used to collect demographic information for mothers and their children.ResultsAmong study participants, the timing of starting CF for their children varied from age 4 to 8 months. Grain was ranked as the top food for CF, and homemade food was preferred to commercial CF products. Food additives and preservatives were the priority concerns when purchasing commercial baby food, particularly regarding uncertainty about their safety. In terms of nutrition, deficiencies in minerals and vitamins were of major concern. The issue of bio-availability of added nutrients in baby food was also raised during the discussions. Participants showed a strong reliance on information obtained from the Internet via computers or smartphones as their main source of CF knowledge, but felt this information lacked expertise.ConclusionsParticipating mothers from Xi’an prefer homemade food for CF to commercial products. More scientific knowledge of CF and related food safety issues should be available, perhaps via Internet-based approaches.

Public Attitudes Toward Guided Internet-Based Therapies: Web-Based Survey Study.

BackgroundInternet interventions have been proposed to improve the accessibility and use of evidence-based psychological treatments. However, little is known about attitudes toward such treatments, which can be an important barrier to their use.ObjectiveThis study aimed to (1) determine attitudes toward guided internet interventions, (2) assess its acceptability compared with other internet-based formats, and (3) explore predictors of acceptance.MethodsA convenience-sample Web-based survey (N=646) assessed attitudes toward guided internet therapies (ie, perceived usefulness and helpfulness, and advantage relative to face-to-face therapy), preferences for delivery modes (ie, e-preference: guided internet interventions, unguided internet interventions, or videoconferencing psychotherapy), and potential predictors of attitudes and preferences: sociodemographics, help-seeking–related variables, attachment style, and perceived stress.ResultsAlthough most participants perceived internet interventions as useful or helpful (426/646, 65.9%), a few indicated their advantage relative to face-to-face therapy (56/646, 8.7%). Most participants preferred guided internet interventions (252/646, 39.0%) over videoconferencing psychotherapy (147/646, 22.8%), unguided internet interventions (124/646, 19.2%), and not using internet interventions (121/646, 18.8%; missing data: 1/646, 0.2%). Attachment avoidance and stress were related to e-preference (all P<.05). Moreover, preference for therapist-guided internet interventions was higher for individuals who were aware of internet-based treatment (χ26=12.8; P=.046).ConclusionsParticipants assessed therapist-guided internet interventions as helpful, but not equivalent to face-to-face therapies. The vast majority (523/646, 81.0%) of the participants were potentially willing to use internet-based approaches. In lieu of providing patients with only one specific low-intensity treatment, implementation concepts should offer several options, including guided internet interventions, but not limited to them. Conversely, our results also indicate that efforts should focus on increasing public knowledge about internet interventions, including information about their effectiveness, to promote acceptance and uptake.

The potential use of social media and other internet-related data and communications for child maltreatment surveillance and epidemiological research: Scoping review and recommendations.

Collecting child maltreatment data is a complicated undertaking for many reasons. As a result, there is an interest by child maltreatment researchers to develop methodologies that allow for the triangulation of data sources. To better understand how social media and internet-based technologies could contribute to these approaches, we conducted a scoping review to provide an overview of social media and internet-based methodologies for health research, to report results of evaluation and validation research on these methods, and to highlight studies with potential relevance to child maltreatment research and surveillance. Many approaches were identified in the broad health literature; however, there has been limited application of these approaches to child maltreatment. The most common use was recruiting participants or engaging existing participants using online methods. From the broad health literature, social media and internet-based approaches to surveillance and epidemiologic research appear promising. Many of the approaches are relatively low cost and easy to implement without extensive infrastructure, but there are also a range of limitations for each method. Several methods have a mixed record of validation and sources of error in estimation are not yet understood or predictable. In addition to the problems relevant to other health outcomes, child maltreatment researchers face additional challenges, including the complex ethical issues associated with both internet-based and child maltreatment research. If these issues are adequately addressed, social media and internet-based technologies may be a promising approach to reducing some of the limitations in existing child maltreatment data.

An Electronic Questionnaire for Liver Assessment in Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation (LeQCDG): A Patient-Centered Study.

Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) are ultra-rare diseases showing a great phenotypic diversity ranging from mono- to multi-organ/multisystem involvement. Liver involvement, mostly nonprogressive, is often reported in CDG patients. The main objectives of this work were (1) to better understand liver involvement in CDG patients through a liver electronic questionnaire targeting CDG families (LeQCDG) and (2) to compare responses from LeQCDG participants with literature review regarding the prevalence of liver disease and the occurrence of liver symptoms in CDG patients. The network of patient advocacy groups, families and professionals (CDG & Allies - PPAIN) developed the LeQCDG by adapting validated published questionnaires. The LeQCDG was approved by an ethics committee, and the recruitment of patients and caregivers proceeded through social media platforms. Participants were asked to report past or present liver-related symptoms (e.g. hepatomegaly, liver fibrosis and cirrhosis) and laboratory results (e.g. biochemical and/or radiological). From 11 December 2016 to 22 January 2017, 155 questionnaires were completed. Liver disease was present in 29.9% of CDG patients. Main symptoms reported included hepatomegaly, increased levels of serum transaminases, fibrosis, steatosis and cirrhosis. The data obtained in this online survey confirm findings from a recent literature review of 25years of published evidence (r=0.927, P=0.02). Our questionnaire collected large amounts of meaningful, clinical and patient-oriented data in a short period of time without geographic limitations. Internet-based approaches are especially relevant in the context of ultra-rare diseases such as CDG.