Language Options Research Articles

An international perspective on priority areas for women’s cardiovascular health research: Qualitative findings from a cross-sectional survey.

BackgroundThe Global Cardiovascular Research Funders Forum (GCRFF) unites international research funders interested in supporting cardiovascular disease (CVD) research. One focus area is women’s cardiovascular health; this study identifies priority themes for future joint research funding opportunities. MethodsFollowing ethics approval, a survey was developed based on literature review, GCRFF feedback, and input from methodologists/content experts. The survey was comprised of three open-ended and five multiple choice questions. Using widespread dissemination strategies, an electronic survey portal was opened for eight weeks, from the 15th November 2023 to 15th January 2024, with various language options. Results were downloaded into a secure REDCap database for analysis. Independent theming of responses was completed by three reviewers until coding consensus was achieved, following which one coder completed the remaining theming. Descriptive statistics are reported. ResultsOf 191 responses, all GCRFF nine countries were represented. Most respondents identified as women (74%) and clinicians/academics (77%); fewer people with lived or living experience participated (23%). Common themes included women-specific risk factors and prevention strategies (56%), life course issues (43%), and sex and gender-specific treatments and outcomes (36%). Common topics were CVD (66%), coronary artery disease (18%), and heart disease (13%). Designated research pillars included clinical (52%), population health (36%) and basic science (30%). Solutions proposed included knowledge generation (71%), increased funding (55%), networking researchers (52%), and knowledge mobilization (41%). Congruence of priority ordering was demonstrated between sex and respondent residence subgroups. ConclusionDiverse international input prioritized research in risk factors and prevention strategies specific to women and in sex and gender-specific treatment and outcomes of heart disease, with considerations of life course issues across all research pillars.

Analisis Kepuasan Pengguna Website Repository Universitas Amikom Purwokerto menggunakan Metode System Usability Scale (SUS)

This study aims to analyze user satisfaction with the Universitas Amikom Purwokerto repository website using the System Usability Scale (SUS) method. In the digital era, online repositories play a crucial role as a platform for storing, managing, and distributing academic work, supporting academic activities and knowledge exchange. However, observations indicate that the repository website faces challenges in accessibility, including unintuitive navigation, difficult-to-understand menus, and limited language options, as it is only available in English. Through a SUS survey involving 100 respondents, an average SUS score of 46 was obtained, falling into the "Not Acceptable" category with a grade of "F" and an adjective rating of "Poor." This result indicates that the website’s usability is insufficient and requires improvement. Recommendations include enhancing navigation, ensuring interface consistency, providing a dual-language option (Indonesian and English), improving website speed, and conducting regular user satisfaction evaluations. These improvements aim to optimize the Universitas Amikom Purwokerto repository website, thereby providing a better user experience and effectively supporting academic activities and the dissemination of academic work.

Deconstructing Students’ Language Identities On X: A Nigerian and Malaysian Case Study For Education

This study investigated students’ language deconstruction and identities on X social media technology. The Gen Z’s and Big Data are currently in vogue, which affords this research to enquire using a quantitative methodology. Besides, the online data analytics consisting of the number of likes, repost and comments were gathered from the X social media. Nowadays, the social media acts as an online reservoir for internet data that are readily available for use. Learning analytics are records of students’ activities based on their engagement on social media. However, the respondents in this study were students randomly selected from a two-world perspective on X, consisting of Malaysian and Nigerian students. A detailed data analysis was conducted using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) and the results showed a recent decline of students’ engagement in educational discourse using indigenous languages on X. The recent decline was informed by this study’s data, which implies an imminent action is required to ensure the indigenous languages are protected from extinction. This study findings are significant to lecturers, policymakers, researchers and Government in ensuring that more language diversity issues are considered in this 21st century. This research likewise addressed the English language (L2) significance in educational discourse with a recommendation for the inclusion of more indigenous language option on X for diversity and equality purpose.

Development of a risk-stratified shared decision-making tool for colorectal cancer screening

Abstract European guidelines stress the importance of informed decision-making in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. However, tailored tools that facilitate decision-making for underserved people and general practitioners (GPs) in Flanders are lacking. This study aimed to develop a tailored shared decision-making (SDM) tool for CRC screening, specifically a video decision aid, using a co-creative process. The development involved two rounds of focus group discussions with underserved people and five local quality group meetings with GPs in various parts of Flanders, Belgium. Qualitative data were analyzed using a Modified-Grounded Theory Analytical (M-GTA) approach to identify key themes. Findings revealed four core themes. The first theme, ‘Recognizing the Barriers to Screening’, identifies challenges such as a lack of time, staff, and tools for GPs, as well as language and literacy barriers for underserved people. The second theme, ‘Learning from Existing Tools’, highlights successful elements like visuals and simple language and limitations such as low accessibility and poor navigation. The third theme, ‘Determining the Content and Design,’ reveals that GPs seek user-friendly tools for at-home viewing, while underserved people value personalized and clear information about CRC risk factors and screening costs. The final theme, ‘Identifying Strategies for Integration,’ stresses the importance of a structured, collaborative care approach for the successful integration of the tool. The proposed modifications for the SDM tool include enhancing its accessibility with multiple language options, using simple and relatable visuals, and providing personalized risk discussions for underserved people and GPs. Nonetheless, further testing is needed to confirm the effectiveness of the SDM tool in supporting preventive talks and informed decision-making in CRC screening among these target groups. Key messages • A structured, collaborative care approach is needed for successful SDM tool integration during preventive talks with underserved people. • Further testing is needed to confirm the tool’s effectiveness in supporting informed decision-making in CRC screening for underserved people.

Caregiver Values and Preferences Related to Surgical Decision-Making for Children with Medical Complexity

To uncover the values and preferences of the caregivers for children with medical complexity using the test case of surgical treatment decision-making for pediatric neuromuscular scoliosis that will inform the future development of a decision support tool in this population. We conducted a qualitative study of semistructured interviews of English- and Spanish-speaking caregivers of children with neuromuscular scoliosis from 2 geographically distinct children's hospitals. We used purposive sampling of language and treatment options selected to capture diverse experiences. Analysis was on the basis of grounded theory with synthesized caregiver values and preferences themes. From 47 participants, we completed 41 interviews (9 in Spanish). Caregivers had a mean age of 43.2years, were mostly White (66%), and had children with a mean age of 15.6. In total, 64% chose surgery. The following values and preferences were important to many caregivers: reducing scoliosis-related pain, minimizing mobility limitations to optimize socioemotional quality of life, limiting the impact of comorbidities on overall quality of life, information provided by peer support, the uncertainty of outcomes due to underlying comorbidities, and the uncertainty related to the anticipated progression of their child's scoliosis curve. Caregivers experienced immense uncertainty related to treatment outcomes due to their child's comorbidities. Caregivers of children with medical complexity may benefit from decision support that includes both values clarification exercises to help caregivers identify what of the many possible values and preferences are important to them and novel methods to communicate uncertainty in the care of CMC.

Technology for fast-tracking high-risk head and neck cancer referrals: Co-designing with patients

BackgroundHead and Neck Cancer (HNC) is the eighth most prevalent global cancer. Timely recognition of symptoms is crucial for reducing mortality rates. The EVolution of a patiEnt-REported symptom-based risk stratification sySTem to redesign the suspected Head and Neck cancer referral pathway (EVEREST-HN) study aims to develop and evaluate a risk stratification tool using patient reported symptoms, which will be populated remotely in the community before the patient is seen by the clinician to hasten HNC diagnosis. EVEREST-HN will design a patient SYmptom iNput Clinical (SYNC) system to gather patient symptom data and calculate a risk score to aid clinicians in identifying high-risk cases. This identification potentially allows for high-risk patients to be seen sooner, thereby improving patient outcomes. MethodsThree workshop sessions were conducted involving a total of 17 unique participants, with several contributing to multiple sessions: nine in the co-design session, six in the validation session, and nine in the evaluation session. The co-design session employed online collaboration with patients’ representatives. Thematic analysis was used to identify requirements and concerns informing the development of a low-fidelity prototype. The validation session assessed whether the prototype aligned with patient expectations. In the evaluation session, participants interacted with an online prototype and provided further feedback. ResultsDuring the co-design workshop, participants emphasized the need for a concise and clear SYNC system questionnaire for reporting suspected HNC symptoms. Concerns were raised about questionnaire length, language clarity, and the inclusion of probing questions. Participants suggested concise questions using lay language, incorporating visual aids for topics like alcohol and tobacco use, and making the sexual activity question optional. Recommendations included diverse language options, hard copies for non-English speakers, and phone call options for those uncomfortable with screen-based technology. The validation workshop confirmed that the prototype reflected participants’ ideas. Feedback highlighted the need for call-back features to help those not confident with technology and the need to present symptom questions first before social background questions. Feedback from the evaluation demonstrated a commitment to efficiency, and continuous improvement. ConclusionThis study aims to develop the SYNC system to enhance efficiency of suspected HNC referrals. The workshops highlighted the importance of end-user inclusiveness in the system development life cycle, with collaboration with stakeholders and repeated feedback, providing crucial insights for ensuring the SYNC system effectively addresses the needs and concerns of patients in the context of HNC diagnosis.

Evaluating the effect of using augmented reality (Metaverse) on improving the teaching and academic performance

This study aimed at evaluating the effect of employing the augmented reality (metaverse) on improving the process of teaching and academic performance. An electronic questionnaire containing five questions was distributed to the academic groups that received the lesson using augmented virtual reality (Metaverse). The aim of the questions was to evaluate their experience, and after they answered the questions, the answers were analyzed in the form of percentages and frequencies. The study sample consisted of (97) students from Al-Ain University enrolled in the programs of (special education, nutrition, and applied sociology), to whom the experiment was applied using augmented virtual reality in teaching during their academic course. The results revealed that (83%) of the respondents reported that the augmented virtual reality contributed to understanding the concepts of the lesson well, (79%) felt enjoyment in using this technique, (75%) suggested that the technique enhanced their involvement in the content well, (68%) suggested that augmented virtual reality could be a useful educational instrument in the future, and (77%) confirmed that the lesson's objectives were achieved by using metaverse technique in teaching. However, several challenges were faced by students, including the used language (only English) and the negative effects of bad quality of used glasses. Based on the findings, the study recommended addressing several key areas for optimizing the use of augmented virtual reality (AVR) in teaching. For example, diversifying language options for AVR content is crucial to accommodating the linguistic diversity among students, thereby enhancing accessibility and comprehension. Additionally, we should invest in high-quality equipment and implement regular maintenance protocols to enhance the quality of equipment, specifically addressing issues related to the negative effects of subpar AVR hardware.

Transition between paediatric and adult diabetes healthcare services: An online global survey of healthcare professionals’ experiences and perceptions

IntroductionYouth with diabetes should transition from paediatric to adult diabetes services in a deliberate, organized and cooperative way. We sought to identify healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) experiences and perceptions around transition readiness planning, policies and procedures, and the actual transfer to adult services. MethodsData were collected via an online global survey (seven language options), broadly advertised by the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD), European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), team members and partners, via newsletters, websites, e-mails and social media. ResultsRespondents (n = 372) were mainly physicians (74.5 %), practicing in government funded (59.4 %), paediatric (54.0 %), metropolitan settings (85.8 %) in Europe (44.9 %); 37.1 % in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Few centers used a transition readiness checklist (32.8 %), provided written transition information (29.6 %), or had a dedicated staff member (23.7 %). Similarly, few involved a psychologist (25.8 %), had combined (35.2 %) or transition/young person-only clinics (34.9 %), or a structured transition education program (22.6 %); 49.8 % advised youth to use technology to assist the transfer.Most (91.9 %) respondents reported barriers in offering a good transition experience. Proportionally, more respondents from LMICs prioritised more funding (p = 0.01), a structured protocol (p < 0.001) and education (p < 0.001). ConclusionHCPs’ experiences and perceptions related to transition vary widely. There is a pressing need for an international consensus transition guideline.

DeafTech Vision: A Visual Computer's Approach to Accessible Communication through Deep Learning-Driven ASL Analysis

Sign language is commonly used by people with hearing and speech impairments, making it difficult for those without such disabilities to understand. However, sign language is not limited to communication within the deaf community alone. It has been officially recognized in numerous countries and is increasingly being offered as a second language option in educational institutions. In addition, sign language has shown its usefulness in various professional sectors, including interpreting, education, and healthcare, by facilitating communication between people with and without hearing impairments. Advanced technologies, such as computer vision and machine learning algorithms, are used to interpret and translate sign language into spoken or written forms. These technologies aim to promote inclusivity and provide equal opportunities for people with hearing impairments in different domains, such as education, employment, and social interactions. In this paper, we implement a DeafTech Vision (DTV-CNN) architecture based on the convolutional neural network to recognize American Sign Language (ASL) gestures using deep learning techniques. Our main objective is to develop a robust ASL sign classification model to enhance human-computer interaction and assist individuals with hearing impairments. Through extensive evaluation, our model consistently outperformed baseline methods in terms of precision. It achieved an outstanding accuracy rate of 99.87% on the ASL alphabet test dataset and 99.94% on the ASL digit dataset, significantly exceeding previous research, which reported an accuracy of 90.00%. We also illustrated the model's learning trends and convergence points using loss and error graphs. These results highlight the DTV-CNN's effectiveness and capability in distinguishing complex ASL gestures.

Racial and ethnic disparities in access to community-based perinatal mental health programs: results from a cross-sectional survey

BackgroundPerinatal mental health is a major public health problem that disproportionately affects people from racial and ethnic minority groups. Community-based perinatal mental health programs, such as peer support groups, are essential tools for the prevention and treatment of perinatal depression. Yet, little is known about racial and ethnic disparities in accessibility and utilization of community-based perinatal mental health programs.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study using an online survey with program administrators representing perinatal mental health community-based services and support programs throughout New Jersey. Descriptive analysis and mapping software was used to analyze the data.ResultsThirty-three program administrators completed the survey. Results showed substantial racial and ethnic disparities in availability and utilization of community-based programs. In the majority of programs, Black, Hispanic, and Asian individuals made up less than 10% of total annual participants and less than 10% of facilitators. There were also geographic disparities in program accessibility and language availability across counties. Program administrators identified mental health stigma, lack of support from family, fear of disclosure of mental health challenges, social determinants, lack of language-concordant options in programs, and limited awareness of programs in the community as significant barriers to participation of racial and ethnic minorities. Strategies to address barriers included adding language options, improving program outreach, and increasing diversity of facilitators.ConclusionsThis study provides new evidence on racial and ethnic disparities in access to community-based perinatal mental health programs. Efforts to build the resources and capacities of community-based programs to identify equity gaps, increase diversity of staff, and address barriers to participation is critical to reducing racial and ethnic inequities in perinatal mental health.

Engagement of stakeholders in the development of generic medical and nursing curricula in Tanzania through media outlets and social media

Background. The Catholic University of Health and Allied Health Sciences, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College and Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences teamed up to address gaps in the training curricula for medical doctors and nurses with the aim of developing harmonised curricular templates that would be comprehensive and suit national objectives. Objectives. To share experiences and lessons learned in engaging stakeholders using social media as an additional method to collect information on curricular gaps and ideas to develop harmonised medical and nursing curricula. Methods. Pictures, newsprint extracts, and videos of face-to-face events in the curriculum development process and project and a curriculum advert were posted on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube and used to engage stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, health professional councils, graduates, students, practitioners, health training institutions, private and public employers, internship supervisors, faculty and the public. Reactions, comments and post insights from stakeholder postings, in both Swahili and English, were analysed manually and categorised into four types of messages: congratulatory, comments on the process and expected outcomes, curricular gaps, and faculty development needs to implement new curricula. Results. A total of 69 290 stakeholders were engaged via Facebook and 229 via Twitter. A total of 13 553 (19.6%) Facebook and 179 (78.2%) Twitter comments were directly related to gaps in current curricula and graduate competencies. Other inputs received through social media were on faculty development needs to implement harmonised curricula and the project in general. Conclusion. This was the first attempt to engage curriculum stakeholders using social media for the development of harmonised curricula in Tanzania. The impact of social media in providing relevant inputs for curriculum development was significant. Use of social media, with multiple language options, is an economical and efficient way to reach a large number of stakeholders for curriculum quality improvement.

Prakriti Chatbot using NLP

This literature explores the connection of traditional Ayurvedic ideas and modern technologies, providing a new perspective. Evaluate Ayurvedic Prakriti using Prakriti Bot, an AI-powered chatbot. Ayurveda classifies individuals into three prakriti types: Pitta, Kapha, and Vata. We offer a website with a chatbot to swiftly determine an individual's ayurvedic constitution, as traditional prakriti evaluation can be time-consuming. Prakriti bot simplifies evaluation by providing personalised health recommendations and Ayurvedic teaching materials. The website bridges the gap between traditional ayurvedic medicine and modern healthcare by enabling regional language option and personalised report generation.

Language Options in Food Product Advertising on Youtube

The purpose of this study is to describe the form of language choice in speech events in advertisements for food products on YouTube and to describe the factors that determine the choice of language in speech events in advertisements for food products on YouTube.This research uses a qualitative descriptive research type. This research was carried out from December 2020 to May 2021. The data taken in this study were the utterances of commercial stars in 20 advertisements for food products on YouTube videos which were transcribed in written text. The data source used is food product advertisements on YouTube. The data collection technique used in this study is the note-taking technique. The data validation technique uses triangulation techniques. The method used in analyzing the data is the intralingual and extralingual equivalent methods. In food product advertisements on YouTube, 9 data were found using single language variations. Code switching data was found to be 2 codes. Then the ads using code mixing totaled 9 data with the form of words and phrases.

Talking about relational youth work: why language matters

ABSTRACT The literature on youth work emphasises the importance of ‘relationship’ to good practice, moreover, the characteristics of the youth-work relationship have been posited as a defining feature of youth work in the British-influenced tradition. Despite this, little attention is paid to the choice of language used to describe how professional youth workers relate to young people, or how language choices reflect political framing of youth work and of power relationships within their practice. Language choice has implications for how youth workers perceive their professional identity, for how accountability is construed, and for inter-professional working. In this article we undertake a thematic analysis to identify, analyse and critique various language options, drawing on international literature, with an application focus on Irish and Australian contexts. We address the question, ‘what language choices offer most precision and clarity about youth work professional relationships in different contexts?’ We identify three main ways the relationship between youth workers and young people has been framed: as collaboration; as transaction; or, as rights-based entitlement. We conclude with discussion of how different relational language choices in youth work should be selected to be congruent with the youth work context, power relationships and purposes.

Chat Application Utilizing Automatic Translation Built on The Microsoft Azure Platform

Language serves as a means of interpersonal communication. There exist various categories of language, such as 'dialect,' 'slang,' 'jargon,' and 'lingo.' In addition to linguistic proficiency, it is essential to possess fundamental language skills to effectively utilize a language for communication purposes. The four skills include listening, speaking, reading, and writing. With the advancement of technology, we utilize many media to communicate in different languages. The most fundamental form of communication involves speaking and listening, whereas other mediums such as smartphones require the ability to read and write to send and receive messages. Only a select few individuals can proficiently perform four different abilities simultaneously at an advanced level. In addition to that, there is also a linguistic barrier, requiring the use of translation software. If someone engages in conversation with another person who faces a language barrier, they will require two essential tools: translation software and a means of communication. Therefore, this study aims to explore the development of a chat program that can effectively eliminate language barriers. Consequently, this software was effectively constructed utilizing the Microsoft Azure platform and offers three language options as the basis for translation.

Exploring the Cross-Cultural Online Shopping Experience: A Study of Foreign Residents in China

This study explores the online shopping experience of foreign residents in China, focusing on their advantages, challenges, factors influencing their decision-making, and potential improvements to enhance their e-commerce experience. The sample consists of 58 foreigners living in China, and data were collected through an online self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The findings reveal that foreign residents in China benefit from broader product variety, competitive pricing, convenience, and accessibility when shopping online. However, they also need help finding reliable products, have concerns about product quality and authenticity, and require a Chinese national identity card for certain purchases. Factors influencing their decision to use e-commerce platforms include convenience, last-mile delivery, accessibility, affordability, and refund policy. The study recommends introducing language options, international payment options, quality control measures, and removing the Chinese national identity card requirement. The insights gained from this study can inform strategies and offerings tailored to meet the unique needs of this consumer segment.

Turist Rehberlerinin Markalaşma Sürecinde Kişisel Web Sitelerinin Rolü

Bu makale, Türkiye'de çalışan tur rehberlerinin kişisel web sitelerini web tabanlı pazarlama bağlamında değerlendirmek ve Avrupa'da faaliyet gösteren turist rehberlerinin web siteleri ile karşılaştırmak amacıyla hazırlanmıştır Araştırmanın amacı doğrultusunda içerik analizi tekniğinden yararlanılmıştır. Türkiye’de ve Avrupa’da faaliyetlerini sürdüren ve kendine ait web sitesi olan sekizer turist rehberinin web siteleri 21 adet ölçüt temelinde incelenmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda 21 ölçüt temelinde gerçekleştirilen analizden 4 ana tema elde edilmiştir. İnceleme sonucunda, hem yerli hem de yabancı turist rehberlerinin kişisel web sitelerinde aktif olarak kullanılan iletişim kanallarından en az 1 tanesine yer verildiği görülmüştür. Ayrıca incelenen web sitelerinde ikinci dil seçeneğine yer verilmemesi önemli bir eksiklik olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda alan yazındaki boşluğun doldurulacağı ve potansiyel-yeni turist rehberlerine kişisel markalaşma ve web tabanlı kişiselleştirilmiş pazarlama noktasında ipuçları sağlanacağı düşünülmektedir. Oluşturulan web siteleri kişisel markalaşma yolunda turist rehberlinin işini oldukça kolaylaştırmaktadır. Burada temel nokta işini iyi yapan turist rehberinin bunu web sitesine olduğu gibi aktararak müşterilerin beğenisine sunmasıdır. Ayrıca web sitelerinin daha etkili birer pazarlama aracı olarak kullanılabilmesi için başta aktivite takvimi olmak üzere sitenin sürekli güncellenmesi gerekmektedir. Turizm sektöründe ve çeşitli ilgili sektörlerde hizmet veren işletmelerin web sitelerine yönelik içerik analiz tekniğinden yararlanılarak yapılmış çalışmalara alan yazında rastlamak mümkündür. Ancak turizm sektörünün önemli paydaşlarından turist rehberlerinin web sitelerine ilişkin böyle bir araştırma bulunmamaktadır.

Healthcare professional and manager perceptions on drivers, benefits, and challenges of telemedicine: results from a cross-sectional survey in the Italian NHS

BackgroundThe Covid-19 pandemic provided new challenges and opportunities for patients and healthcare providers while accelerating the trend of digital healthcare transformation. This study explores the perspectives of healthcare professionals and managers on (i) drivers to the implementation of telemedicine services and (ii) perceived benefits and challenges related to the use of telemedicine across the Italian National Health Service.MethodsAn online cross-sectional survey was distributed to professionals working within 308 healthcare organisations in different Italian regions. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire (June-September 2021). Responses were analysed using summary statistics and thematic analysis.ResultsKey factors driving the adoption of telemedicine have been grouped into (i) organisational drivers (reduce the virus spread-80%; enhance care quality and efficiency-61%), (ii) technological drivers (ease of use-82%; efficacy and reliability-64%; compliance with data governance regulations-64%) and (iii) regulatory drivers (regulations’ semplification-84%). Nearly all respondents perceive telemedicine as useful in improving patient care (96%). The main benefits reported by respondents are shorter waiting lists, reduced Emergency Department attendance, decreased patient and clinician travel, and more frequent patient-doctor interactions. However, only 7% of respondents believe that telemedicine services are more effective than traditional care and 66% of the healthcare professionals believe that telemedicine can’t completely substitute in-person visits due to challenges with physical examination and patient-doctor relationships. Other reported challenges include poor quality and interoperability of telemedicine platforms and scarce integration of telemedicine with traditional care services. Moreover, healthcare professionals believe that some groups of patients experience difficulties in accessing and using the technologies due to socio-cultural factors, technological and linguistic challenges and the absence of caregivers.ConclusionsRespondents believe that telemedicine can be useful to complement and augment traditional care. However, many challenges still need to be overcome to fully consider telemedicine a standard of care. Strategies that could help address these challenges include additional regulations on data governance and reimbursements, evidence-based guidelines for the use of telemedicine, greater integration of tools and processes, patient-centred training for clinicians, patient-facing material to assist patients in navigating virtual sessions, different language options, and greater involvement of caregivers in the care process.

Usability of Patient Education–Oriented Cataract Surgery Websites

PurposeTo assess the web accessibility and readability of patient-oriented educational websites for cataract surgery. DesignCross-sectional electronic survey. SubjectsWebsites with information dedicated to educating patients about cataract surgery. MethodsAn incognito search for “cataract surgery” was performed using a popular search engine. The top 100 patient-oriented cataract surgery websites that came up were included and categorized as institutional, private practice, or medical organization according to authorship. Each site was assessed for readability using four standardized reading grade-level formulas. Accessibility was assessed through multilingual availability, accessibility menu availability, complementary educational video availability, and conformance and adherence to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. A standard t-test and chi-squared analysis were performed to assess the significance of differences with regard to readability and accessibility among the three authorship categories. Main Outcome MeasuresThe main outcome measures were the website’s average reading grade level, number of accessibility violations, multilingual availability, accessibility menu availability, complementary educational video availability, accessibility conformance level, and violation of the perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust (POUR) principles according to the WCAG 2.0. Results32, 55, and 13 sites were affiliated with institutions, private practice, and other medical organizations, respectively. The overall mean reading grade was 11.8 ± 1.6, with higher reading levels observed in private practice websites compared to institutions and medical organizations combined (12.1 vs. 11.4; P=0.03). Fewer private practice websites had multiple language options compared to institutional and medical organization websites combined (5.5% vs. 20.0%; P=0.03). More private practice websites had accessibility menus than institutions and medical organizations combined (27.3% vs. 8.9%; P=0.038). The overall mean number of WCAG 2.0 POUR principle violations was 17.1 ± 23.1 with no significant difference among groups. Eighty-five percent of websites violated the perceivable principle. ConclusionsAvailable patient-oriented online information for cataract surgery may not be comprehensible to the general public. Readability and accessibility aspects should be considered when designing these resources.

Categorization and Analysis of Primary Care mHealth Apps Related to Breast Health and Breast Cancer: Systematic Search in App Stores and Content Analysis.

Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer mortality among women globally. The use of mobile health tools such as apps and games is increasing rapidly, even in low- and middle-income countries, to promote early diagnosis and to manage care and support of survivors and patients. The primary objective of this review was to categorize selected mobile health apps related to breast health and prevention of breast cancer, based on features such as breast self-examination (BSE) training and reminders, and to analyze their current dissemination. An ancillary objective was to highlight the limitations of existing tools and suggest ways to improve them. We defined strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, which required apps to have titles or descriptions that suggest that they were designed for the general public, and not for patients with breast cancer or health workers. Apps that focused on awareness and primary care via self-check were included, while those that focused on topics such as alternative treatments and medical news were excluded. Apps that were not specifically related to breast cancer were also excluded. Apps (in any language) that appeared in the search with keywords were included. The database consisted of apps from AppAgg and Google Play Store. Only 85 apps met the inclusion criteria. Selected apps were categorized on the basis of their alleged interactive features. Descriptive statistics were obtained, and available language options, the number of downloads, and the cost of the apps were the main parameters reviewed. The selected apps were categorized on the basis of the following features: education, BSE training, reminders, and recording. Of the 85 selected apps, 72 (84.7%) focused on disseminating breast cancer information. BSE training was provided by only 47% (n=40) of the apps, and very few had reminder (n=26, 30.5%) and recording (n=11, 12.9%) features. The median number of downloads was the highest for apps with recording features (>1000 downloads) than those with education, BSE training, reminder, and recording features (>5000 downloads). Most of these apps (n=74, 83.5%) were monolingual, and around 80.3% (n=49) of these apps were in English. Almost all the apps on Google Play Store were free of charge. Although there exist several apps on Google Play Store to promote awareness about breast health and cancer, the usefulness of most of them appears debatable. To provide a complete breast health package to the users, such apps must have all of the following features: reminders or notifications and symptom recording and tracking. There is still an urgent need to scientifically evaluate existing apps in the target populations in order to make them more functional and user-friendly.