Personal Cell Phones Research Articles

Provision of Physicians’ Cell Phone Numbers or E-mail Addresses to Patients: The Perspective of Muslim Bedouin Patients in the Negev Region of Israel: A Cross Sectional Study

Objective: To assess the attitude and practice of patients in the Bedouin community to the use of cell phones and email for medical consultation. Methods: The study used a structured questionnaire that was completed by a telephone interview of a random selection. The questionnaire consisted of items on attitudes to and use of cell phones and email. Results: The study included 200 patients. One hundred thirty six (68%) were very interested in getting the personal cell phone number of their physician and 40 others (20%) would not object to getting it. Only 44 (22%) used email and only nine of them (20.5%) were very interested in getting the personal email address of their physician. Conclusion: As new technologies, such as cell phones and email, come into wider use it is important to understand how they can be used and integrated optimally into the healthcare system.

The use of smartphones on General Internal Medicine wards: a mixed methods study.

To describe the uses of institutional and personal smartphones on General Internal Medicine wards and highlight potential consequences from their use. A mixed methods study consisting of both quantitative and qualitative research methods was conducted in General Internal Medicine wards across four academic teaching hospitals in Toronto, Ontario. Participants included medical students, residents, attending physicians and allied health professionals. Data collection consisted of work shadowing observations, semi-structured interviews and surveys. Personal smartphones were used for both clinical communication and non-work-related activities. Clinicians used their personal devices to communicate with their medical teams and with other medical specialties and healthcare professionals. Participants understood the risks associated with communicating confidential health information via their personal smartphones, but appear to favor efficiency over privacy issues. From survey responses, 9 of 23 residents (39%) reported using their personal cell phones to email or text patient information that may have contained patient identifiers. Although some residents were observed using their personal smartphones for non-work-related activities, personal use was infrequent and most residents did not engage in this activity. Clinicians are using personal smartphones for work-related purposes on the wards. With the increasing popularity of smartphone devices, it is anticipated that an increasing number of clinicians will use their personal smartphones for clinical work. This trend poses risks to the secure transfer of confidential personal health information and may lead to increased distractions for clinicians.

Foreword to the special section on synchronous programming

Embedded systems are ubiquitous. In applications ranging from avionics, automotive, and industrial process control all the way to the handheld personal digital assistants (PDAs), cell phones, and bio-medical prosthetic devices, we find embedded computing devices running embedded software systems. Growth in embedded system design is exponential. There are orders of magnitude more embedded processors and embedded applications today in deployment than other forms of computing. Some of the applications running on such embedded computing platforms are also safety-critical, real-time, and require absolute guarantees of correctness, timeliness, and dependability. The design of such safety-critical applications require the utmost care. These applications must be verified for functional correctness; satisfaction of real-time constraints must be ensured; and must be properly endowed with reliability/dependability properties. These requirements pose hard challenges to system designers. A large body of research done over the last few decades exists in the field of designing safety-critical hardware and software systems. A number of standards have evolved, specifications have been published, architecture analysis and design languages have been proposed, techniques for optimal mapping software components to architectural elements have been studied, modular platform architectures have been standardised. Certification by various authorities and strict requirements for satisfying certification goals have been developed.

Survey of antibiotic resistance in cell phone and computer keyboard isolated bacteria

Abstract. Surveillance and tracking of antibiotic resistant bacteria carried on common-use items will help to elucidate the prevalence of antibiotic resistance within communities. Communication of these data will allow healthcare agencies and basic researchers to better plan mechanisms for combatting the problem of antibiotic resistance. During this project, samples were collected from public access computer keyboards and personal cell phones of the faculty, staff, and students at Troy University in Troy, Alabama. From these samples, thirty-eight individual isolates were identified by biochemical testing; one sample could not be identified. Nine distinct organisms were identified to the species level and included both gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Each of the 39 isolates was tested for resistance to 17 antibiotics. Resistance to three β-lactams (ampicillin, oxacillin [methicillin], and penicillin) was most common while overall drug resistance remained low. β-lactam antibiotics are commonly use...

Self-reported neck symptoms and use of personal computers, laptops and cell phones among Finns aged 18–65

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible relation between self-reported neck symptoms (aches, pain or numbness) and use of computers/cell phones. The study was carried out as a cross-sectional study by posting a questionnaire to 15,000 working-age persons, and 15.1% of all respondents (6121) reported that they very often experienced physical symptoms in the neck. The results showed that they also had many other symptoms very often, and 49% used a computer daily at work and 83.9% used cell phones. We compared physical/mental symptoms of persons with symptoms in the neck quite often or more, with others. We found significant differences in the physical/mental symptoms and use of cell phones and computers. The results suggest taking into account in the future that those persons' symptoms in the neck can be associated with use of cell phones or computers. Practitioner Summary: We investigated the possible relation between neck symptoms and use of computers/cell phones. We found that persons, who very often had symptoms in the neck, had also other symptoms very often (e.g. exhaustion at work). Their use of information and communication technology (e.g. computers) can associate with their symptoms.

Abstract 29: Innovative iPhone App Enhances Reliable and Economical Transmission of High-quality ECG Images on Standard Cell Phone Networks

Introduction: Transmission of pre-hospital ECG images to STEMI treatment centers aids in optimizing STEMI reperfusion times by promoting activation of the STEMI treatment process prior to patient arrival. Several proprietary systems have been designed for this purpose but they are expensive and incur substantial ongoing system costs. ECG photo images may also be sent by personal cell phone but require large file sizes to maintain diagnostic clarity, which results in lower reliability and speed and greater process variability. Hypothesis: A low-cost iPhone app that optimizes speed and reliability of the ECG pre-hospital transmission process could be developed to address many of these issues and provide an acceptable alternative to commercially available systems. Methods: A faculty/student team designed an iPhone app that takes a photo of the ECG, centers the image and reduces image size to < 30 kb with minimal loss of detail. The image is then sent over cell phone networks to a secure server. Successful transmission is noted with visual and audio cues to the user. The app terminates the send cycle after 120 seconds if not successful. Average time to obtain and initiate ECG transmission is 8-11 seconds. Testing: App image transmission was compared to four different photo sizes utilizing three cell phone networks. Fifty standardized physical waypoints were utilized and multiple test cycles were completed at each waypoint, totaling over 1500 separate transmission attempts. Acceptable success was defined as transmission within 120 seconds. Results: Image transmission via the app consistently outperformed standard photo transmission of all size photos with the difference becoming more marked as photo file size increased. This effect was seen within all cell phone networks. The app was significantly faster, exhibited substantially less standard deviation and had less than a 0.5% failure rate at 120 seconds, compared to failure rates of 3%, 71.2% and 15.5% for full-sized photos on the three networks tested. Average transmission times were also documented. (See figure I). Conclusion: The iPhone app outperformed the standard photo-to-email process -even in high signal-intensity suburban environments. Phase II testing is now underway in rural areas and other signal-limited environments.

Feasibility of Interactive Text message Response (ITR) as a Novel, Real-Time Measure of Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV+ Youth

Youth living with HIV/AIDS (YLH) face unique challenges to optimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Accurate, real-time methods to assess adherence are needed to facilitate early intervention and promote viral suppression. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and validity of interactive text message response (ITR) as a measure of adherence to ART among YLH. This study was part of a larger pilot text message reminder intervention conducted at a US community-based, LGBT-focused health center providing clinical services to YLH. Eligibility criteria for this pilot study included HIV-positive serostatus, aged 14-29, use of personal cell phone, English-speaking, and on ART with demonstrated adherence difficulties. During the 24-week study period, participants received personalized daily short message system reminders with a follow-up message 1 hour later asking whether they took medication and directing a response via return text message. To determine whether or not ITR would be a feasible, valid measure of adherence, we calculated the proportion of positive responses indicating medication had been taken divided by the total number of messages requesting a response and compared this response rate to a self-reported adherence measure, the visual analogue scale (VAS). Participants (n = 25) were on average 23 years old, largely male (92%), Black (60%) and behaviorally infected (84%). Over the course of the intervention, study participants responded to prompts via text to indicate whether or not they had taken their medication approximately 61% of the time. The overall mean ITR adherence rate (i.e., positive responses) was 57.4% (SD = 28.5%). ITR and VAS measures were moderately, positively correlated (r = 0.52, p < 0.05) during the first 6 weeks of the study period. ITR adherence rates were significantly higher on weekdays versus weekends (p < 0.05). This pilot study showed both moderate responsiveness of individuals to daily ITR and a moderate correlation of ITR adherence rates with a reliable measure during the first 6 weeks of the study, suggesting that this method, with additional effort and improvements, may be a helpful tool to identify and respond to adherence patterns in real-time.

Using Personal Cell Phones for Ecological Momentary Assessment

Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) is a way of collecting data in people’s natural environments in real time and has become very popular in social and health sciences. The emergence of personal digital assistants has led to more complex and sophisticated EMA protocols but has also highlighted some important drawbacks. Modern cell phones combine the functionalities of advanced communication systems with those of a handheld computer and offer various additional features to capture and record sound, pictures, locations, and movements. Moreover, most people own a cell phone, are familiar with the different functions, and always carry it with them. This paper describes ways in which cell phones have been used for data collection purposes in the field of social sciences. This includes automated data capture techniques, for example, geolocation for the study of mobility patterns and the use of external sensors for remote health-monitoring research. The paper also describes cell phones as efficient and user-friendly tools for prompt manual data collection, that is, by asking participants to produce or to provide data. This can either be done by means of dedicated applications or by simply using the web browser. We conclude that cell phones offer a variety of advantages and have a great deal of potential for innovative research designs, suggesting they will be among the standard data collection devices for EMA in the coming years.

Of organization, device and context: Interruptions from mobile communication in highly specialized care

This paper presents an ethnographic study of mobile communication at a surgical unit in Sweden involved with highly specialized care for the upper abdomen. The primary focus of the study is interruptions related to usage of mobile communication, with the goal of informing the design of systems that better balance interruptions and availability. The department uses a patchwork of hospital pagers, personal cell phones, and department provided cell phones. Issues related to social factors at the department, technical features of mobile communication devices, and specific contexts where interruptions were identified to be a problem are presented. Some of the salient findings of the study include a generally complex situation with respect to interruptions that is impacted by technical, social and individual factors related to mobile communication, challenges related to managing personal and private communication on the same device, issues related to supporting distributed work in highly specialized care and how this contributes to interruptions, and a more in depth overview of specific contexts where interruptions are problematic than previous studies. Some theoretical perspectives on these issues are presented as well as implications for design.

ICAT: Development of an Internet-Based Data Collection Method for Ecological Momentary Assessment Using Personal Cell Phones

Rapid advances in mobile data-transfer technologies offer new possibilities in the use of cell phones to conduct assessments of a person’s natural environment in real time. This paper describes features of a new Internet-based, cell phone-optimized assessment technique (ICAT), which consists of a retrospective baseline assessment combined with text messages sent to the participants’ personal cell phones providing a hyperlink to an Internet-stored cell phone-optimized questionnaire. Two participation conditions were used to test variations in response burden. Retention rates, completion rates, and response times in different subgroups were tested by means of χ² tests, Cox regression, and logistic regression. Among the 237 initial participants, we observed a retention rate of 90.3% from the baseline assessment to the cell-phone part, and 80.4% repeated participation in the 30 daily assessments. Each day, 40–70% of the questionnaires were returned, a fourth in less than 3 minutes. Qualitative interviews underscored the ease of use of ICAT. This technique appears to be an innovative, convenient, and cost-effective way of collecting data on situational characteristics while minimizing recall bias. Because of its flexibility, ICAT can be applied in various disciplines, whether as part of small pilot studies or large-scale, crosscultural, and multisite research projects.

Palm or Cell? Comparing Personal Digital Assistants and Cell Phones for Experience Sampling Research

Personal digital assistants (PDA), particularly Palm Pilots, are popular data collection devices in experience sampling research. The declining availability of such devices, however, has prompted researchers to explore alternative technologies for signaling participants and collecting responses. The present research considers interactive voice response (IVR) methods, which can deliver questions and collect data using common cell phones. Participants completed an experience sampling study using either a PDA ( n = 428) or a cell phone under three different conditions (IVR condition n = 98; IVR Callback condition n = 93; IVR Callback Comeback condition n = 94). We found that response rates were higher when people used PDAs (69%) than when they used their cell phones (IVR condition = 51%), but response rates increased when people could call back within a few minutes of missing a signal (IVR Callback condition = 58%) and had a face-to-face meeting with a researcher midweek (IVR Callback Comeback = 64%). The daily life ratings were similar across the conditions. The findings are encouraging for researchers interested in using IVR cell phone methods for ecological momentary assessment, but more work is needed to develop procedures or incentives that increase response rates.

Analyzing free fall with a smartphone acceleration sensor

This paper provides a first example of experiments in this column using smartphones as experimental tools. More examples concerning this special tool will follow in the next issues. The differences between a smartphone and a “regular” cell phone are that smartphones offer more advanced computing ability and connectivity. Smartphones combine the functions of personal digital assistants (PDAs) and cell phones.

Internet Use for Health-Related Information via Personal Computers and Cell Phones in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Population-Based Survey

BackgroundThe Internet is known to be used for health purposes by the general public all over the world. However, little is known about the use of, attitudes toward, and activities regarding eHealth among the Japanese population.ObjectivesThis study aimed to measure the prevalence of Internet use for health-related information compared with other sources, and to examine the effects on user knowledge, attitudes, and activities with regard to Internet use for health-related information in Japan. We examined the extent of use via personal computers and cell phones.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey of a quasi-representative sample (N = 1200) of the Japanese general population aged 15–79 years in September 2007. The main outcome measures were (1) self-reported rates of Internet use in the past year to acquire health-related information and to contact health professionals, family, friends, and peers specifically for health-related purposes, and (2) perceived effects of Internet use on health care.ResultsThe prevalence of Internet use via personal computer for acquiring health-related information was 23.8% (286/1200) among those surveyed, whereas the prevalence via cell phone was 6% (77). Internet use via both personal computer and cell phone for communicating with health professionals, family, friends, or peers was not common. The Internet was used via personal computer for acquiring health-related information primarily by younger people, people with higher education levels, and people with higher household incomes. The majority of those who used the Internet for health care purposes responded that the Internet improved their knowledge or affected their lifestyle attitude, and that they felt confident in the health-related information they obtained from the Internet. However, less than one-quarter thought it improved their ability to manage their health or affected their health-related activities.ConclusionsJapanese moderately used the Internet via personal computers for health purposes, and rarely used the Internet via cell phones. Older people, people with lower education levels, and people with lower household incomes were less likely to access the Internet via cell phone. The Internet moderately improved users’ health-related knowledge and attitudes but seldom changed their health-related abilities and activities. To encourage communication between health providers and consumers, it is important to improve eHealth literacy, especially in middle-aged people. It is also important to make adequate amendments to the reimbursement payment system and nationwide eHealth privacy and security framework, and to develop a collaborative relationship among industry, government, and academia.

Access to Care: Too Much or Not Enough?

Access to Care: Too Much or Not Enough?

El sujeto móvil de la aldea global. Tendencias en la sociedad mediatizada

In the last decades of the 20th century, ICT´s showed their capacity for convergence, which permits them to expand not only multiple uses, but the possibility to create and promote universal access to information and communication networks. In the first decade of the 21st century, personal cell phones and applicative devices between networks and infocommunication devices (a picture which resembles more to a Communication Society than an Information one) reinstalls the individual as an active agent of convergence between multiple communication systems. If the model of a literate Modernity individual was that of a reflexive subject -a reader-, in present late modernity (postmodernity?) the new model is that of the mobile and itinerant subject of the globalized (and deterritorialized) village. Advances in spatial and temporal autonomy of individuals generate conditions for the expansion in the access of information and communication, strengthening free expression further from the conservative conception which restrains it to media.

92. A Pilot Intervention to Improve Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing for Urban Adolescents

Methods: Eligibility criteria for the study included HIV serostatus, 12 to 29 years of age, use of personal cell phone, English-speaking, and currently on ART regimen, but with poor adherence. Participants agreed to a 24-week (6-month) enrollment period and provided their own cell phone for receipt of messages. Assessments were scheduled for 6, 12, 18, and24-week follow-upperiods. Descriptive anddistributional analyses were performed to describe the sample and evaluate outcomes of interest. For assessment of pre-post changes in adherence levels, scores were compared using a t test for aired samples, with a significance level set at p .05. esults: The participants (n 25) were mean age 23 (range 12-29), 92% male, 60% Black and 84% reported acquiring HIV through unprotected sex. Mean adherence scores on the VAS significantly increased at 12 and 24 weeks in comparison to baseline (0-12 weeks: mean baseline 74.7, mean ollow-up 93.3; p .01; 0-24-weeks: mean follow-up score 93.1; p .01; n 22). Mean CD4 counts increased andmean iral loads decreased from 0-12 and 0-24 weeks. Particiants were very satisfied with the invervention, 80% (n 0) of participants. reported that the text messages helped hem very much, to avoid missed doses of medication; 56% n 14) reported that the reminders help them very much ithmedication refills; and 60% (n 15) said it helped them very much to remember follow-up medical appointments. In addition, 64% (n 16) reported that they prefer to receive the text reminders as part of their care in comparison to regular care with no text messages and 68% (n 17) said they would like to continue to receive text messages after the end of study. With regard to feasibility, 21 of 25 participants (84%) were retained and completed all assessments with no paid staff to provide retention services. At 24-week follow-up, 68% participants (n 17) reported that they received all daily text message reminders and 80% (n 20) indicated that they always, or often read their text message reminders. Only 16% (n 4) of participants found the mesages to be always or sometimes bothersome and 80% (n 0) reported that the messages respected their privacy very uch. onclusions: This pilot study demonstrates that daily text essaging is a feasible and acceptable way to remind HIVositive youth with poor adherence to ART to take their edications and there was a significant increase in adhernce rates post-intervention. Larger studies including a conrol group and youth who are newly starting ART will be eeded to show the potential effect of this intervention to mprove adherence. ources of Support: None.

&lt;p&gt;Student Reflective Perceptions of High School Educational Cell Phone Technology Usage&lt;/p&gt;

High school students are prohibited from using cell phones during the school day within most public schools in the United States; the majority of students, however, maintain possession of a personal cell phone within the high school setting. Most administrators and teachers regard cell phone possession and usage as a negative distraction and deterrent to learning rather than as an educational learning tool. This study investigates college freshman students’ reflective perceptions of potential high school utilization of cell phones by students and teachers as educational learning tools. Positive response from surveys suggests there is interest in and potential for educational implementation and use of cell phones as learning tools in schools. Perceptional gender differences were uncovered suggesting further study is necessary before successful implementation can occur.

Exploring the perceived influence of South African adolescents on product purchases by family communication type

This article investigates the effect of family communication types on the perceived purchase influence of South African adolescents (13–18 years) across 34 product groups. The research builds on previous research in developed countries such as America and Israel, but represents only one of a few in a developing country such as South Africa that integrates family communication and consumer purchase behaviour theory. The article shows statistically significant differences in the perceived purchase influence of adolescents by family communication type for 13 of the 34 product groups investigated. From the inferential statistical analyses presented in the article, it is evident that the influence of adolescents in pluralistic families is far greater than in consensual, protective or laissez-faire families. This implies that adolescents’ influence in product purchases is likely to be greater as family communication becomes more open, and as unconstrained discussions on a wide range of topics with all family members are encouraged. This finding is particularly evident in the purchase of children's products (toys, clothing and footwear), family activities (take-away meals, snacks and outside entertainment), children's educational products/services (courses and schools), watches and personal jewellery, cosmetics, cell phones, reading matter, and gymnasiums, health, sport and social clubs. The outcome of the research indicates that the influence of South African adolescents has broadened and is no longer only relevant to children's products. This strengthening influence of children on product choices of South African families has clear implications for marketers who need to target this market segment. Knowledge of family communication patterns and how these impact on children's influence in actual product purchases presents a valuable opportunity for marketers to develop effective future marketing segmentation and communication strategies.

MALL Technology: Use of Academic Podcasting in the Foreign Language Classroom

AbstractIntegrating Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) technology (personal multimedia players, cell phones, and handheld devices) into the foreign language curriculum is becoming commonplace in many secondary and higher education institutions. Current research has identified both pedagogically sound applications and important benefits to students. In this paper, we present the results of an initial study which compares the academic benefits of integrating podcasts into the curriculum against using them as a supplemental/review tool. The study’s findings indicate that when instructors use podcasts for multiple instructional purposes (e.g., to critique student projects and exams, for student video presentations, for student paired interviews, to complete specific assignments, dictations, in roundtable discussions, or for guest lectures), students are more likely to use this technology and to report academic benefits. While the study is limited by small sample sizes and by some within-group variation in instructional techniques, the study provides initial evidence that podcast technology has the potential to provide greater benefits if it is used more than simply as a tool for reviewing. The study’s positive findings indicate that additional research to examine the effects of specific instructional uses of podcast technology is merited.

Ambulatory Assessment

Ambulatory Assessment