Healthcare Goes Digital: Mobile Health and Electronic Health Technology in the 21st Century

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "TeleHealth and Digital Healthcare".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2024 | Viewed by 2293

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Centro Nazionale TISP, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
Interests: biomedical engineering; robotics; artificial intelligence; digital health; rehabilitation; smart technology; cybersecurity; mental health; animal-assisted therapy; social robotics; acceptance; diagnostic pathology and radiology; medical imaging; patient safety; healthcare quality; health assessment; chronic disease
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

After the success of the Special Issue The 10th Anniversary of Healthcare—TeleHealth and Digital Healthcare, I invite you to contribute to the Special Issue entitled: Healthcare Goes Digital: Mobile Health and Electronic Health Technology in the 21st Century.

In an era of rapid technological advancement, healthcare is experiencing a profound shift toward digital solutions, including the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and conversational agents such as ChatGPT.

This Special Issue aims to:

  • Explore the convergence of mobile health (mHealth), electronic health technology (eHealth) and AI in the 21st century, inviting contributions that delve into innovative applications, challenges and future prospects in these domains.
  • To foster a comprehensive dialogue on the evolving landscape of digital healthcare, thanks to the eHealth and mHealth, recognizing also the role of AI and conversational agents such as ChatGPT. Researchers, practitioners and experts are encouraged to contribute their perspectives to shape the future of healthcare in the digital age.

Topics of interest:

  • Mobile Health Applications: Assessing the impact of mobile apps on healthcare delivery.
  • Wearable Health Technology: Exploring the role of wearables in monitoring and managing health.
  • Telemedicine: Analyzing the evolution and effectiveness of telehealth services with an emphasis on AI integration.
  • Electronic Health Records (EHRs): Examining the integration and implications of EHR systems with AI-driven analytics.
  • Data Security and Privacy: Addressing concerns and solutions in the digital healthcare space, particularly in AI-driven applications.
  • Patient Engagement: Investigating strategies to enhance patient involvement through digital platforms, including AI-driven chat interfaces.
  • Emerging Technologies: Exploring the influence of AI, IoT and other emerging tech in healthcare, with a specific focus on ChatGPT and conversational AI.

Dr. Daniele Giansanti
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • telemedicine
  • eHealth
  • mHealth

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 3206 KiB  
Article
Beyond the Clinic Walls: Examining Radiology Technicians’ Experiences in Home-Based Radiography
by Graziano Lepri, Francesco Oddi, Rosario Alfio Gulino and Daniele Giansanti
Healthcare 2024, 12(7), 732; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12070732 - 27 Mar 2024
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Abstract
In recent years, the landscape of diagnostic imaging has undergone a significant transformation with the emergence of home radiology, challenging the traditional paradigm. This shift, bringing diagnostic imaging directly to patients, has gained momentum and has been further accelerated by the global COVID-19 [...] Read more.
In recent years, the landscape of diagnostic imaging has undergone a significant transformation with the emergence of home radiology, challenging the traditional paradigm. This shift, bringing diagnostic imaging directly to patients, has gained momentum and has been further accelerated by the global COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the increasing importance and convenience of decentralized healthcare services. This study aims to offer a nuanced understanding of the attitudes and experiences influencing the integration of in-home radiography into contemporary healthcare practices. The research methodology involves a survey administered through Computer-Aided Web Interviewing (CAWI) tools, enabling real-time engagement with a diverse cohort of medical radiology technicians in the health domain. A second CAWI tool is submitted to experts to assess their feedback on the methodology. The survey explores key themes, including perceived advantages and challenges associated with domiciliary imaging, its impact on patient care, and the technological intricacies specific to conducting radiologic procedures outside the conventional clinical environment. Findings from a sample of 26 medical radiology technicians (drawn from a larger pool of 186 respondents) highlight a spectrum of opinions and constructive feedback. Enthusiasm is evident for the potential of domiciliary imaging to enhance patient convenience and provide a more patient-centric approach to healthcare. Simultaneously, this study suggests areas of intervention to improve the diffusion of home-based radiology. The methodology based on CAWI tools proves instrumental in the efficiency and depth of data collection, as evaluated by 16 experts from diverse professional backgrounds. The dynamic and responsive nature of this approach allows for a more allocated exploration of technicians’ opinions, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the evolving landscape of medical imaging services. Emphasis is placed on the need for national and international initiatives in the field, supported by scientific societies, to further explore the evolving landscape of teleradiology and the integration of artificial intelligence in radiology. This study encourages expansion involving other key figures in this practice, including, naturally, medical radiologists, general practitioners, medical physicists, and other stakeholders. Full article
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Review

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15 pages, 1610 KiB  
Review
Effects of Telerehabilitation on Pain and Disability in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Geraldine Valenza-Peña, Andrés Calvache-Mateo, Marie Carmen Valenza, María Granados-Santiago, Julia Raya-Benítez, Irene Cabrera-Martos and Esther Díaz-Mohedo
Healthcare 2024, 12(7), 796; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12070796 - 06 Apr 2024
Viewed by 467
Abstract
(1) Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis explores the effectiveness of telerehabilitation in patients suffering from chronic neck pain, specifically on pain and disability. The research delves into an area of growing significance within the realm of healthcare, aiming to understand the [...] Read more.
(1) Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis explores the effectiveness of telerehabilitation in patients suffering from chronic neck pain, specifically on pain and disability. The research delves into an area of growing significance within the realm of healthcare, aiming to understand the impact of digital interventions on the rehabilitation process for individuals with prolonged neck pain. (2) Methods: The comprehensive review encompasses a wide array of studies evaluating the collective outcomes of numerous trials focused on telerehabilitation strategies. In this systematic review, PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched to identify studies on telerehabilitation’s impact on pain. (3) Results: Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Using the Downs and Black quality assessment, three studies were classified as good and five as fair. The authors identify specific modalities within telerehabilitation, such as remote exercise programs and virtual consultations, that contribute significantly to positive patient outcomes. Meta-analysis indicated a significant overall effect of telerehabilitation on pain reduction (MD = −1.27; 95% CI = −2.06; −0.47; p = 0.002). These findings support telerehabilitation’s efficacy in pain management. (4) Conclusions: The synthesis of evidence presented in this systematic review and meta-analysis underscores the potential of telerehabilitation as an effective and accessible means of managing chronic neck pain, offering valuable insights for both healthcare practitioners and policymakers in advancing patient-centered care. Full article
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Other

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14 pages, 1007 KiB  
Systematic Review
Detection of Arrhythmias Using Smartwatches—A Systematic Literature Review
by Bence Bogár, Dániel Pető, Dávid Sipos, Gábor Füredi, Antónia Keszthelyi, József Betlehem and Attila András Pandur
Healthcare 2024, 12(9), 892; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12090892 - 25 Apr 2024
Viewed by 155
Abstract
Smartwatches represent one of the most widely adopted technological innovations among wearable devices. Their evolution has equipped them with an increasing array of features, including the capability to record an electrocardiogram. This functionality allows users to detect potential arrhythmias, enabling prompt intervention or [...] Read more.
Smartwatches represent one of the most widely adopted technological innovations among wearable devices. Their evolution has equipped them with an increasing array of features, including the capability to record an electrocardiogram. This functionality allows users to detect potential arrhythmias, enabling prompt intervention or monitoring of existing arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation. In our research, we aimed to compile case reports, case series, and cohort studies from the Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases published until 1 August 2023. The search employed keywords such as “Smart Watch”, “Apple Watch”, “Samsung Gear”, “Samsung Galaxy Watch”, “Google Pixel Watch”, “Fitbit”, “Huawei Watch”, “Withings”, “Garmin”, “Atrial Fibrillation”, “Supraventricular Tachycardia”, “Cardiac Arrhythmia”, “Ventricular Tachycardia”, “Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia”, “Atrioventricular Reentrant Tachycardia”, “Heart Block”, “Atrial Flutter”, “Ectopic Atrial Tachycardia”, and “Bradyarrhythmia.” We obtained a total of 758 results, from which we selected 57 articles, including 33 case reports and case series, as well as 24 cohort studies. Most of the scientific works focused on atrial fibrillation, which is often detected using Apple Watches. Nevertheless, we also included articles investigating arrhythmias with the potential for circulatory collapse without immediate intervention. This systematic literature review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on arrhythmia detection using smartwatches. Through further research, it may be possible to develop a care protocol that integrates arrhythmias recorded by smartwatches, allowing for timely access to appropriate medical care for patients. Additionally, continuous monitoring of existing arrhythmias using smartwatches could facilitate the assessment of the effectiveness of prescribed therapies. Full article
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27 pages, 2204 KiB  
Systematic Review
Can Digital Technologies Be Useful for Weight Loss in Individuals with Overweight or Obesity? A Systematic Review
by Carmela Protano, Andrea De Giorgi, Federica Valeriani, Elisa Mazzeo, Stefano Zanni, Luigi Cofone, Gabriele D’Ancona, Anis Hasnaoui, Ivano Pindinello, Marise Sabato, Francesca Ubaldi, Veronica Volpini, Vincenzo Romano Spica, Matteo Vitali and Francesca Gallè
Healthcare 2024, 12(6), 670; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12060670 - 16 Mar 2024
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Abstract
Digital technologies have greatly developed and impacted several aspects of life, including health and lifestyle. Activity tracking, mobile applications, and devices may also provide messages and goals to motivate adopting healthy behaviors, namely physical activity and dietary changes. This review aimed to assess [...] Read more.
Digital technologies have greatly developed and impacted several aspects of life, including health and lifestyle. Activity tracking, mobile applications, and devices may also provide messages and goals to motivate adopting healthy behaviors, namely physical activity and dietary changes. This review aimed to assess the effectiveness of digital resources in supporting behavior changes, and thus influencing weight loss, in people with overweight or obesity. A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023403364). Randomized Controlled Trials published from the database’s inception to 8 November 2023 and focused on digital-based technologies aimed at increasing physical activity for the purpose of weight loss, with or without changes in diet, were considered eligible. In total, 1762 studies were retrieved and 31 met the inclusion criteria. Although they differed in the type of technology used and in their design, two-thirds of the studies reported significantly greater weight loss among electronic device users than controls. Many of these studies reported tailored or specialist-guided interventions. The use of digital technologies may be useful to support weight-loss interventions for people with overweight or obesity. Personalized feedback can increase the effectiveness of new technologies in motivating behavior changes. Full article
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