Publications by authors named "M Varnfield"
Article Synopsis
- The study focused on the impact of smart home technologies on older adults' quality of life and well-being as they age in place.
- Over a year, researchers conducted a trial comparing traditional care with home monitoring through a smart system, analyzing various quality of life and depression metrics at 6 and 12 months.
- Results showed a temporary improvement in the intervention group's quality of life at 6 months, but this effect diminished by the 12-month mark, indicating the need for ongoing evaluation of such technologies.
Evidence is increasing for digital health programs targeting the secondary prevention of stroke. We aimed to determine the feasibility of the novel Care Assistant and support Program for people after Stroke (CAPS) or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) by combining person-centred goal setting and risk-factor monitoring through a web-based clinician portal, SMS messages, a mobile application (app), and a wearable device. We conducted a 12-week mixed-methods, open-label feasibility study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The rapid growth of medical apps has changed how health care is delivered, allowing easy access to personalized health data for patients and providers, but effectiveness and safety concerns have emerged, challenging the reliance on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for evaluation and regulation.
- This study explores alternative evaluation methods beyond RCTs for medical apps by analyzing insights from a focus group of public health experts and assessing current regulations in Italy, Germany, Canada, and Australia.
- Findings highlight the limitations of RCTs in evaluating digital health interventions and suggest that there are potentially more effective approaches for ensuring the quality and safety of medical apps.
Background: Few individuals (<2%) who experience a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) participate in secondary prevention lifestyle programs. Novel approaches that leverage digital health technology may provide a viable alternative to traditional interventions that support secondary prevention in people living with stroke or TIA. To be successful, these strategies should focus on user needs and preferences and be acceptable to clinicians and people living with stroke or TIA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: To qualitatively explore the experiences of individuals with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) in Australia, and to recognise opportunities for leveraging digital health to enhance the support of GDM management.
Method: A cross sectional online survey assessed the experiences of individuals with GDM, the healthcare system and their digital health usage. Respondents (recruited via a national diabetes registry or social media) were adults receiving GDM care within Australia in the last 5 years, who responded to any of three open-ended questions (n = 815) exploring positive, negative and other GDM experiences.