Changes in heart rate variability during an eHealth behavior change intervention program in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is associated with health behaviors such as physical inactivity, dietary habits, and smoking. The autonomic nervous system plays a key role in this association. The present longitudinal study examines whether ECG-based indices of autonomic nervous system activity change during an eHealth-based behavior intervention program and assesses whether improvements in health behaviors are associated with increases in parasympathetic autonomic nervous system activity.

Effectiveness of behavior change techniques in eHealth-based cardiac rehabilitation in patients with coronary artery disease: A systematic review: Effective behavior change techniques in eHealth CR.

Background: Participation in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) reduces risk of cardiovascular mortality, improves functional capacity and enhances quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). eHealth-based CR can increase participation rates, but research into effective components is necessary. The objective of this systematic review was to identify effective behavior change techniques (BCTs) used in eHealth-based CR interventions.

A comprehensive comparison between ISAC and ALEX multiplex test systems.

Objectives: Diagnosis of type I hypersensitivity is based on anamnesis, provocation as well as blood- and skin testing. Multiplex specific IgE (sIgE) testing enables determination of sIgE antibodies against multiple recombinant or purified natural allergen components. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the novel ALEX (Allergy Explorer, ALEX test introduced on the market November 2019) multiplex platform and to compare it with the ImmunoCAP ISAC test system.

Improving the operating budget process at Abbott Northwestern Hospital.

Unlabelled: To set an example for the organization, the senior management team at Abbott Northwestern Hospital used quality tools and techniques to improve a highly visible, problematic system--the operating budget process. Team members narrowed the root cause to a faulty, nonintegrated assumption process and identified additional problems, such as inadequate communication, unclear accountabilities, and lengthy timetables. Then, the team streamlined the budget process from a 6-month to a 10-week cycle, which aligned the process with one of the organization's shared quality goals--reducing cycle time.