Implementation of a program to strengthen oral hygiene in patient with cleft deformities: a prospective randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: Cleft lip and/or palate is the most common congenital orofacial deformity, affecting 1/800 births. A thorough review of the literature has shown that children with cleft have poorer oral hygiene and dental health than other children, with higher levels of caries in both temporary and permanent teeth and poorer periodontal health. Cleft patients are treated by a multidisciplinary team that aims to provide comprehensive care from pre- or post-natal diagnosis to early adulthood and the end of growth.

A Qualitative Evaluation of Two Electronic-Rehabilitation Programmes for Managing Persistent Knee Pain.

Introduction: Persistent knee pain often due to knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent and disabling condition. Electronic-rehabilitation (e-rehab) programmes have the potential to support self-management of knee OA. This study aimed to evaluate user engagement and acceptability of two e-rehab programmes, Group e-rehab, a remote physiotherapy-led programme and My Knee UK, a self-directed web-based exercise programme.

The impact of vaccine access difficulties on HPV vaccine intention and uptake among female university students in China.

Background: Ensuring vaccine access is a prerequisite for promoting human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination. Although HPV vaccination efforts in China have primarily focused on young females, little research has examined the difficulties they face in accessing the HPV vaccine and its impact on vaccine uptake and intention. This study analyzed the overall perception of access difficulties to HPV vaccines, as well as three specific vaccine access difficulties, and examined their influencing factors among female university students in China.

Patients' Use of e-Consultations as an Alternative to Other General Practitioner Services: Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

Background: e-Consultations, defined as asynchronous text-based messaging, have transformed how patients interact with their general practitioner (GP). While e-consultations can improve patient access to GP care, concerns about increased workload for GPs are raised.

Objective: This study aimed to address three research questions: (1) For what purpose and with what expectations do patients initiate e-consultations? (2) If e-consultations had not been available, what alternative actions would the patient have taken? and (3) How are the alternative actions associated with patient and e-consultation characteristics?

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted through a web-based survey on Helsenorge.

Heart failure outpatient clinics resources in Italy: a viewpoint of Italian Society of Cardiology organization.

The current paper reports the model organization, level of health care, and type of medical and research activities related to the existing heart failure centers of the Italian Society of Cardiology. Of note, we conduced an internal survey among the members of heart failure working group and related hospital and territorial sites about the quality of care and assistance levels according to the local hospital resources and type of diagnostic therapeutic and management resources. Thirty-two hospital ambulatorial structures have been identified, the centers were equally distributed within the national ground, with similar concentration between north and south regions of the Italian country.

National Telehealth Contingency Staffing Program and Primary Care Quality in the VHA.

Importance: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) launched the Clinical Resource Hub (CRH), a national telehealth contingency staffing program, to address primary care staffing shortages and improve veteran access to primary care. How this large-scale telehealth intervention affects quality of care is unknown.

Objective: To assess the quality of care for chronic disease management among US veterans receiving high vs low levels of CRH-delivered primary care services and whether racial and ethnic minority veterans experience outcomes similar to those of White veterans when receiving CRH-delivered care.

Work ability following breast cancer - the MyHealth randomized controlled trial.

Background And Purpose: We previously demonstrated positive effects on quality of life and mental health following breast cancer when comparing a nurse-led follow-up program without scheduled visits (MyHealth) to regular follow-up. This study aims to examine whether MyHealth also positively impacts self-reported work ability.

Patients/material And Methods: A total of 288 patients, potentially active on the labour market, were randomized to MyHealth or control follow-up after primary treatment for early-stage breast cancer (2017-2019).

Differences in eHealth Access, Use, and Perceived Benefit Between Different Socioeconomic Groups in the Dutch Context: Secondary Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: There is a growing concern that digital health care may exacerbate existing health disparities. Digital health care or eHealth encompasses the digital apps that are used in health care. Differences in access, use, and perceived benefits of digital technology among socioeconomic groups are commonly referred to as the digital divide.

Evaluating an urgent care antibiotic stewardship intervention: a multi-network collaborative effort.

Objective: Urgent care centers (UCCs) have reported high rates of antibiotic prescribing for acute respiratory tract infections. Prior UCC studies have generally been limited to single networks. Broadly generalizable stewardship efforts targeting common diagnoses are needed.

Efficacy of delivery of care with Tele-continuous EEG in critically ill patients: a multicenter randomized controlled trial (Tele-cRCT study) study.

Background: Continuous electroencephalography (cEEG) has been recommended in critically ill patients although its efficacy for improving patients' functional status remains unclear. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of Tele-cEEG with Tele-routine EEG (Tele-rEEG), in terms of seizure detection rate, mortality and functional outcomes.

Methods: This study is a 3-year randomized, controlled, parallel, multicenter trial, conducted in eight regional hospitals across Thailand.

Learning science concepts alongside language goals: A telehealth replication of a randomised controlled trial examining whether children with developmental language disorder can learn vocabulary or grammar in combination with curricular science content.

Purpose: We asked whether children with developmental language disorder can learn vocabulary or grammar targets and curricular content simultaneously. We replicated prior work integrating two language interventions into a first-grade science curriculum and extended it by testing delivery via teletherapy.

Method: A parallel arm randomised controlled trial was conducted using telehealth approaches.

Adherence to Pulmonary Tuberculosis Medication and Associated Factors Among Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Metinaro and Becora Sub-Districts, Dili, Timor-Leste.

Timor Leste is one of the top countries in Asia with a high incidence rate of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The success of TB treatment necessitated a more profound comprehension of adherence as a multifaceted behavioral issue, along with identifying the barriers that hinder and the factors that promote patient adherence. This study aimed to assess the rate of pulmonary TB medication adherence and identify its predictors among adults in Metinaro and Becora, Dili, Timor-Leste.

Development of an eHealth Intervention Prototype to Prevent Health Risk Behaviors Among Hispanic Adolescents: A User-Centered Formative Study.

Health risk behaviors continue to disproportionately affect Hispanic youth. Despite the existence of successful family and school-based interventions, there is a need for developing and testing individually-based preventive interventions that are easily accessed and widely disseminated. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a prototype (proof of concept) for an individual-level mobile application (app), informed by Hispanic parents and adolescents, to prevent/reduce drug use and sexual risk behaviors among Hispanic youth.

Echocardiography interpretation training and internal medicine milestones: A pilot study.

Background/purpose: The competency-based Internal Medicine Milestones (IMM) assesses physician training outcomes through six key competencies. This pilot study introduced IMM concepts through an echocardiography report interpretation course for postgraduate students (PGYs) and residents (Rs). We aimed to help young physicians understand and track competency development as they receive cardiovascular training, with a view to expanding IMM usage for all junior physicians.

Innovative Integration of Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Telesurgery and Quantum Cryptography Communication in Urology: Clinical Application and Initial Experience.

Background: The emergence of telesurgery has received global interest, with secure network transmission identified as a crucial determinant of its success. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and viability of employing quantum cryptography communication in remote partial nephrectomy.

Methods: The surgeon operated on the patient from a distance of over 260 km using remote control of a surgical robot.

HIV interventions across the care continuum for adolescents in high-burden countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Adolescents (10-19 years old) have poor outcomes across the prevention-to-treatment HIV care continuum, leading to significant mortality and morbidity. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of interventions that documented HIV outcomes among adolescents in HIV high-burden countries.

Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library for studies published between January 2015 and September 2024, assessing at least one HIV outcome along the prevention-to-care cascade, including PrEP uptake, HIV testing, awareness of HIV infections, ARV adherence, retention, and virological suppression.

Digital Transformation of Rheumatology Care in Germany: Cross-Sectional National Survey.

Background: In recent years, health care has undergone a rapid and unprecedented digital transformation. In many fields of specialty care, such as rheumatology, this shift is driven by the growing number of patients and limited resources, leading to increased use of digital health technologies (DHTs) to maintain high-quality clinical care. Previous studies examined user acceptance of individual DHTs in rheumatology, such as telemedicine, video consultations, and mHealth.

Research team diversity impacts scientific output in allergy and immunology programs.

Background: This study examined the relationship between the disciplinary diversity of research teams and research output (RO) in allergy and immunology programs funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States, Medical Research Council (MRC) in the United Kingdom, and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).

Methods: Using a dataset containing 1243, 3645, and 1468 articles funded by the NIH, MRC, and JSPS, respectively, we analyzed the correlation between disciplinary diversity and RO in allergy and immunology programs that received grants from 2017 to 2021. Diversity was measured using All Science Journal Classification codes counts, Shannon-Wiener index, and newly developed Omnidisciplinary index (o-index).

The present and future of digital health, digital medicine, and digital therapeutics for allergic diseases.

Background: Digital health, digital medicine, and digital therapeutics integrate advanced computer technologies into healthcare, aiming to improve efficiency and patient outcomes. These technologies offer innovative solutions for the management of allergic diseases, which affect a significant proportion of the global population and are increasing in prevalence. BODY: This review examines the current progress and future potential of digital health in allergic disease management.

Facilitators and barriers affecting the implementation of e-health for chronic respiratory diseases in remote settings: a qualitative evidence synthesis.

Background: Chronic respiratory diseases are important causes of disability and mortality globally. Their incidence may be higher in remote locations where healthcare is limited and risk factors, such as smoking and indoor air pollution, are more prevalent. E-health could overcome some healthcare access obstacles in remote locations, but its utilisation has been limited.

Readiness of adults with type 1 diabetes and diabetes caregivers for diabetes distress monitoring using a voice-based digital health solution: insights from the PsyVoice mixed methods study.

Objectives: Diabetes distress can negatively affect the well-being of individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Voice-based (VB) technology can be used to develop inexpensive and ecological tools for managing diabetes distress. This study explored the competencies to engage with digital health services, needs and preferences of individuals with T1D or caring for a child with this condition regarding VB technology to inform the tailoring of a co-designed tool for supporting diabetes distress management.

Post-acute sequela of COVID-19 infection in individuals with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Many common symptoms in post-acute sequelae following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection (PASC) overlap with those of multiple sclerosis (MS). We examined symptoms and performance of the PASC score, developed in the general population, in MS based on infection history.

Methods: We surveyed North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis (NARCOMS) registry participants regarding infections and categorized participants based on infection history.

A prospective study on diagnostic accuracy of technology-enabled early detection of oral cancer and epidemiology of tobacco and other substances use in rural India.

Background: Lip and oral cavity cancer is leading cause of cancer mortality among Indian men. This study evaluated diagnostic accuracy of mobile health (mHealth) enabled screening for early detection of oral premalignant lesions or oral cancer (OPML/OC). It also described epidemiology of tobacco and other substance use and associated oral lesions in rural northern India.

Long-Stay Nursing Home Residents With Dementia: Telemedicine Mental Health Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: To examine racial and ethnic differences in telemedicine mental health (tele-MH) use among nursing home (NH) long-stay residents with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) during the pandemic.

Design: Observational study.

Setting And Participants: The 2020-2021 Minimum Data Set 3.

Evaluation of the Development, Implementation, Maintenance, and Impact of 3 Digital Surveillance Tools Deployed in Malawi During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Protocol for a Modified Delphi Expert Consensus Study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of strengthening national monitoring systems to safeguard a globally connected society, especially those in low- and middle-income countries. Africa's rapid adoption of digital technological interventions created a new frontier of digital advancement during crises or pandemics. The use of digital tools for disease surveillance can assist with rapid outbreak identification and response, handling duties such as diagnosis, testing, contact tracing, and risk communication.