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Applied Health Technology

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Communication and Informatics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2020) | Viewed by 36585

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Peter Anderberg

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
1. Department of Health, Blekinge Institute of Technology, 371 79 Karlskrona, Sweden
2. School of Health Sciences, University of Skövde, 541 28 Skövde, Sweden
Interests: health technology; health informatics; gerontechnology; assistive technology; digital health; eHealth
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Applied health technology is the interdisciplinary study of how health directly or indirectly relates to the application and results of technology interventions. It has a firm user perspective, where both the inherent qualities of the technology and the user’s perception of the same technology together make up the resulting functionality. Various design perspectives together with the domain of knowledge from the health disciplines creates the intersection where AHT can be found, sharing research interests with, among others, interaction design, health informatics, and product development in the health area.

One area in AHT that is coming increasingly into focus with the demographic changes, is the use of health technology by older people—gerontechnology. Gerontechnology aims at good health, full social participation, and independent living up until a high age, with the research, development, or design of products and services in order to increase the quality of life. The age-appropriate design and facilitation of technology adoption are important in order to ensure the functionality and removal of various barriers to usage. A common factor in the research is older people’s possibilities and problems with the digitization of various societal functions and arenas, including health and care as well as older people’s use of the Internet, as well as ICT tools for cognitive, psychosocial, and physical aging.

For this Special Issue on “Applied Health Technology”, we invite submissions that examine the design, impact, and/or effect of health technology artifacts or services on aging persons. Apart from this, all papers addressing the application of technology in a health or care setting are encouraged. Researchers are invited to contribute novel work to be considered for publication in this Special Issue. Submissions should include original articles or brief reports.

Prof. Dr. Peter Anderberg
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. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2500 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

  • Applied Health Technology
  • Health Technology Use
  • eHealth
  • Health Information Technology
  • Gerontechnology
  • Health Technology Assessment
  • Healthcare Technology Research
  • Applied studies
  • Health technology products
  • Health technology services

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 332 KiB  
Article
Older People’s Use and Nonuse of the Internet in Sweden
by Peter Anderberg, Lisa Skär, Linda Abrahamsson and Johan Sanmartin Berglund
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(23), 9050; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17239050 - 4 Dec 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4089
Abstract
The use of the internet has considerably increased over recent years, and the importance of internet use has also grown as services have gone online. Sweden is largely an information society like other countries with high reported use amongst European countries. In line [...] Read more.
The use of the internet has considerably increased over recent years, and the importance of internet use has also grown as services have gone online. Sweden is largely an information society like other countries with high reported use amongst European countries. In line with digitalization development, society is also changing, and many activities and services today take place on the internet. This development could potentially lead to those older persons who do not use the internet or do not follow the development of services on the internet finding it difficult to take part in information and activities that no longer occur in the physical world. This has led to a digital divide between groups, where the older generations (60+), in particular, have been affected. In a large study of Sweden’s adult population in 2019, 95 percent of the overall population was said to be internet users, and the corresponding number for users over 66 years of age was 84%. This study shows that the numbers reported about older peoples’ internet use, most likely, are vastly overestimated and that real use is significantly lower, especially among the oldest age groups. We report that 62.4% of the study subjects are internet users and that this number most likely also is an overestimation. When looking at nonresponders to the questionnaire, we find that they display characteristics generally attributed to non-use, such as lower education, lower household economy, and lower cognitive functioning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Health Technology)
17 pages, 2037 KiB  
Article
Acceptance and Potential Impact of the eWALL Platform for Health Monitoring and Promotion in Persons with a Chronic Disease or Age-Related Impairment
by Francesco Infarinato, Stephanie Jansen-Kosterink, Paola Romano, Lex van Velsen, Harm op den Akker, Federica Rizza, Marco Ottaviani, Sofoklis Kyriazakos, Beatrix Wais-Zechmann, Markus Garschall, Stefano Bonassi and Hermie J. Hermens
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(21), 7893; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17217893 - 28 Oct 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3320
Abstract
Pervasive health technologies can increase the effectiveness of personal health monitoring and training, but more user studies are necessary to understand the interest for these technologies, and how they should be designed and implemented. In the present study, we evaluated eWALL, a user-centered [...] Read more.
Pervasive health technologies can increase the effectiveness of personal health monitoring and training, but more user studies are necessary to understand the interest for these technologies, and how they should be designed and implemented. In the present study, we evaluated eWALL, a user-centered pervasive health technology consisting of a platform that monitors users’ physical and cognitive behavior, providing feedback and motivation via an easy-to-use, touch-based user interface. The eWALL was placed for one month in the home of 48 subjects with a chronic condition (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease—COPD or mild cognitive impairment—MCI) or with an age-related impairment. User acceptance, platform use, and potential clinical effects were evaluated using surveys, data logs, and clinical scales. Although some features of the platform need to be improved before reaching technical maturity and making a difference in patients’ lives, the real-life evaluation of eWALL has shown how some features may influence patients’ intention to use this promising technology. Furthermore, this study made it clear how the free use of different health apps is modulated by the real needs of the patient and by their usefulness in the context of the patient’s clinical status. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Health Technology)
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10 pages, 1185 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Lower Trapezius Muscle Using Ultrasound Panoramic View (a Novel Approach): An Intra- and Inter-Rater Reliability Study
by Samuel Fernández-Carnero, Alejandro Garrido-Marín, Alexander Achalandabaso-Ochoa, Alejandro Ferragut-Garcías, Rubén Fernández-Matías, Daniel Pecos-Martín and Tomás Gallego-Izquierdo
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(19), 7123; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197123 - 29 Sep 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2700
Abstract
The panoramic view ultrasound remains uncommon in clinical practice, probably because of its difficulty, high-cost, and lack of research. Morphological changes in muscles have been demonstrated to be related to symptomatology and provide data of interest for clinical assessment. Thus, the aim of [...] Read more.
The panoramic view ultrasound remains uncommon in clinical practice, probably because of its difficulty, high-cost, and lack of research. Morphological changes in muscles have been demonstrated to be related to symptomatology and provide data of interest for clinical assessment. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the measurement reliability of the length of the lower trapezius muscle with the panoramic view ultrasound using a novel tool, SIG_VIP®. Twenty healthy volunteers were measured by two expert sonographers using the SIG_VIP® tool with a novel approach. Statistical analyses were performed with the R software. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), minimal detectable change (MDC), and Bland-Altman plots were calculated. All the results indicated good intra-rater reliability (ICC3,1, 0.92 to 0.96; SEM, 0.59 to 0.85; MDC, 1.64 to 2.35) and inter-rater reliability (ICC3,2, 0.84 to 0.89; SEM, 1.22 to 1.53; MDC, 3.39 to 4.25). The novel system used with the described methodology can reliably measure the length of the inferior fibers of the trapezius muscle. Further research must be conducted to evaluate the reliability in patients and how pathology is related to the length of the lower trapezius muscle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Health Technology)
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18 pages, 750 KiB  
Article
Multifactorial 10-Year Prior Diagnosis Prediction Model of Dementia
by Ana Luiza Dallora, Leandro Minku, Emilia Mendes, Mikael Rennemark, Peter Anderberg and Johan Sanmartin Berglund
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(18), 6674; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186674 - 14 Sep 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3101
Abstract
Dementia is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the older adult population. To date, no cure or treatment to change its course is available. Since changes in the brains of affected individuals could be evidenced as early as 10 years before the onset of [...] Read more.
Dementia is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the older adult population. To date, no cure or treatment to change its course is available. Since changes in the brains of affected individuals could be evidenced as early as 10 years before the onset of symptoms, prognosis research should consider this time frame. This study investigates a broad decision tree multifactorial approach for the prediction of dementia, considering 75 variables regarding demographic, social, lifestyle, medical history, biochemical tests, physical examination, psychological assessment and health instruments. Previous work on dementia prognoses with machine learning did not consider a broad range of factors in a large time frame. The proposed approach investigated predictive factors for dementia and possible prognostic subgroups. This study used data from the ongoing multipurpose Swedish National Study on Aging and Care, consisting of 726 subjects (91 presented dementia diagnosis in 10 years). The proposed approach achieved an AUC of 0.745 and Recall of 0.722 for the 10-year prognosis of dementia. Most of the variables selected by the tree are related to modifiable risk factors; physical strength was important across all ages. Also, there was a lack of variables related to health instruments routinely used for the dementia diagnosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Health Technology)
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18 pages, 343 KiB  
Article
Discrepancies between Expected and Actual Implementation: The Process Evaluation of PERS Integration in Nursing Homes
by Fangyuan Chang, Andrea Eriksson and Britt Östlund
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(12), 4245; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17124245 - 14 Jun 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2704
Abstract
Recent studies prove that when implementing new technology technology-driven and one-size-fits-all approaches are problematic. This study focuses on the process of implementing personal emergency response system (PERS) at nursing homes. The aim is to understand why the implementation of PERS has not met [...] Read more.
Recent studies prove that when implementing new technology technology-driven and one-size-fits-all approaches are problematic. This study focuses on the process of implementing personal emergency response system (PERS) at nursing homes. The aim is to understand why the implementation of PERS has not met initial expectations. Multiple methods were used in two Swedish nursing homes, including document analysis, questionnaires (n = 42), participant observation (67 h), and individual interviews (n = 12). A logic model was used to ascertain the discrepancies that emerged between expected and actual implementation, and the domestication theory was used to discuss the underlying meanings of the discrepancies. The discrepancies primarily focused on staff competence, system readiness, work routines, and implementation duration. Corresponding reasons were largely relevant to management issues regarding training, the procurement systems, individual and collective responsibilities as well as invisible work. The uptake of technology in daily practice is far more nuanced than a technology implementation plan might imply. We point out the importance of preparing for implementation, adjusting to new practices, and leaving space and time for facilitating implementation. The findings will be of use to implementers, service providers, and organizational managers to evaluate various measures in the implementation process, enabling them to perform technology implementation faster and more efficiently. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Health Technology)
17 pages, 1456 KiB  
Article
Co-Creation with Older Adults to Improve User-Experience of a Smartphone Self-Test Application to Assess Balance Function
by Linda Mansson, Maria Wiklund, Fredrik Öhberg, Karin Danielsson and Marlene Sandlund
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(11), 3768; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17113768 - 26 May 2020
Cited by 35 | Viewed by 5977
Abstract
This co-creation study aimed to develop a smartphone self-test application for balance and leg strength in collaboration between older adults and the research team. The paper describes older participants’ preferences for, and their contribution to, the application design. Technology to assess movements is [...] Read more.
This co-creation study aimed to develop a smartphone self-test application for balance and leg strength in collaboration between older adults and the research team. The paper describes older participants’ preferences for, and their contribution to, the application design. Technology to assess movements is available in smartphones with built-in sensors, and one of the challenges is to develop a valuable self-test for older adults. The participants contributed to the design of the application’s instructions and user interface. Multiple data collection methods were used: user-test with Think aloud method, mock-ups, homework assignment as co-researcher, audio and video recordings. Qualitative content analysis with a deductive-inductive approach was used, guided by the Optimized Honeycomb model for user experience (UX) as a categorization matrix. The analysis resulted in 17 subcategories within the seven facets of the UX Honeycomb model (findable, accessible, usable, desirable, credible, useful, and valuable), and describes the older participants’ preferences and experiences. The main results were participants’ desire to know why, to get clear and appropriate information, and expectations of the self-test to be useful. It was feasible and valuable to develop the self-test application in co-creation with the intended user-group, in order to get direct feedback and suggestions for the development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Health Technology)
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11 pages, 532 KiB  
Article
Bilateral Asymmetries Assessment in Elite and Sub-Elite Male Futsal Players
by Jorge López-Fernández, Jorge García-Unanue, Javier Sánchez-Sánchez, Enrique Colino, Enrique Hernando and Leonor Gallardo
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(9), 3169; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17093169 - 2 May 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2859
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate morphological, functional, and neuromuscular asymmetries on futsal players’ lower limbs at different competitive levels. Sixteen male elite futsal players from the Spanish National Futsal League and thirteen male sub-elite futsal players from the third division participated in this [...] Read more.
This study aimed to investigate morphological, functional, and neuromuscular asymmetries on futsal players’ lower limbs at different competitive levels. Sixteen male elite futsal players from the Spanish National Futsal League and thirteen male sub-elite futsal players from the third division participated in this study. Morphological asymmetry was assessed through bioelectrical impedance (fat-mass (g and %) and lean-mass (g)). Functional asymmetry was assessed by means of a 20-s static unipedal balance test. Finally, neuromuscular asymmetry was assessed using tensiomiography tests on both the rectus femoris (RF) and biceps femoris (BF) of each participant. The three tests conducted did not reveal significant bilateral asymmetries in elite players. On the other hand, sub-elite players showed significant bilateral asymmetry in fat-mass percentage between dominant and non-dominant limbs (+6%; CI95%: 1 to 11; ES: 0.88; p = 0.019). They also showed higher bilateral asymmetry in the delay time of the RF (+13%; CI95%: 7 to 21; ES: 1.3; p < 0.05). However, the static unipedal balance test (p > 0.05) did not evidence asymmetries regardless of the level of the participants. Elite futsal players do not develop bilateral asymmetries in lower limbs in the studied parameters. On the contrary, sub-elite players are likely to develop morphological and neuromuscular asymmetries between their dominant leg and non-dominant leg. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Health Technology)
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12 pages, 336 KiB  
Article
Using Mobile Health and the Impact on Health-Related Quality of Life: Perceptions of Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment
by Line Christiansen, Catharina Lindberg, Johan Sanmartin Berglund, Peter Anderberg and Lisa Skär
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(8), 2650; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17082650 - 13 Apr 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4955
Abstract
Digital health technologies such as mobile health (mHealth) are considered to have the potential to support the needs of older adults with cognitive impairment. However, the evidence for improving health with the use of mHealth applications is of limited quality. Few studies have [...] Read more.
Digital health technologies such as mobile health (mHealth) are considered to have the potential to support the needs of older adults with cognitive impairment. However, the evidence for improving health with the use of mHealth applications is of limited quality. Few studies have reported on the consequences of technology use concerning the older adults’ quality of life. The purpose of this study was to describe perceptions of mHealth and its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among older adults with cognitive impairment. The study was conducted using a qualitative design with a phenomenographic approach. A total of 18 older participants with cognitive impairment were interviewed. The interviews were analyzed in order to apply phenomenography in a home-care context. The results showed variations in the older adults’ perceptions that were comprised within three categories of description; Require technology literacy, Maintain social interaction, and Facilitate independent living. In conclusion, the development and design of mHealth technologies need to be tailored based on older adults´ needs in order to be understood and perceived as useful in a home-care context. For mHealth to support HRQoL, healthcare should be provided in a way that encourages various forms of communication and interaction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Health Technology)

Review

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13 pages, 485 KiB  
Review
The Cost-Effectiveness of Mobile Health (mHealth) Interventions for Older Adults: Systematic Review
by Zartashia Ghani, Johan Jarl, Johan Sanmartin Berglund, Martin Andersson and Peter Anderberg
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(15), 5290; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17155290 - 22 Jul 2020
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 6131
Abstract
The objective of this study was to critically assess and review empirical evidence on the cost-effectiveness of Mobile Health (mHealth) interventions for older adults. We systematically searched databases such as Pubmed, Scopus, and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Literature (CINAHL) for peer-reviewed [...] Read more.
The objective of this study was to critically assess and review empirical evidence on the cost-effectiveness of Mobile Health (mHealth) interventions for older adults. We systematically searched databases such as Pubmed, Scopus, and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Literature (CINAHL) for peer-reviewed economic evaluations published in English from 2007 to 2018. We extracted data on methods and empirical evidence (costs, effects, incremental cost-effectiveness ratio) and assessed if this evidence supported the reported findings in terms of cost-effectiveness. The consolidated health economic evaluation reporting standards (CHEERS) checklist was used to assess the reporting quality of the included studies. Eleven studies were identified and categorized into two groups: complex smartphone communication and simple text-based communication. Substantial heterogeneity among the studies in terms of methodological approaches and types of intervention was observed. The cost-effectiveness of complex smartphone communication interventions cannot be judged due to lack of information. Limited evidence of cost-effectiveness was found for interventions related to simple text-based communications. Comprehensive economic evaluation studies are warranted to assess the cost-effectiveness of mHealth interventions designed for older adults. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Health Technology)
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