Search Results (770)

Wearable technologies, such as smartwatches, are increasingly used by people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) for health monitoring and self-management. However, there is limited evidence-informed guidance available to help patients and healthcare practitioners use these tools effectively in everyday life. Objectives: This study aimed to co-create a digital resource for people with COPD and healthcare practitioners to support the use of smartwatches for self-management. Methods: A participatory co-creation methodology was used, based on the Three Co’s Framework (co-define, co-design, co-refine). Participants included people with COPD, carers, family, or friends of people with COPD; healthcare practitioners; and researchers who attended workshops and individual think-aloud interviews to develop a website and video resource. The resource was refined based on real-time feedback. Data were analysed using rapid qualitative analysis. Results: Twenty-one participants engaged and identified key informational needs, including understanding smartwatch features, interpreting health data, and setting personalised goals. The co-created website and video resource were positively received. Participants valued the inclusion of real-life experiences and practical guidance tailored to both patients and healthcare practitioners. Conclusions: This study presents the first co-created resource for COPD and healthcare practitioners on using smartwatches. The co-creation process was successfully delivered online and face-to-face, demonstrating a robust, inclusive approach to managing multiple stakeholders. The resource offers practical value for patients and practitioners and contributes to the growing field of remote interventions for chronic respiratory conditions. Future research is needed to evaluate its effectiveness. Full article

Background/Objectives: The rapid evolution of digital technologies has significantly transformed prosthodontic workflows, improving clinical precision, communication, and patient satisfaction. However, the extent to which dental professionals perceive, integrate, and evaluate these technologies remains insufficiently standardized. This study aimed to develop and validate a questionnaire for assessing perceptions, attitudes, perceived advantages, barriers, and future intentions regarding the use of digital technologies in prosthodontic practice. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 420 dental professionals (305 dentists and 115 dental technicians) from Northeastern Romania. The 27-item questionnaire, structured on five theoretical dimensions, was distributed online via the Survio platform. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s Alpha, and construct validity was analyzed through Exploratory Factor Analysis (Principal Component Analysis with Varimax rotation). Conclusions: Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients ranged from 0.700 to 0.799 across the five dimensions, indicating acceptable to very good internal reliability. The Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin value (0.646) and Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity (p < 0.001) confirmed data suitability for factor analysis. The validated questionnaire represents a reliable and conceptually coherent tool for evaluating professional perspectives on digitalization in prosthodontics. Its application can inform educational strategies, guide institutional investments, and support a balanced transition toward integrated digital workflows in clinical and laboratory settings. Full article

Reducing energy demand and carbon emissions in residential buildings requires more than technological upgrades; it demands a nuanced understanding of occupant behaviour. Residential energy use is shaped by both physical design and human actions, yet behavioural factors remain underexplored, contributing to the energy performance gap. This study addresses this issue by developing and validating a behavioural framework grounded in the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to examine how attitudes, social norms, perceived control, and environmental awareness influence energy-related decisions. Data were collected through an online survey of 310 households in metropolitan Sydney and analysed using Stata v17 software employing principal component analysis and regression modelling. Results reveal that environmental awareness is the most significant predictor of pro-environmental intention, which strongly correlates with actual behavioural outcomes. While attitudes and perceived control were generally positive, subjective norms and awareness remained moderate, limiting behavioural change. The proposed framework demonstrates strong validity and reliability, offering a practical tool for policymakers, designers, and educators to integrate behavioural insights into sustainable building strategies. By prioritising awareness campaigns and normative interventions, stakeholders can complement technical retrofits with behavioural measures, accelerating progress towards low-carbon housing and benefiting both households and the broader community. Full article

The National Environmental Sustainability and Technology Tool (NESTT) is an online sustainability assessment and decision support tool developed for Canadian egg farmers in two phases—Lite NESTT and Full NESTT. To ensure that users (egg farmers) have a say in its design and development, and to foster a sense of ownership of the tool, a participatory design process was implemented in the development of NESTT. Specifically, a four-step participatory design process was adopted for this study with two discovery phases. The pre-launch discovery survey diagnosing use situations resulted in Lite NESTT being focused primarily on resource use efficiency and productivity, prioritization of benchmarking, and defining the focus areas for the prototyping phase. In the prototyping phase, farmers were interviewed with renderings and mock-ups, and improvements related to user-centeredness, data security, aesthetic appeal, accessibility, and simplicity were achieved. Finally, the post-launch discovery phase helped in defining the new features for Full NESTT such as the implementation of carbon footprint assessments, information on funding opportunities, and fixing data input issues. This last phase also helped in identifying several long-term strategic options to consider for NESTT such as integration with other on-farm programs, integrating economic assessments and financial incentives into NESTT, and adding more customized, farm-level decision support features. Full article

Objective: This study aimed to identify caregivers’ perceptions, preferences, and intentions regarding the use of digital articulation therapy applications for children with DLD. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between August and September 2025 among 197 caregivers of children diagnosed with DLD. A 43-item questionnaire was structured into five domains addressing demographics, therapy experience, digital-therapy exposure, and preferences for application-based articulation therapy. Constructs from the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2, including performance expectancy (PE), social influence (SI), price value (PV), facilitating conditions (FC), and behavioral intention, were analyzed. Results: Most respondents were mothers (96%), and 78.7% of them resided in urban areas. Among them, 84.3% had prior speech therapy experience. Only 15.7% had used educational or therapeutic applications; the main dissatisfaction factors were lack of fun (51.6%) and feedback (19.3%). Caregivers preferred short, engaging sessions (20–40 min per day), video-based (75%) or game-based (64%) content, and feedback every 2 months, with a reasonable monthly cost (20,000–30,000 KRW). Regression analysis revealed that sex (β = −0.451, p = 0.013), PE (β = 0.381, p < 0.001), and PV (β = 0.212, p = 0.034) significantly associated with behavioral intention to use an articulation-therapy application, whereas SI and FC were not significant. Conclusions: Caregivers of children with DLD demonstrated strong willingness to adopt digital articulation therapy applications, particularly when these tools provide meaningful therapeutic outcomes at moderate cost and include motivating, interactive content. Future application design should prioritize treatment functionality, user engagement, and accessibility to enhance adoption and continuity of digital speech-language interventions. Full article

Background: Healthcare communication often relies on complex digital infrastructures, yet clinicians increasingly adopt general-purpose Instant Messaging Apps (IMAs) such as WhatsApp^® to meet unmet needs. DonnaRosa, an Italian community of breast cancer specialists founded in 2017, is a Community of Practice (CoP), where experts exchange second opinions, guidelines, and trial opportunities. This paper examines its origins, practices, and implications. Methods: A mixed-methods design was applied: (1) qualitative analysis of chat logs to identify interaction patterns and rules; (2) a 2024 online survey of 54 members (92.5% response rate) exploring demographics, usage, and perceived value; (3) ongoing semi-structured interviews with founders and participants to reconstruct history, recruitment, and professional impact. Results: The group has grown through personal invitations, creating a friendly network of oncologists. Communication is concise, colloquial, and collegial. Activities focus on case discussions, reassurance, interpretation of guidelines, and exchange of research opportunities. This article presents data from an online survey conducted in 2024, showing that the group is widely used for second opinions, often consulted even on weekends and holidays, and perceived as a source of professional support and learning. Members report that participation frequently changes or refines their clinical judgement, especially when guidelines are incomplete or ambiguous. The community also promotes resilience, reduces professional isolation, supports informal collaboration in research projects, and encourages interaction on organisational and healthcare management issues. Conclusions:DonnaRosa illustrates how informal IMAs can evolve into robust infrastructures of care and professional solidarity, complementing formal systems. In the era of artificial intelligence, CoPs like DonnaRosa may become even more relevant: AI tools, especially large language models, can accelerate literature retrieval and data synthesis, while the CoP provides the critical, experience-based interpretation needed for safe and meaningful application. Such a dual infrastructure—technological and human—offers a promising path for oncology, where complexity requires both computational breadth and the depth of expert clinical judgement. Taken together, these findings and the evolving role of AI in clinical communication underscore the need for oncology societies to develop governance frameworks that ensure the safe, accountable, and clinically appropriate use of instant-messaging tools in professional practice. Full article

Sarcopenic obesity, the coexistence of excess adiposity with loss of muscle mass and function, is becoming increasingly prevalent. The condition is linked to higher morbidity and mortality but its diagnosis remains limited by reliance on body composition methods that are costly, inaccessible, and/or involve radiation exposure. Recent advances in bioinformatics, data analytics, and digital health technologies create opportunities for scalable, precise approaches to detection. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence from the published literature on online medical libraries (Pubmed, Medline, Scopus, Google Scholar) until September 2025 on multi-omics, digital phenotyping and eHealth research, highlighting how these tools can refine risk stratification and extend diagnostic reach beyond traditional methods. We describe the potential utility of wearable sensor technologies, and smartphone-based body composition methods, as well as genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics. Such approaches, alone or in combination, may enable earlier identification of sarcopenic obesity, including in individuals who are not routinely prioritized for screening. We conclude that integrating biological and digital data offers promise for advancing precision diagnostics in sarcopenic obesity, enabling more tailored prevention and intervention strategies while ultimately reducing healthcare burden. Further research is required to determine the feasibility, clinical utility and scalability of such innovations before their widespread implementation. Full article

Research in “cybertherapy” has explored innovative ways to integrate new technologies as innovative tools in psychological treatment, such as virtual reality. Avatars, as digital representations of users within virtual environments, represent an interesting tool for psychotherapists: they could be used to assess aspects of patients’ self-representations (assessment), to promote behavioral change based on an alternative self-image (treatment), or to exercise therapists’ skills in diagnosis and assessment (formation). Yet, the use of avatars in psychotherapy is still not widespread. In the present study, 77 certified psychotherapists evaluated the three possible uses of avatars described above in terms of technology acceptance model (TAM) factors: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and intention-to-use. Partially confirming the TAM, the results show that perceived usefulness in particular is an effective predictor of intention to use avatars in psychotherapy for all three possible uses. Attitudes towards avatars as a psychotherapeutic tool were slightly influenced by mental health professionals’ methodological approach, with cognitive-behavioral psychotherapists showing more positive attitudes towards avatars as a training tool. On the other hand, previous experiences with other technologies (e.g., conducting therapy online or not) affected the perception of avatars’ ease of use as a treatment tool. The present study contributes to identifying factors that influence mental health professionals’ attitudes towards technological innovations in the psychotherapy profession, giving directions for future research in cybertherapy adoption. Full article

The main objective of this article is to conduct a literature review on the use of open innovation (OI) for green transition to identify tools and methods that can make green transition more effective, efficient, and socially acceptable. This review is accompanied by an attempt to answer the following research questions: R1. How can open innovation be used in the economy and by individual entities to achieve the goals of the green transition? R2. How can individual stakeholders be activated and motivated to participate in the process of creating open innovation for the green transition? and R3. What are the real effects of using open innovation on a macroeconomic, social, and individual scale? The results allow concluding that OI is used by enterprises, cities, regions, and entire economies. Among the methods of activating and motivating individual stakeholders to engage in the process of creating OI for green transition, the following can be selected: (1) internal resources and competencies (knowledge management, internal programs, open leadership, trust, complementarity of resources); (2) partnership characteristics (modern business models, involvement of partnership intermediaries, strengthening relationships with suppliers and customers, involvement of prosumers, cooperation with universities and research institutions); (3) external legal and regulatory conditions (protection of intellectual property rights, pro-innovation and pro-environmental education systems, creation of a legal framework for cooperation between science and business); and (4) external technical and organizational solutions (online platforms, social media, Living Labs, external sources of knowledge). The most frequently mentioned individual effects of open innovation in the energy sector include: improved efficiency, effectiveness and competitiveness in environmental management and the implementation of sustainable development, as well as the use of modern technologies. At the economic level, OI supports investment and economic growth. It can also have a positive impact on reducing energy poverty and developing renewable energy sources, including in emerging economies. This form of innovation also promotes social integration and the creation of social values. The findings of this review can be utilized by scholars to identify current and future research directions. They may also prove valuable for practitioners as both an incentive to engage in open innovation and guidance for its design and implementation. Furthermore, the results can contribute to disseminating knowledge about open innovation and its role in the green transformation. Full article

Background: Teledentistry constitutes a key component of digital health, enabling remote oral healthcare delivery through information and communication technologies (ICT). The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated its global adoption; however, data regarding its implementation within Romanian dental practice remain limited. Understanding usage patterns, perceived benefits, and implementation barriers is essential for effective integration. Objectives: This study examined the adoption of teledentistry among dental practitioners in Sibiu County, Romania, identified its main applications, assessed professional perceptions, and explored barriers and their interrelations using association rule mining (ARM). Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was distributed in 2025 to all 630 registered dentists in Sibiu County. The questionnaire collected demographic data, usage patterns, perceived benefits, and barriers. A total of 197 valid responses were obtained (response rate: 31.2%). Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and ARM were used to identify associations between usage contexts and recorded obstacles. Results: Overall, 44.6% of respondents reported using teledentistry tools, primarily for interdisciplinary consultations (29.4%), postoperative counseling (26.4%), and treatment monitoring (25.3%). The most frequently cited barriers were the inability to perform direct clinical examinations (71.5%), practitioner reluctance (37.1%), insufficient infrastructure (29.9%), and the lack of a clear legislative framework (27.4%). ARM revealed frequent co-occurrence patterns among these barriers. Practitioners with prior experience in teledentistry reported significantly higher perceived utility (58% vs. 22.1%) and greater interest in training (58% vs. 38.5%, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Teledentistry shows moderate but increasing adoption among Romanian dentists. Addressing current barriers, through legislative clarification, infrastructure development, targeted professional training, and public education, is essential for achieving sustainable integration into modern dental practice. Full article

The rapid digitalization of higher education has transformed how students learn, collaborate, and engage with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). While earlier research emphasized generational or academic-level differences in digital behavior, recent evidence suggests convergence in technology use. This study explores whether undergraduate and postgraduate students at the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Maribor, display distinct technology engagement patterns across five constructs: excessive technology use, online collaboration, the use of digital learning tools (E-boards), the use of AI in education, and perceived academic success. A survey among 285 students was analyzed using the non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test due to a non-normal data distribution. The findings showed that postgraduate students did not report higher levels of E-Board use, online collaboration, or perceived academic success. Undergraduate students scored higher on one item related to excessive technology use, but not across the full construct. However, significant differences emerged in AI use, where postgraduate students showed greater confidence and willingness to integrate AI tools. The findings suggest that digital competence and the quality of technology integration, rather than study level, shape students’ learning experiences. Higher education institutions should promote balanced and ethical technology use, strengthen AI literacy, and foster self-regulated learning skills. Full article

Background/Objectives: Dysphagia represents a significant global health concern with particularly high prevalence in specific clinical conditions, yet educational gaps persist among healthcare professionals and caregivers. This observational, cross-sectional quantitative study aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the current self-perceived knowledge and learning needs among stakeholders involved in dysphagia management. Methods: An international online survey was conducted in five European countries (Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Spain, and Turkey) with 463 participants: 297 professionals (healthcare and non-health specialists, educators, students) and 166 non-professionals (patients, family members, caregivers, interested individuals). Two structured questionnaires explored self-perceived knowledge, learning needs, relevancy of thematic areas, and preferred learning methods. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used for statistical comparisons. Results: Professionals reported higher self-perceived knowledge than non-professionals (p < 0.001), yet both groups expressed comparable needs for further education. Priority learning areas varied by respondent profile: “Identification & Treatment” was prioritized by both speech-language pathologists and healthcare specialists, as well as by non-professionals, while dietitian-nutritionists focused on “Diet & Nutrition” and “Food Preparation”. Short-duration courses and visual, hands-on learning tools were preferred across groups. Conclusions: This study highlights a broad demand for dysphagia education among professionals and non-professionals. Tailored, technology-enhanced learning programs could bridge existing knowledge gaps, strengthen multidisciplinary collaboration, and support better daily management of dysphagia. Full article

Accessing, processing, and sharing of information have been completely transformed by the speedy progress of digital technologies. However, as tech evolution accelerates, it presents notable challenges in the form of misinformation spreading rapidly and an increased demand for critical thinking competences. Digital literacy, encompassing the ability to navigate, evaluate, and create digital content effectively, emerges as a crucial skillset for individuals to succeed in the modern world. This study aims to assess the digital literacy levels of university students and understand their ability to critically engage with digital technologies, with a specific focus on their competences in evaluating information, utilizing technology, and engaging in online communities. A quiz-type questionnaire, informed by frameworks such as DigComp 2.2 and Eshet-Alkalai’s model, was developed to assess participants’ self-perceived and applied competences, with a focus on emerging challenges like deepfake detection not fully covered in existing tools. The findings indicate that while most students are aware of various criteria for accessing and evaluating online content, there is room for improvement in consistently applying these criteria and understanding the potential risks of misinformation and responsible use of online sources. Exploratory analyses reveal minimal differences by department and year of study, suggesting that targeted interventions are required across all study fields. The results underline the importance of cultivating critical and ethical digital literacy within higher education to enhance digital citizenship. Full article

Short-form video platforms such as TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts have become influential social commerce and interactive marketing tools, shaping consumer attitudes and behaviors beyond the digital environment. This study examines how short-form video content affects consumers’ intention to visit destination retail stores by integrating the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) with the constructs of perceived usefulness, curiosity, and envy. Data from 423 Gen Z and Millennial consumers were collected through an online survey and analyzed using structural equation modeling. The findings indicate that perceived usefulness, curiosity, and envy significantly influence attitudes toward short-form video content, which subsequently drive intentions to visit destination retailers. Social influence also emerged as a stronger predictor of behavioral intention than practical barriers such as cost or accessibility, underscoring the importance of peer validation in motivating digital-to-physical consumer behavior. This study advances electronic commerce research by extending TPB to short-form video marketing and identifying key emotional and cognitive triggers that facilitate consumer engagement. Practically, the results highlight strategies for retailers to develop video campaigns that spark curiosity, evoke aspirational emotions, and leverage social endorsement. More broadly, the study demonstrates how short-form video platforms operate as interactive ecosystems that merge emotional engagement, social validation, and technological affordances to shape hybrid consumer journeys from digital exposure to in-store action. Full article

Biogas and biomethane represent promising domestic fuels compatible with decarbonization targets at a time when diversification of gas sources is essential due to market volatility and increasing security risks. In laboratory practice, however, biogas production is still frequently assessed manually, which increases measurement uncertainty, limits temporal resolution, and reduces comparability between experimental series. We present an open and low-cost platform for continuous monitoring based on the hydrostatic water-displacement principle, complemented by stabilized process conditions (temperature control at 37 °C with short-term variability of approximately ±0.02 °C), continuous measurement with a 1 Hz sampling rate, and cloud-based data visualization. The methodology builds on a standardized procedure grounded in well-defined pressure–height–volume conversion relationships and transparent signal processing, enabling objective comparison of substrates and experimental setups. Validation experiments confirmed the system’s capability to capture short-term transient phenomena, improve reproducibility among parallel reactors, and maintain long-term measurement stability. Long-duration tests demonstrated short-term scatter of approximately 0.06 mL, minimal drift below 0.15% per 24 h, and an expanded uncertainty of roughly 3.1% at 100 mL. In parallel BMP tests, the continuous method yielded final volumes 5.78% higher than the discrete pressure method, reflecting systematic bias introduced by sparse manual sampling and reactor handling. The basic configuration quantifies the cumulative volume and production rate of biogas and is readily extendable to online gas composition analysis. The proposed solution offers a replicable tool for research and education, reduces costs, supports measurement standardization, and accelerates the optimization and subsequent scale-up of biogas technologies toward pilot-scale and industrial applications. Full article