Background: The SWAY Balance Mobile Application is an FDA-cleared balance testing system which uses the built-in tri-axial accelerometers of a mobile electronic device to objectively assess postural movement. The system was designed to provide a means of quantitative balance assessment in clinical and on-field environments. The purpose of this study was to determine the intrasession and intersession reliability, as well as the minimum difference to be considered real, of the SWAY Balance Mobile Application.

Methods: 24 individuals (15 male, 9 female; aged 25.96 (±5.78 years)) performed the SWAY Balance protocol twice per testing session over a period of three testing sessions. Each testing session was separated by a minimum of seven days. Interclass Correlation Coefficients were calculated as an indication of the test-retest reliability. The minimum difference to be considered real was calculated to determine the minimum score change necessary to indicate an actual change in balance performance.

Results: Mean SWAY Balance scores ranged from 86.90 (±14.37) to 89.90 (±11.19). Repeated measures ANOVA revealed no significant mean differences between SWAY balance scores of the experimental trials (F_(5,115) = 0.673; p = 0.65). Excellent reliability was found (ICC(3,1) = 0.76; SEM = 5.39) with a minimum difference to be considered real of approximately 15.

Conclusions: Results indicate that SWAY provides excellent overall reliability. However, it may be appropriate to have subjects perform a familiarization trial at the beginning of each testing session. Additionally, SWAY may demonstrate a ceiling effect when assessing balance improvements in those who already demonstrate good balance.

Background: Mobile health tools are currently available for both clinicians and patients. However, there were no published articles related to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) applications for smartphones or tablets.

Aim: Provide information in relation to apps available from iTunes store for managing ADHD.

Methods: A literature search was performed. The Australian iTunes App Store and Google were searched with the keyword ADHD. Only apps from the iTunes Store were downloaded and tested. Categorisation was done in order to elucidate their functionality.

Results: 32 apps were found and compared in ratings, functionality and cost. There were no customer ratings or reviews on any of the ADHD applications. Applications were categorised according to functionality. The cost ranged from free to $10.49.

Conclusion: Apps specific to ADHD are available for suitable electronic devices. These provide education assistance with diagnosis and monitoring of the condition. The basic costs range from free of charge to $10/-. Information is provided to assist in selecting applications based on the need of the user.

Background: Patients requiring daily intravenous (IV) home parenteral nutrition (HPN) would benefit from in-home professional observation to improve self-care, to assess, detect and prevent serious complications.

Aims: The study aims are to assess the viability and utility of conducting mobile healthcare (mHealth) videoconference assessments with patients managing lifelong daily 12-hour IV nutrition infusions in their homes. The challenges and solutions to implementing mobile personal computer (PC) tablet based clinic appointments are described.

Methods: A wireless Apple iPad Mini™ mobile touch-screen tablet computer with 5 mega-pixel camera was loaned to patients. Each tablet had Polycom RealPresence software and a fourth generation (4G) mobile telecommunications data plan. These supported audio-visual mobile videoconferencing encrypted connections between health professionals in their offices and HPN patients and their family members in their homes. Patients’ and professionals’ evaluations of their mHealth clinic experiences are collected.

Results: Patients (mean age = 41.9, SD = 2.8 years) had been prescribed 12-hour home parenteral nutrition (HPN) infusions daily due short bowel disorders. Patients had been on HPN from 1 to 10 years (M = 4, SD = 3.6). Evaluation of clinic appointments revealed that 100% of the patients (n = 45) and the professionals (n = 6) indicated that they can clearly hear and easily see one another. The mHealth audio-visual interactions were highly rated by patients and family members. Professionals highly rated their ability to obtain a medical history and visual inspection of patients. Several challenges were identified and recommendations for resolutions are described.

Discussion: All patients and professionals highly rated the iPad mHealth clinic appointments for convenience and ease of communicating between homes and offices. An important challenge for all mHealth visits is the clinical professional’s ability to make clinically accurate judgments about what they observed and heard from the patients. Following our solutions for obtaining clear visuals with the iPad can improve ability to make clinical assessments.