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Posted on Jul 28, 2023 in Original Article | 0 comments

Pilot Study: Real-Time Monitoring and Medication Reminders in Glaucoma Patients

Alice H. Li, BA1, Yang Shou, MD1, Zhongqiu Li, MD1, Ann C. Fisher, MD1, Jeffrey L. Goldberg, MD, PhD1, YangSun, MD, PhD1, Wen-Shin Lee, MD1, Robert T. Chang, MD1,2

1Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA.

Corresponding Author: viroptic@gmail.com


Background: Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS) technology in glaucoma medication adherence has not yet addressed reminder fatigue, in which patients become desensitized to reminders after repeated exposure.

Aims: To study how the prototype of a novel device, which couples real-time monitoring with custom SMS text reminders, can affect medication adherence.

Methods: We piloted a randomised prospective clinical trial, recruiting patients between June 2017 to February 2018 from the Stanford Byers Eye Institute who had been prescribed daily latanoprost for open-angle glaucoma. We monitored each participant’s usage for 13 weeks, randomising each participant into one of three arms: Arm 1 controls were monitored, Arm 2 subjects were also notified via SMS texts for missed doses, and Arm 3 subjects were monitored, notified via SMS texts for missed doses, and called monthly and/or if adherence fell below 75% to collect qualitative data on reasons for lack of adherence.

Results: Of 78 subjects who were consented, 50 subjects participated. By week 7, Arm 1 subjects had a decline in adherence compared to Arm 2, which had maintained its adherence at 78.57 ± 5.13% (p= 0.01). Arm 3 subjects maintained a steady adherence for the first 5 weeks; however, at week 6 their adherence peaked at 90.48 ± 4.12%, compared to Group 1 which had fallen to 46.43 ± 15.68% (p = 0.01).

Conclusions: Real-time custom reminders can improve glaucoma medication adherence. This pilot can aid future clinical trial design in assessing real-time electronic monitoring and custom reminders in glaucoma medication adherence.

Keywords: Adherence, Glaucoma, Reminder, Real-time, Monitoring


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Posted on Jul 28, 2023 in Original Article | 0 comments

A Pilot Study of Using a Personalised Video Message Delivered by Text Message to Increase Maternal Influenza Vaccine Uptake

Khai Lin Kong, MBBS1, Sushena Krishnaswamy, MBBS, PhD1, Ryan Begley, MD, BSc2, Paul Paddle, MBBS2,3,4, Michelle L. Giles, MBBS, PhD1

1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

2Nebula Health, Melbourne, Australia

3Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia

4Department of Surgery, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

Corresponding Author: Sushena.krishnaswamy@monashhealth.org


Background: Despite influenza vaccination being recommended, widely accessible and available free of charge for all pregnant women in Australia, vaccine coverage remains low. Novel strategies to increase uptake of influenza vaccine by pregnant women need to be explored.

Aims: This report aims to describe the implementation of a customised educational video about maternal influenza vaccination sent by text message, and its impact on maternal influenza vaccine uptake.

Methods: We trialled a customised video message as a strategy to improve maternal influenza vaccination coverage. Two hospitals in regional Victoria produced videos featuring senior local maternity care providers conveying information on the seriousness of maternal influenza infection and the benefits of maternal influenza vaccine. A link to the video was sent via text message to all pregnant women registered to give birth at that health service. Women were subsequently asked to complete a questionnaire about access to and relevance of the video.

Results: In May and August 2019 respectively, 842 and 742 text messages were sent. 233 pregnant women completed the questionnaire. 72 (31%) recalled receiving a text message. 26/72 (36%) of respondents watched the video, and 35% were motivated to receive influenza vaccine by the video. More than 70% of those who viewed the video confirmed that it was relevant and easy to understand.

Conclusion: Sending health information using a personalised video delivered via text message is a novel and acceptable method to provide maternal vaccine recommendation to pregnant women. This intervention could be considered along with other strategies to improve maternal vaccine uptake.

Keywords: maternal immunisation, text message video link, health promotion, influenza vaccine, pregnancy


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Posted on Sep 16, 2012 in News | 0 comments

Volume 1, Issue 3

Issue 3 The Editorial Board at the Journal of Mobile Technology in Medicine is proud to present Volume 1, Issue 3, published in September 2012.  Mobile technology in Medicine is a rapidly developing area, and we hope to continue accelerating research in the field. We look forward to your submissions for Issue 4.

Volume 1, Issue 3 Contents

Editorials


001   Principles of m-Health survey design
R. Chakrabarti

Original Articles


006   Validation of Near Eye Tool for Refractive Assessment (NETRA) – Pilot Study
A. Bastawrous, C. Leak, F. Howard, V. Kumar

017   A Meta-Analysis of Mobile Health and Risk Reduction in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: Challenge and Opportunity
L. Liu, S. Ogwu

025   Ambulatory Autonomic Activity Monitoring Among At-Risk Adolescent Mothers
S. Rajan, N. Leonard, R. Fletcher, B. Casarjian, R. Casarjian, C. Cisse, M. Gwadz

032   A Preliminary Investigation of the Benefits and Barriers to Implementing Health Information Technology in Medical Clinics
A. Chesser, N. Woods, J. Wipperman

040   Using Mobile Tethering for sharing data across devices: application in rural eye screening
G. Kong, J. Kam

Case Reports


046   Application of self-recorded photos using mobile phones in maxillofacial surgery

F. Pourdanesh, A. Sayyedi, A. Jamilian, M. Yaghmaei

Letters


050   Ethical Considerations Related to Mobile Technology Use in Medical Research
M. Parker

053   The use of short message service (SMS) for patient appointment reminders
S. McClean, M. Perera

In keeping with our open-access principles, all articles are published both as full text and as PDF files for download.  For your convenience, attached to this post is a  PDF file containing the complete Volume 1, Issue 3, which can be easily downloaded and saved for viewing offline.

We look forward to hearing from readers in the comments section, and encourage authors to submit research to be considered for publication in this peer-reviewed medical journal.

Yours Sincerely,

Editorial Board
Journal of Mobile Technology in Medicine

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Posted on Sep 16, 2012 in Editorial | 0 comments

Principles of m-Health survey design

..


Dr Rahul Chakrabarti MBBS1,2
1 Editor-In-Chief, Journal of Mobile Technology in Medicine, 2Centre for Eye Research Australia
Corresponding Author: rahul@journalmtm.com
Journal MTM 1:3:1-5, 2012
doi:10.7309/jmtm.16


Before you start

The first step is to conduct a critical appraisal of existing literature relevant to the research question. Before proceeding further, it is then necessary to consider whether a survey is the most appropriate method to collect the data required to answer the research question.  Appropriate alternatives to surveys include a systematic review or meta-analysis, case-studies, or studies with focus groups. It is beyond the scope of this article to discuss these alternate forms in depth, however, the researcher should be guided by published literature in their topic.  The key steps for survey design will now be discussed. (Refer to figure 1).

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Posted on Sep 16, 2012 in Original Article | 2 comments

Validation of Near Eye Tool for Refractive Assessment (NETRA) – Pilot Study


Dr Andrew Bastawrous1,2, Dr Christopher Leak2, Frederick Howard3, Mr B Vineeth Kumar1
1Wirral University Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK,  2International Centre for Eye Health, Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK, 3Independant Optometrist, UK
Corresponding Author: Andrew.bastawrous@lshtm.ac.uk
Journal MTM 1:3:6-16, 2012
DOI:10.7309/jmtm.17


Background: Uncorrected-refractive-error (URE) is the leading cause of global visionimpairment (VI); 122.5 million people are estimated VI from URE. NETRA is a $30USD clip-on application for smartphones.

Purpose: To validate the NETRA as an alternative to subjective refraction for potential use in resource-poor countries.

Methods: NETRA uses a pinhole mask attached to a smartphone displaying a spatially resolved pattern to the subject. Refractive error is estimated by the patient subjectively aligning patterns by a touchscreen interface on the smartphone. NETRA was compared to subjective refraction in 34 eyes.

Results: The mean Subjective Spherical Equivalent (SSE) was -0.65D (std 2.79, 95%CI ±0.97) Two-sided T-test showed that mean SSE is not statistically significantly different (two sided t-test; t=1.6742 p=0.1036, 95% CI±0.29) from the mean NETRA Spherical Equivalent (NSE) .  Mean difference of Spherical Equivalents (NSE – SSE) was 0.24D (Std 0.84, 95%CI ±0.29). And NETRA produced a mean VA improvement of 0.44LogMAR (Std 0.52, 95%CI±0.18), or four Snellen lines.

Conclusion:In settings where access to a trained refractionist is not possible, NETRA has the potential to estimate refractive error closely enough to render an individual no longer VI from URE. NETRA is potentially a cost-effective tool in meeting the VISION2020 goals to eradicate avoidable blindness and warrants further testing in resource-poor settings.


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