chronic care

Leveraging Patient-Generated Data for Better MS Care

We explored how healthcare professionals (HCPs) perceive and utilize patient-generated health data (PGHD) from mobile health (mHealth) solutions in managing multiple sclerosis (MS). Through interviews and participatory workshops, we found that HCPs valued subjective data, such as patient habits, lifestyles, and fatigue-inducing activities, but faced challenges in making this data actionable. These findings highlight the potential of mHealth in fostering...

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Detecting Gamification in Breast Cancer Apps: An Automated Screening Tool

We developed a predictive model to automatically detect gamification elements in breast cancer mobile apps, addressing the lack of scalable methods for analyzing large datasets. Using titles and descriptions from app stores, our model achieved high accuracy (85% ROC) in identifying gamified apps. This tool enables researchers to efficiently screen apps for gamification, supporting further exploration of its role in...

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Long-Term Adoption of Connected Health Platforms: Informal Caregivers’ Perspectives

We investigated the experiences and compliance of informal caregivers using a connected health platform to support people with dementia (PwD) in a real-world home care setting. Over six months, caregivers shared their perceptions of the platform’s usability, usefulness, and challenges. Although the platform initially inspired optimism, long-term use revealed gaps in addressing caregivers' specific needs and low compliance rates. Our...

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Motivating mHealth Design for Chronic Conditions: The 3MD Model

I developed the Model for Motivational Mobile-health Design (3MD), a conceptual framework to guide the creation of gamified mHealth solutions for chronic conditions. By integrating condition-specific insights, motivational strategies, and technological capabilities, 3MD provides designers with a structured approach and illustrative design questions to enhance user engagement and health outcomes. (more…)

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Serious Games in Healthcare: Bridging Play and Purpose

We explored the concept of "Serious Games," video games designed to promote health-related knowledge, behaviors, and skills beyond entertainment. Our review highlights their application in areas like patient education, behavior change, and medical training. By integrating user-centered design principles with behavioral science, Serious Games represent a promising tool for engaging users and addressing healthcare challenges. (more…)

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Designing Chatbots for Depression Screening: Lessons from Research and Practice

We explored the design of chatbots for depression screening, leveraging advancements in natural language processing and artificial intelligence. Using a research-through-design approach, we developed a chatbot prototype that integrates the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), a validated depression screening tool. Our findings emphasize the importance of ethical considerations, tailored personality design, effective conversational flow, and predictability to ensure safety and user...

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The Impact of COVID-19 on Abortion Access in the EU and UK

We explored the challenges and policy changes affecting abortion access during the COVID-19 pandemic across the European Union and the United Kingdom. While some countries implemented measures to facilitate access, such as telemedicine and extended guidelines for early medical abortion, others restricted services or failed to consider abortion as essential healthcare. These findings underscore disparities in abortion policy and access,...

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Exploring Mobile Apps for Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review

We conducted a systematic review of mobile applications for individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) to understand the current landscape of these digital tools. Searching major app stores, we identified 25 relevant apps from over 1,600 initial results. Most apps focused on providing information about MS and its treatments, with limited features supporting disease management or patient support. Our findings highlight...

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Mapping the Landscape of Connected Health: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities

We analyzed 208 studies to map the field of Connected Health, examining its growth, research types, and focus areas. Our findings reveal rapid expansion since 2013, with emphasis on technology-driven solutions for patient care. While diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases dominate Connected Health research, there is a significant gap in business-oriented studies. Our results provide a foundation for advancing interdisciplinary...

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Adopting Smart Health Technologies in Dementia Care: Insights and Recommendations

We explored the factors that influence the adoption of smart health technologies by people with dementia and their informal caregivers. Through a scoping review of 109 studies, we identified key barriers and facilitators, ranging from design challenges to ethical concerns. Based on these insights, we proposed the DemDesCon framework, which outlines essential design considerations for creating effective s-Health solutions for...

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