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Doing nothing is no longer an option when it comes to clinicians embracing digital technology and information.
That was the clear message from Beverley Bryant to the Sustainable Healthcare Conference staged at the King’s Fund.
The purpose of this paper is to explore the wider potential of digital tools, technologies and approaches to support ‘transformation' – that is the fundamental redesign of local services so that they deliver better outcomes, in a more targeted and timely fashion, at less cost – building on existing exemplars.
Doctors who use the computer heavily during a consultation can leave patients feeling dissatisfied, a small observational study published in JAMA Internal Medicine has found. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens [study findings may not be transferable to local NHS]
Older patients and people with long term conditions and mental health problems will be among the first to benefit from a major new drive to modernise how the NHS delivers care.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos today (Friday 22nd), NHS England Chief Executive Simon Stevens will launch the first wave of NHS Innovation ‘Test Beds’.
These collaborations between the NHS and innovators – including Verily (formerly Google Life Sciences), IBM and Philips – aim to harness technology to address some of the most complex issues facing patients and the health service.
Frontline health and care workers in seven areas will pioneer and evaluate the use of novel combinations of interconnected devices such as wearable monitors, data analysis and ways of working which will help patients stay well and monitor their conditions themselves at home.
Despite being ‘everyday technology’, the Internet and telephone are under-utilised in helping meet the challenges of improving access to services. The Serenity Programme enables people to receive psychological therapy at home, using the telephone and Internet.
Users decide when and where they will use the Programme. The programme is delivered in North Wales in partnership with Mind (Aberconwy) and Parabl (http://www.parabl.org.uk/), a third-sector provider of mental health services.
Open access. Telephone-administered cognitive behavioural therapy (T-CBT) has attracted international recognition as a potential means of providing effective psychological treatment whilst simultaneously lowering costs, maximizing service efficiency and improving patient access to care. A lack of rigorous exploration of therapist perspectives means that little is known about professional readiness to adopt such delivery models, or the work that may be involved in ensuring successful implementation.
Internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) can significantly improve outcomes for people with body dysmorphia, suggests a new study. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details
"An innovative new app might provide a more effective form of birth control than the contraceptive pill," The Sun reports.
The Natural Cycles fertility app combines the use of a thermometer to measure body temperature with calendar calculating methods – often referred to as the rhythm method – to work out the days when a woman would be at high or low risk of pregnancy.
More than 4,000 women were included in this Swedish study looking at how effective the app is at preventing pregnancy.
Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy8.3 (May 2016): 384-392.
Objective: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a major public health concern. Although effective treatments exist, affected individuals face many barriers to receiving traditional care. Smartphones are carried by nearly 2 thirds of the U.S. population, offering a promising new option to overcome many of these barriers by delivering self-help interventions through applications (apps). As there is limited research on apps for trauma survivors with PTSD symptoms, we conducted a pilot feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy trial of PTSD Coach, a self-management smartphone app for PTSD. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details
A number of participatory research methodologies can be used to assist with developing assistive technologies. These methods vary in the amount that users lead and contribute to the work. Selecting the correct method can be important to ensure the overall success of the project and the engagement of users. This paper explores factors that can impact on the degree of user participation. Please contact the library to receive a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Today’s report, The future of public services: digital patients, highlights the important role app and wearable technology will play in healthcare. This paper is the third in a series, conducted in partnership with Accenture, looking at the transformative role technology will play in the future delivery of public services.
Digital technology, already pervasive in our everyday lives, is increasingly a central factor in rising to this challenge. The received wisdom is that older people, and their baby-boomer children who are themselves over 55 years of age, are resistant to embracing technology in this context. This research paper examined whether this is actually true.
Long-term memory issues after having chemotherapy could be prevented by cognitive behavioural therapy delivered via video conferencing. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details
Despite the promise of mobile smartphone applications (apps) in addressing challenges faced by foster youth transitioning to adulthood, the literature is devoid of conceptual frameworks for the development of these apps. This article documents the process of using Concept Mapping to delineate a conceptual framework germane to developing an app to assist youth transitioning from foster care to adulthood, and explore differences in development priority areas among participants. Please contact the library to receive a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
In this review, we discuss feasibility, content, and where possible efficacy of ecological momentary interventions (EMIs) in psychiatry. EMIs adopt mobile devices, such as personal digital assistants or smartphones, for the delivery of treatments in the daily life of patients. We will discuss EMIs in the field of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression disorder, as well as one generic, transdiagnostic EMI. You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you requesting.
My Health Guide is an app for iPads and Android tablets, as well as a web service, that puts adults with learning disabilities at the centre of their health care.
My Health Guide enables people who struggle to communicate to have a voice, and to be empowered about their health care.
It lets adults with learning disabilities capture what’s important for them and helps them manage their health care.
Families and friends can keep in touch using the web interface, and healthcare professionals can stay on top of what’s happening in the lives of learning-disabled adults.
Two hundred patients from Humber NHS Foundation Trust’s Learning Disability service will be taking part in the trial of the ‘My Health Guide’ app, designed and developed by UK software firm Maldaba Ltd and inspired by the heartwarming story of “Matthew’s Book”.
“Matthew’s Book” is an iPad-based, multi-media guide that accompanies Hull-based Matthew Prosser wherever he goes. Matthew has profound and complex needs and his book allows carers and healthcare professionals to understand essential aspects of his care and what good practice means for him.
The app, commissioned and funded by NHS England and SBRI Healthcare, enables users to capture video, audio, images and text in a single, user-friendly format and share selected information with carers, guardians and health professionals.
An app to facilitate discussion about female genital mutilation (FGM) between health professionals and the people they serve is currently being tested across Oxfordshire.
Young people in Rochdale can now get easier access to health advice thanks to a new text-messaging service.
Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale (HMR) School Nursing Service, part of Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, will be launching the ChatHealth service for young people aged 11 to 19 years on 23 May.
Those who attend school in Heywood, Middleton or Rochdale, or live in the borough, can access the service by texting their concern or question to 07507330382.
ChatHealth is an award-winning initiative, developed by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 4:30pm, throughout the year excluding bank holidays.
Purpose: Decades of research exist supporting various types of self-operating prompting systems, including picture, audio and video to help students with disabilities acquire skills, especially to teach life skills. While many facets of life skills are important to target for instruction for secondary students with intellectual disability, one receiving declining attention is grocery shopping. You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Objective: Little information exists regarding how individuals with serious mental illness use technology and whether this usage facilitates social connections. This study contributes to filling this knowledge gap by examining ways in which a sample of persons with serious mental illness use cell phones and the Internet. NB - US study. Please contact the library to receive a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Telehealth interventions include telephone-, internet-, and app-based services and support. The evidence base for the benefits of telehealth interventions so far has been relatively inconsistent and difficult to draw firm conclusions from (Flodgren et al., 2015; Wootton, 2012).
A new paper recently published in Lancet Psychiatry, led by Professor Chris Salisbury (2016), describes a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of a specific telehealth intervention (The Healthlines Service) for depression.
Open access. Persecutory delusions may be unfounded threat beliefs maintained by safety-seeking behaviours that prevent disconfirmatory evidence being successfully processed. Use of virtual reality could facilitate new learning.
Aims- To test the hypothesis that enabling patients to test the threat predictions of persecutory delusions in virtual reality social environments with the dropping of safety-seeking behaviours (virtual reality cognitive therapy) would lead to greater delusion reduction than exposure alone (virtual reality exposure).
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal (Jun 20, 2016).
Objective: Individuals living with serious mental illnesses are key stakeholders in user experience design and the development of the WorkingWell mobile app to enhance on-the-job follow-along support. In this study, Individual Placement and Support (IPS) consumers identify challenges in sustaining employment, provide data regarding their use of technology, and suggest technology-based solutions for coping on the job to inform app development. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Panic disorder (PD) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders. Web-based self-help treatments for PD have had promising results. These online treatments seem to have larger effect sizes (ESs) when professional support is added. However, the amount of support or how it should be administered is not yet clear. The aim of this trial was to study two ways of administering psychological support provided by phone as a part of Internet-based self-help treatment for PD based on cognitive behavioral therapy. Please contact the library to receive a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
App Review. Developed by charity Alzheimer’s Research UK, and guided by people living with different forms of dementia, this app aims to give an insight into the everyday life of people suffering from dementia. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details
The study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Science Reports, on an open-access basis, so it is free to read online.
The UK media reported on these results accurately and included quotes from the study authors expressing their disbelief in what they saw. "In virtually every one of these patients, the brain had erased the notion of having legs. You're paralysed, you're not moving, the legs are not providing feedback signals." said Professor Nicolelis, he went on to say: "By using a brain-machine interface in a virtual environment, we were able to see this concept gradually re-emerging into the brain."
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (Sep 5, 2016).
Objective: Evidence of feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of home-based telebehavioral health (HBTBH) needs to be established before adoption of HBTBH in the military health system can occur. The purpose of this randomized controlled noninferiority trial was to compare the safety, feasibility, and effectiveness of HBTBH to care provided in the traditional in-office setting among military personnel and veterans. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Psychological Services (Sep 22, 2016).
Over the past decade, the Veterans Health Administration has supported multiple national rollouts of evidence-based treatments for mental health disorders. Recent studies have shown, however, that the majority of veterans with mental health diagnoses are not utilizing psychotherapy services. In this article, we attempt to address one of the more commonly known barriers to treatment, distance to care. We do this by comparing the effectiveness of outpatient and telehealth cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and prolonged exposure (PE) Therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a Veteran clinical sample. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
The researchers provided 45 clinical vignettes to more than 200 doctors. They found doctors were twice as likely to diagnose accurately first time compared with an online symptom-checking application called Human Dx.
This study demonstrated the feasibility of a device for monitoring pressure relief maneuvers and physical activity for wheelchair users. The device counts the number of wheel pushes based on wheelchair acceleration and measures pressure relief maneuvers using a seat sensor consisting of three force sensing resistors (FSRs). You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please be clear which article you are requesting.
Sheffield Flourish has been co-designed to support people living with mental health conditions to find the connections and resources they need to build the lives they wish to lead. Based on the recovery model, flourish theory and community development approaches, it is a unique blended real life and digital well-being hub which includes story-telling and peer support, activities and events, enterprise and active citizen development and social networks.
A growing body of evidence suggests that internet-based cognitive behavioural treatments (ICBT) are effective to treat social anxiety disorder (SAD). Whereas the efficacy of clinician-guided ICBT has been established, ICBT in a group format has not yet been systematically investigated. This three-arm RCT compared the efficacy of clinician-guided group ICBT (GT) with clinician guided individual ICBT (IT) and a wait-list (WL). To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
We investigated effects of attentional bias modification training on anxiety and depression.
Two types of training were compared to placebo control conditions.
Unselected adolescents received eight sessions of online training.
Visual search, but not dot-probe training reduced negative attentional bias.
Long-term emotional functioning improved irrespective of condition. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
The revolutionary new technology enabled staff to continuously monitor patients’ vital signs, while asleep, without having to disturb them. The cameras can be installed safely enclosed inside a ligature-proof secure housing in a seclusion room or patient’s bedroom. The system does not need any additional sensors or physical contact with the patient. Display monitors linked to the cameras give hospital staff real time heartbeat and breathing rates and automatically alert them if there are any problems. Staff do not need to view a live video feed of the patient, but can monitor vital signs via an audible or visual alert. The system allows patients’ privacy and dignity to be better safeguarded than with traditional visual observations, irrespective of the gender of the member of staff responsible for checking on patients’ wellbeing.
The projects, one which looks at managing physical healthcare problems for mental health patients, and the other, an online training package for health professionals to help improve the care planning process, have both been given the accolade ‘highly commended’.
Dr Jaspreet Phull, has developed an interactive app for service users to complete, which includes a questionnaire relating to their physical healthcare needs. This enables mental health professionals to have a full picture of the kind of care plan required for patients accessing mental health services.
Objective: The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that a narrative would motivate increased Advanced Video Game play, though a feasibility study that investigated the motivational effect of adding a previously developed narrative cutscene to an originally nonnarrative AVG, Nintendo Wii Sports Resort: Swordplay Showdown.
The aim of our study was to evaluate how therapists use upper limb movement information visualized on a dashboard to support the rehabilitation process
This study investigated moderators of intervention response in a fully automated Internet-based monitoring and feedback intervention (‘Featback’) with different levels of therapist support for individuals with eating disorder (ED) symptoms. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Objective: This study examined the effect of personalized text messages on physical activity, as measured by a pedometer, and clinical outcomes in a diverse population of patients with T2DM
There are three strands to the services – care navigation, health coaching and tele-health vital sign monitoring – all of which are funded by the Bassetlaw Clinical Commissioning Group. Care navigation involves telephonic sign-posting, giving information and advice to patients previously diagnosed with a long term condition. Those people who identify a health-related goal to work towards use the health coaching service which encourages positive lifestyle behaviour change. Tele health vital sign monitoring uses equipment in the home to monitor vital signs and warn healthcare professionals if they need to take action.
ORCHA, the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Applications has developed a safe, simple and highly effective way to validate health apps and provide a convenient rating scale to guide clinicians and the general public.
ORCHA also empowers health and care professionals to identify, engage with and actively promote apps that will have a positive impact on their patients and service users health and wellbeing outcomes.
The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of the Virtual Hope Box (VHB), a smartphone app to improve stress coping skills, suicidal ideation, and perceived reasons for living among patients at elevated risk of suicide and self-harm. : Login at top right hand side of page using your SSSFT NHS Athens for full text. SSOTP - You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Background: Diabetes in pregnancy is a global problem. Technological innovations present exciting opportunities for novel approaches to improve clinical care delivery for gestational and other forms of diabetes in pregnancy.
To date, very little research has been published evaluating mental health apps’ effectiveness. This article focuses on three methods through which grounded theory can facilitate app development and evaluation for people underrepresented in mental health care. Recommendations are made to advance mobile app technology that will help clinicians provide effective treatment, and consumers to realize positive treatment outcomes. Please contact the library to receive a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Conclusions: While engagement with the app was low, overall the EMA data collected in this exploratory study appeared valid and provided useful insights into the relationships between daily problems, coping efficacy, and mood states. Future research should explore ways to increase engagement with EMA mobile phone apps in adolescent populations to maximize the amount of data captured by these tools.
This study investigated the long-term outcomes of internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy (ICBT) for children with anxiety disorders, and potential pre-treatment predictors of treatment outcome. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Implications for research and practice
Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) delivered via telephone by an IPT trained certified nurse-midwife helps to reduce symptoms of postpartum depression.
Designing studies that overcome barriers to participation, use a wait-list control group or cross-over design can ensure that studies have an adequate sample are ethically responsible and generate high quality data. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details
Clinicians indicated that they use apps for a wide variety of reasons, including to promote skill building and to support the therapeutic process. Preferred features included the ability to grade difficulty up/down, multiple uses and accurate feedback. Recommendations from peers were the most commonly reported way respondents found new apps. The results suggest that occupational therapy practitioners employ clinical reasoning when implementing apps in therapy. Possible ways to improve access to apps for therapists who would like to implement them are discussed. You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please be clear which article you are requesting.
Objective: The aim of our study was to develop an unguided e-mental health intervention for distress in primary care patients, drawing on meta-theory of psychotherapeutic change and utilizing the person-based approach (PBA) to guide iterative qualitative piloting with patients
Conclusion Developing a web-based application that meets children and young peoples' information and support needs will maximize its utility and enhance the effectiveness of home-based clinical caregiving, therefore contributing to improved outcomes for patients.
Adherence to treatment in asthma is often poor, particularly in adolescents and children where the condition is most prevalent. Electronic monitoring devices have shown potential for improving inhaler use, yet little research has considered the attitudes of patients towards these devices
Conclusions: Exergames was not a successful intervention to increase physical activity behaviours in persons with severe mental illness in the community. Exergames and motivation for physical activity in this group is problematic. You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please be clear which article you are requesting.
Conclusion: Persons with NP or LBP prefer to train on exercises supporting the improvement of everyday life skills. They use technologies in their professional and personal life, which may lower the threshold for the adoption of rehabilitation technologies. You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please be clear which article you are requesting.
Journal of Nursing Scholarship; Indianapolis49.1 (Jan 2017): 44-53.
To present an emerging innovative care model that supports participation and thriving by older adults in residential care, by introduction to new technology and mobilizing volunteer services. Qualitative, exploratory study, introducing tablet computers to 15 older adults in two municipalities. The intervention encompassed weekly workshops over the course of 1 year with volunteer adolescents as personal tutors. Observations of workshops, interviews with nurses, and repeated semistructured interviews with older adult participants eliciting their perspective on use, experiences, perceived usefulness, and overall evaluation of the intervention. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Computer-administered cognitive–behavioural therapy (CCBT) may be a promising treatment for adolescents with depression, particularly due to its increased availability and accessibility. The feasibility of delivering a randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing a CCBT program (Stressbusters) with an attention control (self-help websites) for adolescent depression was evaluated. Open Access Article
Conclusions: Participants with PTHS may benefit from regular physical activity and early intervention. The Upsee mobility device is a feasible and fun way to promote inclusive community-based physical activity and social engagement in a young child with PTHS. Further research into the health benefits of physical activity and the Upsee for children with PTHS may be warranted. You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please be clear which article you are requesting.
The results suggest that video modeling is an effective intervention for improving and maintaining conflict negotiation strategies of adolescents with ASD. You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please be clear which article you are requesting.
Recently, a few software applications (apps) have been developed to enhance vocabulary and conceptual networks to address the needs of children with language impairments (LI), but there is no evidence about their impact and their usability in therapy contexts. You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please be clear which article you are requesting.
The Blue Room, a unique immersive virtual reality which helps children with autism overcome their fears and phobias is being offered on the NHS.
Following research showing that the Blue Room can help, the first patients have been referred for treatment.
In 2014, the Newcastle University team reported in PLOS ONE, how eight out of nine children treated in the Blue Room were able to tackle the situation they feared and some were found to have completely overcome their phobias, even a year later.
Now the immersive reality treatment is available as a NHS service, where there is funding by the children’s Clinical Commissioning Group, and each child referred will receive four sessions at the facility in County Durham.
Conclusions: Physical frailty status is associated with older peoples’ ICT use independent of age, education, and opinions on ICT use. This should be taken into consideration when designing preventive and assistive technologies and interventions for older people at risk of health impairment.
Conclusions: Individuals with type 2 diabetes improved their glycemic control and lost more weight after being randomized to a very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet and lifestyle online program rather than a conventional, low-fat diabetes diet online program. Thus, the online delivery of these very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet and lifestyle recommendations may allow them to have a wider reach in the successful self-management of type 2 diabetes.
Children and young people in North East Lincolnshire can now benefit from online mental health counselling, thanks to partnership working between LPFT and XenZone's innovative Kooth service.
Kooth provides free, year-round support from qualified professional counsellors, available to those aged 11 to 25 and all accessible via a PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone.
The anonymous, stigma-free service offers immediate support to users straight after registration, with no waiting lists.
A pioneering team that developed an app allowing people with epilepsy to monitor their own condition and health risk, has been shortlisted for a prestigious British Medical Journal (BMJ) Award in the Innovation Team category. The BMJ Award is one of the highest honours available within the medical and healthcare professions.
There is a need for mentoring interventions in which transition-age youth and young adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) participate as both mentors and mentees. Project TEAM (Teens making Environment and Activity Modifications) is a problem-solving intervention that includes an electronic peer-mentoring component. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to investigate the effect of an Internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy (iCBT), which incorporated emotion-regulation and conflict-resolution techniques, on intimate partner violence (IPV). Another aim was to test the theoretical underpinnings of the treatment model using mediation analysis. Login using your SSSFT NHS OpenAthens for full text. SSOTP - You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology85.4 (Apr 2017): 367-380.
Objective: To examine the effectiveness of an Internet intervention for depression with a randomized, controlled trial in a large sample of adults recruited from the United States. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
NHS England have announced that seven trusts will become Global Digital Exemplars for Mental Health with an additional £35 million investment.
The additional funding is to allow these trusts to pioneer world-class, digital services to improve care for patients experiencing mental health issues.
NHS specialists and patients have joined forces to launch the UKs first freely accessible app review website specifically aimed at Stroke and Brain Injury.
The website, which can be accessed at www.my-therappy.co.uk, helps people find the right app for their recovery and rehabilitation.
It offers a database of apps tested and recommended by clinical specialists and expert patients. The apps also come with a star rating and genuine user feedback and reviews.
The current popularity of mindfulness-based practices has coincided with the increase in access to mobile technology. This has led to many mindfulness apps and programs becoming available, some specifically for children. However, little is known about the experience of engaging with mindfulness through these mediums.You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
People with social anxiety disorder (SAD) fear social interactions and may be reluctant to seek treatments involving exposure to social situations. Social exposure conducted in virtual reality (VR), embedded in individual cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT), could be an answer. You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Dave Steele explores a literature review that focuses on how wearable technology can be used to measure and support social functioning in older adults.
This article includes an extensive review of the literature and findings from a naturalistic study of AT service provision experience in rural school settings. You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please be clear which article you are requesting.