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Self-management and associated factors among patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis at health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. International journal of nephrology and renovascular disease INTRODUCTION:Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) face multifaceted problems arising from complications of the disease and dialysis that require consistent and, effective self-management from the patients' side, on top of the management offered by health care professionals. However, little is known about the level of self-management and influencing factors among patients with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis in the study area. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess self-management and associated factors of patients with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis at health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. METHODS:An institution-based cross-sectional survey was used to recruit 169 patients with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis from six private health facilities between March and April 2016. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire inquiring about patients' self-management and associated factors. Data were entered into EpiData Version 3.1 and analyzed using the descriptive, correlation, and logistic regression using the SPSS Version 22.0 statistical software. RESULTS:The mean age of the patients was 49.86±15.58 years. The majority of the respondents (69.8%) were male, and 65.7% of them were married. Half of the respondents (50.3%) had diploma and above educational level. The great majority of the respondents (93.5%) were on hemodialysis for less than 5 years, and 53.3% of them underwent dialysis twice a week. More than half (57.4%) of the patients had low levels of self-management. There were statistically significant positive associations between self-management and education (adjusted OR [AOR] =6.25, 95% CI =1.40, 27.85), knowledge (AOR =5.5, 95% CI =2.15, 14.03), and self-efficacy (AOR =4.73, 95% CI =1.95, 11.48), while there were statistically significant negative associations between self-management and anxiety (AOR =3.19, 95% CI =1.28, 7.95) and depression (AOR =2.68, 95% CI =1.01, 7.05, <0.05). CONCLUSION:Patients' education, knowledge, self-efficacy, anxiety, and depression were found to be independent predictors of self-management. 10.2147/IJNRD.S184671
Effectiveness of smartphone-based self-management interventions on self-efficacy, self-care activities, health-related quality of life and clinical outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Aminuddin Haziqah Binte,Jiao Nana,Jiang Ying,Hong Jingfang,Wang Wenru International journal of nursing studies OBJECTIVES:To review the evidence and determine the effectiveness of smartphone-based self-management interventions on self-efficacy, self-care activities, health-related quality of life, glycated hemoglobin, body mass index (BMI), and blood pressure (BP) levels of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus . METHODS:A systematic search of five databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL and Scopus) was conducted. Studies published in English from January 2007 to January 2018 were considered. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of smartphone-based self-management interventions for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus that reported any of the study outcomes were included. Two reviewers independently screened the studies, extracted data and assessed the quality of the studies. Meta-analyses were conducted for the different study outcomes. RESULTS:A total of 26 articles, consisting of 22 studies with 2645 participants, were included in the review. The results from meta-analysis on the studies revealed that as compared to control group, participants received smartphone-based self-management intervention had better self-efficacy with large effect size of 0.98 (P <  0.001), self-care activities with effect size of 0.90 (P <  0.001), health related quality of life with effect size of 0.26 (p=0.01), and lower glycated hemoglobin (pooled MD=-0.55; p<0.001). Subgroup analyses were also conducted for self-efficacy as significant heterogeneity was present among the studies. The effects on BMI and BP were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS:Smartphone-based self-management interventions appear to have beneficial effects on self-efficacy, self-care activities and health-relevant outcomes for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, more research with good study design is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of smartphone-based self-care interventions for T2DM. 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2019.02.003
Comparing the effects of education using telephone follow-up and smartphone-based social networking follow-up on self-management behaviors among patients with hypertension. Najafi Ghezeljeh Tahereh,Sharifian Sanaz,Nasr Isfahani Mehdi,Haghani Hamid Contemporary nurse BACKGROUND:Little is known about the benefits of social networks in the management of patients. OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to compare the effects of self-management (SM) education using telephone follow-up and mobile phone-based social networking on SM behaviors among patients with hypertension. METHODS:This randomized clinical trial was conducted with 100 patients. They were randomly allocated to four groups: (i) control, (ii) SM training without follow-up, (iii) telephone follow-up and (iv) smartphone-based social networking follow-up. The hypertension SM behavior questionnaire was used for data collection before and six weeks after the study. RESULTS:Those patients who underwent SM education training (with and without follow-up) had statistically significant differences from those in the control group in terms of SM behaviors (p < .001). There was no statistically significant difference between different types of follow-up. CONCLUSION:SM education using telephone follow-up and/or smartphone-based social networking follow-up influenced SM behaviors among patients with hypertension. 10.1080/10376178.2018.1441730
Exploring the Influence of a Smartphone App (Young with Diabetes) on Young People's Self-Management: Qualitative Study. Husted Gitte Reventlov,Weis Janne,Teilmann Grete,Castensøe-Seidenfaden Pernille JMIR mHealth and uHealth BACKGROUND:Adequate self-management is the cornerstone of preventing type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) complications. However, T1DM self-management is challenging for young people, who often struggle during the transition from childhood to adulthood. The mobile health (mHealth) app Young with Diabetes (YWD) was developed in collaboration with young people to enhance their T1DM self-management during this transition. OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of YWD on young people's self-management during a 12-month period. METHODS:A qualitative explorative approach was used, comprising a purposive sample of 20 young people (11 females and 9 males, ages 15 to 23 years, with app use of 3 to 64 days) from 3 pediatric and 3 adult departments. Participants were interviewed individually using a semistructured interview guide. Data were collected from January to March 2017 and analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS:A total of 5 themes were identified: (1) not feeling alone anymore ("we are in this together"); (2) gaining competence by sharing experiences and practical knowledge ("they know what they are talking about"); (3) feeling safer ("it's just a click away"); (4) breaking the ice by starting to share thoughts and feelings and asking for help ("it is an outstretched hand"); and (5) lack of motivating factors ("done with the app"). Young people reported that YWD promoted self-management by peer-to-peer social support, exchanging messages with health care providers, and sharing YWD with parents. Participants recommended YWD as a supplement to self-management for newly diagnosed young people with T1DM and suggested improvements in app content and functionality. CONCLUSIONS:The mHealth app YWD has the potential to support self-management. In particular, peer-to-peer support reduced feelings of loneliness and helped young people to gain knowledge and skills for managing T1DM. A need exists for alternative ways to train health care providers in using YWD and to support collaboration between young people and their parents to further improve young people's self-management of T1DM. 10.2196/mhealth.8876
Design and Testing of a Smartphone Application for Real-Time Self-Tracking Diabetes Self-Management Behaviors. Groat Danielle,Soni Hiral,Grando Maria Adela,Thompson Bithika,Kaufman David,Cook Curtiss B Applied clinical informatics BACKGROUND:Type 1 diabetes (T1D) care requires multiple daily self-management behaviors (SMBs). Preliminary studies on SMBs rely mainly on self-reported survey and interview data. There is little information on adult T1D SMBs, along with corresponding compensation techniques (CTs), gathered in real-time. OBJECTIVE:The article aims to use a patient-centered approach to design iDECIDE, a smartphone application that gathers daily diabetes SMBs and CTs related to meal and alcohol intake and exercise in real-time, and contrast patients' actual behaviors against those self-reported with the app. METHODS:Two usability studies were used to improve iDECIDE's functionality. These were followed by a 30-day pilot test of the redesigned app. A survey designed to capture diabetes SMBs and CTs was administered prior to the 30-day pilot test. Survey results were compared against iDECIDE logs. RESULTS:Usability studies revealed that participants desired advanced features for self-tracking meals and alcohol intake. Thirteen participants recorded over 1,200 CTs for carbohydrates during the 30-day study. Participants also recorded 76 alcohol and 166 exercise CTs. Comparisons of survey responses and iDECIDE logs showed mean% (standard deviation) concordance of 77% (25) for SMBs related to meals, where concordance of 100% indicates a perfect match. There was low concordance of 35% (35) and 46% (41) for alcohol and exercise events, respectively. CONCLUSION:The high variability found in SMBs and CTs highlights the need for real-time diabetes self-tracking mechanisms to better understand SMBs and CTs. Future work will use the developed app to collect SMBs and CTs and identify patient-specific diabetes adherence barriers that could be addressed with individualized education interventions. 10.1055/s-0038-1660438
Testing a Smartphone App (Young with Diabetes) to Improve Self-Management of Diabetes Over 12 Months: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR mHealth and uHealth BACKGROUND:Young people often struggle to self-manage type 1 diabetes during the transition from childhood to adulthood. Mobile health (mHealth) apps may have the potential to support self-management, but evidence is limited and randomized controlled trials are needed. OBJECTIVE:We assessed whether the mHealth app "Young with Diabetes" improved young people's self-management measured by glycated hemoglobin (HbA) and three self-reported psychometric scales. METHODS:Young people (14-22 years) with inadequate glycemic control and their parents were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial and assigned either to Young with Diabetes and usual care (Young with Diabetes group) or to usual care alone (control). Young with Diabetes use was monitored; functions included a chat room, contact the health care provider, reminders, tips, information about the diabetes department and type 1 diabetes topics, carbohydrate counting, and a parents' section. Outcomes included HbA and three self-reported psychometric scales: Perceived Competence in Diabetes Scale; Health Care Climate Questionnaire; and Problem Areas In Diabetes care survey. Data were collected at baseline and at 2, 7, and 12 months. RESULTS:A total of 151 young people were randomized (Young with Diabetes group=76, control=75) and 49 parents agreed to participate. At 12 months, HbA was significantly higher (4.1 mmol/mol; 0.4 %) in the Young with Diabetes group, compared to the control group (P=.04); this finding did not occur when comparing app users (Young with Diabetes use ≥5 days) with nonusers. Young people used Young with Diabetes on a mean of 10.5 days. They spent the most time chatting about alcohol and searching for information about sex. Most young people and half of the parents reported that Young with Diabetes helped them. More than 80% would recommend Young with Diabetes to peers. CONCLUSIONS:Young with Diabetes did not improve HbA, but it may be a useful complement to self-management. Qualitative evaluation is needed to explore benefits and shortcomings of Young with Diabetes. Health care providers should address young peoples' knowledge about sensitive topics, provide them with peer support, and be aware of parents' need for information about how to support. TRIAL REGISTRATION:ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02632383; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02632383 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6zCK2u7xM). 10.2196/mhealth.9487
Smartphone-Based Self-Management of Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes: A Japanese System at Use by an Italian Patients' Cohort. Pinto Sara,Waki Kayo,Chiovato Luca,De Cata Pasquale,Dagliati Arianna,Tibollo Valentina,Ruvolo Giuseppe,Bellazzi Riccardo Journal of diabetes science and technology 10.1177/1932296818763884
Self-management of peripherally inserted central catheters after patient discharge via the WeChat smartphone application: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Ma Donghua,Cheng Kangwen,Ding Ping,Li Hongyan,Wang Ping PloS one WeChat is a smartphone application that may help patients self-manage peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC), although additional data are needed regarding this topic. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine whether WeChat helped improve PICC-related complications, self-care ability, PICC maintenance dependency in that the behavior of a patient is in compliance with a doctor's order or a will, knowledge mastery, and satisfaction among patients with a PICC. The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China Biology Medicine, China national Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, Wiper, and Baidu Scholar databases were searched to identify related reports that were published up to April 2018. This search revealed 36 reports that were published during 2014-2018, including 2,623 controls and 2,662 patients who used the WeChat application. Relative to the traditional follow-up group, the group that received WeChat follow-up had a lower risk of PICC-related complications (odds ratio [OR]: 0.23, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.19-0.27, P < 0.00001), better self-care ability (mean difference: 36.41, 95% CI: 34.68-38.14, P < 0.00001), higher PICC maintenance dependency (OR: 4.27, 95% CI: 3.35-5.44, P < 0.00001), and higher patient satisfaction (OR: 6.20, 95% CI: 4.32-8.90, P < 0.00001). Eight studies reported knowledge mastery, although the different evaluation tools precluded a meta-analysis. Nevertheless, those eight studies revealed that knowledge mastery was significantly higher in the WeChat group than in the traditional follow-up group (P < 0.05). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of WeChat follow-up on self-management among patients who are discharged with a PICC. It appears that WeChat follow-up can help improve the incidence of complications, self-care ability, PICC maintenance dependence, and patient satisfaction. However, the WeChat application itself cannot improve patients' self-management ability. Further studies are needed to produce high-quality evidence to determine whether WeChat is an effective follow-up tool. 10.1371/journal.pone.0202326
Smartphone Applications for Encouraging Asthma Self-Management in Adolescents: A Systematic Review. Alquran Alaa,Lambert Katrina A,Farouque Ambereen,Holland Anne,Davies Janet,Lampugnani Edwin R,Erbas Bircan International journal of environmental research and public health Adolescent asthma is still a major problem with poor adherence to treatment. Globally, adolescents are devoted users of smartphone technologies and app use in asthma self-management may improve adherence. The objective of this systematic review is to assess the feasibility and efficacy of mobile technology in improving asthma outcomes in adolescents. We conducted an extensive review of the peer-review literature of studies with populations consisting of children and adolescents under 18 years in seven bibliographic databases and Google Scholar. All study designs were considered. Quality assessment of included studies were independently assessed and reported. The search identified 291 articles; of the 16 eligible full-text papers, 8 met the review criteria, reporting two interventional, two qualitative and four observational studies. Samples ranged from 12 to 21 participants. Heterogeneity related to study design and the methods of the included studies prevented meta-analysis. Nevertheless, the intervention studies reported a positive effect of smartphone apps on asthma control, medication adherence and self-efficacy. Smartphone apps may be an effective asthma control tool especially among adolescents who are major users of smartphones; however, conclusions are limited by a lack of controlled trials and adequate sample sizes. 10.3390/ijerph15112403
Effectiveness of diabetes self-management education via a smartphone application in insulin treated type 2 diabetes patients - design of a randomised controlled trial ('TRIGGER study'). BMC endocrine disorders BACKGROUND:Health care providers aim to stimulate self-management in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients. However, they have a limited number of patient contacts to do this. With the growing number of T2DM patients, innovative and cost-effective interventions to promote self-management are needed. We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of diabetes self-management education via a smartphone app in T2DM patients on insulin therapy. METHODS:Non-blinded two-arm multi-centre randomised controlled superiority trial with parallel-groups and equal randomisation ('TRIGGER study'). Eligible patients are 40-70 years, on insulin therapy since at least 3 months, with HbA1c > 53 mmol/mol (> 7%). In total 228 patients will be recruited. The intervention group (n = 114) will receive diabetes self-management education via a smartphone app to trigger diabetes self-management: unidirectional text messages, free of charge, evidence and psychological theory based, with regard to dietary habits, physical activity, hypoglycaemia and glucose variability. Patients choose their preferred frequency (two to six times per week), topics (two or three additionally to hypoglycaemia, which is an obligatory topic), and duration (6 or 9 months). The control group (n = 114) will receive care-as-usual. The primary study endpoint is the HbA1c level after a follow-up of 6 months. The percentage of patients who achieve an HbA1c level ≤ 53 mmol/mol (≤7%) without hypoglycaemia (plasma glucose < 3.5 mmol/L (< 63 mg/dL)) is a co-primary outcome. Secondary outcomes are body mass index, waist circumference, insulin dose, lipid profile, blood pressure, number of hypoglycaemic events, glycaemic variability, self-management (SDSCA), food habits (FFQ), physical activity (IPAQ), health status (EQ-5D-5 L, SF36), diabetes-dependent quality of life (ADDQoL), diabetes treatment satisfaction (DTSQ), satisfaction with the app, the cost-effectiveness of the intervention after 3 months, and sustainability of the intervention effect (3 months extra follow-up in intervention group to compare prolonged to discontinued use of the app). We will use the intention-to-treat principle to analyse data. DISCUSSION:Innovative solutions are needed to improve the (cost-) effectiveness of self-management for the increasing number of T2DM patients. This trial will provide evidence on the effectiveness of a newly developed smartphone app, designed to trigger diabetes self-management. TRIAL REGISTRATION:Dutch Trial Register NTR5515 , registration date: 18 November 2015 (prospectively registered). 10.1186/s12902-018-0304-9
Smartphone app in self-management of chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Chhabra H S,Sharma Sunil,Verma Shalini European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society BACKGROUND:Mobile health (mHealth) is emerging as the most convenient way to deliver rehabilitation services remotely, and collect outcomes in real time, thus contributing to disease management by transferring care from hospital to home. It facilitates accessibility to healthcare, enhances patients' understanding of their condition, and their willingness to engage in self-management, giving way to high-quality care to the satisfaction of both patients and healthcare professionals. PURPOSE:The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of using a smartphone app (called Snapcare) on pain and function in patients suffering from chronic low back pain. METHODS:Ninety-three patients with chronic low back pain were recruited and randomly allocated to either the Conventional group (n = 48) receiving a written prescription from the Physician, containing a list of prescribed medicines and dosages, and stating the recommended level of physical activity (including home exercises) or the App group (n = 45) receiving Snapcare, in addition to the written prescription. Pain and disability were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment. RESULTS:Both the groups showed significant improvement in pain and disability (p < 0.05). The App group showed a significantly greater decline in disability (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION:Health applications are promising tools for improving outcomes in patients suffering from various chronic conditions. Snapcare facilitated increase in physical activity and brought about clinically meaningful improvements in pain and disability in patients with chronic low back pain. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material. 10.1007/s00586-018-5788-5
Smartphone Applications to Support Sleep Self-Management: Review and Evaluation. Choi Yong K,Demiris George,Lin Shih-Yin,Iribarren Sarah J,Landis Carol A,Thompson Hilaire J,McCurry Susan M,Heitkemper Margaret M,Ward Teresa M Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine STUDY OBJECTIVES:Mobile health (mHealth) tools such as smartphone applications (apps) have potential to support sleep self-management. The objective of this review was to identify the status of available consumer mHealth apps targeted toward supporting sleep self-management and assess their functionalities. METHODS:We searched four mobile app stores (iTunes Appstore, Android Google Play, Amazon Appstore, and Microsoft Appstore) using the terms "sleep", "sleep management," "sleep monitoring," and "sleep tracking." Apps were evaluated using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) and the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics functionality scores. RESULTS:We identified 2,431 potentially relevant apps, of which 73 met inclusion criteria. Most apps were excluded because they were unrelated to sleep self-management, simply provided alarm service, or solely played relaxation sounds in an attempt to improve sleep. The median overall MARS score was 3.1 out of 5, and more than half of apps (42/73, 58%) had a minimum acceptability score of 3.0. The apps had on average 7 functions based on the IMS functionality criteria (range 2 to 11). A record function was present in all apps but only eight had the function to intervene. About half of the apps (33/73, 45%) collected data automatically using embedded sensors, 27 apps allowed the user to manually enter sleep data, and 14 apps supported both types of data recording. CONCLUSIONS:The findings suggest that few apps meet prespecified criteria for quality, content, and functionality for sleep self-management. Despite the rapid evolution of sleep self-management apps, lack of validation studies is a significant concern that limits the clinical value of these apps. 10.5664/jcsm.7396
iCanCope with Sickle Cell Pain: Design of a randomized controlled trial of a smartphone and web-based pain self-management program for youth with sickle cell disease. Contemporary clinical trials Many adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD) experience recurrent and chronic pain, which has a negative impact on their health-related quality of life (HRQL). Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) interventions can lead to improvement in pain and HRQL, yet due to barriers to care, most youth with SCD will not receive these interventions. To address this need for innovative programs targeting youth with SCD pain, we developed iCanCope, a tailored smartphone and web-based program that delivers a pain self-management intervention to youth with SCD. We describe the rationale, design, and implementation of a three-site parallel group randomized controlled trial with a sample of 160 adolescents with SCD and their parent caregivers. The iCanCope program includes pain self-management skills training (personalized CBT-based coping skills such as deep breathing, relaxation, and cognitive skills), goal setting, and social support. The attention control group is provided with access to a self-guided website with education about SCD. Assessments will occur at baseline (T), immediately after completion of the intervention (12 weeks; T) and at 6 months post-intervention (T). Primary outcomes include coping strategies and pain intensity; secondary outcomes include physical, social, and emotional functioning, treatment satisfaction, health service use and caregiver response to youth pain behavior. Potential mediators (goal setting, self-management, and perceptions of social support) and moderators (e.g., demographic factors) will also be tested. The objective is to offer an effective, convenient, and low-cost psychosocial intervention to youth with SCD to enhance their self-management of pain. 10.1016/j.cct.2018.10.006
A randomized controlled trial on a nurse-led smartphone-based self-management programme for people with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes: A study protocol. Wang Wenru,Seah Betsy,Jiang Ying,Lopez Violeta,Tan Cherry,Lim Suan Tee,Ren Hongliang,Khoo Yin Hao Journal of advanced nursing AIM:To develop and compare a nurse-led smartphone-based self-management programme with an existing nurse-led diabetes service on health-related outcomes for people with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes in Singapore. BACKGROUND:Over the past decades, Asia has emerged as the "diabetes epicentre" in the world due to rapid economic development, urbanization and nutrition transition. There is an urgent need to develop more effective care management strategies in response to this rising diabetes epidemic. DESIGN:A randomized controlled trial with pre- and repeated posttests control group design. METHODOLOGY:A total of 128 adults with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes will be recruited from the diabetes clinic of a public acute hospital in Singapore through convenience sampling. Study participants will be randomly allocated either to the experimental group or the control group. Outcome measures will include the 10-item General Self-Efficacy Scale, 11-item Revised Summary of Diabetes Self-care Activities and 19-item Diabetes-Dependent Quality of Life. Data will be collected at three time points: baseline, 3 and 6 months from the baseline. DISCUSSION:It is expected that this programme will be an alternative offered to diabetes patients to master their self-care management skills, in addition to the existing diabetes service provided in diabetes clinics in Singapore hospitals. Furthermore, the self-supporting and less resource-intensive nature of this programme, using a smartphone application as the mode of intervention delivery, will greatly reduce nurses' direct contact time with patients and allow more time to be allocated to those who require more attention. The study has been registered with ClinicalTrials.gov. The trial registration number is NCT03088475. 10.1111/jan.13394