Int J Telemed Appl
· 2025 · PMID 41477576
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OBJECTIVE: The widespread use of telepsychiatry requires a better understanding of its integration into routine practice. Using the normalisation process theory (NPT), we aimed to measure and explore Australian psychiatr...OBJECTIVE: The widespread use of telepsychiatry requires a better understanding of its integration into routine practice. Using the normalisation process theory (NPT), we aimed to measure and explore Australian psychiatrists' normalisation of telepsychiatry into private practice. METHODS: This convergent parallel-mixed methods study consists of an online survey of private psychiatrists using the Normalisation Measures Development (NoMAD) instrument and semistructured in-depth interviews of private psychiatrists. We measured normalisation levels by the NPT constructs. We used logistic regression analyses to examine individual (psychiatrist) and practice factors for higher telepsychiatry patient load. We also thematically analysed the interviews according to the NPT. Finally, we integrated the quantitative and qualitative findings and drew inferences on factors for greater telepsychiatry integration. RESULTS: We surveyed 110 respondents. Higher cognitive participation and collective action were associated with greater telepsychiatry use (> 50% patient load). The high-load group was less likely to view telepsychiatry as different from usual work practice. Solo practices, and practices covering nonmetropolitan areas, were associated with a higher telepsychiatry load. Thirteen interviews were conducted. Telepsychiatry was largely regarded as equivalent, accessible, flexible and efficient. A conducive environment (resources, policy frameworks and general acceptance) promoted adoption. Telepsychiatry's adverse effects on work quality and well-being and its limitations and potential misuse were noted. In implementing telepsychiatry, perceived similarity to conventional consultations, bottom-up initiatives tailored to individual needs, confidence and skills and personal appreciation of its benefits were important. CONCLUSIONS: Telepsychiatry is a useful tool that can be successfully integrated into routine private practice with adequate support.
Int J Telemed Appl
· 2025 · PMID 41113283
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OBJECTIVE: Anemia remains a major public health concern among pregnant women, significantly contributing to maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. With advances in digital technology, particularly machine learning...OBJECTIVE: Anemia remains a major public health concern among pregnant women, significantly contributing to maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. With advances in digital technology, particularly machine learning (ML), there is potential to enhance early detection and prevention strategies. This scoping review is aimed at synthesizing the existing literature on the application of ML-based digital tools for predicting and preventing anemia in pregnant women. METHODS: Following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, this review included articles from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar published between 2015 and 2024. Eligibility criteria included studies using ML methods for anemia prediction in pregnant women. Extracted data included study population, ML algorithms used, and performance metrics. Due to the scoping nature of this review, risk of bias assessment was not conducted. RESULTS: A total of 11 studies met the inclusion criteria, utilizing various ML algorithms such as decision trees, random forest, support vector machines, naive Bayes, -nearest neighbors, PART, fuzzy Tsukamoto, and boosting algorithms. Comparative analysis based on performance metrics (accuracy, precision, recall, 1-score, and AUC) identified boosting and random forest as the most effective models in resource-limited settings. However, heterogeneity in data sources, evaluation metrics, and populations limits generalizability. CONCLUSIONS: ML-based models demonstrate considerable promise in predicting anemia among pregnant women. However, further validation across diverse datasets, clearer articulation of methodological strengths and limitations, and attention to implementation feasibility in low-resource settings are needed.
Saade S, Khoury DM, Abou Shahla W
… +7 more, Stephan C, Charbel N, Joukhdar R, El Bejjani M, Bekdache M, Mansour S, Saade D
Int J Telemed Appl
· 2025 · PMID 41041428
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Teledermatology is increasingly recognized as a valuable tool for expanding access to dermatologic care, particularly in underserved and remote settings. This randomized prospective cohort study, the first of its kind in...Teledermatology is increasingly recognized as a valuable tool for expanding access to dermatologic care, particularly in underserved and remote settings. This randomized prospective cohort study, the first of its kind in the region, examined the diagnostic and treatment concordance of teledermatologists compared to in-clinic dermatologists, with a focus on the impact of image acquisition methods. A total of 360 adult patients presenting for dermatologic evaluation at the American University of Beirut Medical Center were enrolled. Each patient contributed three sets of skin lesion photographs: unassisted patient-taken, assisted patient-taken after brief standardized training, and resident-taken under clinical conditions. Using a store-and-forward model, teledermatologists reviewed one randomized image set per patient. Their diagnoses and treatment decisions were compared to in-person assessments, which served as the reference standard. Diagnostic concordance improved with image quality: 79% for unassisted patient images, 84% for assisted images, and 87% for resident-taken images. Treatment concordance similarly increased from 38% to 44% to 45%, while the need to request additional history declined from 64% to 47%. Acne showed the highest diagnostic match across all image types. These findings support the clinical validity of store-and-forward teledermatology and highlight the value of patient education in improving image quality and diagnostic outcomes. As the first regional study to systematically evaluate real-world image acquisition methods, it offers a practical roadmap for integrating teledermatology into routine dermatologic care.
Int J Telemed Appl
· 2025 · PMID 41036171
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The growing advancements in science, technology, innovation, and research are paralleled by a concerning rise in stress levels worldwide. Stress, an inevitable psychosocial factor, significantly affects human life, menta...The growing advancements in science, technology, innovation, and research are paralleled by a concerning rise in stress levels worldwide. Stress, an inevitable psychosocial factor, significantly affects human life, mental status, and overall physiosocial health. This research focuses on developing an accurate galvanic skin response (GSR) system to effectively identify and analyze stress levels. The core concept of GSR involves measuring the conductivity between skin contacts, where increased conductivity corresponds to heightened stress levels. Advanced algorithms are employed to efficiently convert these readings into digital formats for precise analysis. The system leverages the Kalman filter algorithm to reduce noise, ensuring smooth and reliable signals from raw GSR readings. A dynamic range normalization technique transforms filtered readings into a consistent scale (0-500) tailored to individual baseline values. This approach ensures that stable measurements are unaffected by noise using the Kalman filter, consistency across users despite physiological differences, and accurate, personalized stress-level detection through adaptive categorization. Tested on over 5000 samples, the system accurately identifies stress levels across defined ranges, established in collaboration with psychologist practitioners. This research culminates in developing an accurate and personalized stress detection and analysis system, providing actionable insights into stress management.
Bashkin O, Shalom T, Admon EK
… +3 more, Rosenblum R, Blachar Y, Oron-Gilad T
Int J Telemed Appl
· 2025 · PMID 41017829
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Online video consultation (VC) use in pediatric care has increased recently, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, understanding parental perspectives on VC use with pediatricians, especially across geog...Online video consultation (VC) use in pediatric care has increased recently, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, understanding parental perspectives on VC use with pediatricians, especially across geographical regions, remains crucial for effective VC implementation and reducing healthcare disparities. This mixed methods study combined an online survey ( = 96) and two focus groups ( = 17) to examine parental perceptions of VC with pediatricians in Israel. Based on the Telehealth Usability Questionnaire, the survey assessed user experience, usefulness, and satisfaction. Focus groups explored themes related to children's experiences, remote diagnosis, patient-physician communication, and VC use during emergencies. While 82% of parents believed that VC saved time and 67% felt it improved access to healthcare, only 50% thought it met their healthcare needs. Parents in peripheral regions rated the usefulness of VC higher than those in central areas, particularly during times of security concerns. However, central region parents reported better user experiences. Parents with prior VC experience showed higher satisfaction and future use intention than non-preusers. Focus groups revealed that children often felt more comfortable with VC due to the familiar home environment, although parents expressed concerns about remote diagnosis accuracy and physician communication quality. Our findings highlight geographic disparities in VC adoption and emphasize the need for targeted interventions to improve technical support and infrastructure in peripheral regions. While VC shows promise for enhancing healthcare accessibility, particularly during emergencies, success requires addressing technical barriers, strengthening privacy measures, and establishing clear guidelines for remote pediatric care delivery.
Int J Telemed Appl
· 2025 · PMID 40917478
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Telepathology and digital pathology are increasingly utilised for routine diagnostics globally, improving patient safety and diagnostic efficiency. No research exists on the adoption of digital pathology in South Africa....Telepathology and digital pathology are increasingly utilised for routine diagnostics globally, improving patient safety and diagnostic efficiency. No research exists on the adoption of digital pathology in South Africa. Understanding the current use can help understand implementation needs and ensure equitable access to this modern diagnostic tool. This can help realise the technology's benefits across the diverse communities in South Africa. This was a nonexperimental descriptive study. Primary quantitative data were collected via a questionnaire distributed to South African histopathologists in August 2023. The questionnaire focused on participants' demographic information and the use of digital pathology by histopathologists in South Africa. Descriptive data analysis was performed. The study comprised 71 histopathologists, representing 23% of all registered histopathologists in the country. There was a near-equal distribution of female and male histopathologists. Most of the participating histopathologists worked in the private sector. Nearly all of the histopathologists surveyed indicated some exposure to digital pathology (99%). Most participants use digital pathology for external quality assurance and training. The use of digital pathology as a routine diagnostic tool was noted by 22% of participants, although only 3% reported daily use. The current use and adoption of digital pathology by South African histopathologists are comparable to the international community. By increasing the use of digital pathology for routine diagnostic use, we can enhance the accuracy of diagnoses and improve healthcare outcomes for patients and healthcare professionals.
Karimi A, Pedramfard P, Zakeri H
… +4 more, Rahnama B, Radmehr M, Moalemi S, Montazeri L
Int J Telemed Appl
· 2025 · PMID 40809461
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Telerobotic spinal surgery (TSS) has emerged as a transformative approach for spinal interventions that combines robotics and telecommunication to enable remote surgery with enhanced precision and accessibility. This tec...Telerobotic spinal surgery (TSS) has emerged as a transformative approach for spinal interventions that combines robotics and telecommunication to enable remote surgery with enhanced precision and accessibility. This technology can potentially address the challenges of complex spinal conditions by providing minimally invasive solutions and delivering specialized surgical expertise across geographical boundaries. However, technical complexities related to communication and latency, haptic feedback, and system integration need to be addressed. Ethical and regulatory considerations also require careful navigation. Despite these challenges, the limited number of available clinical studies demonstrates the feasibility and efficacy of TSS, particularly with the use of 5G technology. Further research and clinical trials are needed to fully evaluate and validate the outcomes and effectiveness of TSS. With ongoing efforts in research and development, TSS has the potential to revolutionize spine surgery and improve patient care. In this review, we present the role and the challenges of TSS in spinal surgery.
Lismidiati W, Widyawati W, Hapsari ED
… +2 more, Akhmadi A, Sumunar DSEW
Int J Telemed Appl
· 2025 · PMID 40693209
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Low birth weight remains a health concern in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Effective management of low birth weight cases is crucial, yet community-based health programs face challenges in addressing this...Low birth weight remains a health concern in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Effective management of low birth weight cases is crucial, yet community-based health programs face challenges in addressing this issue. This study is aimed at exploring the needs, experience, and perspectives of healthcare providers regarding low birth weight prevention programs. This was a qualitative descriptive study. Data were collected from June to December 2023 in Kulon Progo District, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Data were collected through a focus group discussion with nine midwives. Triangulation was conducted with 12 breastfeeding mothers, one nutritionist, and one head of the primary health center through in-depth interviews. Each discussion and interview were recorded, transcribed, and subjected to thematic analysis to identify key themes. Three themes were discovered in this study: programmatic initiatives of healthcare providers; poor knowledge, attitude, and practice with limited resources and access; enhancing the use of teleconsultations. Programmatic initiatives from primary healthcare centers have focused on preventing low birth weight through targeted outreach, education, and prenatal care for at-risk mothers. However, the persistent challenge of insufficient human resources for health has hindered the effectiveness and reach of these efforts. To enhance LBW prevention strategies, the needs of digital technology by integrating digital tools and electronic health records are imperative. Effectively managing low birth weight requires utilization of technology to strengthen healthcare interventions. Digital solutions enhance communication, broaden service reach, and enable timely support, especially in underserved areas. Incorporating these tools into health programs improves the delivery and accessibility of care, presenting a valuable approach to advancing maternal and child health outcomes.
Banjar H, Almalki S, Almehmadi L
… +3 more, Alshahrani A, Chaudhary A, Ghoname R
Int J Telemed Appl
· 2025 · PMID 40589776
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Orthotic treatment, particularly for ankle injuries, often relies on devices such as ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) to support and stabilize the foot and ankle. Given the high prevalence of lower extremity injuries, especial...Orthotic treatment, particularly for ankle injuries, often relies on devices such as ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) to support and stabilize the foot and ankle. Given the high prevalence of lower extremity injuries, especially in sports, and the diagnostic challenges faced by clinicians, there is a pressing need for intelligent systems that aid in accurate assessment and personalized management. Misdiagnosis and suboptimal treatment of ankle conditions, including fractures and sprains, can lead to long-term complications and hinder recovery. This study presents , a knowledge-based expert system designed to provide personalized diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and recovery plans for ankle injuries, integrating transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy to enhance rehabilitation. The system was implemented using Flutter for cross-platform deployment and Python for expert rule modeling, and it features a user-friendly interface for both clinicians and patients. Diagnostic accuracy and treatment pathways were validated through two published case scenarios, confirming the system's alignment with medical guidelines. Static and dynamic testing demonstrated consistent functionality, and initial usability assessment indicated high user satisfaction (average SUS score: 85.3/100). The expert system reliably identified injury types based on structured symptom input and suggested individualized recovery plans. These results affirm the potential of TeleOrtho to reduce diagnostic errors, improve therapy adherence, and enhance clinical decision-making. Future work will focus on integrating imaging analysis, expanding the knowledge base to include additional orthopedic conditions, and conducting clinical trials for broader validation.
D'Souza AF, Jasti DB, Rao RR
… +1 more, Natarajan M
Int J Telemed Appl
· 2025 · PMID 40519980
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Telerehabilitation can enhance delivery and acceptance of the home exercise program. This study evaluated the feasibility, safety, and signal of efficacy of a tele-assisted home exercise program for improving balance and...Telerehabilitation can enhance delivery and acceptance of the home exercise program. This study evaluated the feasibility, safety, and signal of efficacy of a tele-assisted home exercise program for improving balance and functional mobility in persons with Parkinson's disease (TELEPORT-PD). Eight participants underwent six sessions of physiotherapist-supervised and tailored multimodal exercise over smartphone videoconference through WhatsApp Messenger over 2 weeks. Feasibility was assessed through adherence and retention rates, and safety was assessed through self-reported adverse events. Balance was measured using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Activity-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale, while functional mobility was assessed using Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG) test and 5-times Sit-To-Stand (5STS) test, at baseline and at the end of 2 weeks. The adherence and retention rates were 100%, and no serious adverse events were reported. Significant improvements were noted in the change scores of BBS (11.23 points; = 0.014), ABC (14.21%; = 0.014), TUG (-2.21 s; = 0.007), and 5STS (-3.11 s; = 0.007). All participants provided positive feedback and expressed their interest to continue the program. TELEPORT-PD appears to be feasible, safe, and acceptable, while demonstrating improvements in balance and functional mobility. Clinical Trials Registry of India: CTRI/2022/09/045345.
Int J Telemed Appl
· 2025 · PMID 40226392
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The study of ambient movement guidance encompasses a multidisciplinary approach to facilitating and guiding individuals, particularly older adults, within their living environments. This involves integration of ambient s...The study of ambient movement guidance encompasses a multidisciplinary approach to facilitating and guiding individuals, particularly older adults, within their living environments. This involves integration of ambient sensors, such as motion detectors, cameras, or IoT devices, to monitor the movements and activities of individuals in real time. By leveraging these sensors, the system can predict and anticipate the expected movements of the person, allowing for proactive ambient guidance and support. In addition to ambient guidance, robots can also play a role in leading individuals by interfacing through audio prompts or visual cues through their daily activities. However, despite advancements in sensor technology and robotic assistance, uncertainties persist in the monitoring and prediction of movements. These uncertainties can arise from various sources, including sensor noise, occlusions, environmental changes, and inherent variability in human behavior. Addressing these uncertainties requires probabilistic modeling techniques based on partially observable hidden Markov models (POHMMs) and various of its extensions such as POMDP, to effectively capture the dynamic nature of movement patterns and incorporate uncertainty into the decision-making process. This paper presents a detailed overview study of probabilistic framework and how its various interpretation can be used in developing an ambient movement guiding system for supporting individuals, particularly older, in support of ageing-in-place paradigms.
Albagmi SS, Shawaheen MS, Albugami H
… +3 more, Alshehri A, Alblwie R, Alsiari W
Int J Telemed Appl
· 2025 · PMID 40226391
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The satisfaction level of patients and physicians with telemedicine services should be comparable to on-site visits if this technology is to be widely adopted. The degree of satisfaction can be used to assess the perform...The satisfaction level of patients and physicians with telemedicine services should be comparable to on-site visits if this technology is to be widely adopted. The degree of satisfaction can be used to assess the performance of any healthcare service. Therefore, in this cross-sectional study, we used a five-point Likert scale to evaluate the level of satisfaction with telemedicine by administering survey questionnaires to both patients and physicians online residing across Saudi Arabia. The questionnaires were divided into three parts: consent and summary, demographics, and the survey questions to determine satisfaction level with telemedicine. All statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Version 27. The results showed high satisfaction levels with telemedicine services by both patients and physicians where the age and gender of participants were influential in determining this outcome. Residential areas affected satisfaction levels with telemedicine in physicians but not in patients. Previous experiences with these services influenced the satisfaction of patients with those having previous experience reporting higher satisfaction. However, when the degree of satisfaction between patients and physicians was compared, the results were insignificant showing that the overall perception towards telemedicine usage is similar between healthcare providers and receivers. To conclude, our study showed that the experiences of patients and physicians with telemedicine services are satisfactory; however, certain areas regarding telemedicine usage warrant further improvement.
Int J Telemed Appl
· 2025 · PMID 40017574
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The growing prevalence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia cancer worldwide underlines the critical need for early and more precise detection to counter this deadly disease. This study presents a robust SqueezeNet-enhanced m...The growing prevalence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia cancer worldwide underlines the critical need for early and more precise detection to counter this deadly disease. This study presents a robust SqueezeNet-enhanced machine learning framework for automatically screening and classifying histopathological images for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This work employs a deep learning (DL)-based SqueezeNet integrated with three machine learning (ML) models including neural network (NN), logistic regression (LR), and random forest (RF) for diagnosis. Combining DL and ML algorithms addresses the complexity of understanding histopathological images and the classification process. Evaluation metrics computed for acute lymphoblastic leukemia reveal a good classification accuracy (CA) of 99.3%. Results are further validated by confusion matrix (CM), calibration plot (CP), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, and comparative analysis with previous techniques. The proposed method has the potential to transform healthcare with more accurate diagnosis. It provides a robust framework for the classification of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, facilitating timely treatment options for patients.
Int J Telemed Appl
· 2025 · PMID 39989622
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The bibliometric analysis of the published results of the alpha-synuclein (-syn) detection study in the peripheral tissues of patients with Parkinson's disease was carried out by us to study scientific activity and scien...The bibliometric analysis of the published results of the alpha-synuclein (-syn) detection study in the peripheral tissues of patients with Parkinson's disease was carried out by us to study scientific activity and scientific productivity, to measure the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of scientific publications, author productivity, and citation of works, as well as the degree of interrelation between authors, journals, institutes, and countries. This study is aimed at bibliometrically analyzing the results of studies on the detection of -syn in peripheral tissue biopsy of patients with Parkinson's disease from 2013 to 2023. The data was extracted from the Scopus database collection using an inclusive search strategy. Performance analysis and science mapping were conducted using RStudio v.4.3.1 with the bibliometrix R-package. The analyzed data encompassed trends in publication and citation and the identification of leading institutions, primary sources, authors, and collaborative countries. A total of 124 relevant studies from 53 different sources were thoroughly analyzed. The analysis included the materials of 843 authors, which together gave an impressive average of 37.67 citations per document over the past decade. The annual growth rate in this area of research, according to calculations, was 10.84%, indicating a steady increase in the number of publications over the study period. The huge volume of research results is highlighted by the inclusion of 231 unique keywords of authors. Studies on the detection of pathological -syn in peripheral tissues for early morphological verification of the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease are relevant in clinical neurology. -syn detected in the skin biopsy of patients on the basis of this study and data from the world literature meets the requirements for biomarkers.
Unnisa Z, Tariq A, Din IU
… +4 more, Shehzad D, Serhani MA, Belkacem AN, Sarwar N
Int J Telemed Appl
· 2025 · PMID 39949891
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This work is aimed at investigating the potential risks linked to electroencephalography (EEG)-based person authentication and providing solutions to mitigate these issues. Authenticating a person by EEG involves verifyi...This work is aimed at investigating the potential risks linked to electroencephalography (EEG)-based person authentication and providing solutions to mitigate these issues. Authenticating a person by EEG involves verifying the legitimacy of the signals used for user identification. EEG signals serve as a biometric modality for authentication and verification. Additional biometric modalities, such as fingerprints or irises, are vulnerable to both fabrication and degradation over time, and illicit use of dead people's biometrics has sometimes been seen. EEG's intrinsic properties prohibit signal imitation or postmortem acquisition, making it more reliable than other biometric modalities. This research is aimed at investigating the most recent advancements in the domain of EEG signals, clarifying the current knowledge that impacts EEG-based authentication, and evaluating the emerging challenges. Many research publications have been collected to achieve this objective. By considering historical and recent efforts and achievements, this research also presents feasible resolutions to the emerging inquiries prompted by the ongoing advancements in EEG-based technology. The potential future application of EEG-based authentication has also been the subject of this scholarly discourse. A comprehensive collection of articles over the previous decade has been compiled to answer contemporary EEG signal research questions to get valuable insights. According to research findings, in February 2022, a significant milestone was achieved when the EEG signals of a deceased person were successfully captured for the first time in recorded history. However, this groundbreaking discovery may threaten EEG-based authentication. In addition, it is found that EEG-based authentication literature did not completely implement "liveness detection." An updated approach for identifying liveness addresses novel challenges, that is, falsified EEG signals and a dead person's EEG signals for EEG-based authentication that have not been discussed in the literature. The suggested solutions put forward in this study have the potential to stimulate additional research in this area.
Naseem Z, Butt QM, Shaukat A
… +4 more, Grenfell-Dexter R, Zhu J, D'Souza B, Strugnell N
Int J Telemed Appl
· 2025 · PMID 39822331
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Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth (TH) has gained increasing relevance in colorectal patient care, prompting an audit of the TH clinic at a tertiary colorectal unit. This study evaluated telephone-based consultati...Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth (TH) has gained increasing relevance in colorectal patient care, prompting an audit of the TH clinic at a tertiary colorectal unit. This study evaluated telephone-based consultations' clinical efficacy and diagnostic thresholds for new lower gastrointestinal (LGI) bleeding referrals. We conducted a quality assurance audit of the per rectal (PR) bleeding TH clinic at Northern Hospital Victoria, evaluating new LGI bleeding referrals. Data from July 2021 to June 2023 were extracted from the Referral Management System (RMS) and analyzed. The study focused on newly referred patients, excluding those previously seen or awaiting procedures. Clinical efficacy was determined through sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values, with a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve assessing the TH method's discrimination threshold. Of the 239 patients, 131 met the inclusion criteria, with a compliance rate of 96%. The TH clinic demonstrated a sensitivity of 75.76% and specificity of 52.46% in distinguishing between colorectal and anal pathologies. The average time from referral to a diagnostic procedure was 9.75 weeks, with a reduction in median wait time for first appointments from 19 weeks prepandemic to 3.6 weeks. A cost-benefit analysis highlighted TH clinics' ability to reduce overhead costs and maintain a revenue stream despite reduced face-to-face consultations. Our study concludes that the telecare service model serves as an effective complementary approach for managing new LGI bleeding referrals. Further research on long-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness is necessary to fully assess telecare as a potentially sustainable hybrid model.
Int J Telemed Appl
· 2025 · PMID 39816708
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This study proposes an automated system for assessing lung damage severity in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients using computed tomography (CT) images. These preprocessed CT images identify the extent of pulmon...This study proposes an automated system for assessing lung damage severity in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients using computed tomography (CT) images. These preprocessed CT images identify the extent of pulmonary parenchyma (PP) and ground-glass opacity and pulmonary infiltrates (GGO-PIs). Two types of images-saliency () image and discrete cosine transform (DCT) energy image-were generated from these images. A final fused (FF) image combining and DCT of PP and GGO-PI images was then obtained. Five convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and five classic classification techniques, trained using FF and grayscale PP images, were tested. Our study is aimed at showing that a CNN model, with preprocessed images as input, has significant advantages over grayscale images. Previous work in this field primarily focused on grayscale images, which presented some limitations. This paper demonstrates how optimal results can be obtained by using the FF image rather than just the grayscale PP image. As a result, CNN models outperformed traditional artificial intelligence classification techniques. Of these, Vgg16Net performed best, delivering top-tier classification results for COVID-19 severity assessment, with a recall rate of 95.38%, precision of 96%, accuracy of 95.84%, and area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve of 0.9585; in addition, the Vgg16Net delivers the lowest false negative (FN) results. The dataset, comprising 44 COVID-19 patients, was split equally, with half used for training and half for testing.
Luengo Gómez D, Salmerón Ruiz Á, Romero Manjón MI
… +2 more, Medina Benítez A, Láinez Ramos-Bossini AJ
Int J Telemed Appl
· 2024 · PMID 39713775
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Telerobotic ultrasound has emerged as a promising technology in medicine, especially in settings with limited medical access or a lack of specialized personnel. However, there are very few studies evaluating its usefulne...Telerobotic ultrasound has emerged as a promising technology in medicine, especially in settings with limited medical access or a lack of specialized personnel. However, there are very few studies evaluating its usefulness in real-world clinical practice. This study evaluates the usefulness of abdominopelvic telerobotic ultrasound in a real-world practice setting. A prospective study was performed in a cohort of adult patients who underwent abdominal ultrasound in a remote secondary hospital for suspected abdominal or pelvic pathology. Examinations were performed by an on-site technician and a remote abdominal radiologist. Satisfaction of patients and explorers, scan times, quality of visualization of anatomical structures, and ultrasound findings were measured and compared with standard ultrasound examinations performed by an on-site radiologist blinded to telerobotic ultrasound findings. Multivariate analyses were performed to predict variables related to the visualization quality of abdominopelvic organs. The sample included 40 patients (60% women; mean age, 51.2 ± 16.1 years; 35% overweight and 17.5% obese). Significant differences in ultrasound duration were observed between telerobotic ultrasound and standard ultrasound (27.4 ± 8.3 and 12.7 ± 3.1 min, respectively; < 0.001). The mean satisfaction of radiologists, technicians, and patients with telerobotic ultrasound was high (7.35 ± 1.14 for radiologists, 7.93 ± 0.83 for technicians, and 8.43 ± 1.38 for patients). Visualization of anatomical structures was acceptable for most organs on telerobotic ultrasound but significantly worse than conventional ultrasound when "excellent visualization" was the reference standard. In addition, telerobotic ultrasound did not identify potentially relevant findings in a significant (70%) proportion of patients. Telerobotic ultrasound offers acceptable results in the assessment of abdominopelvic organs and can help provide adequate healthcare to patients in locations with limited access to radiology specialists. However, there are significant limitations compared to standard ultrasound for their optimal evaluation.
Saeed H, Scahill S, Kim J
… +5 more, Moyaen R, Natarajan D, Soga A, Wong M, Martini N
Int J Telemed Appl
· 2024 · PMID 39575202
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Telepharmacy is the delivery of pharmacy services through telecommunications technology when patients and pharmacists are separated by physical distance. Falling under the broader term of telehealth, telepharmacy has bee...Telepharmacy is the delivery of pharmacy services through telecommunications technology when patients and pharmacists are separated by physical distance. Falling under the broader term of telehealth, telepharmacy has been adopted globally and proved invaluable during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study is aimed at investigating New Zealand pharmacists' perceptions of telepharmacy adoption and assessing its potential impact on their future scope of practice. : New Zealand registered pharmacists were recruited through convenience sampling to participate in semistructured interviews conducted between July and August 2022. Interviews were transcribed and coded with NVivo and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis to develop themes. Themes and subthemes were mapped to the Clinical Adoption Framework (CAF) to interpret the findings. : From 23 participants, 70% were community pharmacists. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated telepharmacy adoption in New Zealand and most pharmacists perceived it as convenient and beneficial to increase access to pharmacy services. Barriers such as the lack of resources, technology issues, inadequate remuneration, and existing legislation were highlighted, as was the need for better staff training, patient education, better access to technology, regulatory reforms, and integration with existing services. There is a need for reforms and initiatives for sustainable and equitable telehealth use in New Zealand. While preparing for digital infrastructure and capabilities presents challenges, this investment can transform pharmacy practice in the long term, benefiting both patients and pharmacy professionals.
Int J Telemed Appl
· 2024 · PMID 39529804
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Telemedicine has emerged as a crucial tool in addressing public health requirements, particularly during a pandemic. This aligns with the third Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) objective of ensuring healthy lives and...Telemedicine has emerged as a crucial tool in addressing public health requirements, particularly during a pandemic. This aligns with the third Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) objective of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages. The current generation demonstrates a greater proficiency in modern technology, prompting researchers to investigate their views and behavior trends in telemedicine. This research is aimed at examining the telemedicine adoption patterns of Generation Y and Generation Z by dividing them into two groups. Study Group 1 is comprised of those who have known modern technology but have yet to gain experience in using telemedicine. Meanwhile, Study Group 2 is comprised of those who had used telemedicine services. Utilizing structural equation model (SEM) analysis, this research investigates the magnitude of influence exerted by various determinants on an individual's tendency to utilize telemedicine. Findings from both study groups indicate that younger generations have positive attitudes towards telemedicine, significantly influencing their willingness to use telemedicine. Furthermore, the level of readiness for change emerges as a crucial factor in determining the degree of affective commitment to change, continuance commitment to change, and normative commitment to change. In addition, the participants' affective experience state significantly influences all three dimensions of commitment to change. The results suggest the importance of fostering a positive and pragmatic understanding of telemedicine among young people. This can be achieved by encouraging the use of telemedicine services and fully adopting the shift to telemedicine. Therefore, it is crucial to prioritize the development of a positive view towards telemedicine, provide excellent service experiences, and promote social flexibility to attract a large user base, especially among the younger population.