This study addresses the burgeoning global shortage of healthcare workers and the consequential overburdening of medical professionals, a challenge that is anticipated to intensify by 2030 [1]. It explores the adoption and perceptions of AI-powered mobile medical applications (MMAs) by physicians in the Netherlands, investigating whether doctors discuss or recommend these applications to patients and the frequency of their use in clinical practice. The research reveals a cautious but growing acceptance of MMAs among healthcare providers. Medical mobile applications, with a substantial part of IA-driven applications, are being recognized for their potential to alleviate workload. The findings suggest an emergent trust in AI-driven health technologies, underscored by recommendations from peers, yet tempered by concerns over data security and patient mental health, indicating a need for ongoing assessment and validation of these applications
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For many EU citizens, working across the border is the only way to make a living in the EU. The battle for cheap labour has now become a well-oiled machine, in which almost all Western European countries participate. Nevertheless, the employment situation of EU Mobile Citizens, workers of low-skilled and -paid jobs, is often substandard. Challenges are housing, health care and working conditions. In addition, due to the lack of registration in municipalities, it is impossible to have an overview of the numbers and to offer effective help. This is a problem in small to medium-sized cities, where many workers live to work in agriculture, transport, construction, meat industry and logistics. For this study, 32 interviews were conducted in eleven small to medium-sized towns (SMSTs) in Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Poland, and Spain. The study uses three different perspectives: EU representatives of participating regions, municipalities, and employers. The outcomes show that most SMSTs deal with a shortage of housing, and a lack of grip on the registration process of EU citizens. Although there are some success stories, most SMSTs are not in touch with each other to share these. The paper concludes with proposals for further action-research and collaborations to impact local policies.
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ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the WhiteTeeth mobile app, a theory-based mobile health (mHealth) program for promoting oral hygiene in adolescent orthodontic patients. Methods: In this parallel randomized controlled trial, the data of 132 adolescents were collected during three orthodontic check-ups: at baseline (T0), at 6-week follow-up (T1), and at 12-week follow-up (T2). The intervention group was given access to the WhiteTeeth app in addition to usual care (n=67). The control group received usual care only (n=65). The oral hygiene outcomes were the presence and the amount of dental plaque (Al-Anezi and Harradine plaque Index); and the total number of sites with gingival bleeding (Bleeding on Marginal Probing Index). Oral health behavior and its psychosocial factors were measured through a digital questionnaire. We performed linear mixed model analyses to determine the intervention effects. Results: At 6-week follow-up, the intervention led to a significant decrease in gingival bleeding (B=-3.74; 95%CI -6.84 to -0.65), and an increase in the use of fluoride mouth rinse (B=1.93; 95%CI 0.36 to 3.50). At 12-week follow-up, dental plaque accumulation (B=-11.32; 95%CI -20.57 to -2.07) and the number of sites covered. Conclusions: The results show that adolescents with fixed orthodontic appliances can be helped to improve their oral hygiene when usual care is combined with a mobile app that provides oral health education and automatic coaching. Netherlands Trial Registry Identifier: NTR6206: 20 February 2017.
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Een goede voorbereiding is het halve werk, ook voor patiënten op de wachtlijst voor een chirurgische ingreep. We onderzoeken hoe de e-health-applicatie 'Beter Voorbereid' mensen helpt om sterker aan de start van een operatie te staan en zo sneller te herstellen.
Veel patiënten binnen de GGZ kampen met chronische pijn en depressie. Het bevorderen van een gezond beweegpatroon speelt een belangrijke rol in hun behandeling. Deze patiënten kunnen echter door emoties en veranderde prikkelverwerking signalen van het lichaam niet goed inschatten. Daarbij zijn hun klachten belemmerend in hun activiteiten waardoor motivatie vaak afwezig is. GGZ-professionals gebruiken zorgstandaarden waarbij uitgegaan wordt van 'one-size-fits-all' behandelprogramma's. Deze sluiten onvoldoende aan bij de behoefte aan gepersonaliseerde interventies uitgaande van zelfmanagement van de individuele patiënt. Dit pleit voor een instrument dat professionals helpt objectief inzicht te krijgen in het beweegpatroon van hun patiënten, dat gepersonaliseerde feedback geeft en ondersteunt bij de verdere individueel passende begeleiding van de patiënt. Zelfmeettechnologie ('activity trackers') lijkt hier goed te passen. De mogelijkheden om zelfmeettechnologie als basis voor de behandeling van deze patiënten te gebruiken zijn echter bij GGZ-professionals veelal onbekend. Daarnaast is het inzetten van alleen zelfmeettechnologie waarschijnlijk onvoldoende en is niet goed bekend hoe deze patiënten gemotiveerd kunnen worden om deze technologie te (blijven) gebruiken. In dit project willen de Hanzehogeschool Groningen, Inter-Psy, Transcare en MobileCare samen met professionals en patiënten en andere nog te betrekken partners (o.a. het Rob Giel Onderzoekscentrum als trekker van het eHealth netwerk Noord-Nederland heeft aangegeven een bijdrage te willen leveren) ontdekken hoe op een goede manier aan de bovenbeschreven behoefte van GGZ-professionals kan worden bijgedragen. Beoogd wordt om met deze subsidie een proof of concept te leveren van een digitaal instrument dat op basis van zelfmeettechnologie meerwaarde biedt in de behandeling van patiënten met chronische pijn en depressie. Deze proof of concept vormt de basis voor een te schrijven subsidievoorstel om dit verder te ontwikkelen.
Structural colour (SC) is created by light interacting with regular nanostructures in angle-dependent ways resulting in vivid hues. This form of intense colouration offers commercial and industrial benefits over dyes and other pigments. Advantages include durability, efficient use of light, anti-fade properties and the potential to be created from low cost materials (e.g. cellulose fibres). SC is widely found in nature, examples include butterflies, squid, beetles, plants and even bacteria. Flavobacterium IR1 is a Gram-negative, gliding bacterium isolated from Rotterdam harbour. IR1 is able to rapidly self-assemble into a 2D photonic crystal (a form of SC) on hydrated surfaces. Colonies of IR1 are able to display intense, angle-dependent colours when illuminated with white light. The process of assembly from a disordered structure to intense hues, that reflect the ordering of the cells, is possible within 10-20 minutes. This bacterium can be stored long-term by freeze drying and then rapidly activated by hydration. We see these properties as suiting a cellular reporter system quite distinct from those on the market, SC is intended to be “the new Green Fluorescent Protein”. The ability to understand the genomics and genetics of SC is the unique selling point to be exploited in product development. We propose exploiting SC in IR1 to create microbial biosensors to detect, in the first instance, volatile compounds that are damaging to health and the environment over the long term. Examples include petroleum or plastic derivatives that cause cancer, birth defects and allergies, indicate explosives or other insidious hazards. Hoekmine, working with staff and students within the Hogeschool Utrecht and iLab, has developed the tools to do these tasks. We intend to create a freeze-dried disposable product (disposables) that, when rehydrated, allow IR1 strains to sense and report multiple hazardous vapours alerting industries and individuals to threats. The data, visible as brightly coloured patches of bacteria, will be captured and quantified by mobile phone creating a system that can be used in any location by any user without prior training. Access to advice, assay results and other information will be via a custom designed APP. This work will be performed in parallel with the creation of a business plan and market/IP investigation to prepare the ground for seed investment. The vision is to make a widely usable series of tests to allow robust environmental monitoring for all to improve the quality of life. In the future, this technology will be applied to other areas of diagnostics.
