Press Releases (Page 15)

Commercial app stores urgently need to address the lack of information available to consumers about the benefits and quality of health apps, according to a new study funded by the NIHR Maudsley BRC. The study was published in the open access journal, Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR). The study highlights the lack of solid evidence for claims made about health apps, which may actually provide little benefit or even cause harm. It calls for closer regulation of the health app industry, which is estimated to be worth $25 billion globally, and whose business depends on rapid high sales. Led by Professor Dame Til Wykes, who leads the BRC’sRead More →

Source: Ursula Whiteside There is enormous and largely untapped potential to prevent suicide, and that’s because suicidal people visit their doctors. Nearly half of people who die by suicide visit their doctor in the month before their death. Routine screening for depression can uncover suicidal thoughts—but that’s only part of the story.  Doctors need suicide-specific resources for immediate, brief intervention. The NowMattersNow.org website is an open-access, video-based resource for individuals with suicidal thoughts. A study just released in the open-access journal, Journal of Medical Internet Research, found that suicidal people visiting NowMattersNow.org reported measurable reductions in intensity of suicidal thoughts and emotions. Researchers asked over 3000Read More →

Source:University of Turku A program developed for the early detection of children’s disruptive behavior and low-threshold digital parent training intervention was successfully transferred to child health clinics in primary health care, shows a new Finnish study. In addition, the program’s low discontinuation rate implies that parents experienced digitally implemented intervention as both user-friendly and easily accessible. This is the first study on the implementation of an online psychosocial treatment in pediatric primary health care which is based on population screening. Transferring an evidence-based treatment to practice is not self-evident but requires extensive work. The study published in the open access journal, Journal of Medical InternetRead More →

Source: Radboud University Behavioural scientists are increasingly designing games that can be used preventatively or as therapy for young people with emerging or chronic psychological problems, such as anxiety or depression. Nevertheless, the development and validation of these games is still in its infancy. According to behavioural scientists Hanneke Scholten and Isabela Granic of Radboud University, a form of “design thinking,” which is customary among commercial game developers, could help to deliver on the promise of true interactive online therapy, as published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research January 14, 2019. Recent prevalence rates show that approximately 80% of teenagers with anxiety and depression problemsRead More →

Source: Kath Middleditch Around 15-25% of women experience significant levels of anxiety in the perinatal period (pregnancy and a year after childbirth). Despite being treatable, most women experiencing perinatal anxiety (PNA) don’t seek help. “There is so much pressure to be the ‘perfect mother’ these days, and there are a lot of unrealistic expectations around motherhood, so when women struggle to meet them, they can often think that they are failing somehow, or worry that they may be seen as a ‘bad mother’,” says Dr Gini Harrison. Lack of support for women New research published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research suggests this might beRead More →

Source: Siren Inc. San Francisco, California – December 17, 2018 – Siren, the health technology company that developed Neurofabric™, a machine-washable, machine-dryable smart textile with built-in sensors, today announced publication of a foundational paper supporting its approach in Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR), the leading peer-reviewed journal for digital medicine, and health & health care in the internet age. In the paper, a team of international researchers led by Ran Ma, cofounder and CEO, and Alexander M Reyzelman, DPM; Samuel Merritt University, detail the role of Siren’s Diabetic Sock and Foot Monitoring System in maintaining continuous, wireless skin temperature monitoring for users at-home, demonstratingRead More →

Source: Queensland University of Technology Getting a sunburn could be another rebellious rite of passage for young people, says Queensland University of Technology (QUT) public health researcher Dr Elke Hacker, who is testing new UV detection wearables to try to make sun safety measures part of daily routine. “Throwing off the ‘rashie’ Mum’s made you wear or not putting on a hat after years of ‘no hat, no play,’ are like other risky behaviors such as drinking alcohol or speeding that young people seem to indulge in,” said Dr Hacker from QUT’s Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation. This might explain why 30% of youngRead More →

Source: University of Warwick Study lends weight to argument for using mobile apps for routine measurements and clinical trials Digital versions of existing assessments would be cheaper, greener, and improve patient experience Validating the effectiveness of health apps could be first step to a learning health service Study by University of Warwick supports call by the Royal College of Physicians for greater use of already available technology in health care Patients can assess their own back pain using an app on their phone or tablet as effectively as current paper methods, a new study from the University of Warwick has shown. The study, published in the openRead More →

15 million adults in England have a long-term condition (LTC) and can access online peer support. Online health communities can influence health, use of health care resources, and improve illness self-management. The way people connect online and in particular how highly active users (called superusers) shape the online communities play a fundamental role in information diffusion, according a study published today in the Journal of Medical Internet Research. The management of long-term conditions represents a growing and potentially insurmountable challenge to health systems worldwide. A major policy response has been to attempt to empower people to self-manage their condition better through programs for self-care andRead More →