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 →

Source: University of Plymouth New research has shown for the first time that a social robot can deliver a ‘helpful’ and ‘enjoyable’ motivational interview (MI)— a counselling technique designed to support behaviour change. Many participants in the University of Plymouth study praised the ‘non-judgemental’ nature of the humanoid NAO robot as it delivered its session— with one even saying they preferred it to a human. Led by the School of Psychology, the study also showed that the robot achieved a fundamental objective of MI as it encouraged participants, who wanted to increase their physical activity, to articulate their goals and dilemmas aloud. MI is a techniqueRead More →

Source: Retrofit, Inc Interacting regularly with a coach as part of a weight-management program significantly affects an individual’s ability to lose weight, according to a study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research. “We know that weight-management programs that offer coach support are more effective at engaging participants and delivering weight-loss success,” said Robert Kushner, MD, MS, coauthor and Director of the Center for Lifestyle Medicine at Northwestern Medicine. “This study goes a step further and sheds light on the type of coach and client interactions that affect weight-loss.” The study retrospectively evaluated 1432 male and female participants aged 18 years or older withRead More →