Christo El Morr

Mobile virtual communities research: a synthesis of current trends and a look at future perspectives

This article is a synthesis of current research trends in mobile virtual communities. It classifies Mobile Virtual Communities (MVCs) research into appropriate domains, and categorises the different types of virtual communities with respect to three criteria: the degree of virtualisation, the degree of mobility and the degree of cooperation. It also draws some conclusions on future research directions.

A novel collaboration model for mobile virtual communities

The phenomenal adoption rate of mobile phone technology in different societies turned these phones into a common commodity. Telecom companies started recently offering the Third Generation (3G) services. Yet, the lack of content and the support of killer applications will continue to be a concern, especially if the 3G mobile phone technology fully matures. We believe that mobile community enablers are candidates for such killer applications. We propose a novel collaboration model for mobile virtual communities. The model is designed to support awareness, sociability, and usability. The model is versatile and simple at the same time. Its versatility admits a wide range of communities with differing purposes and interests, and its simplicity supports usable and efficient implementations. We suggest different kinds of possible applications that can be supported by the model, and we discuss the design and implementation of a prototype of the model.

A Health Virtual Community for Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Abstract With an aging population, the number of patients presenting with a variety of chronic diseases is increasing. Three of the biggest factors impacting the delivery of healthcare are our aging population, rising labor costs and the complexity of diseases. Patients are living longer, but they have more illnesses to manage. These factors place an additional strain on our healthcare institutions. It is imperative that new methods be employed to control the cost of managing chronic disease. This paper explains the implementation of versatile health Virtual Community for chronic disease management (VC); it describes the functionalities offered for patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). The health VC offers patients tools that empowers them to access medically validated treatment and disease management information, track and report on related medical events, invite a member of the healthcare team to virtually communicate, track and monitor patients to ensure treatment and medication adherence, and transition to home care.

Towards Successful Virtual Communities

With the multiplication of communication medium, the increasing multi-partner global organizations,the remote working tendencies,dynamic teams, pervasive or ubiquitous computing Virtual Communities (VCs) are playing an increasing role in social organizations currently and will probably change profoundly the way people interact in the future. In this paper, we present our position on the key characteristics that are imperative to provide a successful VC as well as the future directions in terms of research, development and implementation. We identify three main aspects (business, techniques and social) and analyze for each of them the different components and their relationships.

eHealth as a facilitator of equitable access to primary healthcare: the case of caring for non-communicable diseases in rural and refugee settings in Lebanon

ObjectivesAssess the effect of selected low-cost eHealth tools on diabetes/hypertension detection and referrals rates in rural settings and refugee camps in Lebanon and explore the barriers to showing-up to scheduled appointments at Primary Healthcare Centers (PHC).MethodsCommunity-based screening for diabetes and hypertension was conducted in five rural and three refugee camp PHCs using an eHealth netbook application. Remote referrals were generated based on pre-set criteria. A phone survey was subsequently conducted to assess the rate and causes of no-shows to scheduled appointments. Associations between the independent variables and the outcome of referrals were then tested.ResultsAmong 3481 screened individuals, diabetes, hypertension, and comorbidity were detected in 184,356 and 113 per 1000 individuals, respectively. 37.1% of referred individuals reported not showing-up to scheduled appointments, owing to feeling better/symptoms resolved (36.9%) and having another obligation (26.1%). The knowledge of referral reasons and the employment status were significantly associated with appointment show-ups.ConclusionsLow-cost eHealth netbook application was deemed effective in identifying new cases of NCDs and establishing appropriate referrals in underserved communities.

Evaluation Frameworks for Health Virtual Communities

Virtual communities (VCs) evaluation research looked into different aspects of evaluation such as usability, effectiveness, and impact. However, these measurements do not take into account some particularities of the Health Virtual Communities (Health VCs), such as the impact of the patient’s health condition on software usability and the effect of the Health VC on health outcomes. In this chapter, we give an overview of existing literature related to VC evaluation, and summarize the main VC evaluation limitations and challenges, particularly the need for a framework for VC evaluation. We then look into the available frameworks to evaluate information technology and information systems and their ability to VCs, and then lay out the need for a framework to evaluate Health VC.

mHealth use for non-communicable diseases care in primary health: patients’ perspective from rural settings and refugee camps

Abstract Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 85% of deaths in Lebanon and contribute to remarkable morbidity and mortality among refugees and underserved populations. This study assesses the perspectives of individuals with hypertension and/or diabetes in rural areas and Palestinian refugee camps towards a population based mHealth intervention called ‘eSahha’. Methods The study employs a mixed-methods design to evaluate the effectiveness of SMSs on self-reported perceptions of lifestyle modifications. Quantitative data was collected through phone surveys, and qualitative data through focus group discussions. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis were performed. Results About 93.9% (n = 1000) of respondents perceived the SMSs as useful and easy to read and understand. About 76.9% reported compliance with SMSs through daily behavioral modifications. Women (P = 0.007), people aged ≥76 years (P < 0.001), unemployed individuals (P < 0.001), individuals who only read and write (P < 0.001) or those who are illiterate (P < 0.001) were significantly more likely to receive and not read the SMSs. Behavior change across settings was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Conclusion While SMS-based interventions targeting individuals with hypertension and/or diabetes were generally satisfactory among those living in rural areas and Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, a more tailored approach for older, illiterate and unemployed individuals is needed.

Using Mobile Health to Enhance Outcomes of Noncommunicable Diseases Care in Rural Settings and Refugee Camps: Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Rural areas and refugee camps are characterized by poor access of patients to needed noncommunicable disease (NCD)–related health services, including diabetes and hypertension. Employing low-cost innovative eHealth interventions, such as mobile health (mHealth), may help improve NCDs prevention and control among disadvantaged populations. Objective The aim of this study was to assess the effect of employing low-cost mHealth tools on the accessibility to health services and improvement of health indicators of individuals with NCDs in rural areas and refugee camps in Lebanon. Methods This is a randomized controlled trial study in which centers were allocated randomly into control and intervention sites. The effect of an employed mHealth intervention is assessed through selected quality indicators examined in both control and intervention groups. Sixteen primary health care centers (eight controls, eight interventions) located in rural areas and Palestinian refugee camps across Lebanon were included in this study. Data on diabetic and hypertensive patients—1433 in the intervention group and 926 in the control group—was extracted from patient files in the pre and postintervention periods. The intervention entailed weekly short message service messages, including medical information, importance of compliance, and reminders of appointments or regular physician follow-up. Internationally established care indicators were utilized in this study. Descriptive analysis of baseline characteristics of participants, bivariate analysis, logistic and linear regression were conducted using SPSS (IBM Corp). Results Bivariate analysis of quality indicators indicated that the intervention group had a significant increase in blood pressure control (P=.03), as well as a significant decrease in the mean systolic blood pressure (P=.02), mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c; P<.01), and in the proportion of HbA1c poor control (P=.02). Separate regression models controlling for age, gender, and setting showed a 28% increase in the odds of blood pressure control (P=.05) and a 38% decrease in the odds of HbA1c poor control (P=.04) among the intervention group in the posttest period. Females were at lower odds of HbA1c poor control (P=.01), and age was statistically associated with annual HbA1c testing (P<.01). Regression models for mean systolic blood pressure, mean diastolic blood pressure, and mean HbA1c showed that a mean decrease in HbA1c of 0.87% (P<.01) pretest to posttest period was observed among the intervention group. Patients in rural areas belonging to the intervention group had a lower HbA1c score as compared with those in refugee camps (P<.01). Conclusions This study underlines the importance of employing integrative approaches of diseases prevention and control in which existing NCD programs in underserved communities (ie, rural and refugee camps settings) are coupled with innovative, low-cost approaches such as mHealth to provide an effective and amplified effect of traditional NCD-targeted care that can be reflected by improved NCD-related health indicators among the population. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03580330; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03580330 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/70mhVEUwQ)

Mobile Mental Health Virtual Communities: Challenges and Opportunities

The need for technology-based therapy and psycho-education to treat depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses is in high demand as populations face many barriers when dealing with mental health. Technology-based programs, such as mobile Health (mHealth), open the door as an alternative to traditional therapy for those who would not otherwise have the ability to receive, or even seek out treatment. The use of mobile technologies such as smartphones, tablets, personal computers, mobile applications, and wireless networks, can allow the delivery of health care in a way that can reach a vast majority of the population. This chapter overviews the domain of mHealth in relation to mental health and virtual communities and provide a perspective of current opportunities and challenges.

A Health Virtual Community Perspective for Peripheral Arterial Disease

This paper summarizes the result of a survey conducted on 239 subject in Toronto to gauge their awareness of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) and educate them about it. The results show that awareness of PAD is scarce and that the campaign resulted in a significant increase in awareness. This intervention suggest that an e-education tool is of paramount importance to address the lack of awareness. The paper argues that a PAD Virtual Community might play a pivotal role in educating the public about PAD and providing a platform for awareness and prevention.