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Lessons learned from the delivery of virtual integrative oncology interventions in clinical practice and research during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Knoerl, R, Phillips, CS, Berfield, J, Woods, H, Acosta, M, Tanasijevic, A, Ligibel, J
Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer. 2021;(8):4191-4194
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The outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and subsequent need for disease transmission mitigation efforts have significantly altered the delivery of cancer care (e.g., rise of telemedicine), including within the field of integrative oncology. However, little has been described about how National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Centers have transformed integrative oncology care delivery in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this commentary is to describe the delivery of integrative oncology clinical services and conduct of research at The Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies and Healthy Living at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical services transitioned from an array of in-person appointment-based services, such as acupuncture and massage, and group programs, such as yoga and nutrition seminars to a combination of live-streamed and on-demand virtual group programs and one-on-one virtual appointments for services such as acupressure and self-care massage. Group program volume grew from 2189 in-person program patient visits in the 6 months prior to onset of the COVID pandemic to 16,366 virtual (e.g., live-streamed or on-demand) patient visits in the first 6 months of the pandemic. From a research perspective, two integrative oncology studies, focused on yoga and music therapy, respectively, were transitioned from in-person delivery to a virtual format. Participant accrual to these studies increased after the transition to virtual consent and intervention delivery. Overall, our clinical and research observations at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute suggest that the delivery of virtual integrative oncology treatments is feasible and appealing to patients. Trial Registration: NCT03824860 (Yoga); NCT03709225 (Music Therapy).
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Impact of teleophthalmology during COVID-19 lockdown in a tertiary care center in South India.
Ravindran, M, Segi, A, Mohideen, S, Allapitchai, F, Rengappa, R
Indian journal of ophthalmology. 2021;(3):714-718
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PURPOSE The aim of this study was to describe the experience of teleconsultations addressed at our hospital in India during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown. METHODS This cross-sectional hospital-based study included 977 teleconsultations presenting between April 1st and May 31, 2020. A two-level protocol was implemented to triage the calls. RESULTS Overall, 977 teleconsultation were addressed. Of the 621 teleconsultation addressed the most common queries were related to redness/pain/ watering/blurred vision/itching/irritation (52.49%), followed by queries related to medications (28.01%), appointments (18.84%) & 0.64% cited an emergency need to visit the hospital due to sudden loss of vision. The majority of the queries were directed to the department of cornea (58.93%) followed by retina (16.26%), cataract (13.04%), glaucoma (10.14%) & pediatric ophthalmology (1.61%). The most common advice given to the patient was related to medications (47.66%) followed by appointment-related queries (31.72%) & fixing of surgical appointment (20.61%). Among the 356 preterm babies that were screened, 57 (16.01%) were diagnosed with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Of them 3 required laser and 3 were given injection. CONCLUSION Teleconsultation is here to stay beyond the pandemic. WhatsApp was the preferred modality of communication for us. Teleophthalmology has given us insights to use this evolving technology to reach out to the population at large to provide eye care services. We believe that this mode of teleophthalmology has helped us in providing feasible eye care to the patients.
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Care of Pediatric Patients with Diabetes During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic.
Buggs-Saxton, C
Pediatric clinics of North America. 2021;(5):1093-1101
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This article summarizes clinical observations and management strategies in pediatric type 1 diabetes (T1D) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Despite initial fears that children with diabetes would, similar to adults with diabetes, be at risk for severe COVID-19, most pediatric patients with a history of T1D who developed COVID-19 had mild disease or were asymptomatic similar to their peers without diabetes. The article also summarizes the use of telemedicine to provide ongoing care for pediatric patients with T1D during the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, the article highlights important lessons learned about management of pediatric diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Management of patients with diabetes and obesity in the COVID-19 era: Experiences and learnings from South and East Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Giorgino, F, Bhana, S, Czupryniak, L, Dagdelen, S, Galstyan, GR, Janež, A, Lalić, N, Nouri, N, Rahelić, D, Stoian, AP, et al
Diabetes research and clinical practice. 2021;:108617
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The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major effect on healthcare during 2020. Current evidence suggests that, while individuals with diabetes and obesity are no more prone to SARS-CoV-2 infection than those without, the risk of hospitalisation if someone has diabetes or obesity and then contracts COVID-19 is three times higher - and 4.5 times higher if they have diabetes and obesity. We assembled a panel of experts from South and East Europe, the Middle East, and Africa to discuss the challenges to management of diabetes and obesity during and post the COVID-19 pandemic. The experience and learnings of this panel cover a heterogeneous patient population, wide range of clinical settings, healthcare organisations, disease management strategies, and social factors. We discuss the importance of timely and effective disease management via telemedicine, providing reassurance and guidance for patients unable or unwilling to visit healthcare settings at this time. We address the use of novel therapies and their role in managing diabetes and obesity during the pandemic, as well as the importance of controlling hypoglycaemia and preventing cardiovascular complications, particularly in vulnerable people. Finally, we consider post-COVID-19 management of diabetes and obesity, and how these learnings and experiences should impact upon future clinical guidelines.
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Evaluation of E-Health Applications for Paediatric Patients with Refractory Epilepsy and Maintained on Ketogenic Diet.
Costa, AM, Marchiò, M, Bruni, G, Bernabei, SM, Cavalieri, S, Bondi, M, Biagini, G
Nutrients. 2021;(4)
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E-health technologies improve healthcare quality and disease management. The aim of this study was to develop a ketogenic diet management app as well as a website about this dietary treatment and to evaluate the benefits of giving caregivers access to various web materials designed for paediatric patients with refractory epilepsy. Forty families participated in the questionnaire survey, from January 2016 to March 2016. All caregivers were exposed to paper-based materials about the ketogenic diet, whereas only 22 received the app, called KetApp, and videos produced by dieticians. Caregivers with free access to web materials were more satisfied than the others with the informative material provided by the centre (p ≤ 0.001, Mann-Whitney test). Indeed, they showed a better attitude towards treatment, and they became more aware of dietary management in comparison to the control group (p ≤ 0.001). Moreover, caregivers provided with web materials were stimulated to pursue the treatment (p = 0.002) and to introduce it to their children and other people (p = 0.001). Additionally, caregivers supplied with web materials were more willing to help other families in choosing the ketogenic diet (p = 0.004). Overall, these findings indicate that web materials are beneficial for caregivers of paediatric patients with refractory epilepsy in our centres. Thus, the use of e-health applications could be a promising tool in the daily aspects of ketogenic diet management, and it is especially of value in the attempt to start or maintain the diet during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
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People living with type 1 diabetes point of view in COVID-19 times (COVIDT1 study): Disease impact, health system pitfalls and lessons for the future.
Tejera-Perez, C, Moreno-Pérez, Ó, Rios, J, Reyes-García, R
Diabetes research and clinical practice. 2021;:108547
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AIMS: To analyse the effects of confinement among people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and their caregivers over the course of the COVID-19 crisis and to evaluate contemporary changes in medical assistance and patient preferences. METHODS An observational cross-sectional study designed as a self-reported web-based survey was conducted over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS A total of 769 subjects participated in the survey (603 people with T1D and 166 caregivers). Changes in glycaemic control were reported in 66% of cases, weight gain in 40.4% of cases and decreased exercise levels in 65.4% of cases. Of the cohort, 53% maintained contact with the healthcare team, and 23% received specific information related to COVID-19. Emotional support was requested by 17% of respondents. Regarding telemedicine, 97.9% agreed with its use with the following preferences regarding the future: telephone call (84.5%), video-call (60.6%) and platform devices (39.7%). CONCLUSIONS Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, at least two-thirds of people with T1D underwent changes in the management of their condition. Almost all participants agreed with the concept of telemedicine, favouring telephone and video calls as their preferred means of communication.
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COVID-19 Launches Retinal Telemedicine into the Next Frontier.
Raparia, E, Husain, D
Seminars in ophthalmology. 2021;(4):258-263
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INTRODUCTION Telemedicine in ophthalmology, and specifically in retinal diseases, has made significant advancements in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic has launched telehealth into a new era by creating demand from patients and physicians alike, while breaking down previous insurance, reimbursement, access and educational barriers. METHODS This paper reviews mulitple studies demonstrating the use of telemedicine in managing various retinal conditions before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION Moving forward, promising new devices and models of care ensure that tele-retinal care will continue to expand and become a vital part of how we screen, diagnose and monitor retinal diseases.
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Digital technology, tele-medicine and artificial intelligence in ophthalmology: A global perspective.
Li, JO, Liu, H, Ting, DSJ, Jeon, S, Chan, RVP, Kim, JE, Sim, DA, Thomas, PBM, Lin, H, Chen, Y, et al
Progress in retinal and eye research. 2021;:100900
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The simultaneous maturation of multiple digital and telecommunications technologies in 2020 has created an unprecedented opportunity for ophthalmology to adapt to new models of care using tele-health supported by digital innovations. These digital innovations include artificial intelligence (AI), 5th generation (5G) telecommunication networks and the Internet of Things (IoT), creating an inter-dependent ecosystem offering opportunities to develop new models of eye care addressing the challenges of COVID-19 and beyond. Ophthalmology has thrived in some of these areas partly due to its many image-based investigations. Tele-health and AI provide synchronous solutions to challenges facing ophthalmologists and healthcare providers worldwide. This article reviews how countries across the world have utilised these digital innovations to tackle diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, refractive error correction, cataract and other anterior segment disorders. The review summarises the digital strategies that countries are developing and discusses technologies that may increasingly enter the clinical workflow and processes of ophthalmologists. Furthermore as countries around the world have initiated a series of escalating containment and mitigation measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, the delivery of eye care services globally has been significantly impacted. As ophthalmic services adapt and form a "new normal", the rapid adoption of some of telehealth and digital innovation during the pandemic is also discussed. Finally, challenges for validation and clinical implementation are considered, as well as recommendations on future directions.
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Home-based or remote exercise testing in chronic respiratory disease, during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond: A rapid review.
Holland, AE, Malaguti, C, Hoffman, M, Lahham, A, Burge, AT, Dowman, L, May, AK, Bondarenko, J, Graco, M, Tikellis, G, et al
Chronic respiratory disease. 2020;:1479973120952418
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OBJECTIVES To identify exercise tests that are suitable for home-based or remote administration in people with chronic lung disease. METHODS Rapid review of studies that reported home-based or remote administration of an exercise test in people with chronic lung disease, and studies reporting their clinimetric (measurement) properties. RESULTS 84 studies were included. Tests used at home were the 6-minute walk test (6MWT, two studies), sit-to-stand tests (STS, five studies), Timed Up and Go (TUG, 4 studies) and step tests (two studies). Exercise tests administered remotely were the 6MWT (two studies) and step test (one study). Compared to centre-based testing the 6MWT distance was similar when performed outdoors but shorter when performed at home (two studies). The STS, TUG and step tests were feasible, reliable (intra-class correlation coefficients >0.80), valid (concurrent and known groups validity) and moderately responsive to pulmonary rehabilitation (medium effect sizes). These tests elicited less desaturation than the 6MWT, and validated methods to prescribe exercise were not reported. DISCUSSION The STS, step and TUG tests can be performed at home, but do not accurately document desaturation with walking or allow exercise prescription. Patients at risk of desaturation should be prioritised for centre-based exercise testing when this is available.
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The Impact of COVID-19 on Pediatric Adherence and Self-Management.
Plevinsky, JM, Young, MA, Carmody, JK, Durkin, LK, Gamwell, KL, Klages, KL, Ghosh, S, Hommel, KA
Journal of pediatric psychology. 2020;(9):977-982
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The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique circumstances that have the potential to both positively and negatively affect pediatric adherence and self-management in youth with chronic medical conditions. The following paper discusses how these circumstances (e.g., stay-at-home orders, school closures, changes in pediatric healthcare delivery) impact disease management at the individual, family, community, and healthcare system levels. We also discuss how barriers to pediatric adherence and self-management exacerbated by the pandemic may disproportionately affect underserved and vulnerable populations, potentially resulting in greater health disparities. Given the potential for widespread challenges to pediatric disease management during the pandemic, ongoing monitoring and promotion of adherence and self-management is critical. Technology offers several opportunities for this via telemedicine, electronic monitoring, and mobile apps. Moreover, pediatric psychologists are uniquely equipped to develop and implement adherence-promotion efforts to support youth and their families in achieving and sustaining optimal disease management as the current public health situation continues to evolve. Research efforts addressing the short- and long-term impact of the pandemic on pediatric adherence and self-management are needed to identify both risk and resilience factors affecting disease management and subsequent health outcomes during this unprecedented time.