About this Research Topic
Stroke survivors, often living with long-term disabilities and other underlying cardiovascular conditions or risk factors, are a unique population that may take great benefit from health status tracking using the recent advances in mobile-health (mHealth) technology. The need for mHealth technologies including hardware, software, as well as services, became more evident and valuable to solve issues related to stroke survivors, especially during the pandemic when access to traditional health services became more challenging. However, the implementation and acceptance of mHealth technologies in the life of stroke survivors are often hindered by the technical complexities of the devices, and by the motor control dysfunction, visuospatial impairments, and cognitive-perceptual deficits that often affect stroke survivors. Therefore, it is important to first understand the needs and perceptions of stroke survivors on mHealth technologies to improve acceptance and adherence rates to mHealth-based solutions.
Patients’ concerns regarding the sudden transition from traditional in-person office visits to entirely telestroke (telemedicine in stroke) virtual communications are not fully addressed, especially in underdeveloped areas and lower-income countries. Hence, methods to alleviate the communication barrier must be investigated. Moreover, prompt messages from mHealth solutions that were developed for subacute stroke treatment and secondary prevention, such as wearables for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation detection (a known risk factor for stroke), may produce psychological distress which should be more deeply considered when addressing the acceptance of mHealth technologies. Lastly, although mHealth rehabilitation applications are convenient for preventing further exacerbated impairment, most stroke survivors failed to adhere to the recommended recovery exercise provided by the mHealth application after a few weeks of usage. Therefore, it is critical to find a suitable way to promote the usage of mHealth platform and to improve the efficacy of the mHealth solutions in stroke survivors.
Our Research Topic aims to highlight the most recent advances in understanding the barriers to the implementation of mHealth technologies in stroke survivors, the newest technological solutions to improve the acceptance of mHealth devices, and the systematic diffusion of mHealth platforms to reduce the burden of stroke recurrence.
We welcome the submission of any type of manuscript supported by the journal (including Original Research, Review, etc.) pertaining but not limited to the following themes:
- Identify the stroke survivors’ attitudes, habits, and needs during telestroke consultations, telerehabilitation, and telehealth monitoring
- Identify the needs and benefits of mHealth for both stroke survivors and caregivers of stroke survivors
- Identify the changes in mental health / cognition among stroke survivors related to mHealth solutions
- Identify the improvement of mHealth system for effectively assisting stroke survivors
- Identify what is needed to prepare stroke survivors to engage with telehealth (e.g. this includes education and empowerment to undertake self-care and lifestyle modification, supported by telehealth)
- Identify examples of novel models of care delivery in which digital technology/telehealth plays an important role in supporting stroke survivors as well as healthcare professionals (e.g. decision support, remote monitoring, amongst other topics)
- Identify stroke survivors diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmias and how integrated digital technology pathways could support in improving outcomes
Dr. Na Jin Seo is a co-inventor on a patent for a Wearable device for improving tactile sensitivity (U.S. Patent No. US 10,071,015 B2). Dr. Eric Wade is a consultant for CipherSkin and ipCapital Group, and a co-inventor on a patent for an Ergonomic Cleaning Apparatus (U.S. Patent No. 5915869). Dong Han is a co-inventor on a patent for Heart Condition Treatment and Analysis (U.S. Patent No. US20220022765A1). The other Topic Editor declares no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.
Patients’ concerns regarding the sudden transition from traditional in-person office visits to entirely telestroke (telemedicine in stroke) virtual communications are not fully addressed, especially in underdeveloped areas and lower-income countries. Hence, methods to alleviate the communication barrier must be investigated. Moreover, prompt messages from mHealth solutions that were developed for subacute stroke treatment and secondary prevention, such as wearables for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation detection (a known risk factor for stroke), may produce psychological distress which should be more deeply considered when addressing the acceptance of mHealth technologies. Lastly, although mHealth rehabilitation applications are convenient for preventing further exacerbated impairment, most stroke survivors failed to adhere to the recommended recovery exercise provided by the mHealth application after a few weeks of usage. Therefore, it is critical to find a suitable way to promote the usage of mHealth platform and to improve the efficacy of the mHealth solutions in stroke survivors.
Our Research Topic aims to highlight the most recent advances in understanding the barriers to the implementation of mHealth technologies in stroke survivors, the newest technological solutions to improve the acceptance of mHealth devices, and the systematic diffusion of mHealth platforms to reduce the burden of stroke recurrence.
We welcome the submission of any type of manuscript supported by the journal (including Original Research, Review, etc.) pertaining but not limited to the following themes:
- Identify the stroke survivors’ attitudes, habits, and needs during telestroke consultations, telerehabilitation, and telehealth monitoring
- Identify the needs and benefits of mHealth for both stroke survivors and caregivers of stroke survivors
- Identify the changes in mental health / cognition among stroke survivors related to mHealth solutions
- Identify the improvement of mHealth system for effectively assisting stroke survivors
- Identify what is needed to prepare stroke survivors to engage with telehealth (e.g. this includes education and empowerment to undertake self-care and lifestyle modification, supported by telehealth)
- Identify examples of novel models of care delivery in which digital technology/telehealth plays an important role in supporting stroke survivors as well as healthcare professionals (e.g. decision support, remote monitoring, amongst other topics)
- Identify stroke survivors diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmias and how integrated digital technology pathways could support in improving outcomes
Dr. Na Jin Seo is a co-inventor on a patent for a Wearable device for improving tactile sensitivity (U.S. Patent No. US 10,071,015 B2). Dr. Eric Wade is a consultant for CipherSkin and ipCapital Group, and a co-inventor on a patent for an Ergonomic Cleaning Apparatus (U.S. Patent No. 5915869). Dong Han is a co-inventor on a patent for Heart Condition Treatment and Analysis (U.S. Patent No. US20220022765A1). The other Topic Editor declares no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.
Keywords: mobile health, post-stroke, acceptance, adherence, compliance, education, prevention
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