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Expert pathology consultation through the Internet: melanoma versus benign melanocytic tumours.

Twenty consecutive cases of melanocytic lesions were chosen from the archives of the archives of the institute of Anatomic Pathology at Santa Chiara Hospital, Trento. Representative images were acquired at a spatial resolution of 512 x 512 pixels, saved in IPEG format and delivered to the remote pathologist by multimedia internet electronic mail. Six cases were diagnosed as benign melanocytic lesions by the local pathologist. Of the 20 cases transmitted, each with an average of 5.3 images, the remote pathologist suggested a diagnosis of malignancy in nine cases while 10 cases were thought to be benign. In one case the images were not considered sufficient for diagnosis. Overall, the diagnostic agreement between local and remote pathologist was 79% (kappa = 0.58, P = 0.002). This preliminary study suggest that telepathology by internet electronic mail can be a valuable tool for remote consultation in dematopathology, as well as for other diagnostic fields where expert consultation is necessary.

Computer Communication Networks↗

Image selection in static telepathology through the Internet.

A telepathology study was carried out to examine the differences occurring when the images were selected by an experienced pathologist, a junior pathologist and a first-year resident. One hundred and fifty-five consecutive frozen-section pathology cases were collected and sent for consultation to a remote experienced pathologist using multimedia email. Local diagnoses (as reported in the files of the Institute, not from the image selector) and remote diagnoses (based on the images) were compared with those performed on paraffin-embedded sections. Acquisition time and number of selected images were recorded for each case and used to compare the different behaviour of the three local pathologists. Of the 155 cases sent by telepathology, four were considered insufficient for a diagnosis by the remote pathologist and thus the diagnosis was postponed. In the remaining 151 cases, the overall diagnostic agreement between remote and definitive diagnosis was 96.7%. The results indicate that in the routine diagnostic work of a frozen-section service, an inexperienced pathologist can select images which are sufficiently informative for a remote diagnosis, in a sufficiently short time.

Clinical Competence↗

The mobile hospital--an experimental telemedicine system for the early detection of disease.

To detect early disease, especially lung disease, we created a new telemedicine system, called the Mobile Hospital. It consists of a satellite or ground communication system using a large vehicle in which is installed a whole-body spiral computerized tomography scanner and a multimedia telecommunications system. The Mobile Hospital goes to small villages and carries out mass screening for early lung disease, especially lung cancer. It travelled over 8000 km from May 1996 to March 1997. In this period 6358 persons aged 50-85 years and younger heavy smokers were screened in the Matsumoto area. As a result, 37.7% of the subjects were suspected of having various latent lung diseases. The cost of medical treatment for the lung cancers detected by the Mobile Hospital was 44% of that for a conventional medical care group, and the length of hospital treatment with surgical operation was 30% of that of the conventional group.

Aged↗

Pixel perception and voxel vision: constructs for a new paradigm in maxillofacial imaging.

With the introduction of multimedia computed systems, a revolution equal in magnitude to the introduction of the air-turbine handpiece is presently under way in general dental practice. Alongside the introduction of new direct digital radiographic devices, dental imaging is expanding to include video, and optical impressions for Cad-Cam, all of which have common image processing needs. Hence, it is time for maxillofacial radiologists to decide what their role should be both during and after the change. This has major ramifications in terms of assignment of responsibilities between disciplines as the dental curriculum is redesigned to train the modern dentist.

Humans↗

Analysis of dietary intake of selected metals in the NHEXAS-Maryland investigation.

As part of a large pilot investigation of multimedia exposure to several classes of environmental contaminants, the National Human Exposure Assessment Survey (NHEXAS)-Maryland study, we collected 388 semiquantitative food checklists and duplicate diet solid food samples, analyzed for arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and lead concentrations, from 80 individuals in Maryland in 1995-1996 in a repeated measures design. Here we explore several methods to infer foods most strongly associated with concentrations of these metals observed in the duplicate diet in our data set. We employed two techniques in which logarithmically transformed metal concentrations in the duplicate diet were regressed on individual food item consumption using algorithms designed to identify the foods most associated with the observed duplicate diet concentrations. We also employed an alternative strategy in which foods to be used as independent variables in regression were selected using data collected in national food consumption and residue surveys, with regression procedures proceeding with the selected foods in a similar manner. The concordance of foods selected as major predictors among these three techniques is noteworthy and is discussed. Finally, the Dietary Exposure Potential Model (DEPM) was used with the Dietary Checklist data to predict duplicate diet concentrations within our sample. A comparison between the predicted values and those observed gave R(2) values of 0.180, 0.206, and 0.076 for As, Cd, and Pb, respectively (p < 0.0001 in all cases). We discuss the significance of these observations and the implications for dietary-exposure-based risk analysis and dietary intake epidemiology.

Arsenic↗

Children's exposure assessment: a review of factors influencing Children's exposure, and the data available to characterize and assess that exposure.

We review the factors influencing children's exposure to environmental contaminants and the data available to characterize and assess that exposure. Children's activity pattern data requirements are demonstrated in the context of the algorithms used to estimate exposure by inhalation, dermal contact, and ingestion. Currently, data on children's exposures and activities are insufficient to adequately assess multimedia exposures to environmental contaminants. As a result, regulators use a series of default assumptions and exposure factors when conducting exposure assessments. Data to reduce uncertainty in the assumptions and exposure estimates are needed to ensure chemicals are regulated appropriately to protect children's health. To improve the database, advancement in the following general areas of research is required: identification of appropriate age/developmental benchmarks for categorizing children in exposure assessment; development and improvement of methods for monitoring children's exposures and activities; collection of activity pattern data for children (especially young children) required to assess exposure by all routes; collection of data on concentrations of environmental contaminants, biomarkers, and transfer coefficients that can be used as inputs to aggregate exposure models.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Personal exposure meets risk assessment: a comparison of measured and modeled exposures and risks in an urban community.

Human exposure research has consistently shown that, for most volatile organic compounds (VOCs), personal exposures are vastly different from outdoor air concentrations. Therefore, risk estimates based on ambient measurements may over- or underestimate risk, leading to ineffective or inefficient management strategies. In the present study we examine the extent of exposure misclassification and its impact on risk for exposure estimated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) Assessment System for Population Exposure Nationwide (ASPEN) model relative to monitoring results from a community-based exposure assessment conducted in Baltimore, Maryland (USA). This study is the first direct comparison of the ASPEN model (as used by the U.S. EPA for the Cumulative Exposure Project and subsequently the National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment) and human exposure data to estimate health risks. A random sampling strategy was used to recruit 33 nonsmoking adult community residents. Passive air sampling badges were used to assess 3-day time-weighted-average personal exposure as well as outdoor and indoor residential concentrations of VOCs for each study participant. In general, personal exposures were greater than indoor VOC concentrations, which were greater than outdoor VOC concentrations. Public health risks due to actual personal exposures were estimated. In comparing measured personal exposures and indoor and outdoor VOC concentrations with ASPEN model estimates for ambient concentrations, our data suggest that ASPEN was reasonably accurate as a surrogate for personal exposures (measured exposures of community residents) for VOCs emitted primarily from mobile sources or VOCs that occur as global "background" source pollutant with no indoor source contributions. Otherwise, the ASPEN model estimates were generally lower than measured personal exposures and the estimated health risks. ASPEN's lower exposures resulted in proportional underestimation of cumulative cancer risk when pollutant exposures were combined to estimate cumulative risk. Median cumulative lifetime cancer risk based on personal exposures was 3-fold greater than estimates based on ASPEN-modeled concentrations. These findings demonstrate the significance of indoor exposure sources and the importance of indoor and/or personal monitoring for accurate assessment of risk. Environmental health policies may not be sufficient in reducing exposures and risks if they are based solely on modeled ambient VOC concentrations. Results from our study underscore the need for a coordinated multimedia approach to exposure assessment for setting public health policy.

Adult↗

The conceptual structure of the integrated exposure uptake biokinetic model for lead in children.

The integrated exposure uptake biokinetic model for lead in children was developed to provide plausible blood lead distributions corresponding to particular combinations of multimedia lead exposure. The model is based on a set of equations that convert lead exposure (expressed as micrograms per day) to blood lead concentration (expressed as micrograms per deciliter) by quantitatively mimicking the physiologic processes that determine blood lead concentration. The exposures from air, food, water, soil, and dust are modeled independently by several routes. Amounts of lead absorbed are modeled independently for air, food, water, and soil/dust, then combined as a single input to the blood plasma reservoir of the body. Lead in the blood plasma reservoir, which includes extracellular fluids, is mathematically allocated to all tissues of the body using age-specific biokinetic parameters. The model calculation provides the estimate for blood lead concentration for that age. This value is treated as the geometric mean of possible values for a single child, or the geometric mean of expected values for a population of children exposed to the same lead concentrations. The distribution of blood lead concentrations about this geometric mean is estimated using a geometric standard deviation, typically 1.6, derived from the analysis of well-conducted community blood studies.

Algorithms↗

Patient-provider partnerships in healthcare: enhancing knowledge translation and improving outcomes.

In the complex health arena, a key proposition is that no person acting alone is as effective as a team to drive best practices and outcomes. Another key factor supporting best outcomes is access to the best information to support best choices. Currently, stakeholders suffer from a paucity of real-world knowledge of actual practices and outcomes that allows care gaps to go undiscovered. A body of evidence indicates that measurement and timely feedback of actual practices can decrease the gaps between usual and best care. This is driven by the stakeholders' desire to be the best they can be, and it is enabled by the measured knowledge of where practices fall short of gold standards. The addition of patient partners to such communities of care offers promise of further acceleration and broader impact of knowledge translation and associated beneficial outcomes. For example, in the Improving Cardiac Outcomes in Nova Scotia (ICONS) community-based heart disease project, there was a marked decrease in rates of re-hospitalization over the five-year course of the project. This improvement was only very weakly, or not at all, related to traditional risk factors, such as the presence of multiple illnesses or older age, or to the use of efficacious medical therapies. However, ICONS provided an extensive and repeated multimedia communication among patients, families and providers of project goals, strategy and general news, as well as repeated measurements of practices and outcomes. One outcome of this shared knowledge may have been the reduced need for re-hospitalization. While exact cause-and-effect relationship remain uncertain, patient-provider integrated health networks appear feasible and offer promise for efficient knowledge creation and its population-effective translation. The model and its implementation may be improved by testing further locally responsive initiatives in innovative partnership clusters and by training more personnel resources in inter-professional settings.

Canada↗

The educational impact of a computer-based training tutorial on dementia in long term care for licensed practice nursing students.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether training with a multimedia tutorial would have an impact on LPN students' knowledge of dementia care, attitudes toward dementia care, and self-efficacy ratings. A total of 38 nursing students participated. Pre-post comparisons of outcome measures revealed significant improvements in knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy ratings. Results of post-training satisfaction and usability questionnaires indicate that participants found the tutorials easy to understand and easy to use. These data support the effectiveness of the dementia tutorial and the use of computer-based training in educating our long-term care workforce.

Adult↗

From alarm systems to smart houses.

The percentage of senior citizens in the Netherlands will rise in coming years. The expected percentage for the year 2010 of persons over age 65 in the total population is 15%. More persons over age 65 than ever before will continue to live in their own environment. Emergency response systems (ERS) can support independent living. The most common type of organization distributing ERS is a small, partly subsidized local alarm organization run by a social welfare office for the elderly. Government subsidy has been reduced in recent years which has motivated small organizations to join together into larger regional organizations in order to get a more solid financial base. On the other hand new semi-commercial and commercial organizations have come into being. These developments are part of the growing importance of home care, leading to more medical applications of ERS. User satisfaction with ERS is high. Portable triggers can enhance the effectiveness of the system. However, many users do not wear the portable trigger when feeling well. Future technical developments will result in multifunctionality of ERS-devices. In the long term the hardware of today will be integrated in a multimedia home terminal replacing the telephone. The portable trigger will remain the only specific hardware at home for ERS.

Aged↗

e-Learning Object Portals: a new resource that offers new opportunities for librarians.

e-Learning Object Portals are emerging as a new form of electronic information. Four portals most effective in providing health care information are identified: The Medical Library Association's Center of Research and Education (CORE), the Health Education Assets Library (HEAL), the American Academy of Medical College's MedEDPortal, and the Multimedia Education Resource for Learning and Online Teaching (MERLOT). Various user groups such as librarians, educators, and students are discussed, as well as their reasons for using e-learning object portals. New roles for librarians in promoting and developing these portals are also reviewed.

Computer-Assisted Instruction↗

Podcasting at the University of Virginia Claude Moore Health Sciences Library.

The Claude Moore Health Sciences Library co-sponsors a History of the Health Sciences Lecture Series in the fall and spring of each year. Each lecture is produced and recorded for the benefit of the University of Virginia Heath System and members of the surrounding community. In the fall of 2005, the Library decided to begin podcasting the lectures via the Internet. This article describes the investigation process for creating access to the content via podcast, Webcast, and direct download. The article also addresses how the Library is teaching podcasting in its annual Multimedia Bootcamp and exploring additional uses for podcasting. doi:10.1300/J115v26n01_02.

Access to Information↗

Technology and the sales force: Amach, Inc.

This paper explores the application of sales force technology by Amach, Inc. a Detroit based medical device firm. Sales force technology represents a variety of dynamic tools that can help the sales force. While these tools cannot replace the salesperson and generate deals from customers, they can enhance efficiency and effectiveness levels. Sales force technology can range from computer laptops, pagers, cellular phones, desktop personal computers and software for contact management, database management and multimedia presentations. The key for sales managers to remember is that these tools do not drive themselves and still need the skill of management to get the best results. Managerial suggestions and research ideas are presented.

Commerce↗

Identifying and assisting low-literacy patients with medication use: a survey of community pharmacies.

BACKGROUND: Nearly one-half of adult Americans have limited functional literacy skills. Low patient literacy is associated with poor medication adherence and health outcomes. However, little is known about how pharmacies address literacy-related needs among patrons. OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency with which pharmacies identify and provide appropriate assistance to patients with limited literacy skills and provide specific recommendations to help improve pharmacists' recognition of low health literacy, as well as strategies to improve adherence in this population. METHODS: Through a telephone-based survey of Atlanta-area pharmacies, we obtained information on (1) whether the pharmacy attempted to identify patients with limited literacy skills, (2) what measures were taken by the pharmacy to optimize the health care of low-literacy patients, especially with regard to medication adherence, and (3) what services the pharmacy offered to improve adherence in general. RESULTS: The response rate among eligible pharmacies was 96.8% (N = 30). Only 2 (7%) pharmacies reported attempting to identify literacy-related needs among their patrons. One of these facilities provided additional verbal counseling to assist low-literacy patients, and the other pharmacy involved family members, provided verbal counseling, and had patients repeat instructions to confirm comprehension. Most pharmacies reported availability of adherence aids that could help low-literacy patients if such patients were identified and targeted to receive additional assistance. These included verbal and written counseling (offered at 73% of pharmacies), packaging or organizing aids (27%), refill services (17%), and graphic or multimedia aids (13%). CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacies infrequently attempt to identify and assist patients with limited literacy skills.

Adult↗

Optimizing the number of steps in learning tasks for complex skills.

BACKGROUND: Carrying out whole tasks is often too difficult for novice learners attempting to acquire complex skills. The common solution is to split up the tasks into a number of smaller steps. The number of steps must be optimized for efficient and effective learning. AIM: The aim of the study is to investigate the relation between the number of steps provided to learners and the quality of their learning of complex skills. It is hypothesized that students receiving an optimized number of steps will learn better than those receiving either the whole task in only one step or those receiving a large number of steps. SAMPLE: Participants were 35 sophomore law students studying at Dutch universities, mean age=22.8 years (SD=3.5), 63% were female. METHOD: Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 computer-delivered versions of a multimedia programme on how to prepare and carry out a law plea. The versions differed only in the number of learning steps provided. Videotaped plea-performance results were determined, various related learning measures were acquired and all computer actions were logged and analyzed. RESULTS: Participants exposed to an intermediate (i.e. optimized) number of steps outperformed all others on the compulsory learning task. No differences in performance on a transfer task were found. A high number of steps proved to be less efficient for carrying out the learning task. CONCLUSIONS: An intermediate number of steps is the most effective, proving that the number of steps can be optimized for improving learning.

Adult↗

Is tobacco use a problem among deaf college students?

College students' tobacco use poses a significant public health problem. Effective intervention requires understanding of this behavior among race/ethnic, cultural, and linguistic collegiate subgroups, including deaf and hard of hearing collegians. Findings from a first-ever tobacco-related survey among this understudied population are reported. The authors used written questionnaires and the Interactive Video Questionnaire, a multimedia computer technology developed for use with the deaf and hard of hearing, to interview 241 volunteers on seven California college campuses. They found lower self-reported current smoking prevalence (14.5%) relative to collegians in the general population, but considerable ever smoking (65.1%) and multiple types of tobacco use (37.3%). The authors report on factors associated with tobacco use and on students' exposure to cigarette marketing, gaps experienced in receipt of antitobacco messages and services, and students' antitobacco intervention recommendations. Limitations of the research are described, including possible underreporting of participants' tobacco use.

Adolescent↗