Studies in health technology and informatics
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While telemedicine is now well established in many areas of medical practice, it is only beginning to create impact in some of the more complex medical applications such as critical care. New systems based on advanced technologies such as the Virtual Critical Care Unit and the eICU have recently successfully demonstrated the provision of critical care services from a distance in emergency and intensive care respectively. These specialties make particular demands on a telemedicine system, and studies in computer supported collaborative work as well as studies of work practices suggest that there is a minimum threshold of technology complexity for supporting such applications. ⋯ Other systems rely on complex physiological models. These approaches exemplify two trends in telemedicine systems of the future, with enhanced immersiveness creating a high sense of presence, and ready access to structured patient-specific data providing assistance to decision support. The future of telemedicine technology may see a convergence of these two trends.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2008
Computer-assisted Cobb angle measurement on posteroanterior radiographs.
The Cobb angle method is the gold standard to assess severity of scoliosis. A computer-aided method was developed to provide a semi-automatic Cobb angle measurement during a scoliosis clinic. This study was to evaluate the reliability and accuracy of the developed method. ⋯ For each curve type, the inter-method, inter-observer, and intra-observer variability were analyzed by Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC[2,1]). The ICC values were higher than 0.90 in all these types. The developed method was reliable to measure the Cobb angle and was not dependent on the curve type.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2008
Comparative StudySagittal alignment correction of the thoracolumbar junction in idiopathic scoliosis by in situ bending technique.
A long thoracolumbar sagittal rectitude is sometimes present in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. The purpose of this study was to identify typical patterns, by comparing frontal plane deformities and vertebral rotation leading to this rectitude. Surgical thoracolumbar alignment correction by three-dimensional in situ bending of rods was then analyzed. ⋯ In situ bending realizes a stepwise correction of the three-dimensional deformity at different levels. An accurate preoperative analysis is mandatory to achieve an adequate sagittal balance, frontal curve correction and vertebral derotation simultaneously. The determined patterns of thoracolumbar rectitude are helpful to plan surgical correction accurately.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2008
Comparative StudyErgonomically designed kneeling chairs are they worth it? : Comparison of sagittal lumbar curvature in two different seating postures.
General agreement among researchers suggests that poor seating posture may predispose individuals to developing low back pain. A variety of methods such as ergonomically designed chairs have been developed to assist people to maintain good posture and preserve the 'natural' lumbar curve. The aim of this study was to compare lumbar curvature on an ergonomically designed kneeling chair (EKC) with that on a standard computer chair (SCC), with reference to the standing lumbar curvature. ⋯ There was also a statistically significant difference between the two seated positions (p<0.05). This study suggests that ergonomically designed kneeling chairs set at +20 degrees inclination do maintain standing lumbar curvature to a greater extent than sitting on a standard computer chair with an overall mean difference of 7.633 degrees. Further research with a greater number of subjects and on different chair designs is warranted.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2008
Using a low-cost simulation approach for assessing the impact of a medication administration system on workflow.
This paper describes the analysis of the impact of a medication administration system on clinical workflow. The methodological framework employed was based on in-depth analysis of simulated user interactions with a medication administration system. ⋯ Methodological considerations and issues in conducting such studies are discussed. The study indicated that use of the system would have a significant impact on nurse and physician workflow and that this impact could be accurately identified using simulation approaches prior to widespread release of such systems in real clinical environments.