Dataset Information

Digital Technology for Internet Access by Patients With Early-Stage Schizophrenia in Spain: Multicenter Research Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Digital technology and social networks are part of everyday life in the current internet age, especially among young people. To date, few studies have been published worldwide on the pattern of use of digital technology devices and applications in patients with early-stage schizophrenia and even fewer comparing them with healthy participants (not using data from general population surveys) from the same demographic areas. In Spain, no such study has been carried out.

Objective

The aim of this study was to analyze how patients with early-stage schizophrenia use internet and social networks compared with healthy participants matched by age and gender and also to examine which devices are utilized to access internet resources.

Methods

A cross-sectional, multicentric study was carried out through a semistructured interview asking about the use of digital technology devices and internet. The sample comprised 90 patients and 90 healthy participants. The semistructured interview was conducted on 30 outpatients and 30 healthy subjects in each of the 3 different cities (Madrid, Alicante, and Cuenca). Student t test was used for continuous variables and chi-square test for categorical variables. In the case of ordinal variables, nonparametric Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H tests for independent samples were performed to compare groups.

Results

The results indicated that a large proportion of patients with early-stage schizophrenia have access to different digital devices and use them frequently. In addition, both groups coincide in the order of preference and the purpose for which they use the devices. However, a lower frequency of use of most digital technology devices was detected in patients compared with healthy participants. In the case of some devices, this was due to the impossibility of access and not a lack of interest.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this is the first study to analyze patterns of internet access and use of digital technology devices and applications in Spanish patients with early-stage schizophrenia compared with healthy participants from the same demographic areas. The results on significant access and use of digital technology and internet shown in this cross-sectional study will allow enhanced and more efficient treatment strategies to be planned, utilizing digital technology devices, for patients with early-stage schizophrenia.

SUBMITTER: Fernandez-Sotos P

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6533031 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Digital Technology for Internet Access by Patients With Early-Stage Schizophrenia in Spain: Multicenter Research Study.

Fernández-Sotos Patricia P Fernández-Caballero Antonio A González Pascual P Aparicio Ana Isabel AI Martínez-Gras Isabel I Torio Iosune I Dompablo Mónica M García-Fernández Lorena L Santos José Luis JL Rodriguez-Jimenez Roberto R

Journal of medical Internet research 20190314 4

<h4>Background</h4>Digital technology and social networks are part of everyday life in the current internet age, especially among young people. To date, few studies have been published worldwide on the pattern of use of digital technology devices and applications in patients with early-stage schizophrenia and even fewer comparing them with healthy participants (not using data from general population surveys) from the same demographic areas. In Spain, no such study has been carried out.<h4>Object ...[more]

PMID: 30950798

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Project description:BackgroundIn recent years, there has been an increase in the use of digital technology for personal health and well-being. Previous research has revealed that these technologies might provide vulnerable populations, including those who are homeless, better access to health services and thus a greater chance of more personalized care.ObjectiveHowever, little is known about the relationship between technology and health among people experiencing homelessness in Central and Eastern Europe. This study is part of a series of studies by the Digital Health Research Group at Semmelweis University (Budapest, Hungary) in cooperation with the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta; it aims to assess the existing technological resources available for the homeless population and their health-related internet use characteristics to set the ground for potential health policy interventions, enabling better access to health services by strengthening the digital components of the existing health care system.MethodsBetween April 19, 2021, and August 11, 2021, a total of 662 people from 28 institutions providing social services for people experiencing homelessness in Budapest, Hungary, were surveyed about their access to digital tools and internet use patterns. For selected questions, the responses of a representative sample of the Hungarian population were used for comparison as the reference group. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify variables affecting internet use for health-related reasons.ResultsThe results demonstrated a considerable level of internet use in the homeless population; 52.9% (350/662) of the respondents used the internet frequently compared with 81.3% (1220/1500) of the respondents in the reference group. Among the homeless group, 69.6% (461/662) of the respondents reported mobile phone ownership, and 39.9% (264/662) of the respondents added that it had a smartphone function. Moreover, 11.2% (70/662) of the respondents had already used a health mobile app, and 34.6% (229/662) of the respondents had used the internet for medical purposes. On the basis of these characteristics, we were able to identify a broadly defined, digitally engaged group among people experiencing homelessness (129/662, 19.5%). This subpopulation was inclined to benefit from digitalization related to their personal health. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that internet use for health reasons was more significant for younger respondents, women, those with higher levels of education, and those with no chronic conditions.ConclusionsAlthough compared with the general population, health-related internet use statistics are lower, our results show that the idea of involving homeless populations in the digital health ecosystem is viable, especially if barriers to access are systematically reduced. The results show that digital health services have great promise as another tool in the hands of community shelters for keeping homeless populations well ingrained in the social infrastructure as well as for disease prevention purposes.

Project description:Despite of multiple systematic studies of schizophrenia pathogenesis, reconstruction of the mechanism established on proteomics, metabolomics, and genome-wide significant loci is still a challenging task. We suggested that advanced data for quantitative proteomics, metabolomics, and genome-wide association study (GWAS) may enhance the current evidence and fundamental knowledge about molecular pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Liquide chromatography and ultra-high-resolution mass-spectrometry were utilized for proteomic and metabolomic assay, and high throughput genotyping for the GWAS study. Proteomic and metabolomic results were quantitatively evaluated and overlayed on the GWAS data. After statistical analysis using R-package, the resulting features were associated in a multilayer mode with adjusted biological processes in a reconstructed unified map of molecular events. We have identified 20 DFE proteins that were validated on an independent cohort of patients that are significant for schizophrenia, including ALS, A1AG1, PEDF, VTDB, CERU, APOB, APOH, FASN, GPX3, etc. Almost half of them are new for schizophrenia. The metabolomic survey revealed 18 compounds most of which were the part transformation of tyrosine and steroids with the incline to androgens (androsterone sulfate, thyroliberin, thyroxine, dihydrotestosterone, androstenedione, cholesterol sulfate, metanephrine, dopaquinone, etc.) which were extracted as group-specific determinants that permits to isolate patients with schizophrenia. The GWAS assay revealed 52 loci were integrated into proteome-metabolome data as significantly implicated in schizophrenia. We integrated three layers of omics science (proteomics, metabolomics and GWAS) and quantitative analysis utilized systematic approach to reconstruct the proposed map of molecular events associated with the considered psychopathology. The resulting interplay between different layers emphasized strict implication of lipids metabolism, oxidative stress, imbalance in steroidogenesis and associated impartments of thyroid hormones and sex hormones interconnection. The proposed interplay map can give opportunity in the understanding how the regulation of distinct metabolic axis is achieved and what happens in proteome arrangements to produce a schizophrenia-specific pattern of pathology condition.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Web-based information and interventions for mental illness are increasingly being provided. There is an expectation that citizens have access to the internet and are competent in using technology. People with schizophrenia are often excluded from social engagement, have cognitive impairment, and have very limited income, all of which may reduce their use of technology. OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to investigate technology access, use of digital technology, and confidence in using technology among people with schizophrenia living in the community. METHODS:Face-to-face structured interviews with 50 people with schizophrenia (aged 18-65 years) living in the northern suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia, were conducted using an instrument designed to assess technology access and utilization. RESULTS:Most participants (42/50, 84%) owned a mobile phone, but only 58% (29/50) owned a smartphone. Two-thirds of participants (33/50, 66%) had access to the internet at home, using a smartphone or computer. Moreover, 40% (20/50) of participants used the internet at least daily, but 30% (15/50) of participants had never accessed the internet from any device. Approximately half of the participants (24/50, 48%) had never used Facebook. Participants rarely used community facilities (eg, libraries and cafes) to access the internet. There were no significant differences (P values ranged from .14 to .70) between younger participants (aged 18-34 years) and older participants (aged 35-64 years) in internet or smartphone access or confidence in using technology. CONCLUSIONS:Although the sample size of this study is small, it shows limited technology access, use of digital technology, and confidence in using technology among the participants. This could be a barrier to the online delivery of information and interventions for people with schizophrenia. To better understand the impacts of such technological disadvantage and potential disparities in access and use of online resources, prospective studies should recruit a larger sample size and include control subjects matched for socioeconomic disadvantage.

Dataset Information

Digital Technology for Internet Access by Patients With Early-Stage Schizophrenia in Spain: Multicenter Research Study.

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Digital Technology for Internet Access by Patients With Early-Stage Schizophrenia in Spain: Multicenter Research Study.

Similar Datasets

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