**Scoring is only possible in the semifinals hall**

**Abstract:**



Depression and Anxiety - Diagnosis and Management in Primary Care:
Alternate Therapy Modalities: A Review

Introduction-
The internet has become a prominent tool for patients, with an estimated 80% of Americans having turned to the internet for health information. The Literacy Project proports that over half of Americans would struggle to read a book written beyond an 8th grade reading level. Studies have found association between poor patient understanding and worse outcomes and decreased patient satisfaction.

To combat these issues related to the readability of patient education materials, The American Medical Association (AMA) recommends patient health information be written at a 6th grade reading level. Previous studies into the readability of online patient information on a wide variety of topics have revealed much online patient education materials surpass this recommendation. With one recent study of the readability of online patient information on the topic of appendectomies was 12th-14th grade, well beyond the abilities of the average American reader and AMA recommendations. 

Because caring for a surgical wound is a prolonged process and often involves at home care, online resources on this topic may particularly useful to patients. Despite this, investigations into the readability of these sources are lacking. This study provides formal assessment of the current state of the readability of online patient education materials on the topic of surgical wound care.

Methods-
A google search for “surgical wound care” was done with a cleared browser. The first 30 results to meet criteria were analyzed. Advertisements, audiovisual resources, and scientific/professional articles were excluded.

The analysis tool readable.com was used to obtain Flesch Kincaid Grade Level Scores and Gunning Fog Index Scores (measures of grade level required to read) as well as Flesch Reading Ease Scores (measure of general ease of read). Average scores with 95% confidence intervals were calculated to compare to recommended reading levels. Associations between readaility and source were also explored.

Results-
Average Flesch Kincaid Grade Level Score was 6.8 95% CI [6.1, 7.5] and average Gunning Fog Index Score was 8.9 95% CI [8.1, 9.7]. The average Flesch Reading Ease Score was 65.3 95% CI [60.9, 69.7], with scores over 60 indicating overall easy readability. Only 10% (3/30) Flesch Reading Ease Score were above 80. (12/30) met AMA recommendations by Flesch Kincaid grade scores, but none met AMA recommendations by Gunning Fog Index Score. 

Information sources could be categorized as; health information websites, government affiliated organizations, hospitals/health systems, private clinics, and others (ie- insurance company). These categorizations aren’t completely mutually exclusive.

There was no statistical difference in scores between organizations with/without government affiliation. 

Conclusions-
Flesch Kincaid Grade Level Scores indicated nearly half (12/30) met AMA criteria, but Flesch Reading Ease Scores and Gunning Fox Grade Level Scores indicated 3/30 and 0/30 met AMA guidelines, respectively. While this is considerable variance, it resulted from a difference of only 2.1 grade levels between average scores of the different grade level calculation methods. Additionally, half of all materials were still within 2.3 grade levels of AMA recommendations based on Gunning Fox Grade Level Scores. Taken together, this likely indicates that there is a proportion of patient information materials that meet AMA guidelines, but the majority still do not meet AMA recommendations and a significant number of people would likely have some trouble with them. 

While there is inherent complexity to medical topics, there are many simple ways to improve the readability of any writing. These include things like removing unnecessary words and breaking up longer sentences. Given the large number of patient education materials within a couple grade levels of the AMA guideline, simple modifications to writing techniques like these may bring a significant proportion into compliance.


Readability Assessment of Online Patient Education Materials on Surgical Wound Care

Background: About half of Minneapolis VA patients reside in rural areas, receiving their primary care at a Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). Although some CBOC’s are over 200 miles away, patients must travel to the Twin Cities for surgical services. 

Methods: The 167 consecutive patients who opted for telehealth postoperative visits were surveyed. Data collected included travel time and distance to the Minneapolis VA and their local CBOC, need for transportation assistance to the clinic/VA, complications as a result of telehealth and a 1-10 overall satisfaction score. 

Results: Respondents reported a mean + SD satisfaction score of 9.60 ± 1.20, with a mean cost savings of $51.94 ± $40.92, decrease in travel time of 99.4 ± 76.58 minutes and no post-surgical complications missed. 

Conclusions: The telehealth program appears to be safe, saves time and money for veterans and results in extremely high patient satisfaction.


Efficacy of Telehealth for Postoperative Visits at the Minneapolis VA

Robotic assisted surgery (RAS) is a form of minimally invasive surgery. During RAS, surgical instruments are connected to a robotic system that is controlled by a surgeon located at an isolated console. Although RAS has advantages such as faster recovery times and less post-operative pain for patients, there are challenges that the technology brings to the operating room such as changes in workflow and space constraints. Therefore, we sought to understand expert perspectives on current and future challenges of surgical team members during the use of RAS. This study aims to identify expert perceptions of RAS for potential future opportunities and improvements for RAS workflow. In-person observations were conducted to learn more about the overall process and workflow of RAS. Focus groups were conducted with eleven surgical techs, eight circulating nurses, and two medical administrations. The focus group questions were used for insights on staff demographics, RAS experience between different hospitals, built environments, training, and interactions. These results were then used to perform a thematic analysis, and the following themes emerged: training, usability, communication, environment, management, and scheduling. These themes were further broken down into subthemes. Definitions and quotes were used to help define each subtheme. Further thematic analysis needs to be conducted to gain additional perspectives from other RAS operating room team members.

Integrating Expert Perspectives On Current and Future Challenges for Robotic Assisted Surgery (RAS) Workflow

COVID-19 Impacts on Telepractice in Speech-Language Pathology in Oregon

Fraud and Credentialing in Telehealth and Medicine

Tele nursing services for COVID-19 patients in home isolation in Nepal

Remote Friendship: Connecting Brain Injury Survivors and College Students

Investigation of AAC Coursework Across Accredited Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Programs

Parents’ and caregivers' perspectives on transition to tele-AAC during COVID-19

Engaging with Stakeholders to Adapt An Early Language Intervention for Telepractice In Rural Oregon

Teletherapeutic devices enable new possibilities to track the therapy process by gathering and visualizing training statistics. For the therapist this can mean a quicker but also a deeper look at the therapy results. For the patient, the right presentation of data can foster the motivation and adherence to the therapy. In an iterative user centered design process, requirements of data visualization were gathered and the developed solution was validated with health professionals. For the therapists, the most important part is to have a comprehensive overview of conducted exercises and training duration. For the patient, the visualization should be simple and motivative. Further validation, especially with patients is needed.

Underline digital video library

Depression and Anxiety - Diagnosis and Management in Primary Care: Alternate Therapy Modalities: A Review

Readability Assessment of Online Patient Education Materials on Surgical Wound Care

Efficacy of Telehealth for Postoperative Visits at the Minneapolis VA

Integrating Expert Perspectives On Current and Future Challenges for Robotic Assisted Surgery (RAS) Workflow

COVID-19 Impacts on Telepractice in Speech-Language Pathology in Oregon

Fraud and Credentialing in Telehealth and Medicine

Tele nursing services for COVID-19 patients in home isolation in Nepal

Remote Friendship: Connecting Brain Injury Survivors and College Students

Investigation of AAC Coursework Across Accredited Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Programs

Parents’ and caregivers' perspectives on transition to tele-AAC during COVID-19

Engaging with Stakeholders to Adapt An Early Language Intervention for Telepractice In Rural Oregon

Telerehabilitation Platform REHA2030: Visualization of training statistics for patient and therapist

Stay up to date with the latest Underline news!

PRESENTATIONS

CONFERENCES

COMPANY

RESOURCES