Telemedicine

This research aims to evaluate whether creating dedicated HIV teams in hospitals across ten European countries can increase HIV testing rates among patients showing signs of HIV-related conditions. The study uses a stepped-wedge design, where hospitals switch from routine care to the new intervention in sequence. This approach compares outcomes before and after the teams are in place, helping to understand the impact of the intervention across various locations and medical specialties. The intervention involves establishing local HIV teams led by specialists and supported by nurses and data experts. These teams identify patients needing HIV tests through electronic health records, provide feedback to doctors to encourage testing, offer education to healthcare staff about HIV, reduce stigma, and improve connections to prevention and care services. This program integrates smoothly into regular hospital routines and aims to close gaps in HIV diagnosis. Participants' HIV testing rates will be monitored by reviewing records before and after the intervention. Researchers will also assess new HIV diagnoses, changes in testing patterns by country and specialty, and healthcare professionals' knowledge and attitudes toward HIV. The study includes ongoing evaluation of how well the teams operate, resource use, and cost-effectiveness. Data collection extends up to several years to observe long-term effects, with continuous monitoring of care access and prevention services.

This research aims to evaluate how full-arch implant-supported prostheses affect lip support in patients undergoing complex dental rehabilitation. The study focuses on how different clinical and laboratory decisions between diagnosis and prosthesis delivery may influence the prosthetic design and the patient's facial profile. Advanced 3D facial scanning and superimposition techniques allow precise measurement of vertical occlusion and lip support. Participants will undergo removal of their full-arch implant-supported prostheses, with digital facial images captured before and after this procedure using a facial scanner. This observational study leverages modern digital technology to measure changes objectively and does not involve experimental treatments. During the study, researchers will assess changes in the volume around the mouth area, distances between the lips and esthetic lines on the facial profile, and angles related to the nose and lips. These measurements occur on the same day as the prosthesis removal. The study helps improve understanding of facial changes related to dental prostheses and involves participants collaborating with the research protocol through imaging and clinical assessments.

Childhood obesity is a growing global health concern linked to serious health problems such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, certain cancers, and mental health challenges. Researchers are evaluating a digital support system called Evira to help improve treatment outcomes for children with obesity. This randomized controlled study aims to assess the effects of adding Evira to the usual lifestyle treatment for childhood obesity in children aged 4 to 17 years. The study compares two groups: one receiving Evira Care combined with standard lifestyle treatment, and the other receiving standard lifestyle care alone. Evira Care involves daily weight monitoring at home using a special scale connected to a mobile app and website, allowing parents and clinicians to track weight changes and communicate easily. The intervention group will receive guidance on how to use the system and make feasible lifestyle changes, with weight targets set for the first three months. The control group continues with standard care without restrictions on visits or clinical support. Participants will be involved for 12 months, undergoing clinical exams including puberty assessment, cardio-respiratory, thyroid, skin, and abdominal checks, along with measurements of weight, height, and blood pressure. Blood tests may be done as needed. All participants will complete questionnaires about quality of life, eating disorders, and treatment satisfaction. Researchers will monitor weight change as the primary outcome, along with treatment compliance and psychosocial health measures, while collecting information on any side effects.

Researchers are studying the WE BEAT program, a 5-week online group-based wellbeing and skill-building program designed for adolescents aged 12 to 17 with moderate to severe congenital heart disease (CHD). The trial aims to see if this program helps participants become more resilient and improves their quality of life compared to usual care. It also examines potential links between participant-reported psychosocial data and clinical outcomes related to CHD. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the WE BEAT program or usual care. After completing the 5-week program, those in the intervention group will be further randomized to receive either a single booster session at week 18 or no booster session. The booster session reviews all skills introduced in the original program. The usual care group will continue their standard treatment without the WE BEAT program. Throughout the approximately 6-month study, all participants will complete four online surveys and provide hair and saliva samples at multiple timepoints. Some may also volunteer for optional blood and urine samples. Researchers will measure resilience using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and assess various psychosocial and biological markers of stress and wellbeing. The study includes ongoing data collection at baseline, week 5, week 18, and week 30 to track outcomes and safety.

This research aims to evaluate whether using an ambient artificial intelligence (AI) scribe called Voa Health can reduce documentation workload and improve physician well-being and patient experience in outpatient clinics. The study compares usual documentation methods with documentation assisted by the AI scribe. The trial is randomized and conducted in multiple outpatient clinics across various medical specialties. The AI scribe records the audio of consultations and generates a draft clinical note using specialty-specific templates that match the clinic's workflow. Physicians then review, edit, and sign this draft in the electronic medical record. In the control group, physicians document visits using their usual methods without AI support, though audio may still be recorded for study purposes. After each visit, both physicians and patients complete brief questionnaires about workload, well-being, communication, empathy, and satisfaction. Participants will have their consultations audio recorded and complete questionnaires immediately after visits. Physicians' documentation workload, professional fulfillment, burnout, and note quality are measured, along with patient-reported experience and satisfaction. Additional monitoring includes timing for documentation and any AI-related errors. Data are securely stored, and an independent committee monitors safety and protocol adherence. The study will provide insight into the practical use and impact of ambient AI scribes in real-world outpatient care.

Increasing heat exposure caused by climate change is affecting communities worldwide, especially those living in poor housing conditions such as informal settlements and low-income households. This research aims to study the impact of applying sunlight-reflecting cool roof coatings on indoor temperatures and overall health. The trial is a global, multi-center, cluster-randomized controlled study conducted in five urban climate hotspots across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania, where heat exposure and vulnerable housing conditions pose significant health risks. The study compares households that receive a cool roof coating, which reflects sunlight and reduces indoor heat, with those that keep their original roofs. The cool roof coating works by reflecting ultraviolet and visible sunlight and radiating absorbed heat, thus lowering indoor temperatures and energy use. The trial will run over a 12-month period, including the hottest months of the year, to measure the effects on health, indoor environment, and economic outcomes. Participants will undergo repeated measurements including resting heart rate, blood glucose control, depression symptoms, and various health and environmental factors over the course of the study. Data will be collected at baseline and multiple times during the hottest months and alternate months. Researchers will monitor indoor air temperature, humidity, heat index, and household energy use continuously. The study seeks to provide evidence on whether cool roofs can improve physical, mental, and social wellbeing in vulnerable populations facing extreme heat.

Researchers are investigating how physical activity and sedentary behavior relate to the development of additional chronic diseases and complications in patients with long-term health conditions. This study aims to identify a specific activity pattern or "digital signature" that could predict new health issues before they appear. The focus is on patients with various chronic diseases including inflammatory rheumatic diseases, osteoarthritis, major depressive and bipolar disorders, type 2 diabetes, obesity, COPD, and chronic pain. The study involves 700 patients followed over 4 years in a monocentric prospective cohort design. Participants will wear accelerometers three times a year for 5 days to precisely measure their movements and sedentary time. Annual visits will collect clinical data, assess physical capacity through tests like the 6-minute walk and hand grip, and involve questionnaires about pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, quality of life, and other factors. Additional disease-specific data will also be gathered. Throughout the study, researchers will monitor the occurrence of new comorbidities yearly, correlating these with the recorded physical activity patterns. Electronic patient-reported outcomes will be collected every 4 months to assess health status, lifestyle, and psychological well-being. The main outcomes include identifying the digital signature of activity and sedentary lifestyle linked to new comorbidities after 4 years. Safety and ongoing health status will be regularly evaluated during the follow-up period.

Researchers are evaluating SHAReClinic, a national virtual Sexual Health and Rehabilitation eClinic designed to support prostate cancer patients and their partners. This observational study aims to assess SHAReClinic's impact on improving sexual function, satisfaction, relational intimacy, and overall sexual health after prostate cancer treatment. The goal is to determine SHAReClinic's effectiveness across multiple cancer centers and its role in supporting long-term sexual well-being for patients and couples. Participants will have access to guided education modules and sexual health counseling through SHAReClinic as part of their usual care. The program includes a bio-medical component focused on erectile rehabilitation and a psychological component to maintain or restore intimacy. The study follows patients from before treatment through 12 months post-treatment, with virtual clinic visits scheduled at key recovery milestones, including 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 4 months, 6 months, and 12 months after treatment. Participants will complete questionnaires at baseline, 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months to assess sexual function, distress, intimacy, and quality of life. Each virtual clinic visit lasts about 30 minutes and involves a sexual health coach who provides support via phone or video calls. Patients can also engage with a Q&A platform and request additional check-in calls. Researchers will monitor patient satisfaction, enrollment, adherence, and data quality throughout the study, which facilitates ongoing evaluation of SHAReClinic's role in sexual health rehabilitation.

This research aims to implement and evaluate a 13-week Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) skills training program to improve mental health and wellbeing in people who have recently started facility-based hemodialysis or are expected to start within the next 6 to 12 months. The study addresses common mental health challenges faced by people with kidney disease, such as loss of control, lack of acceptance, distrust in healthcare, dialysis symptoms, and feeling overwhelmed. The program is designed to provide peer support and teach skills in mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Participants will join one of two 13-week group DBT sessions led by a licensed clinical psychologist trained in DBT. The first group meets weekly in person at a hospital setting, while the second group may be offered virtually using MS Teams after feedback from the first session. Each weekly session lasts up to 2 hours and includes social time with other participants and trained co-facilitators. Participants will receive weekly reminders and program materials, including worksheets and videos, in formats they prefer. During the study, participants will complete 8 short questionnaires about their mental health, coping skills, anxiety, resilience, sleep, pain, anger, and overall wellbeing before starting the program, at 6 weeks, and after the 12-week program ends. They will also complete a feedback questionnaire at the study's conclusion. The total time commitment is approximately 36 to 39 hours, including sessions, homework, and assessments. Researchers will monitor the feasibility of the DBT program and assess changes in mental health symptoms and participants' experiences.

Researchers are evaluating the safety and performance of remote monitoring functions in ALIZEA, BOREA, and CELEA pacemakers for patients with bradycardia. This observational clinical investigation focuses on the devices' Right Atrial Autothreshold (RAAT), Right Ventricular Autothreshold (RVAT), and remote alert features. The study aims to document these functions over time to better understand their reliability and safety. Participants will be included soon after pacemaker implantation and followed for 48 months. Follow-up visits occur both on-site and remotely at 1 to 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 24 months, and 48 months after inclusion. During these visits, the remote monitoring functions and the pacing system's performance will be measured, and safety will be continuously monitored throughout the study. Throughout the study, researchers will assess cardiac pacing thresholds, technical remote alerts, and the usability of the pacemaker and remote monitoring systems. Evaluations include Right Atrial and Right Ventricular pacing thresholds at multiple timepoints up to 48 months. Participants will undergo scheduled check-ins involving measurements, monitoring, and safety assessments, with the total study duration lasting four years after enrollment.