Mobile health round-up: August 2019

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eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth

NIHI launches SALTS study

The National Institute for Health Innovation is looking for GP practices to refer people to take part in a blood pressure lowering study using a SaltSwitch app.

The Salt ALTernatives Study (SALTS) will include 850 people with high blood pressure who will be randomly allocated to receive either a dietary salt reduction programme (SaltSwitch smartphone app + low sodium salt) or general information about heart-healthy eating.

The SaltSwitch app enables the user to scan the barcode of a packaged food and receive guidance on healthier, low salt alternatives.

SALTS began in June this year and has recruited 40 participants to date.

All participants are given a WiFi or SIM-enabled blood pressure monitor to provide home-based measures, collect two urine samples, and use a study smartphone app to scan household food purchases.

New app to combat antibiotic resistance challenges

Starship has developed an app to make prescribing antibiotics for children smarter and more efficient for paediatricians, as antibiotics resistance becomes an increasingly global challenge.

The Script for Paediatrics app brings over 250 separate web-based guidelines together, feeding into multiple algorithms that map a path for users to identify the correct antibiotic and treatment plan.

This helps ensure the most targeted antibiotic is prescribed, avoiding unnecessary broad-spectrum antibiotics – an essential component to reducing antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Since launching in March 2019 the app has been downloaded by more than 1300 individuals, including specialist paediatric clinicians as well as emergency medicine front-liners and general practitioners. Downloads have been recorded from clinicians in every DHB in the country.

Piki removes barriers to access with online services

The expansion of the government’s free youth mental health pilot, Piki, to include the Wairarapa DHB means young people living in rural settings will receive better mental health support, says associate health minister Julie Anne Genter.

Piki supports young people (18–25-year olds) with mild to moderate mental health and addiction needs.

It removes barriers to accessing help by offering self-referral via the Piki website, online and phone services as well peer support, because not everyone finds it easy to talk to their GP or a counsellor about their mental health and wellbeing.

The government says Piki is on track to help an estimated 10,000 young people with mild to moderate mental health and substance use challenges across the Wellington, Hutt and Wairarapa areas over the next two years.

OL@-OR@ finalists in design awards

The OL@-OR@ team have been named a finalist in the Best Design Awards 2019 Public Good category.

OL@-OR@ is a co-designed mobile health app aimed at supporting health and wellbeing for Māori and Pasifika communities. It is a collaborative project across a number of organisations: Toi Tangata, The Fono, South Waikato Pacific Islands Community Services and Auckland, Massey and Victoria Universities.

The annual awards run by the Designers Institute of NZ showcase excellence in graphic, spatial, productive, interactive and motion design.

OL@-OR@ project manager Jacqui Grey says, “It is an honour to be recognised for our hard work and achievements over the last four years. We have created something tangible, a product that can have real benefit for our communities and I am really proud of our team”.

Doctors need to ‘get above the noise’ on social media

Doctors need to be active on social media and other communication platforms to offset the noise of the anti-science movement, according to a visiting professor of anaesthesiology, Ed Mariano from Stanford University in the US.

Mariano spoke at the New Zealand Anaesthesia Annual Scientific Meeting in Queenstown from August 21–24 on the role of social media and medicine. He says there has been a growing anti-science movement and physicians have a moral imperative to stand up for science and evidence-based treatments.

“Surveys show that physicians are one of the most trusted professions in the eyes of the public. Yet most people in the world today get their information, including health information, from the internet,” says Mariano.

“We have to be there to offset the noise. We can’t ignore where our patients get their information, and we can join the conversation.”

If you would like to provide feedback on this news story please contact the editor Rebecca McBeth .

Read related news:

Mobile health round-up: July

Mobile health round-up: May 

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