The implementation of people-centred care requires strategies that respond to local conditions and contexts, with the participation of local stakeholders in collaborative approaches such as co-design. Within this framework, the authors performed a literature review to identify the most implemented practices in health and social care services for co-designing digital solutions. The literature review was conducted following five steps: (i) Definition of the Keywords and their relations; (ii) Definition of the selection criteria; (iii) Search in PubMed; (iv) Selection of papers; and (v) Analysis of the selected papers. 20 papers addressed to co-design health digital solutions with stakeholders were analysed in terms of the activities implemented and participants involved. Previous studies using co-design methods for the deployment of health digital solutions employed a wide range of activities, most of them combining activities and/or mixed target groups. Co-design is the key to deliver people-centred care as it allows to involve stakeholders in the development of health digital solutions. Implementing one or more of the co-design methods identified in this literature review should be considered to better address the needs and specific projects and target groups.

Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA) technology significantly advances the diagnostics of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), providing rapid, isothermal, and minimally preparative testing ideally suited for under-resourced countries. This review critically assesses the current applications, limitations, and potential of RPA for detecting a broad spectrum of NTD pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, helminths, and fungi. The ability of RPA to operate under constant temperature conditions without the need for complex thermal cycling facilitates rapid pathogen detection within minutes, enhancing its utility for decentralized point-of-care testing in remote and underserved regions. RPA, however, faces limitations, including the labor-intensive and costly validation of primer design, especially for multiplex assays, and a susceptibility to nonspecific amplification. These challenges highlight the need for continuous refinement to ensure reliable and consistent performance across diverse environmental conditions. Despite these constraints, the scalability of RPA assays and their compatibility with portable detection platforms make them well-suited for deployment in field settings without access to traditional laboratory infrastructure. This review emphasizes the transformative potential of RPA in NTD diagnostics, enhancing accessibility, precision, and timeliness of interventions, ultimately contributing to improved global public health outcomes.

The global food packaging industry faces severe environmental challenges due to its reliance on plastics and the growing demand for convenience. In Europe, food packaging alone accounts for 40.5% of all plastic production, yet only 35% of this waste is recycled. The purpose of this study is to examine business models, technological innovations (like AI, IoT, and blockchain) and the relation with customers to support the transition to a circular economy in food packaging. The research focuses on models such as Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) and reusable and returnable packaging systems, evaluating their potential to minimize environmental impact. A key aspect of the investigation is consumer behavior. While consumers express a preference for sustainable options, actual purchasing decisions often prioritize cost and convenience. The study explores how emerging technologies are transforming packaging design by enhancing product safety and improving supply chain transparency. Additionally, regulatory frameworks, particularly within the European Union, such as the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) and the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP), are driving industry-wide changes toward sustainability. However, disparities in adoption and regulatory compliance on a global scale present significant challenges to implementation. The outcome of this study is a set of strategic recommendations aimed at policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers. These recommendations emphasize the importance of harmonizing global regulations to support sustainable packaging practices, increasing investment in innovation and infrastructure, and balancing the relation between industry and consumers to bridge the gap between intention or preferences and action or behavior.

This study analyses the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a group-based multicomponent physical exercise programme aimed at reducing the risk of falling and frailty in community-dwelling older adults. This is a pretest–posttest non-equivalent control group design, with an intervention group and a comparison group. Participants were evaluated at baseline and after 9 months. The effectiveness analyses showed significant reduction in the risk of falling (−45.5%; p = 0.000) and frailty (−31%; p = 0.000) after the intervention for the participants in the physical exercise programme. Moreover, these participants showed an improvement in limitations in activities of daily living, self-care ability and the use of health resources, physical performance, balance and body mass index. The cost-effectiveness analyses showed that the intervention was cost-saving and more effective than usual care scenario. A novel group-based multicomponent physical exercise programme showed to be more effective and cost-effective than usual care for older adults suffering from risk of falling and frailty.

Background: Older people receive care from multiple providers which often results in a lack of coordination. The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) enabled value-based methodology for integrated care (ValueCare) project aims to develop and implement efficient outcome-based, integrated health and social care for older people with multimorbidity, and/or frailty, and/or mild to moderate cognitive impairment in seven sites (Athens, Greece; Coimbra, Portugal; Cork/Kerry, Ireland; Rijeka, Croatia; Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Treviso, Italy; and Valencia, Spain). We will evaluate the implementation and the outcomes of the ValueCare approach. This paper presents the study protocol of the ValueCare project; a protocol for a pre-post controlled study in seven large-scale sites in Europe over the period between 2021 and 2023. Methods: A pre-post controlled study design including three time points (baseline, post-intervention after 12 months, and follow-up after 18 months) and two groups (intervention and control group) will be utilised. In each site, (net) 240 older people (120 in the intervention group and 120 in the control group), 50–70 informal caregivers (e.g. relatives, friends), and 30–40 health and social care practitioners will be invited to participate and provide informed consent. Self-reported outcomes will be measured in multiple domains; for older people: health, wellbeing, quality of life, lifestyle behaviour, and health and social care use; for informal caregivers and health and social care practitioners: wellbeing, perceived burden and (job) satisfaction. In addition, implementation outcomes will be measured in terms of acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, fidelity, and costs. To evaluate differences in outcomes between the intervention and control group (multilevel) logistic and linear regression analyses will be used. Qualitative analysis will be performed on the focus group data. Discussion: This study will provide new insights into the feasibility and effectiveness of a value-based methodology for integrated care supported by ICT for older people, their informal caregivers, and health and social care practitioners in seven different European settings. Trial registration: ISRCTN registry number is 25089186. Date of trial registration is 16/11/2021.

Introduction: Engagement and co-production in healthcare research and innovation are crucial for delivering person-centred interventions in underserved communities, but the knowledge of effective strategies to target this population is still vague, limiting the provision of person-centred care. Our research aimed to identify essential knowledge to foster engagement and co-production. Materials and Methods: A meta-synthesis research design was used to compile existing qualitative research papers on health communication, engagement, and empowerment in vulnerable groups in high-income countries (HICs) from 2008 to 2018. A total of 23 papers were selected and analysed. Results: ‘Design and recruitment’ and ‘engagement and co-production’ thematic areas are presented considering the factors related to researcher–communities attunement and the strategical plans for conducting research. The insights are discussed in light of the literature. Long-term alliances, sustainable structures, and strengthened bonds are critical factors for producing real long-term change, empowering persons and communities, and paving the way to person-centred care. Conclusions: The enhancement of the recruitment, involvement, and empowerment of traditionally disengaged communities and individuals depends on the awareness and analysis of social determinants, power differentials and specific tactics, and the capacity of researchers and individuals to apply all these principles in real-world practice.