Background: People from lower and middle socioeconomic classes and vulnerable populations are among the worst affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, thus exacerbating disparities and the digital divide. Objective: To draw a portrait of e-services as a digital approach to support digital health literacy in vulnerable populations amid the COVID-19 infodemic, and identify the barriers and facilitators for their implementation. Methods: A scoping review was performed to gather published literature with a broad range of study designs and grey literature without exclusions based on country of publication. A search was created in Medline (Ovid) in March 2021 and translated to Medline, PsycINFO, Scopus and CINAHL with Full Text (EBSCOhost). The combined literature search generated 819 manuscripts. To be included, manuscripts had to be written in English, and present information on digital intervention(s) (e.g. social media) used to enable or increase digital health literacy among vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g. older adults, Indigenous people living on reserve). Results: Five articles were included in the study. Various digital health literacy-enabling e-services have been implemented in different vulnerable populations. Identified e-services aimed to increase disease knowledge, digital health literacy and social media usage, help in coping with changes in routines and practices, decrease fear and anxiety, increase digital knowledge and skills, decrease health literacy barriers and increase technology acceptance in specific groups. Many facilitators of digital health literacy-enabling e-services implementation were identified in expectant mothers and their families, older adults and people with low-income. Barriers such as low literacy limited to no knowledge about the viruses, medium of contamination, treatment options played an important role in distracting and believing in misinformation and disinformation. Poor health literacy was the only barrier found, which may hinder the understanding of individual health needs, illness processes and treatments for people with HIV/AIDS. Conclusions: The literature on the topic is scarce, sparse and immature. We did not find any literature on digital health literacy in Indigenous people, though we targeted this vulnerable population. Although only a few papers were included, two types of health conditions were covered by the literature on digital health literacy-enabling e-services, namely chronic conditions and conditions that are new to the patients. Digital health literacy can help improve prevention and adherence to a healthy lifestyle, improve capacity building and enable users to take the best advantage of the options available, thus strengthening the patient’s involvement in health decisions and empowerment, and finally improving health outcomes. Therefore, there is an urgent need to pursue research on digital health literacy and develop digital platforms to help solve current and future COVID-19-related health needs.

The validity of an accelerometric system (Myotest©) for assessing vertical jump height, vertical force and power, leg stiffness and reactivity index was examined. 20 healthy males performed 3×"5 hops in place", 3×"1 squat jump" and 3× "1 countermovement jump" during 2 test-retest sessions. The variables were simultaneously assessed using an accelerometer and a force platform at a frequency of 0.5 and 1 kHz, respectively. Both reliability and validity of the accelerometric system were studied. No significant differences between test and retest data were found (p < 0.05), showing a high level of reliability. Besides, moderate to high intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) (from 0.74 to 0.96) were obtained for all variables whereas weak to moderate ICCs (from 0.29 to 0.79) were obtained for force and power during the countermovement jump. With regards to validity, the difference between the two devices was not significant for 5 hops in place height (1.8 cm), force during squat (-1.4 N · kg(-1)) and countermovement (0.1 N · kg(-1)) jumps, leg stiffness (7.8 kN · m(-1)) and reactivity index (0.4). So, the measurements of these variables with this accelerometer are valid, which is not the case for the other variables. The main causes of non-validity for velocity, power and contact time assessment are temporal biases of the takeoff and touchdown moments detection.

Background: Digital health technology is a promising way of supporting health care providers and family caregivers as they care for patients with cognitive impairment. Objective: This scoping review aimed to portray the use of digital health technology to assist health care providers and family caregivers in caring for patients with cognitive impairment who live in the community or in a facility. Methods: We conducted a scoping review of peer-reviewed scientific articles available in MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, and CINAHL with Full Text, as well as gray literature available in preprint servers, theses depositories, and various national and international dementia organizations’ websites. The search yielded 975 articles, of which we included 7 (0.7%) in the review. Results: Of the 7 interventions included in the retrieved manuscripts, 2 (29%) were digital calendar reminder systems to support activities of daily living and medication management; 2 (29%) were apps on tablet devices to simulate the presence of family before therapy interventions; 1 (14%) was a social robot used in therapeutic sessions to include elements of musicotherapy, reminiscence, cognitive games, and relaxation; 1 (14%) was a commercially available computer system that provides access to various recreational leisure activities; and 1 (14%) was a web-based self-management support system that helps family caregivers to deal with behavior changes in a relative with dementia. Of the 7 articles, only 1 (14%) reported on the use of a behavior change theory, namely a comprehensive process model of engagement coupled with cognitive stimulation therapy. Conclusions: Literature on the topic is scarce, recent, and heterogeneous. There is a clear need for a theoretical framework to conceptualize and govern the use of behavior change models that incorporate technology for patients with cognitive impairment.

Background: As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integral to healthcare, preparing medical and health sciences students to engage with AI technologies is critical. Objectives: This study investigates the perceived AI readiness of medical and health sciences students in Saudi Arabia, focusing on four domains: cognition, ability, vision, and ethical perspectives, using the Medical Artificial Intelligences Readiness Scale for Medical Students (MAIRS-MS). Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between October and November 2023, targeting students from various universities and medical schools in Saudi Arabia. A total of 1,221 students e-consented to participate. Data were collected via a 20-minute Google Form survey, incorporating a 22-item MAIRS-MS scale. Descriptive and multivariate statistical analyses were performed using Stata version 16.0. Cronbach alpha was calculated to ensure reliability, and least squares linear regression was used to explore relationships between students’ demographics and their AI readiness scores. Results: The overall mean AI readiness score was 62 out of 110, indicating a moderate level of readiness. Domain-specific scores revealed generally consistent levels of readiness: cognition (58%, 23.2/40), ability (57%, 22.8/40), vision (54%, 8.1/15) and ethics (57%, 8.5/15). Nearly 44.5% of students believed AI-related courses should be mandatory whereas only 41% reported having such a required course in their program. Conclusions: Medical and health sciences students in Saudi Arabia demonstrate moderate AI readiness across cognition, ability, vision, and ethics, indicating both a solid foundation and areas for growth. Enhancing AI curricula and emphasizing practical, ethical, and forward-thinking skills can better equip future healthcare professionals for an AI-driven future.