Francheska Anne Cruz

Ms. Francheska Anne Cruz


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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20 June 2024 in Pharmacy
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
JWJason C Wong
Jason C Wong
LHLuiza Hekimyan
Luiza Hekimyan
FCFrancheska Anne Cruz
Francheska Anne Cruz
TBTaylor Brower
Taylor Brower
The ever-evolving landscape of digital health technology has dramatically enhanced patients’ ability to manage their health through self-care effectively. These advancements have created various categories of self-care products, including medication management, health tracking, and wellness. There is no published research regarding integrating digital health into pharmacy self-care courses. This study aims to identify pertinent digital health devices and applications to incorporate into self-care course education. Digital health limitations, challenges incorporating digital health in self-care pharmacy education, and potential solutions are also reviewed. In conducting this research, many resources, including PubMed, APhA, ASHP, fda.gov, and digital.health, were reviewed in March 2024 to gather information on digital health devices and applications. To supplement this, targeted keyword searches were conducted on topics such as “digital health”, “devices”, “applications”, “technology”, and “self-care” across various online platforms. We identified digital health devices and applications suitable for self-care education across eight topics, as follows: screening, insomnia, reproductive disorders, eye disorders, home medical equipment, GI disorders, pediatrics, and respiratory disorders. Among these topics, wellness screening had the most digital health products available. For all other topics, at least three or more products were identified as relevant to self-care curriculum. By equipping students with digital health knowledge, they can effectively apply it in patient care throughout their rotations and future practice. Many digital health products, including telemedicine, electronic health records, mobile health applications, and wearable devices, are ideal for inclusion in pharmacy curriculum as future educational material. Future research is needed to develop the best strategies for incorporating relevant digital health into self-care education and defining the best student-learning strategies.