Digitale Medizin

Scientia Artis Martialis - Kampfkünste forschend reflektiert

2025-09-05T10:35:45+02:00

Das Projekt "Scientia Artis Martialis - Kampfkünste forschend reflektiert" der Digitalen Medizin ist jetzt online unter: https://scientia-artis-martialis.uni-bielefeld.de/

AG Digitale Medizin im Fernsehen: SpacePatch im Fokus der WDR Lokalzeit OWL

2025-08-12T14:46:34+02:00

Die Arbeitsgruppe Digitale Medizin der Uni Bielefeld präsentierte kürzlich gemeinsam mit der Technischen Universität (TU) Hamburg ihre innovative Entwicklung: den SpacePatch. In einem Beitrag der WDR Lokalzeit OWL wurde die Bedeutung dieses leichten, mobilen Herzüberwachungssystems für Weltraummissionen anschaulich dargestellt. Der SpacePatch ist Ergebnis einer interdisziplinären Kooperation zwischen der Forschung in der digitalen Medizin der Uni Bielefeld und der technischen Expertise der TU Hamburg. Das System wurde erfolgreich während einer Parabelflugkampagne der DLR getestet und zeigt, dass es unter den anspruchsvollen Bedingungen der Schwerelosigkeit zuverlässig funktioniert. Der TV-Auftritt bietet der Arbeitsgruppe Digitale Medizin und ihren Partnern eine wertvolle Plattform, um die Relevanz ihrer gemeinsamen Forschung einer breiten Öffentlichkeit zu vermitteln und die Zukunft der medizintechnischen Überwachung im All und auf der Erde zu gestalten. Wir danken dem WDR für die professionelle Berichterstattung und allen Kooperationspartnern für die erfolgreiche Zusammenarbeit!

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Heart research in free fall

2025-07-10T11:58:00+02:00

How does weightlessness affect the measurement of our heart signals? Researchers from Bielefeld University investigated this question in a special experiment aboard the Airbus A310 ZERO-G. During a parabolic flight, they examined how gravity-induced disturbances impact biosensor measurement data. On board was the newly developed “SpacePatch,” a small, portable sensor for recording movement and heart activity. The goal was to identify typical measurement artifacts that are hardly isolatable under normal conditions. The experiment provided valuable data—not only for space missions but also for medical diagnostics on Earth.

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Herzforschung im freien Fall

2025-07-10T10:08:24+02:00

Wie verändert Schwerelosigkeit die Messung unserer Herzsignale? Dieser Frage gingen Forschende der Universität Bielefeld bei einem besonderen Experiment nach – an Bord des Airbus A310 ZERO-G. Im Rahmen eines Parabelflugs wurde untersucht, wie sich gravitationsbedingte Störungen auf biosensorische Messdaten auswirken. Mit an Bord: der neu entwickelte „SpacePatch“, ein kleiner, tragbarer Sensor zur Erfassung von Bewegung und Herzaktivität. Ziel war es, typische Messartefakte zu identifizieren, die unter Normalbedingungen kaum isolierbar sind. Das Experiment lieferte wertvolle Daten – nicht nur für Raumfahrtmissionen, sondern auch für die medizinische Diagnostik auf der Erde.

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Development of an Automated Image Processing Method for the Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Movements in Videos of People Under Microgravity Conditions

2025-04-24T15:00:34+02:00

Analyzing human movements in microgravity conditions raises unique challenges due to the absence of a stable gravitational vector, complicating traditional pose estimation and motion tracking. This thesis develops an automated, markerless video processing tool to both qualitatively and quantitatively detect motion in such environments. The system leverages advanced computer vision techniques and deep learning models to extract three-dimensional body landmarks from video footage. It provides a robust base for calculating joint angles and rotations despite the drifting and rotational movements inherent in microgravity. Implemented in Python with MediaPipe's pose model for pose estimation, OpenCV for video processing, and PySide for a user-friendly GUI, the system can process and annotate motion events. The tool was validated on authentic video segments from the International Space Station, in which the analyzed data was evaluated against manual annotation. Results indicate that the system provides a good baseline to detect movements but the resulting data still needs a review. The tool still substantially reduces the manual annotation effort typically required in manual annotation processes. In addition, the software offers both graphical and command-line interfaces, enhancing its accessibility for diverse research applications. This work demonstrates that markerless, video-based pose estimation can be successfully adapted for microgravity environments but still needs refining and further investigation.

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Insights into an Interdisciplinary Digital Medicine Course: A NKLM-Based Evaluation Under Application of the Aggregated Performance Gain

2025-04-10T10:48:16+02:00

Mielitz A, Friederichs H, Bittner A, Albrecht U-V (2025)

In: Envisioning the Future of Health Informatics and Digital Health. Mantas J, Hasman A, Zoulias E, Karitis K, Gallos P, Diomidous M, Zogas S, Charalampidou M (Eds); Studies in Health Technology and Informatics. IOS Press.

Bielefeld University’s “Digital Medicine” course enables students to design digital healthcare applications. This study evaluates the 2024 course using items from the German National Competency-Based Catalog of Learning Objectives (NKLM) and the Aggregated Performance Gain (APG) method, its first published use in German digital medicine education evaluations. While 2024 showed lower overall learning gains compared to 2023 with improvements in 6 out of 19 items (vs. 14 out of 17 in 2023), relevant gains were noted in NKLM-related goals, improving in 9 of 11 items. Results are limited by the small sample size, affecting interpretability and generalizability.

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Therapeutic Approaches in Reimbursable German Digital Health Applications (DiHA) for Depression

2025-04-10T10:46:52+02:00

Mielitz A, von Jan U, Albrecht U-V (2025)

This study analyzed digital health applications (DiHA) available in Germany for treating depression, with 41% (26/64) targeting mental health. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the dominant approach, as six DiHA focus on CBT, featuring common components like managing unwanted thoughts, behavioral activation, and relaxation. However, only three apps include cognitive restructuring, a key aspect of CBT. There is a lack of DiHA for alternative therapy methods like depth psychology, limiting options for patients seeking different approaches. The analysis also found fragmented information on app components, suggesting a need for centralizing comprehensive data in the official DiHA directory for better decision-making.

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Quality Criteria and Principles of Health Apps – A Scoping Review

2025-04-10T10:45:40+02:00

Schnepel J, Mielitz A, Albrecht U-V (2025)

Digital health applications (apps) have the potential to enhance treatment, but poor-quality apps can pose risks, emphasizing the need for standardized quality criteria. This paper reviews existing approaches to assessing health app quality, identifying 18 studies that focus on both general and specialized evaluation frameworks, including tools like MARS (Mobile App Rating Score). The analysis highlights six key quality domains: technical features, user experience, general features, health information quality, ethical and legal conformity, and data security. Among these, ‘user experience’ and ‘health information quality’ were the most frequently cited criteria. While many frameworks share similar criteria, their evaluation methods differ. The findings stress the importance of establishing standards and fostering collaboration to ensure consistent quality assessment of health apps.

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Modeling Human Systemic Arterial Tree with Electric Components in the 1960s and Today

2025-04-10T10:44:12+02:00

Pustozerov E, Albrecht U-V (2025)

Analog and theoretical models were widely used in the 1960s to study physiological systems. But how relevant are these approaches today, and what insights can we still gain from analog and physical modeling of the human body? In our work, we re-created the analog computing logic in circuit simulation representing the arterial tree and successfully reproduced the waveforms of blood flow, pressure, and displacement ballistocardiogram (BCG) as described by Noordergraaf et al. and Westerhof et al., albeit with some variations. We hypothesize that these discrepancies arise from the limited sensitivity of the oscillometry and the accuracy of the electrical components available at the time of the original study. Nevertheless, the striking similarity between the physical models of the 1960s and our recreated models highlights the robustness and accuracy of their theoretical framework, demonstrating the value of these early approaches in understanding cardiovascular dynamics.

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Echocardiography Correlation with Seismocardiography—Systematic Review

2025-04-10T10:42:39+02:00

Lawin D, Kulau U, Albrecht U-V (2025)

A methodological systematic review included literature retrieved from Scopus, PubMed, and IEEE-Explore. 61 studies on seismocardiography (SCG) and echocardiography (ECHO) were found. After screening for aortic and mitral valve timing events, 12 studies were selected. These studies focused on correlating SCG signals with ECHO using M-mode, PW-Doppler, CW-Doppler, and TDI. Variations in sensor placement and subject positioning highlighted the need for standardization. Our review stresses the importance of clear objectives, standardized protocols, and recording disease-specific impacts on heart mechanics for future research.

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Developing a Protocol for Aligning and Correlating Seismocardiography with Echocardiography

2025-04-10T10:37:57+02:00

Lawin D, Kulau U, Albrecht U-V (2025)

Seismocardiography (SCG) monitors health metrics through body surface vibrations from heart activity. The BEAT experiment required echocardiography (ECHO) to correlate SCG signals with cardiac events. Since no standardized ECHO protocol existed, the authors developed one. The protocol focused on recording mitral and aortic valve openings and closings using multiple ECHO modalities for accuracy, ensuring usability, comfort, and efficient data collection. It was tested on healthy subjects and allowed post-hoc analysis of cardiac function. This standardized protocol aims to enhance comparability across SCG studies and offers a reliable method for correlating SCG signals with cardiac events.

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SArES at the DLR Status Symposium 2025

2025-03-17T10:41:56+01:00

At the DLR Status Symposium 2025 in Bonn, the collaborative project SArES will be presented – a main project of AG4 Digital Medicine at Bielefeld University in collaboration with the Smart Sensors Group at the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH). The goal of SArES is to investigate the impact of microgravity on the cardiovascular health of astronauts. To achieve this, TUHH is developing a qualified, flight-capable, and radiation-tolerant sensor system that utilizes the signal analysis from Bielefeld University for seismocardiography (SCG). This system includes the recording of heart signals, sensor-adjacent data preprocessing, and a user interface (UI) for continuous health monitoring during a mission. A special highlight of the symposium was the meeting between Prof. Dr. Dr. Albrecht, head of AG4 Digital Medicine, and Dr. Amelie Schoenenwald, ESA reserve astronaut. After her inspiring talk, there was an opportunity for a brief exchange. Projects like SArES, funded by DLR, contribute to the health maintenance of astronauts – a crucial aspect for the success of future long-term and long-distance missions.

Research Day Medicine – Innovative Approaches to Motion Analysis and Healthcare Quality

2025-03-17T10:40:10+01:00

On March 11, the annual Research Day Medicine took place at Bielefeld University. This event provides a valuable platform to present current research projects and promote the exchange and networking between researchers from the Medical Faculty, UK OWL, HDZ, and interested working groups. This year, the AG 4 - Digital Medicine was represented in two ways. Moritz Toppmöller gave a presentation on his bachelor thesis titled “A Framework for Markerless Human Motion Analysis in Microgravity,” where he focused on video-based motion analysis in microgravity to make current research in this area more accessible and automated. Sebastian Zapp also presented a poster on the evidence quality of Digital Health Applications (DiGA), an increasingly relevant topic in the field of digital medicine. In his bachelor thesis, Sebastian Zapp explored how healthcare quality and patient safety can be enhanced and evaluated in this promising field of medicine. Both contributions reflect the forward-looking research of the working group and emphasize the significant role of digital medicine in the future of healthcare.

SArES auf dem DLR-Statussymposium 2025

2025-03-12T15:54:20+01:00

Auf dem DLR-Statussymposium 2025 in Bonn wird das Verbundprojekt SArES vorgestellt – ein Hauptprojekt der AG4 Digitale Medizin der Universität Bielefeld im Verbund mit der Smart Sensors Group der Technischen Universität Hamburg (TUHH). Ziel von SArES ist die Untersuchung des Einflusses von Schwerelosigkeit auf die kardiovaskuläre Gesundheit von Astronaut*innen. Dafür entwickelt die TUHH ein qualifiziertes, flugfähiges und strahlentolerantes Sensorsystem, das die Signalanalyse der Uni Bielefeld zur Seismokardiographie (SCG) nutzt. Dieses System umfasst die Erfassung von Herzsignalen, eine sensornahe Datenvorverarbeitung und eine Benutzeroberfläche (UI) zur kontinuierlichen Gesundheitsüberwachung während einer Mission. Ein besonderes Highlight des Symposiums war die Begegnung zwischen Prof. Dr. Dr. Albrecht, Leiter der AG4 Digitale Medizin, und Dr. Amelie Schoenenwald, ESA-Reserveastronautin. Nach ihrem inspirierenden Vortrag ergab sich die Gelegenheit zum kurzen Austausch. Mit Projekten wie dem vom DLR geförderten SArES wird ein Beitrag zur Gesunderhaltung der Astronaut*innen geleistet -- ein wesentlicher Aspekt für das Gelingen zukünftiger Langzeit- und Langdistanz-Missionen.

Forschungstag Medizin – Innovative Ansätze zur Bewegungsanalyse und Versorgungsqualität

2025-03-11T11:31:03+01:00

Am 11. März fand der jährlich durchgeführte Forschungstag Medizin an der Universität Bielefeld statt. Diese Veranstaltung bietet eine wertvolle Plattform, um aktuelle Forschungsprojekte zu präsentieren und den Austausch sowie die Vernetzung zwischen Forschenden der Medizinischen Fakultät, des UK OWL, des HDZs und interessierten Arbeitsgruppen zu fördern.

In diesem Jahr war die AG 4 - Digitale Medizin gleich in zweifacher Hinsicht vertreten. Moritz Toppmöller hielt einen Vortrag über seine Bachelorarbeit mit dem Titel „A Framework for Markerless Human Motion Analysis in Microgravity“, in dem er sich mit einer videobasierten Bewegungsanalyse in Schwerelosigkeit beschäftigte, um aktuelle Forschungen in diesem Bereich leichter und automatisierter zu gestalten. Sebastian Zapp präsentierte zudem einen Posterbeitrag zur Evidenzqualität von Digitalen Gesundheitsanwendungen (DiGA), einem zunehmend relevanten Thema im Bereich der digitalen Medizin. In der gleichnamigen Bachelorarbeit setzte sich Sebastian Zapp damit auseinander, wie die Versorgungsqualität und die Patient*innensicherheit in diesem zukunftsträchtigen Feld der Medizin gesteigert und evaluiert werden kann.

Beide Beiträge spiegeln die zukunftsorientierte Forschung der Arbeitsgruppe wider und verdeutlichen die bedeutende Rolle der digitalen Medizin in der medizinischen Zukunft.

Ingestion of several rubber gloves: A case report on Pica syndrome

2025-03-11T10:55:19+01:00

After ingestion rubber gloves harden and can produce dangerous complications. Therefore the choice of treatment is of utmost importance. Aside from a surgical approach, endoscopy should also be considered as a treatment option on a case-to-case basis or if not applicable as a useful diagnostic tool. © 2024 The Author(s). Clinical Case Reports published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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Achieving Digital Medicine Learning Outcomes Through an Interdisciplinary Course: A Pilot Study Mielitz A, Friederichs H, Bittner A, Albrecht U-V (2024)

2025-03-11T10:54:00+01:00

Incorporating digital medicine into medical education equips students for the evolving landscape of healthcare. This study aimed to assess a digital medicine course developed at Bielefeld University by evaluating student attainment of learning outcomes outlined by Foadi et al. In the course, the students designed a digital application for various medical conditions, taking into account interdisciplinary factors. The course took place in 2023 with medical students who attended the course due to the focus of their studies. In a pilot study, the progress of ten participants was assessed using a pre-post survey design. Results revealed substantial improvement in students’ achievement of learning outcomes post-course (median = 2, IQR 1-2) compared to pre-course (median = 3, IQR 3-4), suggesting the course’s efficacy in effectively teaching digital medicine.

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Is unsatisfactory outcome of alcohol septal ablation in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy predictable?

2025-03-11T10:52:49+01:00

Background Alcohol septal ablation (ASA) has been introduced for left ventricular outflow tract gradient (LVOTG) reduction in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). However, some patients may not profit from ASA. Thus, we identified characteristics of patients with unsatisfactory outcome of ASA in a large single-center cohort. Methods Consecutive ASAs between 1997 and 2023, performed at our institution, were retrospectively enrolled. Those ASAs performed in patients with missing follow-up (FU), previous septal reduction therapy (SRT), and atypical HOCM were excluded. Patients with unsatisfactory outcome (PUO) were defined as continuing to meet the guideline criteria for SRT (NYHA ≥III or NYHA ≥II with exertional syncope and resting/exercise-induced LVOTG ≥50mmHg). PUO were compared to patients with good outcome (PGO). Results are expressed in % or median and interquartile range (IQR). Pre-procedural predictors of poor hemodynamic outcome were identified using logistic regression analysis. Results 65 of 1003 patients were PUO (6.5%). Those were younger (48.0 years [40.5-61.8] vs. 57.0 years [IQR 47.0-67.0] in PGO; p=0.0030), more often reported syncope at baseline (35.4% vs. 22.2% in PGO; p=0.0214), and had lower body-mass-index (26.4kg/m2 [23.8-29.2] vs. 27.7kg/m2 [25.2-23.1] in PGO; p=0.0160). In PUO, resting LVOTG was higher at baseline (53.0mmHg [24.5-82.0]) than in PGO (40.0mmHg [22.0-75.0]; p=0.0292; Table 1). Differences in sex, family history of sudden cardiac death, dyspnoea, medication, and interventricular septum diameter (IVSD) were not observed at baseline (all p>0.05; Table 1). Age (OR 1.023; CI: 1.005-1.042; p=0.0129), syncope at baseline (OR 1.890; CI: 1.049-3.324; p=0.0296), and BMI (OR 1.072; CI: 1.007-1.145; p=0.0355) were found to independently influence poor hemodynamic response to ASA using multiple logistic regression controlling for confounders. However, sex, baseline IVSD, and LVOTG were not found to influence poor hemodynamic outcome (p>0.05). There were no differences with regard to the number of embolized branches (1 in both groups), the size of the balloon used to cover the septal branch (1.5mm in both groups), the volume of ethanol (PUO: 1.4ml [1.0-2.0]; PGO: 1.5ml [1.2-2.0]), or creatine kinase release (PUO: 879.0U/l [375.0-1187.0]; PGO: 842.0U/l [501.5 - 1234]) (all p>0.05). At 6-months-FU, PUO had significantly higher IVSD (18.0mm [13.5-22.0] vs. 16.0mm [12.0-19.0] in PGO; p=0.008), higher resting LVOTG (31.0mmHg [20.0-55.5] vs. 14.0mmHg [10.0-22.0] in PGO; p<0.0001) and higher exercise-induced LVOTG (105.0mmHg [84.5-143.0] vs. 35.0mmHg [22.0-64.0] in PGO; p<0.0001). Conclusion ASA was overall effective with only few patients experiencing unsatisfactory outcome. Syncope, age, and BMI were found predicting poor hemodynamic outcome. Baseline characteristics

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Preliminary results of stabilization of far distal tibia fractures with the distal tibial nail: A prospective, multicenter case series study

2025-03-11T10:48:10+01:00

INTRODUCTION: The distal tibial nail (DTN) is a novel retrograde intramedullary nail used for distal tibial fracture stabilization. We investigated the clinical results of DTN use for distal tibial fractures and compared them with those reported in the literature on locking plates and antegrade intramedullary nails.; MATERIALS AND METHODS: This multicenter, prospective, observational cohort study examined distal tibial fractures with AO/OTA classification 43 types: A1, A2, A3 or C1. The primary outcomes included bone union rate, soft tissue problems, and surgical complications. Secondary outcomes were EuroQol-5 Dimension-5 Level (EQ-5D-5L), Self-Administered Foot Evaluation Questionnaire (SAFE-Q), and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot clinical scores 1 year postoperatively. Incidence of varus or valgus/anterior-posterior flexion deformity with a difference of ≥5° and postoperative reduction loss rate were evaluated.; RESULTS: Five men and five women were enrolled (mean age, 69 years [range, 30-77 years]), including one open-fracture-type Gustilo type IIIB case. Bone union was observed in all patients at 6 months postoperatively. Delayed union, leg edema, and guide pin breakage were observed in three, one, and one cases, respectively. No soft tissue or surgical complications were observed. During the final follow-up, the EQ-5D-5L, SAFE-Q, and AOFAS hindfoot scores were 0.876 (0.665-1.0), 83-92, and AOFAS 92.6 (76-100), respectively. Varus and retroflexion deformities were observed in one case each.; DISCUSSION: DTN has been reported to have biomechanically equivalent or stronger fixation strength than locking plates or antegrade intramedullary nails. In addition, while DTN was thought to be less invasive for soft tissue and can avoid injury to the knee, it was thought that care should be taken to avoid medial malleolus fractures and posterior tibialis tendon injuries. Comparisons with literature treatment results for locking plates and antegrade intramedullary nails showed comparable to advantageous results.; CONCLUSIONS: DTN treatment results for distal tibial fractures were as good as those for locking plates and antegrade intramedullary nails. DTN is useful for stabilization and does not compromise the surrounding soft tissues. Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

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The Role of AI in Serious Games and Gamification for Health: Scoping Review

2025-03-11T10:43:53+01:00

BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence (AI) and game-based methods such as serious games or gamification are both emerging technologies and methodologies in health care. The merging of the two could provide greater advantages, particularly in the field of therapeutic interventions in medicine.; OBJECTIVE: This scoping review sought to generate an overview of the currently existing literature on the connection of AI and game-based approaches in health care. The primary objectives were to cluster studies by disease and health topic addressed, level of care, and AI or games technology.; METHODS: For this scoping review, the databases PubMed, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, Cochrane Library, and PubPsych were comprehensively searched on February 2, 2022. Two independent authors conducted the screening process using Rayyan software (Rayyan Systems Inc). Only original studies published in English since 1992 were eligible for inclusion. The studies had to involve aspects of therapy or education in medicine and the use of AI in combination with game-based approaches. Each publication was coded for basic characteristics, including the population, intervention, comparison, and outcomes (PICO) criteria; the level of evidence; the disease and health issue; the level of care; the game variant; the AI technology; and the function type. Inductive coding was used to identify the patterns, themes, and categories in the data. Individual codings were analyzed and summarized narratively.; RESULTS: A total of 16 papers met all inclusion criteria. Most of the studies (10/16, 63%) were conducted in disease rehabilitation, tackling motion impairment (eg, after stroke or trauma). Another cluster of studies (3/16, 19%) was found in the detection and rehabilitation of cognitive impairment. Machine learning was the main AI technology applied and serious games the main game-based approach used. However, direct interaction between the technologies occurred only in 3 (19%) of the 16 studies. The included studies all show very limited quality evidence. From the patients' and healthy individuals' perspective, generally high usability, motivation, and satisfaction were found.; CONCLUSIONS: The review shows limited quality of evidence for the combination of AI and games in health care. Most of the included studies were nonrandomized pilot studies with few participants (14/16, 88%). This leads to a high risk for a range of biases and limits overall conclusions. However, the first results present a broad scope of possible applications, especially in motion and cognitive impairment, as well as positive perceptions by patients. In future, the development of adaptive game designs with direct interaction between AI and games seems promising and should be a topic for future reviews. ©Daniel Tolks, Johannes Jeremy Schmidt, Sebastian Kuhn. Originally published in JMIR Serious Games (https://games.jmir.org), 15.01.2024.

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Achieving Digital Medicine Learning Outcomes Through an Interdisciplinary Course: A Pilot Study

2025-03-11T10:41:27+01:00

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Teaching Digital Medicine to Undergraduate Medical Students with an Interprofessional and Interdisciplinary Approach: A Proof of Concept Study (Preprint)

2025-03-11T10:36:59+01:00

Background: A better integration of digital medicine topics into medical training is demanded, as it can help future doctors to be prepared for and shape the digital transformation of medicine. Objective: In this paper, a newly developed interdisciplinary course concept for teaching digital medicine is described and evaluated for the first time. Methods: The course was held with medical students at the medical faculty of Bielefeld University, Germany, in 2023, and was evaluated via pre-post surveys. The items comprised the achievement of superordinate and subordinate learning objectives of the course, the course design, the course relevance including reasons for absence (using five point Likert scales, 1=”strongly agree”, 5=”strongly disagree” and a multiple choice format for reasons of absence), and open comments. Results: 10 students (m: 4, f: 6, mean age 21,7 years, SD: 2.1 years) evaluated the course. Objectively and subjectively, the superordinate learning objectives were achieved well to very well: the median for the objective achievement of the first learning objective was 2 (IQR 1-2), and for subjective achievement 2 (IQR 2-3). The median for objective achievement of the second learning objective was 2 (IQR 1-3) and was even better subjectively with a median of 1. 5 (IQR 1-3). The medians for the objective and subjective achievement of the third learning objective were 2 (IQR 2-2) and 2 (IQR 1-3). The 17 subordinate learning objectives were achieved partially to very well, with participants, on average, objectively mastering them better after the course than before the course (pre: median of 3.5 (IQR 3-4), post: median of 2 (IQR 2-3)). The course concept was rated as highly suitable for achieving the superordinate learning objectives (for the first, second, and third learning objectives: the medians were 1 (IQR 1-2), 1 (IQR 1-2), 1 (IQR 1-2)). On average, the students liked the course very much (median of 1 (IQR 1-2)) and gained a good benefit from their participation (median of 1.5 (IQR 1-2)). The teaching staff, course design, and timing of the course dates were named as the greatest strengths of the course. The category "Positive feedback on the course or positive personal experience with the course" received the most comments. Conclusions: The course framework exhibits promise in attaining learning objectives within the realm of digital medicine, notwithstanding the constraint of limited interpretability arising from a small sample size. It aligns with insights derived from teaching and learning research and the domain of digital medicine, albeit with identifiable areas for enhancement. A comprehensive literature review indicates a dearth of publications pertaining to analogous courses in Germany. Future investigations should entail a more exhaustive evaluation of the course concept. In summary, this course constitutes a valuable contribution to incorporating digital medicine into medical training.

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Identifying Gravity-Related Artifacts on Ballistocardiography Signals by Comparing Weightlessness and Normal Gravity Recordings (ARTIFACTS): Protocol for an Observational Study

2025-03-11T10:34:34+01:00

**Background** Modern ballistocardiography (BCG) and seismocardiography (SCG) use acceleration sensors to measure oscillating recoil movements of the body caused by the heartbeat and blood flow, which are transmitted to the body surface. Acceleration artifacts occur through intrinsic sensor roll, pitch, and yaw movements, assessed by the angular velocities of the respective sensor, during measurements that bias the signal interpretation. **Objective** This observational study aims to generate hypotheses on the detection and elimination of acceleration artifacts due to the intrinsic rotation of accelerometers and their differentiation from heart-induced sensor accelerations. **Methods** Multimodal data from 4 healthy participants (3 male and 1 female) using BCG-SCG and an electrocardiogram will be collected and serve as a basis for signal characterization, model modulation, and location vector derivation under parabolic flight conditions from µg to 1.8g. The data will be obtained during a parabolic flight campaign (3 times 30 parabolas) between September 24 and July 25 (depending on the flight schedule). To detect the described acceleration artifacts, accelerometers and gyroscopes (6-degree-of-freedom sensors) will be used for measuring acceleration and angular velocities attributed to intrinsic sensor rotation. Changes in acceleration and angular velocities will be explored by conducting descriptive data analysis of resting participants sitting upright in varying gravitational states. **Results** A multimodal data set will serve as a basis for research into a noninvasive and gentle method of BCG-SCG with the aid of low-noise and synchronous 3D gyroscopes and 3D acceleration sensors. Hypotheses will be generated related to detecting and eliminating acceleration artifacts due to the intrinsic rotation of accelerometers and gyroscopes (6-degree-of-freedom sensors) and their differentiation from heart-induced sensor accelerations. Data will be collected entirely and exclusively during the parabolic flights, taking place between September 2024 and July 2025. Thus, as of June 2024, no data have been collected yet. The data will be analyzed until December 2025. The results are expected to be published by June 2026. **Conclusions** The study will contribute to understanding artificial acceleration bias to signal readings. It will be a first approach for a detection and elimination method. **Trial Registration** Deutsches Register Klinische Studien DRKS00034402; https://drks.de/search/en/trial/DRKS00034402 **International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)** PRR1-10.2196/63306

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Teaching Digital Medicine to Undergraduate Medical Students With an Interprofessional and Interdisciplinary Approach: Development and Usability Study

2025-03-11T10:29:50+01:00

**Background** An integration of digital medicine into medical education can help future physicians shape the digital transformation of medicine. **Objective** We aim to describe and evaluate a newly developed course for teaching digital medicine (the Bielefeld model) for the first time. **Methods** The course was held with undergraduate medical students at Medical School Ostwestfalen-Lippe at Bielefeld University, Germany, in 2023 and evaluated via pretest-posttest surveys. The subjective and objective achievement of superordinate learning objectives and the objective achievement of subordinate learning objectives of the course, course design, and course importance were evaluated using 5-point Likert scales (1=strongly disagree; 5=strongly agree); reasons for absences were assessed using a multiple-choice format, and comments were collected. The superordinate objectives comprised (1) the understanding of factors driving the implementation of digital medical products and processes, (2) the application of this knowledge to a project, and (3) the empowerment to design such solutions in the future. The subordinate objectives comprised competencies related to the first superordinate objective. **Results** In total, 10 undergraduate medical students (male: n=4, 40%; female: n=6, 60%; mean age 21.7, SD 2.1 years) evaluated the course. The superordinate objectives were achieved well to very well—the medians for the objective achievement were 4 (IQR 4-5), 4 (IQR 3-5), and 4 (IQR 4-4) scale units for the first, second, and third objectives, respectively, and the medians for the subjective achievement of the first, second, and third objectives were 4 (IQR 3-4), 4.5 (IQR 3-5), and 4 (IQR 3-5) scale units, respectively. Participants mastered the subordinate objectives, on average, better after the course than before (presurvey median 2.5, IQR 2-3 scale units; postsurvey median 4, IQR 3-4 scale units). The course concept was rated as highly suitable for achieving the superordinate objectives (median 5, IQR 4-5 scale units for the first, second, and third objectives). On average, the students strongly liked the course (median 5, IQR 4-5 scale units) and gained a benefit from it (median 4.5, IQR 4-5 scale units). All students fully agreed that the teaching staff was a strength of the course. The category positive feedback on the course or positive personal experience with the course received the most comments. **Conclusions** The course framework shows promise in attaining learning objectives within the realm of digital medicine, notwithstanding the constraint of limited interpretability arising from a small sample size and further limitations. The course concept aligns with insights derived from teaching and learning research and the domain of digital medicine, albeit with identifiable areas for enhancement. A literature review indicates a dearth of publications pertaining to analogous courses in Germany. Future investigations should entail a more exhaustive evaluation of the course. In summary, this course constitutes a valuable contribution to incorporating digital medicine into medical education.

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Enhancing the Value of the BfArM’s DiGA Directory: Strategies for Improved Usability and Stakeholder Satisfaction

2025-03-11T10:27:37+01:00

Germany’s Digital Healthcare Act allows doctors to prescribe digital health applications (DiGAs) for reimbursement. DiGAs must demonstrate safety, data security, and a “positive impact on care” to be listed in the official directory. Previously, data for permanently listed DiGAs was analyzed. The work presented here evaluates additional data fields for the currently listed DiGAs (both provisionally and permanently included) and aims to assess the completeness, details and consistency of the information. The data for this analysis was scraped from the directory and evaluated to identify potential shortcomings in the information provided.

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