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While there has been a rapid growth of digital health apps to support chronic diseases, clear standards on how to best evaluate the quality of these evolving tools are absent. This scoping review aims to synthesize the emerging field of mobile health app quality assessment by reviewing criteria used by previous studies to assess the quality of mobile apps for chronic disease management. A literature review was conducted in September 2017 for published studies that use a set of quality criteria to directly evaluate two or more patient-facing apps supporting promote chronic disease management. This resulted in 8182 citations which were reviewed by research team members, resulting in 65 articles for inclusion. An inductive coding schema to synthesize the quality criteria utilized by included articles was developed, with 40 unique quality criteria identified. Of the 43 (66%) articles that reported resources used to support criteria selection, 19 (29%) used clinical guidelines, and 10 (15%) used behavior change theory. The most commonly used criteria included the presence of user engagement or behavior change functions (97%, n  = 63) and technical features of the app such as customizability (20%, n  = 13, while Usability was assessed by 24 studies (36.9%). This study highlights the significant variation in quality criteria employed for the assessment of mobile health apps. Future methods for app evaluation will benefit from approaches that leverage the best evidence regarding the clinical impact and behavior change mechanisms while more directly reflecting patient needs when evaluating the quality of apps.

Objective: To compare the accuracy, time to answer, user confidence, and user satisfaction between UpToDate and DynaMed (formerly DynaMed Plus), which are two popular point-of-care information tools.Methods: A crossover study was conducted with medical residents in obstetrics and gynecology and family medicine at the University of Toronto in order to compare the speed and accuracy with which they retrieved answers to clinical questions using UpToDate and DynaMed. Experiments took place between February 2017 and December 2019. Following a short tutorial on how to use each tool and completion of a background survey, participants attempted to find answers to two clinical questions in each tool. Time to answer each question, the chosen answer, confidence score, and satisfaction score were recorded for each clinical question.Results: A total of 57 residents took part in the experiment, including 32 from family medicine and 25 from obstetrics and gynecology. Accuracy in clinical answers was equal between UpToDate (average 1.35 out of 2) and DynaMed (average 1.36 out of 2). However, time to answer was 2.5 minutes faster in UpToDate compared to DynaMed. Participants were also more confident and satisfied with their answers in UpToDate compared to DynaMed.Conclusions: Despite a preference for UpToDate and a higher confidence in responses, the accuracy of clinical answers in UpToDate was equal to those in DynaMed. Previous exposure to UpToDate likely played a major role in participants’ preferences. More research in this area is recommended.

IntroductionBreast feeding is recommended for the first year of a baby’s life due to numerous benefits for both the child and mother. After returning from maternity leave, surgical trainees face extensive barriers to breast feeding and tend to terminate breast feeding earlier than guideline recommendations. The aim of this scoping review is to assess existing breastfeeding policies for surgical trainees at the national level including postgraduate medical education offices, provincial resident unions and individual surgical programmes.Methods and analysisA modified Arksey and O’Malley (2005) framework will be used. Specifically, (1) identifying the research question/s and (2) relevant studies from electronic databases and grey literature, (3) identifying and (4) selecting studies with independent verification, and (5) collating, summarising, and reporting data while having ongoing consultation between experts throughout the process. Experts will include a lactation consultant (AGB), a human resource leader (JI), a health information specialist (ES), two independent coders (NZ, LR) and a board-certified surgeon (JD). This work will take place as of December 2020 and be carried out to completion in 2021.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval will not be sought for this scoping review. Research findings will be disseminated through publications, presentations and meetings with relevant stakeholders.

Introduction: In July 2021, we published a research study titled \"UpToDate versus DynaMed: a cross-sectional study comparing the speed and accuracy of two point-of-care information tools\", marking the end of a multi-year journey. A single publication belies the years of work that goes into planning and conducting a research project. In this presentation, we will share a \"behind-the-scenes\" glimpse into our experiences executing our research project, including our challenges, successes, and lessons learned. Description: Health Sciences Libraries are often faced with difficult budget decisions regarding which clinical tools to purchase, while keeping in mind user preferences and needs. Our research study was designed to inform evidence-based decision making around this issue through comparing the speed and accuracy of two popular point-of-care information tools. We designed and executed a cross-sectional research project which included the following phases: design, ethics approval, recruitment, experiment implementation, data analysis, and dissemination. Outcomes: We were ultimately successful in answering our research questions and publishing our study. Along the way, we faced challenges including recruitment of participants, bandwidth of study collaborators, and learning how to be effective researchers. Undertaking this work also led to many opportunities and lessons learned. Discussion: For most librarians, finding the time to conduct research projects can be intimidating, difficult, and often frustrating. Despite these challenges, research studies can help solve real problems in our profession. By sharing our experience, we hope to encourage attendees to take on these challenges. Let's work together to build a more robust evidence base for making decisions in medical libraries. If we did it, you can too!

Objective: To compare the accuracy, time to answer, user confidence, and user satisfaction between UpToDate and DynaMed (formerly DynaMed Plus), which are two popular point-of-care information tools. Methods: A crossover study was conducted with medical residents in obstetrics and gynecology and family medicine at the University of Toronto in order to compare the speed and accuracy with which they retrieved answers to clinical questions using UpToDate and DynaMed. Experiments took place between February 2017 and December 2019. Following a short tutorial on how to use each tool and completion of a background survey, participants attempted to find answers to two clinical questions in each tool. Time to answer each question, the chosen answer, confidence score, and satisfaction score were recorded for each clinical question. Results: A total of 57 residents took part in the experiment, including 32 from family medicine and 25 from obstetrics and gynecology. Accuracy in clinical answers was equal between UpToDate (average 1.35 out of 2) and DynaMed (average 1.36 out of 2). However, time to answer was 2.5 minutes faster in UpToDate compared to DynaMed. Participants were also more confident and satisfied with their answers in UpToDate compared to DynaMed. Conclusions: Despite a preference for UpToDate and a higher confidence in responses, the accuracy of clinical answers in UpToDate was equal to those in DynaMed. Previous exposure to UpToDate likely played a major role in participants' preferences. More research in this area is recommended.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder marked by fast skin cell growth, leading to thick, red, scaly patches. MicroRNAs are small, non-coding RNA molecules that play a crucial role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. This study investigates miR-16-5p, miR-21-5p, and miR-155-5p expression in psoriasis EVs and assesses their biomarker potential, exploring associated target genes and pathways via bioinformatics. A cross-sectional and case-control study included 40 psoriasis patients, with blood samples collected in EDTA tubes. RNA from extracellular vesicles was isolated using Qiagen kits, and miRNAs were quantified via RT-qPCR. Bioinformatic analysis predicted target genes using databases like miRDB and TargetScan. Gene expression data from GEO was processed, and differentially expressed genes were identified. This study assessed miR-16-5p, miR-21-5p, and miR-155-5p expression in psoriasis patients’ circulating vesicles versus controls, finding significantly lower levels in patients. ROC analysis confirmed their diagnostic potential. A positive correlation of miR-16-5p with the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) suggests severity marker potential. Bioinformatics identified 378 common dysregulated genes, revealing key pathways and gene interactions in psoriasis. A heat map confirmed miRNA-mediated gene suppression in the disease. This study identifies miR-16-5p, miR-21-5p, and miR-155-5p as potential psoriasis biomarkers, in addition to finding significant gene interactions and pathways involved in psoriasis pathophysiology.

Systemic arterial hypertension is linked to a heightened risk of cardiovascular diseases on a global scale. In Mexico, nearly half of adults in vulnerable conditions experience hypertension. Imbalance in the oral and intestinal microbiota composition has been observed in patients with hypertension, documented by a decrease of bacteria producing short-chain fatty acids, which play a critical role in blood pressure regulation. To examine the cytokines' profile and assess the characteristics of oral and gut microbiota in obesity-related hypertension in Mexican patients. A cross-sectional, observational, and analytical study was carried out. Twenty-two patients were categorized by their body mass index (BMI) as overweight and obese, and the diagnosis of primary hypertension. DNA from supragingival dental plaque and feces samples was used to carry out 16S rRNA sequencing. Additionally, 13 cytokines were quantified. In the oral microbiota, was found to be significantly enriched in obese compared to overweight patients. Instead, the gut microbiota was dominated by However, the correlation between certain genera and proinflammatory cytokines was noted. This exploratory study provides insights into the complex relationship between the oral and gut microbiota and their association with systemic inflammation in obesity-related hypertension.