Links and useful information whilst I wait for my invite to arrive (and celebrate four years of blogging – where did the time go?)…….

Google Wave is an online tool for real-time communication and collaboration which could have great potential in health improvement.

Mashable Google Wave: A Complete Guide

Wii Fit Plus is the latest instalment in the Wii Fit series, and brings all new features to make your workout more productive, personal and even more fun.

Wii fit Plus will now allow you to check and monitor four key areas of your physique, BMI (body mass index), centre of gravity, and calories burnt during your workout, allowing you to set your goals

There are five training categories (including the brand new Training Plus), which help you to develop body balance, burn fat, tone and condition muscle, as well as increasing stamina. On Wii Fit Plus you can customise your own training routines, or ask your Wii Fit trainer to do it for you based on the area of your body you’d like to work on.

Press Release and News Story from Bournemouth University on my Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness article “Twitter as a tool for delivering improved quality of life for people with chronic conditions”…..

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Article doi: 10.1111/j.1752-9824.2009.01027.x

Nursing Times article on my Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness article “Twitter as a tool for delivering improved quality of life for people with chronic conditions”…..

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Article doi: 10.1111/j.1752-9824.2009.01027.x

Here is the SimpleMind mindmap of my presentation from Handheld Learning 2009 created on iPhone (it’s too big to see in this post so I’ve attached it as a link).

SimpleMind is a great free easy to use application which you can then upload to iPhoto – shame it wasn’t really big enough to hand around at the conference round table so I resorted to a paper version.

HHL09 Presentation Mindmap

I will be presenting a short (but lovely) paper “Mobile Technology as a mechanism for delivering improved Quality of Life” at Handheld Learning 2009 in a roundtable session. Here are the links to web materials from my reference list which might be of use from this (a full list including other references will accompany the final paper at a later date).

Anderson, J. and Rainie, L. (2008). The Future of the Internet III. Retrieved February 16, 2009, from Washington, DC: Pew Internet and American Life Project.

Barr, F. (2009). Nintendo DS to offer diabetes care. Retrieved July 24, 2009, from London: E-Health Europe.

The Centre for Cell Phone Applications in Healthcare. (2009). C-PAHC Vision. Retrieved January 6, 2009, from The Center for Cell Phone Applications in Healthcare.

Fox, S. and Fallows, D. (2003). Internet Health Resources. Retrieved October 30, 2008, from Washington, DC: Pew Internet and American Life Project.

Haddon, L. (2008). Mobile Access to Social Networking Sites: A UK Survey. Retrieved February 17, 2009, from London School of Economics.

HealthMap. (2009). Global Disease Alert Map. Retrieved February 24, 2009, from Harvard-MIT: HealthMap.

Horrigan, J.B. and Rainie, L. (2006). The Internet’s Growing Role in Life’s Major Moments. Retrieved July 7, 2009, from Washington, DC: Pew Internet and American Life Project.

Imperial College London. (2006). New report demonstrates the need for systematic use of mobile technology in healthcare. Retrieved January 12, 2009, from Imperial College London.

Madrigal, A. (2009). Tracking Internet Chatter Helps Spot Swine Flu Outbreak. Retrieved July 9, 2009, from Wired.

Ubisoft. (2008). My Health Coach: Manage Your Weight. Retrieved July 21, 2008, from Ubisoft.

Who Is Sick? (2009). Retrieved February 24, 2009, from USA: Who Is Sick?

World Health Organisation. (2003). Adherence to long term therapies – Evidence for action. Retrieved February 19, 2009, from World Health Organisation: Geneva.

This summer writes Simon Crompton in the Times, the Medical College of Georgia in the United States announced the results of its research into the effects of “Wii-hab” on people with Parkinson’s disease. In an eight-week study, 18 people were asked to play Wii Sports, including virtual versions of boxing and ten-pin bowling, for an hour a day, three times a week for four weeks. By the end of that time all the participants showed significant improvements in rigidity, movement, fine motor skills and energy levels. Importantly, their depression levels also decreased; depression affects around half of people with Parkinson’s disease….

Full Story

Source : SL Health List

My article on “Twitter as a tool for delivering improved quality of life for people with chronic conditions” has now been published in the latest edition of the Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness (Volume 1 Issue 3: September 2009).

The journal is an international peer-reviewed journal for nurses and health care professionals who care for people with chronic illness and research in this area.

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Article doi: 10.1111/j.1752-9824.2009.01027.x

A pharmaceutical company has unveiled a blood glucose meter for children with diabetes that connects to the Nintendo DS and DS Lite games consoles writes Fiona Barr….

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Source : E-Health Europe

This report presents the results of the second wave of a three-wave tracking study commissioned by the Department of Health with Ipsos MORI. The aims of the research programme are to exploring attitudes towards ‘self-care’ and, more specifically:

- explore the general public’s perceptions and behaviour with regard to both their own health and the NHS generally; and

- capture the attitudes and behaviour of those people with a long term health condition with regard to the self treatment of their condition and their use of healthcare services.

Go to Report