Search

Summary Background The prevalence of childhood vaccine-preventable diseases can be significantly reduced through adherence to confirmed vaccination schedules. However, many barriers to vaccination compliance exist, including a lack of awareness regarding the importance of vaccines, missing due dates, and fear of complications from vaccinations. The aim of this study is to review the existing tools and publications regarding vaccination adherence, and to propose a design for a vaccination adherence application (app) for smartphones. Methods Android and iOS apps designed for vaccination reminders have been reviewed to examine six elements: educational factor; customizing features; reminder tools; peer education facilitations; feedback, and the language of apps’ interface and content. The literature from PubMed has been reviewed for studies addressing reminder systems or tools including apps. Results The study has revealed insufficient ( n = 6) technology-based interventions for increasing childhood vaccination rates by reminding parents in comparison to the fast growth in technology, out of which are two publications discussed mobile apps. Ten apps have been found in apps stores; only one out of them was designed for the Saudi vaccination schedule in Arabic language with some weaknesses. The study proposed a design for a vaccination reminder app that includes a number of features in order to overcome the limitations discussed in the studied reminders, apps, and systems. The design supports the Arabic language and the Saudi vaccination schedule; parental education including peer education; a variety of reminder methods, and the capability to track vaccinations and refer to the app as a personal health record. Conclusion The study discussed a design for a vaccination reminder app that satisfies the specific requirements for better compliance to children's immunization schedules based on reviewing the existing apps and publications. The proposed design includes element to educate parents and answer their concerns about vaccines. It involves their peers and can encourage the exchange of experiences and overcome vaccine fears. In addition, it could form a convenient child personal health record. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Purpose: To assess the prevalence and general knowledge of contact lens (CL) wear among women users and to examine the practice of CL dispensation by non-ophthalmic stores. Method: One thousand four hundred and sixty-six female university students, between 16 and 31 years of age, and 1766 registered beauty stores in the region were randomly interviewed using self-administered questionnaires. The questions addressed general care/handling of CLs, CL case and solution hygiene practices by patients, the CL selection available in the shops, the type of instructions given to consumers, and who gives these instructions. Results: The prevalence of CL use was 70.2% (1029/1466). Fifty percent were part time users of CLs, and cosmetic reasons were the major reason (63.3%) for CL use. Approximately 38.7% of the respondents used CL without consultation with an eye care practitioner. The main purchasing locations were optical shops (51%), beauty salons (38%), and pharmacies (11%). Concerning contact lens care, 89.4% of the respondents adequately washed their hands before handling CLs and 72.7% changed their solutions daily, while 7.7% admitted to occasional overnight wear of their CL and 27.6% sometimes shared their CLs with friends. Interestingly, 80.3% of the 1327 shops sold CLs with no prescription, and 61.4% gave no instructions to the patients during purchase. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of CL use by female university students in Saudi Arabia, especially for cosmetic purposes. Although, there was good awareness with regard to general lens care practices, some users shared their lenses with friends, and the rate of sale of CLs without prescriptions in ordinary shops was high. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]