Background: Medical apps are widely available, increasingly used by patients and clinicians, and are being actively promoted for use in routine care. However, there is little systematic evidence exploring possible risks associated with apps intended for patient use. Because self-medication errors are a recognized source of avoidable harm, apps that affect medication use, such as dose calculators, deserve particular scrutiny. We explored the accuracy and clinical suitability of apps for calculating medication doses, focusing on insulin calculators for patients with diabetes as a representative use for a prevalent long-term condition. Methods: We performed a systematic assessment of all English-language rapid/short-acting insulin dose calculators available for iOS and Android. Results: Searches identified 46 calculators that performed simple mathematical operations using planned carbohydrate intake and measured blood glucose. While 59% (n = 27/46) of apps included a clinical disclaimer, only 30% (n = 14/46) documented the calculation formula. 91% (n = 42/46) lacked numeric input validation, 59% (n = 27/46) allowed calculation when one or more values were missing, 48% (n = 22/46) used ambiguous terminology, 9% (n = 4/46) did not use adequate numeric precision and 4% (n = 2/46) did not store parameters faithfully. 67% (n = 31/46) of apps carried a risk of inappropriate output dose recommendation that either violated basic clinical assumptions (48%, n = 22/46) or did not match a stated formula (14%, n = 3/21) or correctly update in response to changing user inputs (37%, n = 17/46). Only one app, for iOS, was issue-free according to our criteria. No significant differences were observed in issue prevalence by payment model or platform. Conclusions: The majority of insulin dose calculator apps provide no protection against, and may actively contribute to, incorrect or inappropriate dose recommendations that put current users at risk of both catastrophic overdose and more subtle harms resulting from suboptimal glucose control. Healthcare professionals should exercise substantial caution in recommending unregulated dose calculators to patients and address app safety as part of self-management education. The prevalence of errors attributable to incorrect interpretation of medical principles underlines the importance of clinical input during app design. Systemic issues affecting the safety and suitability of higher-risk apps may require coordinated surveillance and action at national and international levels involving regulators, health agencies and app stores.
F.30 Professional assessment of the situation
COBISS.SI-ID: 31966937: Indicators and trends of the International HBSC study
F.24 Improvements to existing system-wide, normative and programme solutions, and methods
COBISS.SI-ID: 280159232The first Slovenian university textbook on the extraordinary events that may constitute a public health risk has 121 pages by chapter presents the activities of key institutions. A special area is intentional or unintentional dissemination of biological agents (anthrax, smallpox ...) as well as environmental risks caused by contaminated drinking water and food, extreme weather conditions, inadequate hygiene conditions... For the effective functioning of public health experts and a number of other services it is essential preparedness and continuous capacity building and check the functioning of interdisciplinary systems to respond to the simulation exercises.
C.02 Editorial board of a national monograph
COBISS.SI-ID: 279164928The main characteristic of Roma ethnic group in Slovenia is the multilayer deprivation, which is a consequence of the impact of social and economic factors, especially bad or inappropriate residential and living conditions, low education, high unemployment and consequential poverty. The research of the health-related lifestyle of Roma population (smoking, dietary and physical activity habits, drinking habits) was based on CINDI Health Monitor methodology and questionnaire, which is also used for the majority adult population in Slovenia and therefore provides basis for the comparison of health status as well as planning of evidence-based interventions for reducing health inequalities.
B.06 Other
COBISS.SI-ID: 280708352Within the congress of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics, we organised a 90-minute symposium on telerehabilitation of patients after lower limb amputation. We presented the theoretical basis, a literature review and our project.
B.03 Paper at an international scientific conference
COBISS.SI-ID: 2051945