The PICO question chosen is: in obese Latino adult patients aged 18 and above, will involvement of technology in weight loss, compared to not using technology, lessen re-admission rates? It is helpful to consider if the research question addresses treatment, prevention, prognosis, early diagnosis, or the investigation of the root cause while using the PICO format to create one. A well-formulated clinical inquiry will cover the majority of the PICO criteria. It needs to be clear and, if necessary, identify key concepts and outcomes. It will serve as the foundation for further research into a novel area of potential diagnosis, causation, treatment, or harm. The first step in finding the data that can improve clinical practice is formulating the correct query (Houser et al., 2019). Time is wasted trying to find answers to unfocused or poorly phrased queries. In contrast, posing a clear and concise inquiry promotes the generation of valuable keywords and an efficient research plan.
The incidence of obesity has skyrocketed over the past decade, and it is now considered an international epidemic. Owing to the grave dangers associated with obesity, innovative methods of intervention that leverage technological advancements have been created. Technology’s ability to improve self-monitoring and treatment adherence effectively promotes weight loss in obese patients (Rumbo-Rodrguez et al., 2020). The time, effort, and financial investment needed to complete a traditional weight-management program that includes regular visits to a dietician or nutritionist can be prohibitive for many people. Many weight loss programs encourage participants to keep a food and exercise diary, set weekly goals, and gradually increase their activity levels and calorie burn until their intended weight is reached. Short-term success has been seen with these approaches, but long-term success has been elusive since so few obese persons continuously engage in the activities necessary to maintain weight loss.
Low self-efficacy (presumption in one’s capability), inspiration, and compliance with behavioral regimes are obstacles to effective weight loss. Research over the past decade has shown that technological advances or smartphone applications can enhance treatment adherence in traditional weight-management programs. Developments in digital technology have made it possible to automate monitoring and reporting, making the processes efficient and demanding less work from the patient seeking weight loss and the specialists in charge of the programs. There is sufficient evidence that electronic monitoring approaches can help people stick to their intervention programs more than paper and pencil methods do in self-monitoring (Houser et al., 2019). At the same time, technological tools can be modified to introduce instructive involvements and other health activity shifts that boost adherence to self-monitoring, increase motivation for habit changes, and ultimately boost the likelihood of long-term success in dropping excess pounds and keeping it off. The following question was proposed for exploration concerning the application of technology in obesity treatment. How do different forms of technologies, mobile phones, personal digital assistants, internet-based devices, social platforms, smartphones and their apps, and virtual reality play an essential role in weight loss in overweight and obese patients?
References
Houser, S. H., Joseph, R., Puro, N., & Burke, D. E. (2019). Use of technology in the management of obesity: A literature review. Perspectives in Health Information Management, 16, 1-18. Web.
Rumbo-Rodríguez, L., Sánchez-SanSegundo, M., Ruiz-Robledillo, N., Albaladejo-Blázquez, N., Ferrer-Cascales, R., & Zaragoza-Martí, A. (2020). Use of technology-based interventions in the treatment of patients with overweight and obesity: A systematic review. Nutrients, 12(12), 3634. Web.