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Background The Canadian province of Alberta released the ABTraceTogether smartphone app in May 2020 to assist in contact tracing during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Public engagement with this public health tool has been low, limiting the effectiveness of the intervention. This study examines physician knowledge of the app and practice patterns in relation to the app. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional self-administered online English language survey of physicians and medical students in Alberta, Canada. The survey link was sent to all registered members of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta and was distributed by other provincial physician organizations and health zone leaders. Results The survey received 317 responses. 96% of participants were aware of the app but only 27% had recommended the app to patients. The most common reason provided for not downloading or recommending the app was that participants had security concerns about the app. 23% of participants indicated they did not believe they had a responsibility to recommend the app to others. Conclusions Our study provides insights into participants’ knowledge and beliefs about the ABTraceTogether app. This information may be valuable to public health officials who wish to engage physicians in future public health campaigns.

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Introductions: The Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system is a longitudinal electronic record consisting of all the information relevant to a patients’ health and well-being, generated by at least one encounter in a healthcare setting. It can be accessed within an institution with multi-level accessibility based on authentication customized to the type of user. Since the EMR system potentiates an organised and holistic medical history specific to a patient, it enables medical professionals to deliver a higher quality of healthcare services. Aims: The aims of this study were to understand the global perspective of EMR and its implementation as well as to locate the gaps of knowledge that still existed in the understanding and definition of EMR amongst patients and hospital staff. Methods: All major bibliographic databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar and several specialist datasets such as PsycINFO, MEDLINE and EBSCOhost from the previous 10 years (2007-2017) were employed in our search. Paper citations which utilised a reference standard were incorporated for quality assessment. An initial search found 2700 articles however after factoring in the inclusion and exclusion criteria, only 78 articles were included in this review. Results: Our findings indicated a discrepancy between the expectation of patients and what was actually practiced. Patient concerns mainly involved easy access of healthcare professionals other than doctors to their EMR in addition to non-medical information. The assumption of confidentiality was expected to be maintained by indifference; however, a good face-to-face explanation cannot be substituted with control over content and access to EMR. In the event of a breach in patient confidentiality, lawsuits against healthcare providers will rise exponentially as patients are now well-informed and more empowered to ask questions regarding the care they are receiving and information being disclosed to other parties. Conclusion: Security of information can be attained with better modelling protocols, end-user training and refresher courses done on a regular basis. Finally, controls of access will need to be implemented via passwords and digital signatures.

INTRODUCTION:Postpartum depression affects up to 15% of women after childbirth, and those with a history of depression are at higher risk. Depression symptoms may develop at any time postpartum, but the current postdelivery follow-up schedule typically accommodates only one examination in the immediate 6 weeks after birth. Gator MOMitor, a smartphone application, was developed to provide real-time assessment of postpartum mental health and to facilitate early intervention.METHODS:After obtaining signed consent, the study participants downloaded the Gator MOMitor application to their phones before hospital discharge after delivery. The app prompted participants to complete a mood assessment via the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) sent through the app daily in the first 2 weeks and once per week in postpartum weeks 3 through 6. Assessments could be completed within a 1-hour window, after which they were flagged as incomplete. Participants received two reminders. A greater than or equal to 12 score on EPDS or three consecutive nonresponses triggered a phone call from a nurse for follow-up.RESULTS:Among 401 women enrolled, 1,599 mood assessments were completed. Seventy-six of these were positive screens triggering calls from the nurse, where the same participant could have multiple positive screens. Fifty-six participants with positive screens were successfully contacted by a nurse, 11 were referred for a wellness check, 5 were referred to a specialist, and 2 were admitted to the hospital for further evaluation.CONCLUSION:Smartphone applications such as Gator MOMitor are effective tools for real-time mood assessment, early symptom recognition, and intervention for postpartum women.