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The development and deployment of information technology, particularly mobile tools, to support collaboration between different groups of healthcare professionals has been viewed as a promising way to improve disease surveillance and patient care in remote regions. The effects of global climate change combined with rapid changes to land cover and use in Amazonia are believed to be contributing to the spread of vector-borne emerging and neglected diseases. This makes empowering and providing support for local healthcare providers all the more important. We investigate the use of information technology in this context to support professionals whose activities range from diagnosing diseases and monitoring their spread to developing policies to deal with outbreaks. An analysis of stakeholders, their roles and requirements, is presented which encompasses results of fieldwork and of a process of design and prototyping complemented by questionnaires and targeted interviews. Findings are analysed with respect to the tasks of diagnosis, training of local healthcare professionals, and gathering, sharing and visualisation of data for purposes of epidemiological research and disease surveillance. Methodological issues regarding the elicitation of cooperation and collaboration requirements are discussed and implications are drawn with respect to the use of technology in tackling emerging and neglected diseases.

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Please cite this article as: S. Luz, M. Masoodian, R.R. Cesario, M. Cesario, Using a serious game to promote community-based awareness and prevention of neglected tropical diseases, Entertainment Computing (2015), doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.entcom. 2015.11.001 This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.Article title: Using a serious game to promote community-based awareness and prevention of neglected tropical diseases A serious game is presented which embodies an approach to disease prevention and management that is community-based and incorporates principles of the One Health framework---a broader view of healthcare that encompasses people, animals and the environment. The game focuses specifically on two related neglected and emerging infectious tropical diseases, namely Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) and American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ACL). It seeks to inform and encourage changes in behaviours and attitudes in local populations, while involving multidisciplinary teams of healthcare professionals and researchers. The design of the learning outcomes, gameplay, client interface, and architecture of the game are discussed in detail, along with the process of collaboration among a team of computer scientists, designers, medical researchers, and practitioners which underpinned the development of the game. An expert study conducted to gather feedback from a multidisciplinary group of participants comprising medical researchers, veterinarians, healthcare service administrators, and community healthcare providers is presented which forms part of our initial assessment of this approach. The results of this study and their implications for the design of similar health-related serious games are also discussed.Using a serious game to promote community-based awareness and prevention of neglected tropical diseases

Aim.  This research aimed at identifying social support for older people and their families. Background.  The Brazilian National Policy for Older People's Health, created in 1998, is based on the promotion of healthy ageing, aiming at encouraging older people to remain in their environment and independently exert their functions in society. Nursing has engaged in this process, seeking to provide integrated care to the older person and family. Method.  A case study with multiple participants was carried out. The inclusion criteria were families of older people over 70 years old who attended a Family Health Unit in the interior of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Data were collected between April and June, 2007. In-depth interviews, genograms and ecomaps were used to collect data, which were categorized by thematic content analysis. Results.  Three families participated in this study, totalling seven participants. Conclusions.  The older people's families depend on institutional networks for their health maintenance. Spirituality and religion are mixed and are very expressive sources of support. Relevance to clinical practice.  Assessing social support and networks can favour nursing interventions in order to intensify social interactions, promote leisure and help the families of older people to cope with life changes.