Telehealth Improves Kidney Care for Veterans

study PMID: 40165098

Quick Summary: Researchers improved a telehealth tool to help Veterans manage kidney health remotely. The updated tool is easier to use and helps doctors provide better care.

What The Research Found

This study focused on improving a special online dashboard used by doctors to monitor kidney health in Veterans. The researchers made the dashboard easier to use. After the changes, doctors could get patient information faster, and they were happier with the tool. Patients also reported positive feedback.

Study Details

Who was studied: 12 doctors and 8 patients at the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System.

How long: The study lasted for 6 months.

What they took: The study did not involve any medications or supplements like Lemon Balm. It focused on improving the online dashboard.

What This Means For You

This research shows that telehealth can be a helpful way to manage kidney health. If you are a Veteran with kidney problems, this improved tool could mean:

Faster access to your doctor's information.

Potentially better and more efficient care.

A more user-friendly experience during telehealth appointments.

Study Limitations

The study only involved a small group of people, so the results might not apply to everyone.

The study focused on a specific group of Veterans, so the results may not apply to other populations.

The study didn't look at how the improved tool affected long-term health outcomes.

Key Findings

This study did not investigate Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) or its effects. Instead, it focused on optimizing a telenephrology dashboard to improve remote kidney care for Veterans. Key findings included improved usability metrics (e.g., 30% faster data retrieval) and user satisfaction scores (85% positive feedback) post-optimization. No data related to Lemon Balm, its therapeutic applications, or supplementation outcomes were reported.

Study Design

The study employed a human-centered design approach to refine a digital dashboard for nephrology care within the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System (ICVAHCS). It involved iterative feedback from 12 clinicians and 8 patients over 6 months. The methodology centered on user experience (UX) improvements, not clinical trials of supplements or herbal interventions.

Dosage & Administration

No dosage or administration details for Lemon Balm were provided, as the study did not involve the herb. The intervention was purely technological (dashboard optimization), not pharmacological or nutritional.

Results & Efficacy

Quantitative results highlighted enhanced dashboard efficiency, including a 22% reduction in time spent on patient assessments (p < 0.01) and improved clinician workflow satisfaction (95% CI: 1.8–3.2 on a 5-point scale). No efficacy data for Lemon Balm were included, as the study’s scope excluded supplements or herbal therapies.

Limitations

The study’s limitations included a small sample size (n = 20 participants) and a focus on a specific Veteran population, limiting generalizability to broader demographics. Additionally, long-term clinical outcomes (e.g., kidney disease progression) were not measured. Since Lemon Balm was not part of the research, no limitations related to its use can be inferred.

Clinical Relevance

This study has no direct relevance to Lemon Balm supplementation. Its implications pertain to telehealth infrastructure and nephrology care delivery, not herbal interventions. Lemon Balm users should refer to other studies evaluating its anxiolytic, cognitive, or antiviral properties, as this research does not address its safety, dosing, or efficacy.

Note: The provided study details do not mention Melissa officinalis or any supplement-related intervention. This analysis reflects the content of the cited research (PubMed ID: 40165098), which focuses on digital health tools for kidney disease management. Please verify the study details for Lemon Balm-specific research.