Previously submitted to: JMIR Formative Research (no longer under consideration since Aug 06, 2025)
Date Submitted: Jan 18, 2024
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Development of an Artificial Intelligence Based Application for Community Care of Neuropathic Ulcers in Nepal
ABSTRACT
Neuropathic ulcers, prevalent in individuals with leprosy and diabetes, contribute significantly to disability and diminished quality of life. In regions like Nepal, burdened with concurrent leprosy and diabetes, access to specialized care is hindered by a scarcity of healthcare facilities and trained professionals. Our project aimed to Addressing this, our project introduces the 'Ulcer Care App,' an AI-based mobile application designed to provide community health workers with a tool for tailored care delivery. We outline our application development which utilised a mixed-method, interdisciplinary approach, building upon a clinical trial in Nepal. Utilizing a dataset comprising standardized ulcer photographs from inpatients, our team developed models predicting treatment outcomes linked to factors like age, gender, and blood pressure. Collaborating with an industry partner, the 'Ulcer Care App' was created, incorporating content from educational materials of the Leprosy Mission Nepal. Co-creation with healthcare workers and leprosy-affected individuals shaped the app's features. The 'Ulcer Care App' demonstrates potential for transforming leprosy ulcer care in resource limited contexts by providing a digitalized and accessible solution.
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