About Me

Research Interests
Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Data Visualization and Analytics, Big Data.
Publications
2017
Samina Abidi; Michael Vallis; Helena Piccinini-Vallis; Syed Ali Imran; Syed Sibte Raza Abidi
A Digital Framework to Support Providers and Patients in Diabetes Related Behavior Modification Proceedings Article
In: Informatics for Health (MIE2017), Manchester, April 24 - April 26, 2017, IOS Press, 2017.
BibTeX | Tags: Behaviour Modelling, Behavioural Change Theory, Diabetes Management
@inproceedings{Abidi2017,
title = {A Digital Framework to Support Providers and Patients in Diabetes Related Behavior Modification},
author = {Samina Abidi and Michael Vallis and Helena Piccinini-Vallis and Syed Ali Imran and Syed Sibte Raza Abidi},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-04-26},
booktitle = {Informatics for Health (MIE2017), Manchester, April 24 - April 26, 2017},
publisher = {IOS Press},
keywords = {Behaviour Modelling, Behavioural Change Theory, Diabetes Management},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
2014
Samina Abidi; Michael Vallis; Syed Sibte Raza Abidi; Helena Piccinini-Vallis; Syed Ali Imran
D-WISE: Diabetes Web-Centric Information and Support Environment: conceptual specification and proposed evaluation. Journal Article
In: Can J Diabetes, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 205-11, 2014, ISSN: 2352-3840.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Behaviour Modelling, Behavioural Theory, Diabetes Management, Health Informatics, Mobile Health, Patient Education
@article{Abidi:CanJDiabetes:2014,
title = {D-WISE: Diabetes Web-Centric Information and Support Environment: conceptual specification and proposed evaluation.},
author = {Samina Abidi and Michael Vallis and Syed Sibte Raza Abidi and Helena Piccinini-Vallis and Syed Ali Imran},
issn = {2352-3840},
year = {2014},
date = {2014-01-01},
journal = {Can J Diabetes},
volume = {38},
number = {3},
pages = {205-11},
address = {Canada},
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To develop and evaluate Diabetes Web-Centric Information and Support Environment (D-WISE) that offers 1) a computerized decision-support system to assist physicians to A) use the Canadian Diabetes Association clinical practice guidelines (CDA CPGs) to recommend evidence-informed interventions; B) offer a computerized readiness assessment strategy to help physicians administer behaviour-change strategies to help patients adhere to disease self-management programs; and 2) a patient-specific diabetes self-management application, accessible through smart mobile devices, that offers behaviour-change interventions to engage patients in self-management. METHODS: The above-mentioned objectives were pursued through a knowledge management approach that involved 1) Translation of paper-based CDA CPGs and behaviour-change models as computerized decision-support tools that will assist physicians to offer evidence-informed and personalized diabetes management and behaviour-change strategies; 2) Engagement of patients in their diabetes care by generating a diabetes self-management program that takes into account their preferences, challenges and needs; 3) Empowering patients to self-manage their condition by providing them with personalized educational and motivational messages through a mobile self-management application. The theoretical foundation of our research is grounded in behaviour-change models and healthcare knowledge management. We used 1) knowledge modelling to computerize the paper-based CDA CPGs and behaviour-change models, in particular, the behaviour-change strategy elements of A) readiness-to-change assessments; B) motivation-enhancement interventions categorized along the lines of patients' being ready, ambivalent or not ready; and C) self-efficacy enhancement. The CDA CPGs and the behaviour-change models are modelled and computerized in terms of A) a diabetes management ontology that serves as the knowledge resource for all the services offered by D-WISE; B) decision support services that use logic-based reasoning algorithms to utilize the knowledge encoded within the diabetes management ontology to assist physicians by recommending patient-specific diabetes-management interventions and behaviour-change strategies; C) a mobile diabetes self-management application to engage and educate diabetes patients to self-manage their condition in a home-based setting while working in concert with their family physicians. RESULTS: We have been successful in creating and conducting a usability assessment of the physician decision support tool. These results will be published once the patient self- management application has been evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: D-WISE will be evaluated through pilot studies measuring 1) the usability of the e-Health interventions; and 2) the impact of the interventions on patients' behaviour changes and diabetes control},
keywords = {Behaviour Modelling, Behavioural Theory, Diabetes Management, Health Informatics, Mobile Health, Patient Education},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}