Health Care : Current Reviews

Ramadan and health-related applications for mobiles and smartphones: Ramadan 2.0 or the digital ramadan as a new emerging trend

4^th Global Summit on Healthcare

November 09-10, 2015 Dubai, UAE

Nicola Luigi Bragazzi

University of Genoa, Italy

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: Health Care: Current Reviews

Abstract:

Ramadan fasting represents one of the five pillars of the Islam creed. Even though patients are exempted from observing this religious duty, they may be eager to take part into this religious ceremony, fully living all its implications. Here, we review the extant literature on the topic of e-health and in particular the new concept of Islamic e-health introducing the important theme of the fasting in the digital era (Ramadan 2.0). Applications for mobiles and smart-phones provide a wide range of functions and services for Muslims: Customers can read, listen and memorize the Quâ??ran and are offered the possibilities to bookmark the verses and the various surat (Quâ??ran chapters). They can know exact prayer times together with the Qibla direction can locate nearby mosques and also use a personalized Islamic events calendar. Applications can even mimic and reproduce the rhythmic clicking of the prayer beads as well as calculate the zakat. Actually, many applications specifically designed for Ramadan exist. Some help diabetic Muslims to better manage their fasting, others suggest nutritional tips or physical exercises in order to maintain the weight and have a healthy lifestyle during the fasting month. In conclusion, Islamic e-health is an emerging trend and represents an incredible opportunity that can be exploited for educating diabetic patients willing to fast during the Ramadan month as well as treating patients suffering from other diseases or providing healthy subjects with nutritional recommendations and suggestions. However, health-care providers should be aware of this phenomenon, monitor the reliability of information provided by the applications and eventually correct misleading material, informing their patients. Further studies in the field are urgently needed including randomized controlled trials to test whether applications are effective in assisting patients from remote during the Ramadan fasting.

Biography :

Email: robertobragazzi@gmail.com