Online Health Technologies and Mobile Devices: Attitudes, Needs, and Future

Perception and Attitude toward Teleconsultations among Different Healthcare Professionals in the Era of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Teleconsultation has become one of the most important and sometimes the only possible forms of communication between healthcare professionals (HCPs) and their patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The perceptions and attitudes of HCPs to teleconsultations may affect the quality of the therapeutic process provided using them. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the attitudes to and perceptions of medical teleconsultation among various HCPs during the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed data from a dedicated questionnaire on preferences, attitudes, and opinions about teleconsultation, which was filled by 780 Polish HCPs. Most of the HCPs were doctors and nurses (69% and 19%, respectively); most of the doctors were family physicians (50.1%). During the pandemic, teleconsultation and face-to-face contact were reported as the preferred methods of providing medical services with similar frequency. Doctors and nurses displayed the most positive attitude toward teleconsultation while the paramedics and physiotherapists took the least positive view of it. The most frequently indicated ratio of the optimal number of teleconsultations to in-person visits in primary health facilities care was 20%:80%. Most HCPs appreciate the value of teleconsultation, and more than half of them are willing to continue this form of communication with the patient when necessary or desirable.

Inequity in the Access to eHealth and Its Decomposition Case of Poland

The aim of this research is to analyze the disparities in the distribution of information and communication technologies and skills across geographically determined population groups and to identify the source of the inequity. Literature showed that the nature of e-Health has the potential to resolve health inequalities. However, its successful implementation depends on such factors as the accessibility of required technologies to all people, the existence of technical infrastructure as well as people having the necessary information and communication skills. Employment of the Theil index allowed us to measure and decompose the national inequality into both: between and within macro-regions differences. Data was collected from Statistics Poland. The results showed the existence of inequity and its drivers. The novelty of this research results from application of the Theil index in the field of eHealth and identification of the barrier in access to e-Health, which can be a basis for improvement in government policy.

Access to an Electronic Health Record: A Polish National Survey

In Poland, as in many countries around the world, e-health services are becoming more and more popular. Obligatory e-sick leave was implemented, followed by e-prescriptions and e-referrals. Therefore, it is worth considering the introduction of a complete electronic health record (EHR) that can be accessed by doctors and patients. The main aim of the study is to find out whether patients want to have access to their EHRs and if they would agree to pay for such a service. The research was based on three surveys conducted among 1000 Polish adults in 2007, 2012, and 2018. The sample collection was carried out by the national opinion poll agency, with the use of computer-assisted telephone interviews. Over 60% of respondents were interested in the possibility of accessing EHRs in general, and almost 50% of them were ready to pay for it. Nevertheless, when analyzing all the year-on-year trends, they were subject to a gradual decrease. The youngest age group was the one most interested in EHRs, while the group comprising respondents in middle age was the one most willing to pay for it. There is still great potential in implementing EHRs on a bigger scale.

The Impact of Online Health Information on Patient Health Behaviours and Making Decisions Concerning Health

The number of Internet users searching for health-related issues increases significantly every year. The aim of this study was to investigate whether and how the information about health and disease obtained from the Internet by patients influenced them and how different e-health services can affect the patients' choice of the doctor. The research was based on a national survey conducted among 1000 Polish adults. The study was carried out with the use of the computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI). The study showed that e-health facilities are increasingly affecting the patient's choice of doctor. Among the highest rated factors, the possibility of setting the date of appointment online and practice's own website were indicated. Information on health and disease obtained from the Internet influenced respondents in many areas. Almost half of health Internet users (HI-users) wanted to change their diet and increase healthy physical activity under the influence of health information obtained online. Regarding health decision making, health information obtained from the Internet caused 45% of HI-users to make an appointment to see a doctor, and 40% of them had questions concerning diagnosis and treatment. Information on health and disease obtained from the Internet undoubtedly affects patient behaviour and health decisions they make.

"Mobile Health" for the Management of Spondyloarthritis and Its Application in China

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a group of inflammatory diseases characterized by inflammation in the spine, peripheral joints, and entheses that usually start at the prime of one's life and lead to impaired physical function and reduced quality of life. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is prototype of SpA. This article reviews the opportunities and challenges of using mobile health (mHealth) in managing SpA, and report some of our experiences using a mHealth solution for management of SpA patients and performing related research in China.

RECENT FINDINGS

The recent rapid development of mobile communications and the common use of intelligent electronic devices have led to the increasing application of mHealth for chronic disease management by healthcare providers and patients alike. This is a promising new technology that can help mitigate limitations in time and space for patient management, promote easier communication between patients and their healthcare providers, reduce medical expenses, and optimize medical services. We have developed a smartphone-based mHealth SpA management system (SpAMS) that also helps the patients to monitor, manage, and share information on their disease with their physician at regular intervals. There is a shift from a paternalistic model of healthcare to more personalized healthcare in which disease management is conducted by the patient together with their healthcare providers. The increasing utility of mHealth is expected to benefit disease management, promote patient-doctor communication, reduce medical expenses, and optimize medical services.

The Internet as a Source of Health Information and Services

The Internet is increasingly used for health-related purposes and evolves with the ever-changing needs of patients. The aim of this study was to assess the level of reliance on the Internet as a health information source, to examine which online communication activities are the most common for health purposes, and to determine the attitudes and needs of patients in this area and the factors affecting its use. A total of 1000 adults were selected from the Polish population by random sampling. The survey was administered by the Computer-Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI). The study concluded that 76.9% of the participants used the Internet for health purposes, among whom 72.6% of active and 27.4% of passive users were distinguished. The role of the Internet as a source of health information has increased, which corresponds to a growing interest in online health services. The majority of individuals searching for health information in the Internet lived in urban areas, had a high level of education, and was professionally active. We conclude that the increased interest in the use of the Internet related to health determines the direction in which e-health should be developed in the future.