1
|
Konno S, Kudo H. Fundamental Study of a Wristwatch Sweat Lactic Acid Monitor. BIOSENSORS 2024; 14:187. [PMID: 38667180 PMCID: PMC11048019 DOI: 10.3390/bios14040187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
A lactic acid (LA) monitoring system aimed at sweat monitoring was fabricated and tested. The sweat LA monitoring system uses a continuous flow of phosphate buffer saline, instead of chambers or cells, for collecting and storing sweat fluid excreted at the skin surface. To facilitate the use of the sweat LA monitoring system by subjects when exercising, the fluid control system, including the sweat sampling device, was designed to be unaffected by body movements or muscle deformation. An advantage of our system is that the skin surface condition is constantly refreshed by continuous flow. A real sample test was carried out during stationary bike exercise, which showed that LA secretion increased by approximately 10 μg/cm2/min compared to the baseline levels before exercise. The LA levels recovered to baseline levels after exercise due to the effect of continuous flow. This indicates that the wristwatch sweat LA monitor has the potential to enable a detailed understanding of the LA distribution at the skin surface.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Hiroyuki Kudo
- Department of Electronics and Bioinformatics, School of Science and Technology, Meiji University, Tokyo 214-8571, Kanagawa, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hosseini SM, Boushehri SA, Alimohammadzadeh K. Challenges and solutions for implementing telemedicine in Iran from health policymakers' perspective. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:50. [PMID: 38200535 PMCID: PMC10782789 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-10488-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite significant progress in health technology and growing interest among countries in incorporating telemedicine into healthcare delivery, its usage remains limited in Iran. The aim of this study is to investigate the challenges related to telemedicine in Iran and pinpoint potential solutions from the viewpoint of health policymakers, marking the first such endeavor. METHODS This qualitative study was conducted in Iran in 2022. Data were gathered from 19 health policymakers who were selected using purposeful and snowball sampling techniques via in-depth and semi-structured interviews. The research findings were analyzed using the content analysis technique, with coding performed using MAXQDA software. The content analysis approach developed by Erlingsson was utilized to analyze the data. RESULTS The study revealed eight main challenges that inhibit the widespread use of telemedicine in Iran. These challenges include policy weaknesses, uncertainty around operating mechanisms, inadequate communication and telecommunication infrastructure, insufficient cultural infrastructure, lack of electronic requirements, redundant bureaucracies, legal gaps, and economic factors. Furthermore, four key solutions to these challenges were identified. These include a national commitment to the development of telemedicine, the establishment of a telemedicine roadmap, the enhancement of e-health requirements and infrastructure, and the preparation of the community to accept telemedicine as a viable option for healthcare delivery. CONCLUSION The implementation of telemedicine in Iran faces significant challenges, some of which are related to the national healthcare system, while others stem from various policy-related institutions and organizations. Addressing these challenges will require extensive inter-organizational cooperation and strong leadership at the governance level. However, it should be noted that fully resolving these issues is a time-consuming process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Mojtaba Hosseini
- Department of Health Services Management, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Khalil Alimohammadzadeh
- Department of Health Services Management, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
- Health Economics Policy Research Center, Tehran Medical Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Fikri E. Rural, Regional, Racial Disparities in Telemedicine Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among US Adults: 2021 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) [Letter]. Patient Prefer Adherence 2024; 18:89-90. [PMID: 38223441 PMCID: PMC10788058 DOI: 10.2147/ppa.s456131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Elanda Fikri
- Department of Environmental Health, Poltekkes Kemenkes Bandung, Bandung, Indonesia
- Center of Excellence on Utilization of Local Material for Health Improvement, Bandung Health Polytechnic, Bandung, Indonesia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Atkinson-Graham M, Brunton G, Cancelliere C, Corso M, de Zoete A, Rubinstein SM, Murnaghan K, Mior S. Care at a distance: Understanding lived experiences of people with MSK disorders receiving non-pharmacological interventions delivered through synchronous telehealth: A systematic rapid review. Digit Health 2024; 10:20552076241236573. [PMID: 38495858 PMCID: PMC10943750 DOI: 10.1177/20552076241236573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Little is known about lived experience of synchronous telehealth in patients with musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders. Objective We conducted a rapid systematic review to answer: (1) what are the lived experiences and/or perspectives of people with MSK disorders receiving non-pharmacological interventions delivered through synchronous telehealth; and (2) what clinical implications can be inferred from qualitative studies focusing on lived experiences for how telehealth is delivered in the management of MSK disorders? Data sources A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ProQuest, and Google Scholar from June 2010 to July 2023. Eligible qualitative and mixed methods studies capturing lived experiences of adults with MSK disorders receiving non-pharmacological interventions via synchronous telehealth were included. Study methods Systematic rapid review conducted according to WHO guidelines. Titles and abstracts screened by reviewers independently, eligible studies critically appraised, and data was extracted. Themes summarized using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). GRADE-CERQual (Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research) used to assess confidence in synthesis findings. Results We identified 9782 references, screened 8029, and critically appraised 22, and included 17 studies. There is evidence to suggest that the experience of telehealth prior to and during the pandemic was shaped by (1) patient perception of telehealth, (2) existing relationships with practitioners, (3) availability and accessibility of telehealth technologies, and (4) perceptions about the importance of the role of the physical exam in assessing and treating MSK disorders. Conclusion The five identified implications could be used to inform future research, policy, and strategy development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Atkinson-Graham
- Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research, Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, ON, Canada
- Division of Research and Innovation, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Toronto ON, Canada
| | - Ginny Brunton
- Faculty of Health Sciences, and Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research, Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, ON, Canada
| | - Carol Cancelliere
- Faculty of Health Sciences, and Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research, Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, ON, Canada
| | - Melissa Corso
- Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research, Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, ON, Canada
| | - Annemarie de Zoete
- Department of Health Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sidney M Rubinstein
- Department of Health Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kent Murnaghan
- Library Sciences, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Toronto ON, Canada
| | - Silvano Mior
- Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research, Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, ON, Canada
- Division of Research and Innovation, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Toronto ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Liu D, Son S, Cao J. The determinants of public acceptance of telemedicine apps: an innovation diffusion perspective. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1325031. [PMID: 38155881 PMCID: PMC10753762 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1325031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
With the rapid advancement of information technology, telemedicine apps have gradually become an indispensable tool for providing patients with more convenient, efficient, and accessible healthcare services. However, the successful implementation of these apps largely depends on widespread acceptance among the public. To thoroughly investigate the factors influencing the public's acceptance of these apps and the relationships between these factors, this study developed a theoretical model based on the Diffusion of Innovation theory and the Theory of Perceived Value. To validate this model, we conducted a survey of 387 residents in Beijing, China, and employed structural equation modeling to analyze the collected data. The research findings indicate that attributes of innovation diffusion, including relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability, significantly and positively influence the public's perceived value. Particularly noteworthy is that perceived value partially mediates the relationship between innovation attributes and public acceptance, emphasizing the crucial role of perceived value in the public decision-making process. This study employed a theory-driven approach to elucidate the acceptance of telemedicine apps and offers fresh insights into the existing literature. By integrating the research paradigms of innovation diffusion and customer perceived value, we provide a coherent explanation of how individual cognitive processes lead to acceptance behavior. In summary, this research enriches the existing theoretical studies on the acceptance of telemedicine apps and holds positive implications for healthcare practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dong Liu
- Department of Global Business, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangbum Son
- Department of Global Business, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Junwei Cao
- Department of Business, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Parameshwarappa PM, Olickal JJ. Telemedicine Awareness and the Preferred Digital Healthcare Tools: A Community-based Cross-sectional Study from Rural Karnataka, India. Indian J Community Med 2023; 48:915-919. [PMID: 38249713 PMCID: PMC10795884 DOI: 10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_770_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The Indian government launched national teleconsultation services (eSanjeevani OPD) to provide safe doctor-to-patient consultations. This study aimed to determine the awareness and willingness to seek services from eSanjeevani OPDs. Material and Methods This is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in Nandigudi village, Karnataka. The total sample size was 273, and participants were recruited using a systematic sampling technique. Results The prevalence of awareness about teleconsultations was 2.2% (n = 6, 95% CI: 0.8-4.7%). None of the participants utilized eSanjeevani services in the last year. Approximately 56.0% (n = 153, 95% CI: 49.9-62.0%) were willing to use eSanjeevani OPD. "Not being familiar" (n = 99, 82.5%) with eSanjeevani OPD was the major reason for unwillingness to use teleconsultation, and 73.8% (n = 113) preferred video calls as the mode of communication. Conclusion The majority of the participants were not aware of and were unwilling to use eSanjeevani OPD. Therefore, healthcare professionals should focus more on creating awareness of teleconsultations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeby Jose Olickal
- Department of Public Health, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala, India
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Harkey K, Kaiser N, Zhao J, Gutnik B, Kelz R, Matthews BD, Reinke C. Utilization of telemedicine to provide post-discharge care: A comparison of pre-pandemic vs. pandemic care. Am J Surg 2023; 226:163-169. [PMID: 36966017 PMCID: PMC10014479 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2023.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, post-discharge virtual visits transitioned from a novel intervention to standard practice. Our aim was to evaluate participation in and outcomes of virtual post-discharge visits in the early-pandemic timeframe. METHODS Pandemic cohort patients were compared to historical patients. Patient demographics, clinical information, and post-discharge 30-day hospital encounters were compared between groups. RESULTS The historical cohort included 563 patients and the pandemic cohort had 823 patients. There was no difference in 30-day hospital encounters between patients who completed a video vs. telephone visit in the pandemic cohort (3.8% vs. 7.6%, p = 0.11). There was a lower 30-day hospital encounter rate in pandemic video and telephone visits compared to similar historical sub-groups. CONCLUSION Expansion of virtual post-discharge visits to include all patients and telephone calls did not negatively impact rates of 30-day post-discharge hospital encounters. Offering telehealth options for post-discharge follow-up does not appear to have negative impact on healthcare utilization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristen Harkey
- Carolinas Medical Center, Department of Surgery, 1000 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC, 28204, USA.
| | - Nicole Kaiser
- Carolinas Medical Center, Department of Surgery, 1000 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC, 28204, USA.
| | - Jing Zhao
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE), Atrium Health, 1300 Scott Avenue, Charlotte, NC, USA.
| | - Bella Gutnik
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE), Atrium Health, 1300 Scott Avenue, Charlotte, NC, USA.
| | - Rachel Kelz
- Department of Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Brent D Matthews
- Carolinas Medical Center, Department of Surgery, 1000 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC, 28204, USA.
| | - Caroline Reinke
- Carolinas Medical Center, Department of Surgery, 1000 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC, 28204, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Listorti E, Ferrara L, Adinolfi A, Gerardi MC, Ughi N, Tozzi VD, Epis OM. Joining telehealth in rheumatology: a survey on the role played by personalized experience from patients' perspective. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:682. [PMID: 37349713 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09575-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic has forced many hospital departments worldwide to implement telehealth strategies for the first time. Telehealth represents the opportunity to increase value for all stakeholders, including patients and healthcare staff, but its success constitutes a challenge for all of them and particularly patients play a crucial role for their needed adherence. This study focuses on the experience of the Rheumatology Unit of Niguarda Hospital in Milan (Italy), where telehealth projects have been implemented for more than a decade with structured design and organized processes. The case study is paradigmatic because patients have experimented personalized mixes of telehealth channels, including e-mails and phone calls, Patient Reported Outcomes questionnaires, and home delivery of drugs. Given all these peculiarities, we decided to deepen patients' perspective through three main aspects related to the adoption of telehealth: (i) the benefits perceived, (ii) the willingness to enrol in future projects, (iii) the preference on the service-mix between remote contacts and in-person visits. Most importantly, we investigated differences in the three areas among all patients based on the mix of telehealth channels experienced. METHODS We conducted a survey from November 2021 to January 2022, enrolling consecutively patients attending the Rheumatology Unit of Niguarda Hospital in Milan (Italy). Our survey comprised an introductory set of questions related to personal, social, clinical and ICT skills information, followed by the central part on telehealth. All the answers were analysed with descriptive statistics and regression models. RESULTS A complete response was given by 400 patients: 283 (71%) were female, 237 (59%) were 40-64 years old, 213 (53%) of them declared to work, and the disease most represented was Rheumatoid Arthritis (144 patients, 36%). Descriptive statistics and regression results revealed that (i) non-users imagined wide-ranging benefits compared to users; (ii) other things being equal, having had a more intense experience of telehealth increased the odds of accepting to participate to future projects by 3.1 times (95% C.I. 1.04-9.25), compared to non-users; (iii) the more telehealth was experienced, the higher the willingness to substitute in-person with online contacts. CONCLUSIONS Our study contributes to enlighten the crucial role played by the telehealth experience in determining patients' preferences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lucia Ferrara
- CERGAS SDA Bocconi, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonella Adinolfi
- Rheumatology Unit, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Nicola Ughi
- Rheumatology Unit, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Oscar M Epis
- Rheumatology Unit, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Kasim HF, Salih AI, Attash FM. Usability of telehealth among healthcare providers during COVID-19 pandemic in Nineveh Governorate, Iraq. PUBLIC HEALTH IN PRACTICE 2023; 5:100368. [PMID: 36789446 PMCID: PMC9911152 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhip.2023.100368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives To identify the usability of telehealth services and barriers during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic among healthcare providers in Nineveh Governorate-Iraq. Study design This was a multicenter cross-sectional survey. Methods We collected the required data from April to July 2022 using self-administered open-ended questionnaires. The healthcare providers were physicians, pharmacists, and nurses with at least six months of services at hospitals. A modified form of the Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ) was used to assess the usability of telehealth services. Results There were 460 healthcare providers, of which 269/460 (58.5%) were users of telehealth services. These were mostly physicians (n = 167/269, 62.1%), nurses (52/269, 19.3%), and pharmacists (n = 50/269, 18.6%), with a p-value of 0.001. During the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians (n = 100/167, 60.0%) and pharmacists (n = 28/50, 56.0%) increased their provision of telehealth services. Approximately 60% of physicians and nurses preferred to provide telehealth services in a synchronized manner. The participants mostly used smartphones to provide telehealth services through Messenger/Facebook and WhatsApp applications, specifically utilizing voice and/or video messages. There was some agreement among the participants (n = 269) regarding the usability of telehealth services. The overall mean score (±SD) was 4.8 (±0.88). The most reported barriers to telehealth services were poor Internet services, the presence of specific diseases, lack of technical comprehension, and insufficient time allocated to the service. Conclusion Healthcare providers demonstrated a tendency towards the usability of telehealth services. Despite the available barriers, triage collaborations among patients, healthcare providers, and healthcare institutions are needed to achieve more successful adoption of these services.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hala F. Kasim
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, University of Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq,Corresponding author
| | - Amina Ibrahim Salih
- AL-Salam Teaching Hospital, Iraqi Ministry of Health & Environment, Nineveh, Iraq
| | - Farah Mwafaq Attash
- Ibn Seena Teaching Hospital, Iraqi Ministry of Health & Environment, Nineveh, Iraq
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Maroju RG, Choudhari SG, Shaikh MK, Borkar SK, Mendhe H. Role of Telemedicine and Digital Technology in Public Health in India: A Narrative Review. Cureus 2023; 15:e35986. [PMID: 37050980 PMCID: PMC10085457 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.35986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
There are still many areas of India without proper medical facilities. In such a setting, technology can play a facilitating role, particularly in reaching out to remote locations and offering a greater standard of care at a lower cost. The method of treating and diagnosing patients remotely through communication networks is known as telemedicine. When more patients get access to telemedicine, payers take more notice of how much less expensive it is than traditional medicine, and doctors are aware of its benefits. Telemedicine is a more beneficial technology that can expand access to preventive treatment and may lead to long-term health. Telemedicine has the potential to greatly affect public health. This paper reviews the current state of the art of telemedicine in India. Nearly 50 years ago, telemedicine was shrugged off as a complicated, expensive, and inefficient technology. Because of how quickly the information technology and telecommunications disciplines are advancing, telemedicine is today a viable, dependable, and useful technique. Practitioners and medical experts from a variety of fields have experienced success with telemedicine. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for strong primary healthcare networks for a more effective public health response during health emergencies and exposed the fragmentation of healthcare delivery systems. Although primary care is the first point of contact between the general public and the healthcare system, it has not recently grown much focus or funding. Even in the post-COVID-19 environment, telemedicine offers the potential to get through enduring barriers to primary care in India, such as a shortage of qualified medical professionals, issues with access, and the cost of in-person care. Telemedicine has the power to speed up the delivery of universal health coverage while strengthening primary care. There is a widening gap between people and those who offer basic health services as the population in India has grown, and the average lifespan has increased. Telemedicine helps with palliative care, early identification, a better cure, prevention, and rehabilitation in the treatment of cancer. Due to a shortage of primary care delivery networks and referral units, secondary and tertiary care facilities' health systems are overworked. To successfully use telemedicine, proper planning and operating processes are required. Thus, the development and implementation of telemedicine will improve patient care and India's primary healthcare system in the future. Finally, telemedicine's cost-effectiveness will likely be its most significant outcome.
Collapse
|
11
|
Abstract
Telemedicine has become fundamental for the challenges posed to healthcare. This set of instruments turns pivotal for facing one of the most relevant emergencies in human history: the COVID-19 pandemic. The multisectoral crisis led to a vigorously sustained adoption of innovations, including telemedicine technology. Telehealth was proven, in this context, to be a relevant tool to reduce healthcare costs, reduce not-needed hospitalizations, and improve the results in health care. Some barriers such as the costs of technologies, patient privacy and technical literacy have slowed down telemedicine adoption. Amidst the COVID-19 era, telemedicine calls for a managerial duty to change healthcare's organizational models. The present work aims to explore the growing literature to illuminate the relationships between telemedicine, innovations and healthcare in the COVID-19 framework. A bibliometric analysis of the existing literature based on 285 published works in 2019–2020 is put forward with the aim to detect the relevant literature, themes and approaches on telemedicine and COVID-19. Making use of community detection on the co-occurrence keywords network, we identify the “semantic cores” in the literature representing the relevant results on critical themes. The sorting implications are important for researchers and policymakers by mapping the existing literature and results in evidence-based analysis. We provide the key communities as the “semantic core” of the publications and results for the considered period. This allows for future research to be oriented towards perduring health policies that could lead to the adoption of telemedicine technologies in a post-pandemic scenario.
Collapse
|
12
|
Ferorelli D, Moretti L, Benevento M, Mastrapasqua M, Telegrafo M, Solarino B, Dell’Erba A, Bizzoca D, Moretti B. Digital Health Care, Telemedicine, and Medicolegal Issues in Orthopedics: A Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15653. [PMID: 36497728 PMCID: PMC9735483 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The use of technologies in medicine has great potential to reduce the costs of health care services by making appropriate decisions that provide timely patient care. The evolution of telemedicine poses a series of clinical and medicolegal considerations. However, only a few articles have dealt with telemedicine and orthopedics. This review assesses the ethical and medicolegal issues related to tele-orthopedics. A systematic review was performed including papers published between 2017 and 2021 focusing on the main medicolegal and clinical-governance aspects of tele-orthopedics. Most of the articles were published during the COVID-19 pandemic, confirming the impetus that the pandemic has also given to the spread of telemedicine in the orthopedic field. The areas of interest dealt with in the scientific evidence, almost exclusively produced in the USA, Europe, the UK, and Canada, are quality, patient satisfaction, and safety. The impact of telemedicine in orthopedics has not yet been fully evaluated and studied in terms of the potential medicolegal concerns. Most of the authors performed qualitative studies with poor consistency. Authorizations and accreditations, protection of patient confidentiality, and professional responsibility are issues that will certainly soon emerge.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davide Ferorelli
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretti
- Orthopedics and Trauma Unit, AOUC Policlinico di Bari, Department DiBraiN, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Marcello Benevento
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Maurizio Mastrapasqua
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Michele Telegrafo
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Biagio Solarino
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Alessandro Dell’Erba
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Davide Bizzoca
- Orthopedics and Trauma Unit, AOUC Policlinico di Bari, Department DiBraiN, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Biagio Moretti
- Orthopedics and Trauma Unit, AOUC Policlinico di Bari, Department DiBraiN, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70121 Bari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Troisi R, De Simone S, Vargas M, Franco M. The other side of the crisis: organizational flexibility in balancing Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 health-care services. BMC Health Serv Res 2022; 22:1096. [PMID: 36038878 PMCID: PMC9421103 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-08486-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Many healthcare systems have been unable to deal with Covid-19 without influencing non-Covid-19 patients with pre-existing conditions, risking a paralysis in the medium term. This study explores the effects of organizational flexibility on hospital efficiency in terms of the capacity to deliver healthcare services for both Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 patients. Method Focusing on Italian health system, a two-step strategy is adopted. First, Data Envelope Analysis is used to assess the capacity of hospitals to address the needs of Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 patients relying on internal resource flexibility. Second, two panel regressions are performed to assess external organizational flexibility, with the involvement in demand management of external operators in the health-care service, examining the impact on efficiency in hospital capacity management. Results The overall response of the hospitals in the study was not fully effective in balancing the needs of the two categories of patients (the efficiency score is 0.87 and 0.58, respectively, for Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 patients), though responses improved over time. Furthermore, among the measures providing complementary services in the community, home hospitalization and territorial medicine were found to be positively associated with hospital efficiency (0.1290, p < 0.05 and 0.2985, p < 0.01, respectively, for non-Covid-19 and Covid-19 patients; 0.0026, p < 0.05 and 0.0069, p < 0.01, respectively, for non-Covid-19 and Covid-19). In contrast, hospital networks are negatively related to efficiency in Covid-19 patients (-0.1037, p < 0.05), while the relationship is not significant in non-Covid-19 patients. Conclusions Managing the needs of Covid-19 patients while also caring for other patients requires a response from the entire healthcare system. Our findings could have two important implications for effectively managing health-care demand during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. First, as a result of a naturally progressive learning process, the resource balance between Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 patients improves over time. Second, it appears that demand management to control the flow of patients necessitates targeted interventions that combine agile structures with decentralization. Finally, untested integration models risk slowing down the response, giving rise to significant costs without producing effective results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Troisi
- Department of Political and Communication Science, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, Fisciano (Salerno), Italy.
| | - Stefania De Simone
- Department of Political Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Largo S. Marcellino, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Vargas
- Department of Neurosurgical, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Pansini, Naples, Italy
| | - Massimo Franco
- Department of Political Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Largo S. Marcellino, Naples, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Paesano N, Carrion DM, Autrán Gomez AM. Telemedicine use in current urologic oncology clinical practice. Front Surg 2022; 9:885260. [PMID: 36338631 PMCID: PMC9629354 DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2022.885260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In the last fifteen years, there have been important technological advances in telehealth systems and urology, along with other specialties, has been a pioneer in the successful use of this medical care modality. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of telemedicine has been rapidly embraced by the urology community around the world. A review of the most relevant and updated articles on telemedicine and telehealth in urology has been carried out with the aim of better understanding how it has been implemented to date, as well as reviewing concepts, current regulations, health policies and recommendations for its implementation. METHODS A narrative review of the current literature published up to April 2022 on the use of telemedicine in urology was performed. From the search results, 42 publications were obtained for analysis. RESULTS Telemedicine in urology has been shown to be useful in a variety of clinical scenarios within urological practice, from benign diseases to advanced cancers. This is due to the positive impact on medical consultation times, lower patient mobility costs, less work absenteeism and greater protection for both the patient and the doctor. The main limitations for the use of telemedicine lie in the impossibility of a correct physical examination, which is essential in certain situations, as well as the lack of accessibility to technology in disadvantaged populations and in elderly patients who have not adapted to the use of technology, as well as the lack of development of health policies to establish their implementation in some countries. CONCLUSION Telemedicine is in full growth. There is much information in the current literature on the successful adoption of telemedicine for patients suffering from urological diseases. While the use and implementation of these new practices has been rapid in the urology community, more work is needed to bring more accessible specialty care to underserved and underdeveloped areas. Health policies must promote its development to reduce costs and increase access.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nahuel Paesano
- Department of Urology, Instituto Médico Tecnológico, Prostate Institute Barcelona, CIMA—SANITAS Hospital, Barcelona, Spain,Office of Residents and Young Urologists, Office of Residents and Young Urologists of the American Confederation of Urology (CAU), Barcelona, Spain,Correspondence: Nahuel Paesano
| | - Diego M. Carrion
- Department of Urology, Torrejon University Hospital, Madrid, Spain,Department of Urology, Instituto de Cirugía Urologica Avanzada (ICUA), Clínica CEMTRO, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana María Autrán Gomez
- Department of Urology, Lyx Urology, Madrid, Spain,Office of Research, Office of Research of the American Confederation of Urology (CAU), Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Gao J, Fan C, Chen B, Fan Z, Li L, Wang L, Ma Q, He X, Zhai Y, Zhao J. Telemedicine Is Becoming an Increasingly Popular Way to Resolve the Unequal Distribution of Healthcare Resources: Evidence From China. Front Public Health 2022; 10:916303. [PMID: 35874991 PMCID: PMC9301261 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.916303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Few studies focused on the general situation of telemedicine in China. Objectives The purpose of this review is to investigate telemedicine in China, from the aspects of necessity, history, scale, and operation procedure, to improve the further development and implementation of telemedicine service. Methods A literature search for peer-reviewed studies was conducted using the primary electronic databases. Additional documents from the official websites of Chinese government departments involved telemedicine was also collected. We extracted telemedicine related information focused on China from the final retrieved materials, and the general situation of telemedicine was drawn. Results In China, telemedicine offers a feasible solution to the unequal allocation of healthcare resources, which makes telemedicine increasingly become an important alternative to close the gap between rural and urban in the capability and quality of medical services. China initiated telemedicine in the late 1980s. In 2018, China's telemedicine network has covered more than 3,000 hospitals across the country. As of 2019, almost all of the 31 provinces and municipalities in mainland have established regional telemedicine centers, and the market size of telemedicine reached about USD 2.68 billion. Based on the telemedicine network, remote rural patients can apply for healthcare services of top-tier urban hospitals through local county-level medical institutions. Conclusions Through improving the capacity, quality, and efficiency of healthcare in underserved areas, and reducing the unequal distribution of medical resources, telemedicine can help solve the problems of the difficulty and high cost to access to medical services in China.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinghong Gao
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,National Engineering Laboratory for Internet Medical Systems and Applications, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Province Telemedicine Center of China, National Telemedicine Center of China, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Chaolin Fan
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Baozhan Chen
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,National Engineering Laboratory for Internet Medical Systems and Applications, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Province Telemedicine Center of China, National Telemedicine Center of China, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhaohan Fan
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,National Engineering Laboratory for Internet Medical Systems and Applications, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lifeng Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,National Engineering Laboratory for Internet Medical Systems and Applications, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Linlin Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,National Engineering Laboratory for Internet Medical Systems and Applications, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Province Telemedicine Center of China, National Telemedicine Center of China, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qianqian Ma
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,National Engineering Laboratory for Internet Medical Systems and Applications, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Province Telemedicine Center of China, National Telemedicine Center of China, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xianying He
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,National Engineering Laboratory for Internet Medical Systems and Applications, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Province Telemedicine Center of China, National Telemedicine Center of China, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yunkai Zhai
- National Engineering Laboratory for Internet Medical Systems and Applications, Zhengzhou, China.,Management Engineering School, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jie Zhao
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,National Engineering Laboratory for Internet Medical Systems and Applications, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Province Telemedicine Center of China, National Telemedicine Center of China, Zhengzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Ayoub CH, El-Asmar JM, Abdulfattah S, El-Hajj A. Telemedicine and Telementoring in Urology: A Glimpse of the Past and a Leap Into the Future. Front Surg 2022; 9:811749. [PMID: 35273996 PMCID: PMC8901873 DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2022.811749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Telemedicine is the process of utilizing telecommunications and digital relay to perform, teach, or share medical knowledge. The digital era eased the incorporation of telemedicine to different areas of medical care, including the surgical care of Urologic patient mainly through telementoring, telesurgery, and telerobotics. Over the years, Telemedicine has played an integral part in a physicians' ability to provide high quality medical care to remote patients, as well as serve as an educational tool for trainee physicians, in the form of telementoring. During the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine has played a vital role in combatting the health implications of confinements. Challenges of telemedicine implementation include cost, ethical considerations, security, bandwidth, latency, legal, and licensure difficulties. Nevertheless, the future of telemedicine, specifically telementoring, promises several improvements and innovative advancements that aim to bridge the gap in technological divides of urologic care. In this review, we build on what is already known about telemedicine focusing specifically on aspects related to telementoring, telestration, and telesurgery. Furthermore, we discuss its historical role in healthcare with a special emphasis on current and future use in urology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Habib Ayoub
- Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Jose M. El-Asmar
- Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Suhaib Abdulfattah
- American University of Beirut Medical School, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Albert El-Hajj
- Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
- *Correspondence: Albert El-Hajj
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Poonsuph R. The Design Blueprint for a Large-Scale Telehealth Platform. Int J Telemed Appl 2022; 2022:8486508. [PMID: 35035477 PMCID: PMC8754604 DOI: 10.1155/2022/8486508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Technological innovation plays a crucial role in digital healthcare services. A growing number of telehealth platforms are concentrating on using digital tools to improve the quality and availability of care. Virtual care solutions employ not only advanced telehealth technology but also a comprehensive range of healthcare services. As a result, these can reduce patient healthcare costs as well as increase accessibility and convenience. At the same time, the healthcare service provider can leverage healthcare professionals to get a better perspective into the needs of their patients. The objective of this research is to provide a comprehensive design blueprint for a large-scale telehealth platform. Telehealth is the digital healthcare service combining online services and offline access for healthcare facilities to offer various healthcare services directly to patients. This design blueprint covers the digital healthcare ecosystem, new patient journey design for digital health services, telehealth functionality design, and an outline of the platform infrastructure and security design. Ultimately, telehealth platforms establish a completed digital healthcare service and new ecosystem that provides better care for every patient worldwide.
Collapse
|
18
|
Al Mohaya MA, Almaziad MM, Al-Hamad KA, Mustafa M. Telemedicine Among Oral Medicine Practitioners During COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Future Impact on the Specialty. Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2021; 14:4369-4378. [PMID: 34707420 PMCID: PMC8544785 DOI: 10.2147/rmhp.s325777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic necessitated widespread changes in delivery of dental care. Telemedicine utilization increased overnight during this pandemic because of its ability to enhance access to oral healthcare, easily link to remote area, time management, low cost, etc. We aimed to identify the utilization of telemedicine among oral medicine practitioners in Saudi Arabia during COVID-19 pandemic and identify future impacts, potential challenges and barriers hindering the implementation of telemedicine. Methods The present cross-sectional electronically self-administered supplement-based survey Supplement Based Survey study was conducted among different professional levels of oral medicine involving consultants, specialists, and residents. The supplement includes demographic data, the current use of telemedicine, participant's perspective on future implications, and potential barriers and limitations of telemedicine. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach's alpha (α) to assess how closely related a set of items in our study. Results Of the total (N = 75) oral healthcare professionals, 52% were male, 70.7% were Saudi, 45.3% were consultant, 42.7% had 1-5 years of experience, 82.7% were practicing in urban areas, 93.3% stated COVID-19 affected their clinics, consultation was the major reason for the use of telemedicine before (50.7%) and during (72%) COVID-19 outbreak, 57.3% were communicating with their patients, 97.33% had not experienced any cyber risk, and 45% patients were satisfied with the telemedicine service; our data showed a high level of homogeneity (α = 0.82). The poor knowledge and training on telemedicine technologies may substantially (p < 0.05) impact the future implications of telemedicine in oral medicine practice. Conclusion Telemedicine could be a useful adjunct for oral medicine practice, especially for remote diagnosis, consultation, referral, training and education. Our study emphasizes an urgent need to increase the awareness and education on how to utilize and practice telemedicine technologies among medical staff to maximize the efficiency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maha Ali Al Mohaya
- Oral Medicine & Special Care Dentistry, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mansour M Almaziad
- Oral Medicine and Pathology, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid A Al-Hamad
- Oral and Maxillofacial Department, Majmaah University, Majmaah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Mustafa
- Scientific Research Center, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|