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Walle AD, Butta FW, Kassie SY, Chereka AA, Kanfe SG, Dubale AT, Enyew EB, Dube GN, Shibabaw AA, Hunde MK, Kitil GW, Ferede TA, Wubante SM, Baykemagn ND, Demsash AW. Healthcare Professionals' Attitude to Using Mobile Health Technology and Its Associated Factors in a Resource-Limited Country-An Implication for Digital Health Implementers: A Cross Sectional Study. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 2024:1631376. [PMID: 39035773 PMCID: PMC11259502 DOI: 10.1155/2024/1631376] [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: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Background: Mobile health has become widely used within the healthcare system, and there is an increasing worldwide trend toward employing this innovation for behavior management, disease monitoring, the control and prevention of various health issues, and rising enrollment in healthcare services. Although mHealth is becoming more widely available, there is no evidence about the attitude of healthcare professionals toward mHealth in southwest Ethiopia. Therefore, this study is aimed at assessing the attitude of healthcare professionals to using mHealth technology and associated factors in Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 healthcare professionals. Data were collected using a pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire, and the study was conducted from January 08 to February 10, 2023. EpiData Version 4.6 for entering the data and STATA Version 14 for analyzing the data were used. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify factors associated with healthcare professionals' attitudes to using mobile health technology. Results: A total of 415 study participants were included in the study. About 180 (43.4%) respondents had a favorable attitude toward mHealth technology in southwest public hospitals. Master's degree and above (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 3.67; 95% CI: 1.22, 4.10), good knowledge of mobile health technology (AOR: 4.08; 95% CI: 1.35, 5.31), more than 5 years of work experience (AOR: 3.09; 95% CI: 1.76, 5.60), had ICT infrastructure (AOR: 2.70; 95% CI: 1.38, 5.31), had own smart mobile (AOR: 3.67; 95% CI: 3.20, 4.31), and had taken computer-related training (AOR: 1.96; 95% CI: 1.03, 3.73) were positively associated with healthcare professionals' attitude to using mobile health technologies in southwest Ethiopia. Conclusions: Overall, healthcare professionals' attitude to using mobile health technologies in southwest Ethiopia was relatively low. Education level, good knowledge, years of work experience, ICT infrastructure, having a smart mobile, and having taken computer-related training were significant factors of attitude to using mobile health technologies. Considering these factors could provide insight into developing and adopting mobile health technologies in Ethiopia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agmasie Damtew Walle
- Department of Health InformaticsSchool of Public HealthAsrat Woldeyes Health Science CampusDebre Berhan University, Debre Birhan, Ethiopia
| | - Fikadu Wake Butta
- Department of Health InformaticsCollege of Health ScienceMattu University, Metu, Ethiopia
| | - Sisay Yitayih Kassie
- Department of Health InformaticsSchool of Public HealthHawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
| | - Alex Ayenew Chereka
- Department of Health InformaticsCollege of Health ScienceMattu University, Metu, Ethiopia
| | - Shuma Gosha Kanfe
- Department of Health InformaticsCollege of Health ScienceMattu University, Metu, Ethiopia
| | - Abiy Tasew Dubale
- Department of Health InformaticsCollege of Health ScienceMattu University, Metu, Ethiopia
| | - Ermias Bekele Enyew
- Department of Health InformaticsSchool of Public HealthCollege of Health ScienceWollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Geleta Nenko Dube
- Department of Health InformaticsCollege of Health ScienceMattu University, Metu, Ethiopia
| | | | - Mekonnen Kenate Hunde
- Department of Lifelong Learning and Community DevelopmentCollege of Education and Behavioral ScienceMattu University, Metu, Ethiopia
| | - Gemeda Wakgari Kitil
- Department of MidwiferyCollege of Health ScienceMettu University, Metu, Ethiopia
| | - Tigist Andargie Ferede
- Department of EpidemiologyInstitute of Public HealthCollege of Medicine and Health ScienceUniversity of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Sisay Maru Wubante
- Department of Health InformaticsInstitute of Public HealthCollege of Medicine and Health ScienceUniversity of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Nebebe Demis Baykemagn
- Department of Health InformaticsInstitute of Public HealthCollege of Medicine and Health ScienceUniversity of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Addisalem Workie Demsash
- Department of Health InformaticsSchool of Public HealthAsrat Woldeyes Health Science CampusDebre Berhan University, Debre Birhan, Ethiopia
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Ayatollahi H, Hemmat M, Nourani A, Saviz P. Staff and students' perceptions about using telehealth technology in a medical university: A qualitative study. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH : J OF ACH 2024; 72:1507-1515. [PMID: 35658128 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2082842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The use of telehealth technology is a way to promote the health status of the community. The purpose of this study was to investigate staff and students' perceptions about using telehealth technology in a medical university. METHODS This was a qualitative study completed in 2020. The research participants were 26 university staff and students who took part in semi-structured interviews. To analyze the data, the thematic analysis method was used. RESULTS The findings of the present study included five themes, 20 subthemes and 58 categories. The main themes were the current status of providing healthcare services at the university, and the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of using telehealth technology for the university staff and students. CONCLUSION According to the results, there are many opportunities for using telehealth technology in the medical university. The experiences of other institutes can be used to implement the technology successfully.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haleh Ayatollahi
- Medical Informatics, Health Management and Economics Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Morteza Hemmat
- Health Information Management, Saveh University of Medical Sciences, Saveh, Iran
| | - Aynaz Nourani
- Medical Informatics, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Proshat Saviz
- Medical Informatics, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Liashiedzi GK, Eto FE, Atinga RA, Abor PA. Determinants of mobile health (M-Health) application adoption, usage and discontinuity among corporate workers diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes. J Health Organ Manag 2024; ahead-of-print. [PMID: 38437500 DOI: 10.1108/jhom-11-2022-0335] [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] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study examined the determinants of mobile health (M-Health) application, adoption, usage and discontinuation among corporate workers diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes in Ghana. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH The diffusion innovation and reasoned action theories were employed using an exploratory design. Three hundred corporate workers diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension from three health facilities for the past six months were sampled for the study using a multi-stage sampling technique and administered questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression tools were employed in the analysis of data. FINDINGS The study found a significant number of factors influencing m-health applications adoption, usage and discontinuity. These factors include nature and demand of job, perceived advantage, compatibility, complexity, triability, aesthetics and trust. Aesthetics emerged as the strongest predictive factor for the adoption, usage and discontinuity of use among diabetic and hypertensive corporate workers. With the adoption of M-Health applications, compatibility, as well as nature and demand of job, were significant predictors. With the usage of M-Health applications, complexity, triability, aesthetics and trust were significant predictors. Moreover, perceived advantage, compatibility, complexity and triability influenced significantly the choice to discontinue using M-Health applications. The study concluded that M-Health application functionalities play a valuable role in patients' intention to adopt, use and discontinue the use of an M-Health application in Ghana. ORIGINALITY/VALUE This exploratory study offers in-depth insight into how major M-Health application features affect its adoption, usage and discontinuity, providing crucial information for future research and the improvement of chronic condition healthcare delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Kojovi Liashiedzi
- Department of Public Administration and Health Services Management, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Florence Elorm Eto
- Department of Public Administration and Health Services Management, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Roger Ayimbillah Atinga
- Department of Public Administration and Health Services Management, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Patience Aseweh Abor
- Department of Public Administration and Health Services Management, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
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Wasi Abbas M, Nawaz Tahir H, Jaffar N, Raza G, Aman Ali S, Jabeen R. Facilitators and barriers in acceptance of telemedicine among healthcare providers in Pakistan: A cross-sectional survey. THE JOURNAL OF MEDICINE ACCESS 2024; 8:27550834241266413. [PMID: 39071989 PMCID: PMC11273570 DOI: 10.1177/27550834241266413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Objectives This study aimed to assess healthcare professionals' awareness and acceptance of telemedicine residing in Pakistan. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted across Pakistan from November 2021 to March 2022. Data entry was done through a self-administered questionnaire. In this survey, the non-probability purposive sampling method was adopted. Medical doctors from all specialties that fall into the age category of 20-60 years were included in this study. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0 was used for univariate data analysis. Results Among the 860 healthcare professionals who received the survey, 198 responded (23.0% response rate). The mean ± SD age of the participants was 31.16 ± 8.56. The results were found to be statistically significant for knowledge about telemedicine among healthcare professionals workplace, that is, healthcare professionals working in the private sector indicated a high level of awareness regarding telemedicine as compared to those in the public sector (p = 0.03). A significant difference (p-value ⩽ 0.05) in knowledge was seen among doctors working in the public sector and those working in a private setup. Results indicate significant positive associations between telemedicine utilization and perceived benefits over disadvantages (β = 1.03, p = 0.017), reliance among healthcare professionals (β = 1.22, p = 0.008), and enhancement in healthcare quality (β = 1.42, p = 0.001). Moreover, familiarity with telemedicine correlates strongly with its usage (β = 2.56, p < 0.000). Conclusion Overall, healthcare professionals exhibited satisfactory knowledge regarding telemedicine and showed an accepting attitude toward telemedicine. Our study recommends enhancing the importance of Telemedicine training at the Healthcare professionals' level to produce quality service delivery in healthcare organizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Wasi Abbas
- Department of Medicine, Sindh Medical College, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Hasan Nawaz Tahir
- Department of Community Health Sciences, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Nazish Jaffar
- Department of Pathology, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Ghana Raza
- Department of Medicine, Sindh Medical College, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Syed Aman Ali
- Department of Medicine, Sindh Medical College, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Rawshan Jabeen
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
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Wei HX, Yang YL, Luo TY, Chen WQ. Effectiveness of mobile health interventions for pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J OBSTET GYNAECOL 2023; 43:2245906. [PMID: 37605977 DOI: 10.1080/01443615.2023.2245906] [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: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Gestational diabetes mellitus is a growing global health problem. Inadequate management during pregnancy can lead to maternal and foetal complications. Currently, mobile health (mHealth) delivers healthcare services, playing an increasingly important role in the management of blood glucose in GDM. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of mHealth intervention in pregnant women with GDM. Based on randomised controlled trials of mHealth application in GDM patients searched from the database, literature screening, data extraction, and quality evaluation were conducted independently by two researchers. Statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4 software. The review included 27 studies with a total of 3483 patients. The results showed a significant improvement in glycemic control. In addition, mHealth interventions could reduce the occurrence of adverse pregnancy outcomes and improve self-management ability. In a subgroup analysis, recording of delivery mode and WeChat combined phone call indicated significant differences with mHealth interventions. It was suggested that mHealth interventions imposed a positive effect on glycemic control and reduction of adverse pregnancy outcomes in GDM patients. Our results demonstrated that the application of mHealth interventions can act as an effective and feasible approach to self-management to promote the self-management level and awareness of GDM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Xin Wei
- School of Nursing, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi Ling Yang
- School of Nursing, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ting Yu Luo
- School of Nursing, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Qiang Chen
- School of Nursing, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
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El Kheir DYM, AlMasmoom NS, Eskander MK, Alshamrani RA, Alwohaibi RN, AlTheeb FN, Aleid BA. Perception of Saudi undergraduate medical students on telemedicine training and its implementation. J Family Community Med 2023; 30:231-238. [PMID: 37675211 PMCID: PMC10479026 DOI: 10.4103/jfcm.jfcm_41_23] [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: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of telemedicine has increased considerably in healthcare delivery, especially during this time of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It has, therefore, become necessary to train medical students to better equip them for this new means of healthcare delivery. The aim of the present study was to assess the perception of undergraduate medical students on telemedicine training. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 521 undergraduate medical students studying in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected via a self-administered pretested questionnaire comprising two main sections: demographics and knowledge and opinions regarding telemedicine training. RESULTS About 73% students think that the use of telemedicine for patient care will increase in the future, and 59.3% think that the medical students should be trained in telemedicine. Majority of the students (78%) opined that telemedicine training should be optional and 58% said it should be taught during the clinical phase of the undergraduate curriculum. The best telemedicine training course learning objectives medical students opined to be included were: telemedicine practical skills (70.2%), legal aspects of telemedicine practice (68.3%), and potential positive and/or negative use of telemedicine tools and methods (67.6%). Telemedicine skills students would like to learn how to effectively engage patients, knowledge about telemedicine regulations and the consequences of breaching them. CONCLUSION Medical students are aware of the importance of incorporating telemedicine training into the medical curriculum. Training these students is vital to ensure their competence as physicians in their future clinical careers, that is make them a digitally health-literate future workforce.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalia Y. M. El Kheir
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nour S. AlMasmoom
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mariam K. Eskander
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Reem A. Alshamrani
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rawaa N. Alwohaibi
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fatimah N. AlTheeb
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bedour A. Aleid
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
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Factors Affecting mHealth Technology Adoption in Developing Countries: The Case of Egypt. COMPUTERS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/computers12010009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Mobile health apps are seeing rapid growth in the potential to improve access to healthcare services for disadvantaged communities, while enhancing the efficiency of the healthcare delivery value chain. Still, the adoption of mHealth apps is relatively low, especially in developing countries. In Egypt, an initiative for national-level healthcare coverage was launched in 2021, accompanied by a rise in mHealth start-ups. However, many of these projects did not progress beyond the pilot stage, with very little known about the antecedents of mHealth adoption for the Egyptian user. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 Egyptians, aiming to uncover factors affecting the use of mHealth apps for Egyptian citizens. Some of these factors were introduced by previous studies, such as Perceived Service Quality, Perceived Risk, Perceived Ease of Use, and Trust. Others were not well established in the mHealth research strand, such as Perceived Reputation and Perceived Familiarity, while Governance, Personalized Experience, Explain-ability, Interaction, Language, and Cultural Issues, are novel factors introduced by the current research. The effect of these suggested independent variables on the willingness to adopt mHealth apps was validated using a survey administered to 150 Egyptians, confirming the significant positive effect of most of these factors on mHealth adoption in Egypt. This research contributes to methodology by introducing novel constructs in the mHealth research context, which might be specific to the target developing country. Practical implications were suggested for designers and healthcare service providers might increase the adoption of their apps in developing countries, such as Egypt.
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Improving community participation in clinical trials in Ghana; factors to consider. Contemp Clin Trials Commun 2022; 30:101012. [PMID: 36262802 PMCID: PMC9574414 DOI: 10.1016/j.conctc.2022.101012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Clinical trials are an essential part of drug and vaccine development, as well as the development of new biomedical devices, and medical procedures. Successful enrolment of human volunteers is important to the success of any clinical trial anywhere around the globe. Enrolment is however affected by a number of factors including knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions (KAPs). We aimed to determine factors that are deemed important in improving participation in clinical trials within a Ghanaian community. Method This was a cross-sectional study that employed a structured questionnaire within the New Juaben South Municipal Assembly (NJSMA). Participants who were 18 years and above were included in this study. There were a total of 639 participants in this study. Participants' demographics were collected and various questions were asked to assess their KAP towards participation in clinical trials. Results The mean age of participants was 29.03 ± 8.95 years, there were more males (51.96%) than females, 42.35% had tertiary education, 38.03% were artisans, 74.80% were Christians and 14.40% had previously participated in a clinical trial. Participants had average knowledge about clinical trials (CT) with a mean score of 7.56 ± 1.76 (63%). A significant association between knowledge levels and education was observed (χ2 = 100.3, p < 0.0001). Helping in advancing the medical knowledge was the key reason for participation in CT while mistrust of the medical system was the key setback in participation in CT. There was a generally positive attitude and a neutral perception towards participation in CTs. Conclusion Groups intending to conduct CT should highlight the benefits of CT and address the perception of mistrust in the conduct of CTs in their education and sensitization programs before initiation of CTs in Ghana.
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Jembai JVJ, Wong YLC, Bakhtiar NAMA, Lazim SNM, Ling HS, Kuan PX, Chua PF. Mobile health applications: awareness, attitudes, and practices among medical students in Malaysia. BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION 2022; 22:544. [PMID: 35836223 PMCID: PMC9282901 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-022-03603-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The popularity of mobile health (mHealth) applications (or apps) in the field of health and medical education is rapidly increasing, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to assess awareness, attitudes, practices, and factors associated with the mHealth app usage among medical students. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study involving medical students at a government university in Sarawak, Malaysia, from February to April 2021. Validated questionnaires were administered to all consenting students. These questionnaires included questions on basic demographic information as well as awareness, attitude toward, and practices with mHealth apps concerned with medical education, health and fitness, and COVID-19 management. RESULTS Respondents had favorable attitudes toward mHealth apps (medical education [61.8%], health and fitness [76.3%], and COVID-19 management [82.7%]). Respondents' mean attitude scores were four out of five for all three app categories. However, respondents used COVID-19 management apps more frequently (73.5%) than those for medical education (35.7%) and fitness (39.0%). Usage of all three app categories was significantly associated with the respondent's awareness and attitude. Respondents in the top 20% in term of household income and study duration were more likely to use medical education apps. The number of respondents who used COVID-19 apps was higher in the top 20% household income group than in the other income groups. The most common barrier to the use of apps was uncertainty regarding the most suitable apps to choose. CONCLUSION Our study highlighted a discrepancy between awareness of mHealth apps and positive attitudes toward them and their use. Recognition of barriers to using mHealth apps by relevant authorities may be necessary to increase the usage of these apps.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yi Lin Charlene Wong
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Saramahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | | | - Siti Nursuraya Md Lazim
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Saramahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Hwei Sung Ling
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Saramahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Pei Xuan Kuan
- Digital Health Research and Innovation, Institute for Clinical Research, National Institutes of Health Malaysia, Shah Alam, Malaysia
| | - Pin Fen Chua
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Saramahan, Sarawak, Malaysia.
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Alhassan RK, Ayanore MA, Diekuu JB, Prempeh EBA, Donkor ES. Leveraging e-Learning technology to enhance pre-service training for healthcare trainees in Ghana: evidence from a pilot project and pointers to policy reforms. BMC Health Serv Res 2021; 21:1209. [PMID: 34749726 PMCID: PMC8574931 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-07224-3] [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: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND E-Learning solutions are increasingly being advocated to augment existing traditional teaching and learning efforts in health training institutions. Unfortunately, these emerging technologies rarely focus on health sciences education within the context of public universities, hence the need for this study. This project evaluated experiences of healthcare trainees with a pilot e-Learning project (SMART e-Learning project) initiated in one of Ghana's public universities in 2017. The study used a mixed methods cross-sectional approach among 363 healthcare trainees. Data collection was between 17th October, 2019 to 3rd December, 2019. Data was analysed descriptively and test for variable differences done using Pearson Chi-square and Fisher's Exact for categorical variables. Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney test was used to test for differences in the Likert scale items. Additionally, rotated varimax factor analysis was performed for the health trainees' rated satisfaction factors. RESULTS Out of 446 respondents who consented to participate in the study, 363 responses were complete and valid, representing a response rate of 81 %. Most frequently used e-learning facilities by healthcare trainees were: writing interim assessments (IAs) (82 %) while the least used function was live chating with faculty (5 %). Challenges associated with the e-learning pilot project were: limited workspace in the pilot computer laboratory (33 %), slow internet/intranet speed (29 %) and limited capacity of teaching and ICT staff to support users (28 %). CONCLUSIONS There is the need to engage relevant stakeholders at the University, ministries of health and education through policy dialogues to develop statutory e-Learning guidelines for health educational institutions of higher learning to complement existing traditional teaching and learning approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Kaba Alhassan
- Institute of Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana.
| | | | - John-Bosco Diekuu
- Information Communication Technology (ICT) Directorate, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
| | - Emmanuel B A Prempeh
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
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Alsahali S. Awareness, Views, Perceptions, and Beliefs of Pharmacy Interns Regarding Digital Health in Saudi Arabia: Cross-sectional Study. JMIR MEDICAL EDUCATION 2021; 7:e31149. [PMID: 34338649 PMCID: PMC8449296 DOI: 10.2196/31149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Digital health technologies and apps are rapidly advancing in recent years. It is expected to have more roles in transforming the health care system in this era of digital services. However, limited research is available regarding delivering digital health education in pharmacy and the pharmacy students' perspectives on digital health. OBJECTIVE This study aims to assess pharmacy interns' awareness of digital health apps in Saudi Arabia and their views regarding the coverage of digital health in the education of pharmacists. In addition, we assessed the interns' perceptions and beliefs about the concepts, benefits, and implementation of digital health in practice settings. METHODS A cross-sectional study using a web-based survey was conducted among pharmacy interns at Unaizah College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia. An invitation with a link to the web-based survey was sent to all interns registered at the college between January and March 2021. RESULTS A total of 68 out of 77 interns registered in the internship year participated in this study, giving a response rate of 88%. The mean total score for pharmacy interns' awareness of digital health apps in Saudi Arabia was 5.66 (SD 1.74; maximum attainable score=7). The awareness with different apps ranged from 97% (66/68) for the Tawakkalna app to 65% (44/68) for the Ministry of Health 937 call center. The mean total score for attitude and beliefs toward concepts and benefits of telehealth and telemedicine apps was 58.25 (SD 10.44; maximum attainable score=75). In this regard, 84% (57/68) of the interns believed that telehealth could enhance the quality of care, 71% (48/68) believed that it could help effectively provide patient counseling, and 69% (47/68) believed it could improve patients' adherence to therapy. In this study, 41% (28/68) believed that the current coverage of digital health in the curriculum was average, whereas only 18% (12/68) believed it was high or very high coverage. Moreover, only 38% (26/68) attended additional educational activities related to digital health. Consequently, the majority (43/68, 63%) were of the opinion that there is a high or very high need to educate and train pharmacists in the field of digital health. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the interns showed good awareness of common digital health apps in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the majority of the interns had positive perceptions and beliefs about the concepts, benefits, and implementation of digital health. However, the findings showed that there is still scope for improvement in some areas. Moreover, most interns indicated that there is a need for more education and training in the field of digital health. Consequently, early exposure to content related to digital health and pharmacy informatics is an important step to help in the wide use of these technologies in the graduates' future careers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saud Alsahali
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Unaizah College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Qassim, Saudi Arabia
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Ranjbar H, Bakhshi M, Mahdizadeh F, Glinkowski W. Iranian Clinical Nurses' and Midwives' Attitudes and Awareness Towards Telenursing and Telehealth: A cross-sectional study. Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J 2021; 21:e50-e57. [PMID: 33777423 PMCID: PMC7968900 DOI: 10.18295/squmj.2021.21.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives This study aimed to examine the attitudes and awareness of Iranian clinical nurses and midwives towards telenursing and telehealth also referred to as e-health. Methods The cross-sectional study was conducted from February to August 2019 in Iran. Nurses and midwives were randomly recruited from hospitals affiliated with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in Mashhad, Iran using a stratified cluster random sampling method. Data were collected using a reliable and valid Persian-language questionnaire consisting of 32 close-ended survey items to examine Internet/computer access, daily Internet use and awareness of and general attitude towards telehealth and telenursing; statistical analyses were performed. Results A total of 523 nurses and midwives were included in this study (response rate: 94.4%). The mean age and duration of clinical practice were 33.36 ± 7.46 and 8.88 ± 6.73 years, respectively. The majority of participants recognised the definition of telenursing (66.7%) and telehealth (80.1%). A positive attitude towards telenursing and telehealth was reported by 73.0% of the participants. Clinical nurses and midwives with a master’s degree were more aware of the definition of telehealth compared to those with undergraduate bachelor degrees (P = 0.03). Additionally, midwives significantly more frequently presented a positive attitude towards telehealth and telenursing compared to nurses (86.2% versus 71.2%; P = 0.01). Conclusion The positive attitude of the current participants was an important factor in the promotion of telenursing and telehealth. The implementation of educational and infrastructure developmental programs can help speed up executional processes in these fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Ranjbar
- Department of Nursing, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran.,The Collaboration Center of Meta-Analysis Research, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
| | - Mahmoud Bakhshi
- Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Faezeh Mahdizadeh
- Student Research Committee, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
| | - Wojciech Glinkowski
- Center of Excellence "TeleOrto" for Telediagnostics and Treatment of Disorders and Injuries of the Locomotor System, Department of Medical Informatics and Telemedicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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13
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Osei E, Mashamba-Thompson TP. Mobile health applications for disease screening and treatment support in low-and middle-income countries: A narrative review. Heliyon 2021; 7:e06639. [PMID: 33869857 PMCID: PMC8035664 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The advances in mobile technologies and applications are driving the transformation in health services delivery globally. Mobile phone penetration is increasing exponentially in low-and middle-income countries, hence using mobile phones for healthcare services could reach more people in resource-limited settings than the traditional forms of healthcare provision. The review presents recent literature on facilitators and barriers of implementing mHealth for disease screening and treatment support in low-and middle-income countries. We searched for relevant literature from the following electronic databases: MEDLINE; CINAHL with full text via EBSCOhost; Science Direct; PubMed; Google Scholar and Web of Science using the keywords for relevant studies. We searched for published studies from 2015 to August 2020 with no language limitations. A total of 721 articles identified, 125 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the qualitative synthesis. The review demonstrates relevant facilitators for the implementation of mHealth, which includes knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of stakeholders on the use of mHealth and the performance of mHealth for disease diagnosis in low and-middle-income countries. Barriers and challenges hindering the implementation of mHealth applications were also identified. We proposed a framework for improving the implementation of mHealth for disease screening and treatment support in low-and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernest Osei
- Discipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Tivani P. Mashamba-Thompson
- Discipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Prinshof Campus, Pretoria, South Africa
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14
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Peprah P, Abalo EM, Agyemang-Duah W, Budu HI, Appiah-Brempong E, Morgan AK, Akwasi AG. Lessening barriers to healthcare in rural Ghana: providers and users' perspectives on the role of mHealth technology. A qualitative exploration. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2020; 20:27. [PMID: 32041608 PMCID: PMC7011292 DOI: 10.1186/s12911-020-1040-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Key barriers to healthcare use in rural Ghana include those of economic, social, cultural and institutional. Amid this, though rarely recognised in Ghanaian healthcare settings, mHealth technology has emerged as a viable tool for lessening most healthcare barriers in rural areas due to the high mobile phone penetration and possession rate. This qualitative study provides an exploratory assessment of the role of mHealth in reducing healthcare barriers in rural areas from the perspective of healthcare users and providers. METHOD Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 conveniently selected healthcare users and 15 purposively selected healthcare providers within the Birim South District in the Eastern Region of Ghana between June 2017 and April 2018. Data were thematically analysed and normative standpoints of participants were presented as quotations. RESULTS The main findings were that all the healthcare users had functioning mobile phones, however, their knowledge and awareness about mHealth was low. Meanwhile, rural health care users and providers were willing to use mHealth services involving phone call in the future as they perceived the technology to play an important role in lessening healthcare barriers. Nevertheless, factors such as illiteracy, language barrier, trust, quality of care, and mobile network connectivity were perceived as barriers associated with using mHealth in rural Ghana. CONCLUSION The support for mHealth service is an opportunity for the development of synergistic relationship between health policy planners and mobile network companies in Ghana to design efficient communication and connectivity networks, accessible, localised, user-friendly and cost-effective mobile phone-based health programmes to assist in reducing healthcare barriers in rural Ghana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prince Peprah
- Department of Geography and Rural Development, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Emmanuel Mawuli Abalo
- Department of Geography and Rural Development, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Williams Agyemang-Duah
- Department of Geography and Rural Development, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Hayford Isaac Budu
- Department of Nursing, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Emmanuel Appiah-Brempong
- Department of Health Promotion and Disability Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Anthony Kwame Morgan
- Department of Geography and Rural Development, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Adjei Gyimah Akwasi
- Department of Health Promotion and Disability Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
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