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Lazarou I, Krooupa AM, Nikolopoulos S, Apostolidis L, Sarris N, Papadopoulos S, Kompatsiaris I. Cancer Patients' Perspectives and Requirements of Digital Health Technologies: A Scoping Literature Review. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2293. [PMID: 39001356 PMCID: PMC11240750 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16132293] [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] [Received: 05/21/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Digital health technologies have the potential to alleviate the increasing cancer burden. Incorporating patients' perspectives on digital health tools has been identified as a critical determinant for their successful uptake in cancer care. The main objective of this scoping review was to provide an overview of the existing evidence on cancer patients' perspectives and requirements for patient-facing digital health technologies. Three databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, Science Direct) were searched and 128 studies were identified as eligible for inclusion. Web-based software/platforms, mobile or smartphone devices/applications, and remote sensing/wearable technologies employed for the delivery of interventions and patient monitoring were the most frequently employed technologies in cancer care. The abilities of digital tools to enable care management, user-friendliness, and facilitate patient-clinician interactions were the technological requirements predominantly considered as important by cancer patients. The findings from this review provide evidence that could inform future research on technology-associated parameters influencing cancer patients' decisions regarding the uptake and adoption of patient-facing digital health technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioulietta Lazarou
- Information Technologies Institute (ITI), Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), 6th km Charilaou-Thermi Road, P.O. Box 6036, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Anna-Maria Krooupa
- Information Technologies Institute (ITI), Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), 6th km Charilaou-Thermi Road, P.O. Box 6036, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Spiros Nikolopoulos
- Information Technologies Institute (ITI), Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), 6th km Charilaou-Thermi Road, P.O. Box 6036, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Lazaros Apostolidis
- Information Technologies Institute (ITI), Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), 6th km Charilaou-Thermi Road, P.O. Box 6036, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Nikos Sarris
- Information Technologies Institute (ITI), Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), 6th km Charilaou-Thermi Road, P.O. Box 6036, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Symeon Papadopoulos
- Information Technologies Institute (ITI), Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), 6th km Charilaou-Thermi Road, P.O. Box 6036, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Ioannis Kompatsiaris
- Information Technologies Institute (ITI), Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), 6th km Charilaou-Thermi Road, P.O. Box 6036, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
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Guo L, Reddy KP, Van Iseghem T, Pierce WN. Enhancing data practices for Whole Health: Strategies for a transformative future. Learn Health Syst 2024; 8:e10426. [PMID: 38883871 PMCID: PMC11176597 DOI: 10.1002/lrh2.10426] [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: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
We explored the challenges and solutions for managing data within the Whole Health System (WHS), which operates as a Learning Health System and a patient-centered healthcare approach that combines conventional and complementary approaches. Addressing these challenges is critical for enhancing patient care and improving outcomes within WHS. The proposed solutions include prioritizing interoperability for seamless data exchange, incorporating patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research and real-world data to personalize treatment plans and validate integrative approaches, and leveraging advanced data analytics tools to incorporate patient-reported outcomes, objective metrics, robust data platforms. Implementing these measures will enable WHS to fulfill its mission as a holistic and patient-centered healthcare model, promoting greater collaboration among providers, boosting the well-being of patients and providers, and improving patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Guo
- Whole Health VA St. Louis Health Care System St. Louis Missouri USA
- School of Interdisciplinary Health Professions Northern Illinois University DeKalb Illinois USA
| | - Kavitha P Reddy
- Whole Health VA St. Louis Health Care System St. Louis Missouri USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs VHA Office of Patient-Centered Care and Cultural Transformation Washington D.C. USA
- School of Medicine Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis Missouri USA
| | - Theresa Van Iseghem
- Whole Health VA St. Louis Health Care System St. Louis Missouri USA
- School of Medicine Saint Louis University St. Louis Missouri USA
| | - Whitney N Pierce
- Whole Health VA St. Louis Health Care System St. Louis Missouri USA
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Azimzadeh S, Azami-Aghdash S, Tabrizi JS, Gholipour K. Reforms and innovations in primary health care in different countries: scoping review. Prim Health Care Res Dev 2024; 25:e22. [PMID: 38651337 DOI: 10.1017/s1463423623000725] [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: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends focusing on primary health care (PHC) as the first strategy of countries to achieve the improvement of the health level of communities and has emphasized it again in 2021. Therefore, we intend to take a different look at the PHC system with reform, innovation, and initiative by using the experiences of leading countries and identify practical and evidence-based solutions to achieve greater health. METHODS This is a scoping review study that has identified innovations and reforms related to PHC since the beginning of 2000 to the end of 2022. In this study, Scopus, Web Of Science, and PubMed databases have been searched using appropriate keywords. This study is done in six steps using Arkesy and O'Malley framework. In this study, the framework of six building blocks of WHO was used to summarize and report the findings. RESULTS By searching in different databases, we identified 39426 studies related to reforms in primary care, and after the screening process, 106 studies were analyzed. Our findings were classified and reported into 9 categories (aims, stewardship/leadership, financing & payment, service delivery, health workforce, information, outcomes, policies/considerations, and limitations). CONCLUSION The necessity and importance of strengthening PHC is obvious to everyone due to its great consequences, which requires a lot of will, effort, and coordination at the macro-level of the country, various organizations, and health teams, as well as the participation of people and society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solmaz Azimzadeh
- Health Policy, Department of Health Policy & Management, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Saber Azami-Aghdash
- Health Policy, Medical Philosophy and History Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Jafar Sadegh Tabrizi
- Health Services Management, Tabriz Health Services Management Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Kamal Gholipour
- Health Services Management, Tabriz Health Services Management Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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Jervis-Rademeyer H, Cheung L, Cesca N, Gauthier C, Walden K, Musselman KE. Implementing Activity-Based Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation in Canada: Challenges and Proposed Solutions. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:703. [PMID: 38610126 PMCID: PMC11011823 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12070703] [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: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Activity-based therapy (ABT) is a therapeutic approach with multiple benefits including promoting neurorecovery and reducing the likelihood of secondary complications in people living with spinal cord injury (SCI). Barriers and facilitators to ABT implementation for SCI rehabilitation have been studied from various perspectives through qualitative research. However, these viewpoints have not been synthesized to identify challenges of and strategies for implementing ABT across the Canadian healthcare system. Thus, the purpose of our study was to examine the current state of ABT in Canadian healthcare settings according to users' perspectives. Our main objectives were to compare barriers and facilitators to ABT implementation across Canadian healthcare settings according to users' perspectives and to identify optimal intervention strategies for ABT delivery across the Canadian healthcare system from acute to community care. We searched Scopus, CINAHL, OvidMedline, and other sources. Eligible articles were qualitative or mixed methods studies exploring ABT for adults with SCI in a Canadian healthcare setting. We analyzed qualitative findings through a thematic synthesis followed by a deductive content analysis. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used for critical appraisal. Nine articles were included. The thematic synthesis revealed two main themes: (1) factors influencing acceptance and adaptation of ABT across healthcare settings in Canada and (2) proposed solutions. The deductive analysis applied the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) to identify limited components of behaviour and appropriate interventions. To address ABT implementation challenges across the Canadian healthcare system, evidence-based interventions should target BCW subcategories of reflective motivation, social opportunity, and physical opportunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hope Jervis-Rademeyer
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Lovisa Cheung
- Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada; (L.C.); (N.C.); (K.E.M.)
- KITE Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M4G 3V9, Canada
- Department of Physical Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada
| | - Nicole Cesca
- Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada; (L.C.); (N.C.); (K.E.M.)
- KITE Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M4G 3V9, Canada
| | - Cindy Gauthier
- School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3N 1X7, Canada
| | - Kristen Walden
- Praxis Spinal Cord Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Kristin E. Musselman
- Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada; (L.C.); (N.C.); (K.E.M.)
- KITE Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M4G 3V9, Canada
- Department of Physical Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada
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Madanian S, Nakarada-Kordic I, Reay S, Chetty T. Patients' perspectives on digital health tools. PEC INNOVATION 2023; 2:100171. [PMID: 37384154 PMCID: PMC10294099 DOI: 10.1016/j.pecinn.2023.100171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Objective Digital technology has changed the way healthcare is delivered and accessed. However, the focus is mostly on technology and clinical aspects. This review aimed to integrate and critically analyse the available knowledge regarding patients' perspectives on digital health tools and identify facilitators and barriers to their uptake. Methods A narrative review was conducted using the Scopus and Google Scholar databases. Information related to facilitators and barriers to uptake was synthesised and interpreted using thematic and content analyses, respectively. Results Seventy-one out of 1722 articles identified were eligible for inclusion. Patient empowerment, self-management, and personalisation were identified as the main factors that contributed to patient uptake in using digital health tools. Digital literacy, health literacy, and privacy concerns were identified as barriers to the uptake of digital health technology. Conclusion Digital health technologies have changed the way healthcare is experienced by patients. Research highlights the disconnect between the development and implementation of digital health tools and the patients they are created for. This review may serve as the foundation for future research incorporating patients' perspectives to help increase patients' engagement with emerging technologies. Innovation Participatory design approaches have the potential to support the creation of patient-centred digital health tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samaneh Madanian
- Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Science, Auckland University of Technology (AUT), 6 St. Paul Street, AUT WZ Building, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Ivana Nakarada-Kordic
- Good Health Design, School of Art and Design, Auckland University of Technology (AUT), 27 St. Paul Street, AUT WE Building, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Stephen Reay
- Good Health Design, School of Art and Design, Auckland University of Technology (AUT), 27 St. Paul Street, AUT WE Building, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - T'heniel Chetty
- Good Health Design, School of Art and Design, Auckland University of Technology (AUT), 27 St. Paul Street, AUT WE Building, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
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Morris ME, Brusco NK, Jones J, Taylor NF, East CE, Semciw AI, Edvardsson K, Thwaites C, Bourke SL, Raza Khan U, Fowler-Davis S, Oldenburg B. The Widening Gap between the Digital Capability of the Care Workforce and Technology-Enabled Healthcare Delivery: A Nursing and Allied Health Analysis. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:healthcare11070994. [PMID: 37046921 PMCID: PMC10094715 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11070994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a need to ensure that healthcare organisations enable their workforces to use digital methods in service delivery. This study aimed to evaluate the current level of digital understanding and ability in nursing, midwifery, and allied health workforces and identify some of the training requirements to improve digital literacy in these health professionals. Representatives from eight healthcare organizations in Victoria, Australia participated in focus groups. Three digital frameworks informed the focus group topic guide that sought to examine the barriers and enablers to adopting digital healthcare along with training requirements to improve digital literacy. Twenty-three participants self-rated digital knowledge and skills using Likert scales and attended the focus groups. Mid-range scores were given for digital ability in nursing, midwifery, and allied health professionals. Focus group participants expressed concern over the gap between their organizations’ adoption of digital methods relative to their digital ability, and there were concerns about cyber security. Participants also saw a need for the inclusion of consumers in digital design. Given the widening gap between digital innovation and health workforce digital capability, there is a need to accelerate digital literacy by rapidly deploying education and training and policies and procedures for digital service delivery.
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Lynch E, Laver K, Levy T, Schultz T. 'The way that we are collecting and using data has evolved' evaluating the Australian National Stroke Audit programme to inform strategic direction. BMJ Open Qual 2023; 12:bmjoq-2022-002136. [PMID: 36693674 PMCID: PMC9884858 DOI: 10.1136/bmjoq-2022-002136] [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: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The National Stroke Audit has been used to audit and provide feedback to health professionals and stroke care services in Australia since 2007. The Australian Stroke Clinical Registry was piloted in 2009 and numbers of hospitals participating in the registry are increasing. Considering the changing data landscape in Australia, we designed this study to evaluate the stroke audit and to inform strategic direction. METHODS We conducted a rapid review of published literature to map features of successful data programmes, followed by a mixed-methods study, comprising national surveys and interviews with clinicians and administrators about the stroke audit. We analysed quantitative data descriptively and analysed open-ended survey responses and interview data using qualitative content analysis. We integrated data from the two sources. RESULTS We identified 47 Australian data programs, successful programs were usually funded by government sources or professional associations and typically provided twice yearly or yearly reports.106 survey participants, 14 clinician and 5 health administrator interview participants were included in the evaluation. The Stroke Audit was consistently perceived as useful for benchmarking, but there were mixed views about its value for local quality improvement. Time to enter data was the most frequently reported barrier to participation (88% of survey participants), due to the large number of datapoints and features of the audit software.Opportunities to improve the Stroke Audit included refining Audit questions, developing ways to automatically export data from electronic medical records and capturing accurate data for patients who transferred between hospitals. CONCLUSION While the Stroke Audit was not perceived by all users to be beneficial for traditional quality improvement purposes, the ability to benchmark national stroke services and use these data in advocacy activities was a consistently reported benefit. Modifications were suggested to improve usability and usefulness for participating sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Lynch
- Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Kate Laver
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Tamina Levy
- Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Timothy Schultz
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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Electronic Health Records That Support Health Professional Reflective Practice: a Missed Opportunity in Digital Health. JOURNAL OF HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS RESEARCH 2023; 6:375-384. [PMID: 36744083 PMCID: PMC9892400 DOI: 10.1007/s41666-022-00123-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
A foundational component of digital health involves collecting and leveraging electronic health data to improve health and wellbeing. One of the central technologies for collecting these data are electronic health records (EHRs). In this commentary, the authors explore intersection between digital health and data-driven reflective practice that is described, including an overview of the role of EHRs underpinning technology innovation in healthcare. Subsequently, they argue that EHRs are a rich but under-utilised source of information on the performance of health professionals and healthcare teams that could be harnessed to support reflective practice and behaviour change. EHRs currently act as systems of data collection, not systems of data engagement and reflection by end users such as health professionals and healthcare organisations. Further consideration should be given to supporting reflective practice by health professionals in the design of EHRs and other clinical information systems.
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Mann J, Devine S, Strivens E. Primary care and the older person with complex needs: reflections on the implementation of a primary–secondary model of integrated care. Aust J Prim Health 2022; 28:469-473. [PMID: 35981911 DOI: 10.1071/py21236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The demand and complexity of the health needs of older people is growing. Traditionally siloed, condition-centric care is no longer appropriate. It is costly to the Australian health system and life-threatening to the individual. In parallel to demographic change is increasing global awareness of the impact of social, behavioural, and environmental factors on health outcomes. Although significant when not addressed, the amenable nature of many personal contextual factors is an opportunity to improve health and quality of life. A move away from reactive, episodic models of health care delivery towards patient focussed integrated care is required to meet the changing demands of an aging population. This forum article provides a reflection on the current state of integration for older people with complex needs through the lens of a local community facing model: OPEN ARCH. Australia still has some way to go to establishing system level enablers for an integrated approach to care. However, the OPEN ARCH experience furthers the evidence for ground-up approaches of integrated care that can meet the increasing demand and complexity of older people's needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Mann
- Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, PO Box 906, Cairns, Qld 4870, Australia; and College of Public Health, Medicine and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia
| | - Sue Devine
- College of Public Health, Medicine and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia
| | - Edward Strivens
- Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, PO Box 906, Cairns, Qld 4870, Australia; and College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia
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Revisiting rural healthcare access through Held’s ethics of care. SOCIAL THEORY & HEALTH 2022. [DOI: 10.1057/s41285-022-00181-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
AbstractAccess to healthcare and health seeking behaviours of rural people often hinge on the existing relationships between healthcare providers and (prospective) healthcare users. However, rich micro-level health professional-healthcare user relationships and the unique relational context of rural settings are largely missing from dominant rural healthcare access conceptual frameworks. We argue rural healthcare access conceptualisations require revisiting from a relational perspective to ensure future healthcare access policy accounts for the relational nature of healthcare in rural contexts. Ethics of care is a moral theory informed by feminism which rejects liberal individualist notions and emphasises interdependence. We used Held’s ethics of care characteristics to examine Russell and colleagues’ healthcare access framework and dimensions for rural and remote populations. This process revealed Held’s ethics of care characteristics are only somewhat evident across Russell et al.’s dimensions: most evident in the acceptability and accommodation dimensions, and most absent in the availability and affordability dimensions. Future rural healthcare access frameworks need to pay further attention to the relational aspects of rural healthcare, particularly around the availability and affordability of healthcare, to bolster future efforts to improve healthcare access for rural people.
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Tseng CY, Chen RJ, Tsai SY, Wu TR, Tsaur WJ, Chiu HW, Lo YS. Exploring the COVID-19 Pandemic as a Catalyst for PHR App User Behavior Change in Taiwan: A Development and Usability Study. J Med Internet Res 2021; 24:e33399. [PMID: 34951863 PMCID: PMC8734605 DOI: 10.2196/33399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, personal health records (PHRs) have enabled patients to monitor and manage their medical data without visiting hospitals and, consequently, minimize their infection risk. Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) launched the My Health Bank (MHB) service, a national PHR system through which insured individuals to access their cross-hospital medical data. Furthermore, in 2019, the NHIA released the MHB software development kit (SDK), which enables development of mobile apps with which insured individuals can retrieve their MHB data. However, the NHIA MHB service has its limitations, and the participation rate among insured individuals is low. Objective We aimed to integrate the MHB SDK with our developed blockchain-enabled PHR mobile app, which enables patients to access, store, and manage their cross-hospital PHR data. We also collected and analyzed the app’s log data to examine patients’ MHB use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We integrated our existing blockchain-enabled mobile app with the MHB SDK to enable NHIA MHB data retrieval. The app utilizes blockchain technology to encrypt the downloaded NHIA MHB data. Existing and new indexes can be synchronized between the app and blockchain nodes, and high security can be achieved for PHR management. Finally, we analyzed the app’s access logs to compare patients’ activities during high and low COVID-19 infection periods. Results We successfully integrated the MHB SDK into our mobile app, thereby enabling patients to retrieve their cross-hospital medical data, particularly those related to COVID-19 rapid and polymerase chain reaction testing and vaccination information and progress. We retrospectively collected the app’s log data for the period of July 2019 to June 2021. From January 2020, the preliminary results revealed a steady increase in the number of people who applied to create a blockchain account for access to their medical data and the number of app subscribers among patients who visited the outpatient department (OPD) and emergency department (ED). Notably, for patients who visited the OPD and ED, the peak proportions with respect to the use of the app for OPD and ED notes and laboratory test results also increased year by year. The highest proportions were 52.40% for ED notes in June 2021, 88.10% for ED laboratory test reports in May 2021, 34.61% for OPD notes in June 2021, and 41.87% for OPD laboratory test reports in June 2021. These peaks coincided with Taiwan’s local COVID-19 outbreak lasting from May to June 2021. Conclusions This study developed a blockchain-enabled mobile app, which can periodically retrieve and integrate PHRs from the NHIA MHB's cross-hospital data and the investigated hospital's self-pay medical data. Analysis of users’ access logs revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic substantially increased individuals’ use of PHRs and their health awareness with respect to COVID-19 prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ray-Jade Chen
- Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei city, Taiwan 110, Taipei, TW
| | - Shang-Yu Tsai
- Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei city, Taiwan 110, Taipei, TW
| | | | | | - Hung-Wen Chiu
- Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei city, Taiwan 110, Taipei, TW
| | - Yu-Sheng Lo
- Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei city, Taiwan 110, Taipei, TW
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Dang TH, Nguyen TA, Hoang Van M, Santin O, Tran OMT, Schofield P. Patient-Centered Care: Transforming the Health Care System in Vietnam With Support of Digital Health Technology. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e24601. [PMID: 34085939 PMCID: PMC8214185 DOI: 10.2196/24601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Over the recent decades, Vietnam has attained remarkable achievements in all areas of health care. However, shortcomings including health disparities persist particularly with a rapidly aging population. This has resulted in a shift in the disease burden from communicable to noncommunicable diseases such as dementia, cancer, and diabetes. These medical conditions require long-term care, which causes an accelerating crisis for the health sector and society. The current health care system in Vietnam is unlikely to cope with these challenges. Objective The aim of this paper was to explore the opportunities, challenges, and necessary conditions for Vietnam in transforming toward a patient-centered care model to produce better health for people and reduce health care costs. Methods We examine the applicability of a personalized and integrated Bespoke Health Care System (BHS) for Vietnam using a strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat analysis and examining the successes or failures of digital health care innovations in Vietnam. We then make suggestions for successful adoption of the BHS model in Vietnam. Results The BHS model of patient-centered care empowers patients to become active participants in their own health care. Vietnam’s current policy, social, technological, and economic environment favors the transition of its health care system toward the BHS model. Nevertheless, the country is in an early stage of health care digitalization. The legal and regulatory system to protect patient privacy and information security is still lacking. The readiness to implement electronic medical records, a core element of the BHS, varies across health providers and clinical practices. The scarcity of empirical evidence and evaluation regarding the effectiveness and sustainability of digital health initiatives is an obstacle to the Vietnamese government in policymaking, development, and implementation of health care digitalization. Conclusions Implementing a personalized and integrated health care system may help Vietnam to address health care needs, reduce pressure on the health care system and society, improve health care delivery, and promote health equity. However, in order to adopt the patient-centered care system and digitalized health care, a whole-system approach in transformation and operation with a co-design in the whole span of a digital health initiative developing process are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thu Ha Dang
- Department of Psychological Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.,Behavioural Sciences Unit, Health Services Research and Implementation Sciences, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia.,Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre, Sydney, Australia
| | - Tuan Anh Nguyen
- Department of Psychological Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.,Social Gerontology Division, National Ageing Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,Quality Use of Medicines & Pharmacy Research Centre, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.,Health Strategy and Policy Institute, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Minh Hoang Van
- Hanoi University of Public Health, Hanoi, Vietnam.,National Institute of Health Sciences, Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Olinda Santin
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | | | - Penelope Schofield
- Behavioural Sciences Unit, Health Services Research and Implementation Sciences, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Psychology, and Iverson Health Innovation Research Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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Resource allocation for depression management in general practice: A simple data-based filter model. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0246728. [PMID: 33606746 PMCID: PMC7894811 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed to illustrate the potential utility of a simple filter model in understanding the patient outcome and cost-effectiveness implications for depression interventions in primary care. Methods Modelling of hypothetical intervention scenarios during different stages of the treatment pathway was conducted. Results Three scenarios were developed for depression related to increasing detection, treatment response and treatment uptake. The incremental costs, incremental number of successes (i.e., depression remission) and the incremental costs-effectiveness ratio (ICER) were calculated. In the modelled scenarios, increasing provider treatment response resulted in the greatest number of incremental successes above baseline, however, it was also associated with the greatest ICER. Increasing detection rates was associated with the second greatest increase to incremental successes above baseline and had the lowest ICER. Conclusions The authors recommend utility of the filter model to guide the identification of areas where policy stakeholders and/or researchers should invest their efforts in depression management.
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Davenport TA, Cheng VWS, Iorfino F, Hamilton B, Castaldi E, Burton A, Scott EM, Hickie IB. Flip the Clinic: A Digital Health Approach to Youth Mental Health Service Delivery During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond. JMIR Ment Health 2020; 7:e24578. [PMID: 33206051 PMCID: PMC7744139 DOI: 10.2196/24578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The demand for mental health services is projected to rapidly increase as a direct and indirect result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given that young people are disproportionately disadvantaged by mental illness and will face further challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to deliver appropriate mental health care to young people as early as possible. Integrating digital health solutions into mental health service delivery pathways has the potential to greatly increase efficiencies, enabling the provision of "right care, first time." We propose an innovative digital health solution for demand management intended for use by primary youth mental health services, comprised of (1) a youth mental health model of care (ie, the Brain and Mind Centre Youth Model) and (2) a health information technology specifically designed to deliver this model of care (eg, the InnoWell Platform). We also propose an operational protocol of how this solution could be applied to primary youth mental health service delivery processes. By "flipping" the conventional service delivery models of majority in-clinic and minority web-delivered care to a model where web-delivered care is the default, this digital health solution offers a scalable way of delivering quality youth mental health care both in response to public health crises (such as the COVID-19 pandemic) and on an ongoing basis in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Frank Iorfino
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | - Ian B Hickie
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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15
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Kelly JT, Campbell KL, Gong E, Scuffham P. The Internet of Things: Impact and Implications for Health Care Delivery. J Med Internet Res 2020; 22:e20135. [PMID: 33170132 PMCID: PMC7685921 DOI: 10.2196/20135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a system of wireless, interrelated, and connected digital devices that can collect, send, and store data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction. The IoT promises many benefits to streamlining and enhancing health care delivery to proactively predict health issues and diagnose, treat, and monitor patients both in and out of the hospital. Worldwide, government leaders and decision makers are implementing policies to deliver health care services using technology and more so in response to the novel COVID-19 pandemic. It is now becoming increasingly important to understand how established and emerging IoT technologies can support health systems to deliver safe and effective care. The aim of this viewpoint paper is to provide an overview of the current IoT technology in health care, outline how IoT devices are improving health service delivery, and outline how IoT technology can affect and disrupt global health care in the next decade. The potential of IoT-based health care is expanded upon to theorize how IoT can improve the accessibility of preventative public health services and transition our current secondary and tertiary health care to be a more proactive, continuous, and coordinated system. Finally, this paper will deal with the potential issues that IoT-based health care generates, barriers to market adoption from health care professionals and patients alike, confidence and acceptability, privacy and security, interoperability, standardization and remuneration, data storage, and control and ownership. Corresponding enablers of IoT in current health care will rely on policy support, cybersecurity-focused guidelines, careful strategic planning, and transparent policies within health care organizations. IoT-based health care has great potential to improve the efficiency of the health system and improve population health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaimon T Kelly
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Centre of Applied Health Economics, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Katrina L Campbell
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Centre of Applied Health Economics, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
- Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Enying Gong
- School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Paul Scuffham
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Centre of Applied Health Economics, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
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16
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Kelley LT, Phung M, Stamenova V, Fujioka J, Agarwal P, Onabajo N, Wong I, Nguyen M, Bhatia RS, Bhattacharyya O. Exploring how virtual primary care visits affect patient burden of treatment. Int J Med Inform 2020; 141:104228. [PMID: 32683311 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2020.104228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is growing emphasis on the role of digital solutions in supporting chronic disease management. This has the potential to increase the burden patients experience in managing their health by offloading care from the health system to patients. This paper explores the effects of virtual visits on patient burden using an explicit framework measuring both the work patients do to care for their health and the challenges they experience that exacerbate burden. METHODS This mixed methods study evaluates a large pilot implementation of virtual visits (video, audio, and asynchronous messaging with providers) in primary care in Ontario, Canada. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling from patients using a virtual visit platform to complete a semi-structured interview or a survey including a free-text response. We conducted 17 interviews and reviewed 427 free text responses related to explore patients' perceived value and burden of these visits. We used qualitative analyses to map patients' feedback on their experience to the framework on patient burden. MAIN FINDINGS Virtual visits appear to reduce the work patients must do to manage their care by 1) improving access, convenience, and time needed for medical appointments, and 2) making it easier to access information and support for chronic disease management. Virtual visits also alleviate patients' perceived burden by improving continuity of care, experience of care, and providing some cost savings. CONCLUSIONS Virtual visits reduced overall patient burden of treatment by decreasing the required patient effort of managing medical appointments and monitoring their health, and by minimizing challenges experienced when accessing care. For regions that want to improve patient experience of care, virtual visits are likely to be of benefit. There is need for further research on the generalizability of the findings herein, particularly for high-needs populations under-represented such as those of low socioeconomic status and those in rural and remote locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- L T Kelley
- Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV), 76 Grenville St, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1B2, Canada
| | - M Phung
- Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV), 76 Grenville St, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1B2, Canada
| | - V Stamenova
- Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV), 76 Grenville St, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1B2, Canada
| | - J Fujioka
- Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV), 76 Grenville St, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1B2, Canada
| | - P Agarwal
- Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV), 76 Grenville St, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1B2, Canada
| | - N Onabajo
- Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV), 76 Grenville St, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1B2, Canada
| | - I Wong
- Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV), 76 Grenville St, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1B2, Canada
| | - M Nguyen
- Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV), 76 Grenville St, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1B2, Canada; Department of Health Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - R S Bhatia
- Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV), 76 Grenville St, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1B2, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - O Bhattacharyya
- Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV), 76 Grenville St, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1B2, Canada; Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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