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Chen D, Han W, Yang Y, Pan J. Doctors' Personal Preference and Adoption of Mobile Apps to Communicate with Patients in China: Qualitative Study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2024; 12:e49040. [PMID: 38857491 PMCID: PMC11196915 DOI: 10.2196/49040] [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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Different kinds of mobile apps are used to promote communications between patients and doctors. Studies have investigated patients' mobile app adoption behavior; however, they offer limited insights into doctors' personal preferences among a variety of choices of mobile apps. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the nuanced adoption behaviors among doctors in China, which has a robust adoption of mobile apps in health care, and to explore the constraints influencing their selection of specific mobile apps. This paper addressed 3 research questions: (1) Which doctors opt to adopt mobile apps to communicate with patients? (2) What types of mobile apps do they choose? (3) To what degree do they exercise personal choice in adopting specific mobile apps? METHODS We used thematic content analysis of qualitative data gathered from semistructured interviews with 11 doctors in Hangzhou, which has been recognized for its advanced adoption of mobile technology in social services, including health care services. The selection of participants was purposive, encompassing diverse departments and hospitals. RESULTS In total, 5 themes emerged from the data analysis. First, the interviewees had a variety of options for communicating with patients via mobile apps, with the predominant ones being social networking apps (eg, WeChat) and medical platforms (eg, Haodf). Second, all interviewees used WeChat to facilitate communication with patients, although their willingness to share personal accounts varied (they are more likely to share with trusty intermediaries). Third, fewer than half of the doctors adopted medical platforms, and they were all from tertiary hospitals. Fourth, the preferences for in-person, WeChat, or medical platform communication reflected the interviewees' perceptions of different patient cohorts. Lastly, the selection of a particular kind of mobile app was significantly influenced by the doctors' affiliation with hospitals, driven by their professional obligations to fulfill multiple tasks assigned by the hospitals or the necessity of maintaining social connections with their colleagues. CONCLUSIONS Our findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of doctors' adoption behavior regarding specific types of mobile apps for patient communication, instead of addressing such adoption behavior of a wide range of mobile apps as equal. Their choices of a particular kind of app were positioned within a social context where health care policies (eg, limited funding for public hospitals, dominance of public health care institutions, and absence of robust referral systems) and traditional culture (eg, trust based on social connections) largely shape their behavioral patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongjin Chen
- Institute for Social Governance and Communication Innovation of Zhejiang, Communication University of Zhejiang, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenchao Han
- Center for Asia-Europe Study, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yili Yang
- HEOA Group, Institute for Healthy Cities and West China Research Center for Rural Health Development, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jay Pan
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Ye J, He L, Beestrum M. Implications for implementation and adoption of telehealth in developing countries: a systematic review of China's practices and experiences. NPJ Digit Med 2023; 6:174. [PMID: 37723237 PMCID: PMC10507083 DOI: 10.1038/s41746-023-00908-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid advancement of telehealth technologies has the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery, especially in developing countries and resource-limited settings. Telehealth played a vital role during the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting numerous healthcare services. We conducted a systematic review to gain insights into the characteristics, barriers, and successful experiences in implementing telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic in China, a representative of the developing countries. We also provide insights for other developing countries that face similar challenges to developing and using telehealth during or after the pandemic. This systematic review was conducted through searching five prominent databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. We included studies clearly defining any use of telehealth services in all aspects of health care during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. We mapped the barriers, successful experiences, and recommendations based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). A total of 32 studies met the inclusion criteria. Successfully implementing and adopting telehealth in China during the pandemic necessitates strategic planning across aspects at society level (increasing public awareness and devising appropriate insurance policies), organizational level (training health care professionals, improving workflows, and decentralizing tasks), and technological level (strategic technological infrastructure development and designing inclusive telehealth systems). WeChat, a widely used social networking platform, was the most common platform used for telehealth services. China's practices in addressing the barriers may provide implications and evidence for other developing countries or low-and middle- income countries (LMICs) to implement and adopt telehealth systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiancheng Ye
- Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Lu He
- Zilber College of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Molly Beestrum
- Galter Health Sciences Library and Learning Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
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Getachew E, Adebeta T, Muzazu SGY, Charlie L, Said B, Tesfahunei HA, Wanjiru CL, Acam J, Kajogoo VD, Solomon S, Atim MG, Manyazewal T. Digital health in the era of COVID-19: Reshaping the next generation of healthcare. Front Public Health 2023; 11:942703. [PMID: 36875401 PMCID: PMC9976934 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.942703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 is one of the most deadly diseases to have stricken us in recent decades. In the fight against this disease, governments and stakeholders require all the assistance they can get from various systems, including digital health interventions. Digital health technologies are supporting the tracking of the COVID-19 outbreak, diagnosing patients, expediting the process of finding potential medicines and vaccines, and disinfecting the environment, The establishment of electronic medical and health records, computerized clinical decision support systems, telemedicine, and mobile health have shown the potential to strengthen the healthcare system. Recently, these technologies have aided the health sector in a variety of ways, including prevention, early diagnosis, treatment adherence, medication safety, care coordination, documentation, data management, outbreak tracking, and pandemic surveillance. On the other hand, implementation of such technologies has questions of cost, compatibility with existing systems, disruption in patient-provider interactions, and sustainability, calling for more evidence on clinical utility and economic evaluations to help shape the next generation of healthcare. This paper argues how digital health interventions assist in the fight against COVID-19 and their opportunities, implications, and limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emnet Getachew
- Center for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Arsi University, Asella, Ethiopia
| | - Tsegaye Adebeta
- Outpatient Department, Ethiopian Airlines Medical Unit, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Seke G. Y. Muzazu
- Center for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Enteric Diseases and Vaccines Research Unit, Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Loveness Charlie
- Center for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- KNCV TB Foundation, Challenge TB Project, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Bibie Said
- Center for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Outpatient Department, Kibong'oto National Tuberculosis Hospital, Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
| | - Hanna Amanuel Tesfahunei
- Center for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Department of Public Health, Hager Biomedical Research Institute, Asmara, Eritrea
| | - Catherine Lydiah Wanjiru
- Center for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Joan Acam
- Center for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Outpatient Department, Pope John's Hospital Aber, Atapara, Uganda
| | - Violet Dismas Kajogoo
- Center for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Samrawit Solomon
- School of Public Health, Saint Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Mary Gorret Atim
- Center for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, Soroti, Uganda
| | - Tsegahun Manyazewal
- Center for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa), College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Yang B, Wen Q, Zhang Y, Wang X, Yin X, Li Q, Li Q, Song L. Economic value and characteristics of cloud pharmacy for children based on internet hospital in western China during the COVID-19 pandemic: Cross-sectional survey study. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1034450. [PMID: 36408041 PMCID: PMC9669979 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1034450] [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: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Online health care services have been encouraged by the Chinese government in recent years, and the COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed the rapid growing of internet hospitals. As an integral part of online health care services, little is known about the economic value and characteristics of cloud pharmacy especially for children. This study aimed to reveal the economic value and comprehensive characteristics of pediatric cloud pharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary children's hospital in western China. Methods A total of 33,254 online prescriptions over the course of February 2020 through December 2021 were analyzed with respect to the user profiles, diseases, consulting behaviors, distribution of departments, delivery region and distance, drug information and degree of satisfaction. The cost savings for patients calculated lost wages and the high-speed railway fees for transport to and from hospital. Results A total of 33,254 prescriptions, including 56,216 drugs were delivered to 27 provinces and municipalities of China. The internet cloud pharmacy saved a total of more than RMB 11.17 million in financial costs for patients. Of the 33,254 delivered prescriptions, 50.40% were sent to Chongqing Province, the top 5 provinces for out-of-province prescription deliveries were Sichuan (37.77%), Guizhou (8.00%), Yunnan (1.18%), Hubei (0.66%) and Guangdong (0.42%). In terms of department distribution, neurology (31.7%), respiratory (15.0%) and endocrinology (14.6%) were the top three departments. Epilepsy (16.2%), precocious puberty (10.3%) and asthma (8.7%) were the top three frequently consulted diseases. The peak times of day for online prescriptions occurred at 9 AM and 8 PM. 99.67% of users gave full marks for their internet counseling. Conclusion The pediatric cloud pharmacy is efficient, cost-saving and convenient for children with chronic disease or mild symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. The widespread use of this pediatric cloud pharmacy can help alleviating pressure on offline hospitals and facilitated people's lives beyond geographical and time-related limitations. Further efforts are needed to be made to improve the quality and acceptance of pediatric cloud pharmacy, as well as to regulate and standardize the management of this novel online health care service.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China,National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China
| | - Qiang Wen
- Department of Pharmacy, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China,National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China,National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiuling Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China,National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiangdong Yin
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China,National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China,Department of Information, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qianbo Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China,National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China,Department of Information, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qinling Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China,National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China,Department of Internet Hospital Office, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China,*Correspondence: Qinling Li
| | - Lin Song
- Department of Pharmacy, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China,National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China,Lin Song
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Zangani C, Ostinelli EG, Smith KA, Hong JSW, Macdonald O, Reen G, Reid K, Vincent C, Syed Sheriff R, Harrison PJ, Hawton K, Pitman A, Bale R, Fazel S, Geddes JR, Cipriani A. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Global Delivery of Mental Health Services and Telemental Health: Systematic Review. JMIR Ment Health 2022; 9:e38600. [PMID: 35994310 PMCID: PMC9400843 DOI: 10.2196/38600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic required mental health services around the world to adapt quickly to the new restrictions and regulations put in place to reduce the risk of transmission. As face-to-face contact became difficult, virtual methods were implemented to continue to safely provide mental health care. However, it is unclear to what extent service provision transitioned to telemental health worldwide. OBJECTIVE We aimed to systematically review the global research literature on how mental health service provision adapted during the first year of the pandemic. METHODS We searched systematically for quantitative papers focusing on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health services published until April 13, 2021, in the PubMed, Embase, medRxiv, and bioXriv electronic bibliographic databases, using the COVID-19 Open Access Project online platform. The screening process and data extraction were independently completed by at least two authors, and any disagreement was resolved by discussion with a senior member of the team. The findings were summarized narratively in the context of each country's COVID-19 Stringency Index, which reflects the stringency of a government's response to COVID-19 restrictions at a specific time. RESULTS Of the identified 24,339 records, 101 papers were included after the screening process. Reports on general services (n=72) showed that several countries' face-to-face services reduced their activities at the start of the pandemic, with reductions in the total number of delivered visits and with some services forced to close. In contrast, telemental health use rapidly increased in many countries across the world at the beginning of the pandemic (n=55), with almost complete virtualization of general and specialistic care services by the end of the first year. Considering the reported COVID-19 Stringency Index values, the increased use of virtual means seems to correspond to periods when the Stringency Index values were at their highest in several countries. However, due to specific care requirements, telemental health could not be used in certain subgroups of patients, such as those on clozapine or depot treatments and those who continued to need face-to-face visits. CONCLUSIONS During the pandemic, mental health services had to adapt quickly in the short term, implementing or increasing the use of telemental health services across the globe. Limited access to digital means, poor digital skills, and patients' preferences and individual needs may have contributed to differences in implementing and accessing telemental health services during the pandemic. In the long term, a blended approach, combining in-person and virtual modalities, that takes into consideration the needs, preferences, and digital skills of patients may better support the future development of mental health services. It will be required to improve confidence with digital device use, training, and experience in all modalities for both clinicians and service users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Zangani
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Katharine A Smith
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - James S W Hong
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Orla Macdonald
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Gurpreet Reen
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Katherine Reid
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Charles Vincent
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Paul J Harrison
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Keith Hawton
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandra Pitman
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rob Bale
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Seena Fazel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - John R Geddes
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Cipriani
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Wen L, Ou Z, Duan W, Zhu W, Xiao X, Zhang Y, Luo H, Cheng W, Lian W. Using a 5G network in hospitals to reduce nosocomial infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. COMMUNICATIONS MEDICINE 2022; 2:51. [PMID: 35603312 PMCID: PMC9098528 DOI: 10.1038/s43856-022-00118-3] [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: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Wen et al. discuss how implementing a 5G network in hospitals can be used to reduce nosocomial infections. Such systems can reduce the spread of COVID-19.
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Ge F, Qian H, Lei J, Ni Y, Li Q, Wang S, Ding K. Experiences and Challenges of Emerging Online Health Services Combating COVID-19 in China: A Retrospective, Cross-sectional Study of Internet Hospitals. JMIR Med Inform 2022; 10:e37042. [PMID: 35500013 PMCID: PMC9162135 DOI: 10.2196/37042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Internet-based online virtual health services were originally an important way for the Chinese government to resolve unmet medical service needs due to inadequate medical institutions. Its initial development was not well received. Then, the unexpected COVID-19 pandemic produced a tremendous demand for telehealth in a short time, which stimulated the explosive development of internet hospitals. The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University (SAHZU) has taken a leading role in the construction of internet hospitals in China. The pandemic triggered the hospital to develop unique research on health service capacity under strict quarantine policies and to predict long-term trends. Objective This study aims to provide policy enlightenment for the construction of internet-based health services to better fight against COVID-19 and to elucidate future directions through an in-depth analysis of 2 years of online health service data gleaned from SAHZU’s experiences and lessons learned. Methods We collected data from SAHZU Internet Hospital from November 1, 2019, to September 16, 2021. Data from over 900,000 users were analyzed with respect to demographic characteristics, demands placed on departments by user needs, new registrations, and consultation behaviors. Interrupted time series (ITS) analysis was adopted to evaluate the impact of this momentous emergency event and its long-term trends. With theme analysis and a defined 2D model, 3 investigations were conducted synchronously to determine users’ authentic demands on online hospitals. Results The general profile of internet hospital users is young or middle-aged women who live in Zhejiang and surrounding provinces. The ITS model indicated that, after the intervention (the strict quarantine policies) was implemented during the outbreak, the number of internet hospital users significantly increased (β_2=105.736, P<.001). Further, long-term waves of COVID-19 led to an increasing number of users following the outbreak (β_3=0.167, P<.001). In theme analysis, we summarized 8 major demands by users of the SAHZU internet hospital during the national shutdown period and afterwards. Online consultations and information services were persistent and universal demands, followed by concerns about medical safety and quality, time, and cost. Users’ medical behavior patterns changed from onsite to online as internet hospital demands increased. Conclusions The pandemic has spawned the explosive growth of telehealth; as a public tertiary internet hospital, the SAHZU internet hospital is partially and irreversibly integrated into the traditional medical system. As we shared the practical examples of 1 public internet hospital in China, we put forward suggestions about the future direction of telehealth. Vital experience in the construction of internet hospitals was provided in the normalization of COVID-19 prevention and control, which can be demonstrated as a model of internet hospital management practice for other medical institutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangmin Ge
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, CN
| | - Huan Qian
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, CN
| | - Jianbo Lei
- Center for Medical Informatics, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, CN
| | - Yiqi Ni
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, CN
| | - Qian Li
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, CN
| | - Song Wang
- School of Management, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, CN
| | - Kefeng Ding
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, CN
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Stennett J, Hou R, Traverson L, Ridde V, Zinszer K, Chabrol F. Lessons Learned From the Resilience of Chinese Hospitals to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review. JMIRX MED 2022; 3:e31272. [PMID: 35435649 PMCID: PMC9004618 DOI: 10.2196/31272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Background The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has brought substantial strain on hospitals worldwide; however, although the success of China’s COVID-19 strategy has been attributed to the achievements of the government, public health officials, and the attitudes of the public, the resilience shown by China’s hospitals appears to have been a critical factor in their successful response to the pandemic. Objective This paper aims to determine the key findings, recommendations, and lessons learned in terms of hospital resilience during the pandemic; analyze the quality and limitations of research in this field at present; and contribute to the evaluation of the Chinese response to the COVID-19 outbreak, building on a growing literature on the role of hospital resilience in crisis situations. Methods We conducted a scoping review of evidence on the resilience of hospitals in China during the COVID-19 crisis in the first half of 2020. Two online databases (the China National Knowledge Infrastructure and World Health Organization databases) were used to identify papers meeting the eligibility criteria. After extracting the data, we present an information synthesis using a resilience framework. Articles were included in the review if they were peer-reviewed studies published between December 2019 and July 2020 in English or Chinese and included empirical results pertaining to the resilience of Chinese hospitals in the COVID-19 pandemic. Results From the publications meeting the criteria (n=59), we found that substantial research was rapidly produced in the first half of 2020 and described numerous strategies used to improve hospital resilience, particularly in three key areas: human resources; management and communication; and security, hygiene, and planning. Our search revealed a focus on interventions related to training, health care worker well-being, eHealth/telemedicine, and workplace organization, while other areas such as hospital financing, information systems, and health care infrastructure were less well represented in the literature. We also noted that the literature was dominated by descriptive case studies, often lacking consideration of methodological limitations, and that there was a lack of both highly focused research on specific interventions and holistic research that attempted to unite the topics within a resilience framework. Conclusions We identified a number of lessons learned regarding how China’s hospitals have demonstrated resilience when confronted with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Strategies involving interprovincial reinforcements, online platforms and technological interventions, and meticulous personal protective equipment use and disinfection, combined with the creation of new interdisciplinary teams and management strategies, reflect a proactive hospital response to the pandemic, with high levels of redundancy. Research on Chinese hospitals would benefit from a greater range of analyses to draw more nuanced and contextualized lessons from the responses to the crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack Stennett
- Centre Population et Développement Institut de Recherche pour le Développement Université de Paris Paris France
| | - Renyou Hou
- Centre Population et Développement Institut de Recherche pour le Développement Université de Paris Paris France
| | - Lola Traverson
- Centre Population et Développement Institut de Recherche pour le Développement Université de Paris Paris France
| | - Valéry Ridde
- Centre Population et Développement Institut de Recherche pour le Développement Université de Paris Paris France
| | - Kate Zinszer
- Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique Université de Montréal Montréal, QC Canada
| | - Fanny Chabrol
- Centre Population et Développement Institut de Recherche pour le Développement Université de Paris Paris France
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Antoniou KM, Vasarmidi E, Russell AM, Andrejak C, Crestani B, Delcroix M, Dinh-Xuan AT, Poletti V, Sverzellati N, Vitacca M, Witzenrath M, Tonia T, Spanevello A. European Respiratory Society Statement on Long COVID-19 Follow-Up. Eur Respir J 2022; 60:13993003.02174-2021. [PMID: 35144991 PMCID: PMC9349784 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.02174-2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection frequently experience symptom burden post-acute infection or post-hospitalisation. We aimed to identify optimal strategies for follow-up care that may positively impact the patient's quality of life (QoL). A European Respiratory Society (ERS) Task Force convened and prioritised eight clinical questions. A targeted search of the literature defined the timeline of “long COVID” as 1–6 months post-infection and identified clinical evidence in the follow-up of patients. Studies meeting the inclusion criteria report an association of characteristics of acute infection with persistent symptoms, thromboembolic events in the follow-up period, and evaluations of pulmonary physiology and imaging. Importantly, this statement reviews QoL consequences, symptom burden, disability and home care follow-up. Overall, the evidence for follow-up care for patients with long COVID is limited. Follow-up care of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 is crucial and may improve their quality of life. More evidence and research is emerging to understand the causes, mechanisms and risks of long COVID consequences.https://bit.ly/3J1WMWy
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina M Antoniou
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Pneumonology, Department of Respiratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Eirini Vasarmidi
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Pneumonology, Department of Respiratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.,Université de Paris, Inserm U1152, Labex Inflamex, Paris, France.,Authors contributed equally
| | - Anne-Marie Russell
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.,Authors contributed equally
| | - Claire Andrejak
- Service de Pneumologie, CHU Amiens-Picardie, UR 4294 AGIR, université Picardie Jules-Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Bruno Crestani
- Université de Paris, Inserm U1152, Labex Inflamex, Paris, France.,Centre de Référence des Maladies Pulmonaires Rares (site Constitutif), AP-HP, Service de Pneumologie, Hôpital Bichat, Paris, France
| | - Marion Delcroix
- Department of Pneumonology, KU Leuven University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anh Tuan Dinh-Xuan
- AP-HP Centre, Hôpital Cochin, Respiratory Physiology Unit, Thoracic Diseases Department, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Venerino Poletti
- Pulmonology Unit, Thoracic Diseases Department, G.B. Morgagni Hospital, Forlì, Italy.,Department of Respiratory Diseases and Allergy, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Nicola Sverzellati
- Division of Radiology, Department of Surgical Sciences, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Michele Vitacca
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Respiratory Rehabilitation of the Institute of Lumezzane, Brescia, Italy
| | - Martin Witzenrath
- Department of Internal Medicine/Infectious Diseases and Respiratory Medicine, Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomy Tonia
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Antonio Spanevello
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese.,Department of Medicine and Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, Maugeri Care and Research Institute, IRCCS Tradate, Varese, Italy
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10
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Alvarado N, McVey L, Elshehaly M, Greenhalgh J, Dowding D, Ruddle R, Gale CP, Mamas M, Doherty P, West R, Feltbower R, Randell R. Analysis of a Web-Based Dashboard to Support the Use of National Audit Data in Quality Improvement: Realist Evaluation. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e28854. [PMID: 34817384 PMCID: PMC8663683 DOI: 10.2196/28854] [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: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Dashboards can support data-driven quality improvements in health care. They visualize data in ways intended to ease cognitive load and support data comprehension, but how they are best integrated into working practices needs further investigation. Objective This paper reports the findings of a realist evaluation of a web-based quality dashboard (QualDash) developed to support the use of national audit data in quality improvement. Methods QualDash was co-designed with data users and installed in 8 clinical services (3 pediatric intensive care units and 5 cardiology services) across 5 health care organizations (sites A-E) in England between July and December 2019. Champions were identified to support adoption. Data to evaluate QualDash were collected between July 2019 and August 2021 and consisted of 148.5 hours of observations including hospital wards and clinical governance meetings, log files that captured the extent of use of QualDash over 12 months, and a questionnaire designed to assess the dashboard’s perceived usefulness and ease of use. Guided by the principles of realist evaluation, data were analyzed to understand how, why, and in what circumstances QualDash supported the use of national audit data in quality improvement. Results The observations revealed that variation across sites in the amount and type of resources available to support data use, alongside staff interactions with QualDash, shaped its use and impact. Sites resourced with skilled audit support staff and established reporting systems (sites A and C) continued to use existing processes to report data. A number of constraints influenced use of QualDash in these sites including that some dashboard metrics were not configured in line with user expectations and staff were not fully aware how QualDash could be used to facilitate their work. In less well-resourced services, QualDash automated parts of their reporting process, streamlining the work of audit support staff (site B), and, in some cases, highlighted issues with data completeness that the service worked to address (site E). Questionnaire responses received from 23 participants indicated that QualDash was perceived as useful and easy to use despite its variable use in practice. Conclusions Web-based dashboards have the potential to support data-driven improvement, providing access to visualizations that can help users address key questions about care quality. Findings from this study point to ways in which dashboard design might be improved to optimize use and impact in different contexts; this includes using data meaningful to stakeholders in the co-design process and actively engaging staff knowledgeable about current data use and routines in the scrutiny of the dashboard metrics and functions. In addition, consideration should be given to the processes of data collection and upload that underpin the quality of the data visualized and consequently its potential to stimulate quality improvement. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033208
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Alvarado
- Faculty of Health Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford, United Kingdom.,Wolfson Centre for Applied Health Research, Bradford, United Kingdom
| | - Lynn McVey
- Faculty of Health Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford, United Kingdom.,Wolfson Centre for Applied Health Research, Bradford, United Kingdom
| | - Mai Elshehaly
- Wolfson Centre for Applied Health Research, Bradford, United Kingdom.,Faculty of Engineering and Informatics, University of Bradford, Bradford, United Kingdom
| | - Joanne Greenhalgh
- School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Dawn Dowding
- School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Roy Ruddle
- School of Computing, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.,Leeds Institute for Data Analytics, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Chris P Gale
- Leeds Institute for Data Analytics, Leeds, United Kingdom.,Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom.,Department of Cardiology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Mamas Mamas
- Keele Cardiovascular Group, School of Medicine, Keele University, Keele, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick Doherty
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Robert West
- Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Feltbower
- Leeds Institute for Data Analytics, Leeds, United Kingdom.,School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca Randell
- Faculty of Health Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford, United Kingdom.,Wolfson Centre for Applied Health Research, Bradford, United Kingdom
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11
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Leite GS, Albuquerque AB, Pinheiro PR. Applications of Technological Solutions in Primary Ways of Preventing Transmission of Respiratory Infectious Diseases-A Systematic Literature Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:10765. [PMID: 34682511 PMCID: PMC8535524 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
With the growing concern about the spread of new respiratory infectious diseases, several studies involving the application of technology in the prevention of these diseases have been carried out. Among these studies, it is worth highlighting the importance of those focused on the primary forms of prevention, such as social distancing, mask usage, quarantine, among others. This importance arises because, from the emergence of a new disease to the production of immunizers, preventive actions must be taken to reduce contamination and fatalities rates. Despite the considerable number of studies, no records of works aimed at the identification, registration, selection, and rigorous analysis and synthesis of the literature were found. For this purpose, this paper presents a systematic review of the literature on the application of technological solutions in the primary ways of respiratory infectious diseases transmission prevention. From the 1139 initially retrieved, 219 papers were selected for data extraction, analysis, and synthesis according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results enabled the identification of a general categorization of application domains, as well as mapping of the adopted support mechanisms. Findings showed a greater trend in studies related to pandemic planning and, among the support mechanisms adopted, data and mathematical application-related solutions received greater attention. Topics for further research and improvement were also identified such as the need for a better description of data analysis and evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gleidson Sobreira Leite
- UNIFOR, Department of Computer Science, University of Fortaleza, Fortaleza 60811-905, Ceará, Brazil; (A.B.A.); (P.R.P.)
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12
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Nowicka A, Jaszczak J, Szymanek Pasternak A, Simon K. Application of self-assessment triage tool in COVID-19 pandemic: descriptive study (Preprint). JMIR Hum Factors 2021; 9:e34134. [PMID: 35168192 PMCID: PMC8982648 DOI: 10.2196/34134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic has sped up the implementation of telehealth solutions in medicine. A few symptom checkers dedicated for COVID-19 have been described, but it remains unclear whether and how they can affect patients and health systems. Objective This paper demonstrates our experiences with the COVID-19 risk assessment (CRA) tool. We tried to determine who the user of the web-based COVID-19 triage app is and compare this group with patients in the infectious diseases ward’s admission room to evaluate who could benefit from implementing the COVID-19 online symptom checker as a remote triage solution. Methods We analyzed the answers of 248,862 people interacting with an online World Health Organization–based triage tool for assessing the probability of SARS-CoV-2 infection. These users filled in an online questionnaire between April 7 and August 6, 2020. Based on the presented symptoms, risk factors, and demographics, the tool assessed whether the user’s answers were suggestive of COVID-19 and recommended appropriate action. Subsequently, we compared the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of tool users with patients admitted to the Infectious Diseases Admission Room of J. Gromkowski Hospital in Wrocław. Results The CRA tool tended to be used by asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic individuals (171,226 [68.80%] of all users). Most users were young (162,432 [65.27%] were below 40 years of age) and without comorbidities. Only 77,645 (31.20%) of the self-assessment app users were suspected of COVID-19 based on their reported symptoms. On the contrary, most admission room patients were symptomatic—symptoms such as fever, cough, and dyspnea were prevalent in both COVID-19-positive and COVID-19-negative patients. COVID-19-suspected patients in the CRA tool group presented similar COVID-19 symptoms as those who presented to the admission room. These were cough (25,062/40,007 [62.64%] in the CRA tool group vs 138/232 [59.48%] in the admission room group), fever (23,123/40,007 [57.80%] in the CRA tool group vs 146/232 [62.93%] in the admission room group), and shortness of breath (15,157/40,007 [37.89%] in the CRA tool group vs 87/232 [37.50%] in the admission room group). Conclusions The comparison between the symptomatology of the users interacting with the CRA tool and those visiting the admission room revealed 2 major patient groups who could have benefited from the implementation of the self-assessment app in preclinical triage settings. The primary users of the CRA tool were young, oligosymptomatic individuals looking for screening for COVID-19 and reassurance early in the COVID-19 pandemic. The other group were users presenting the typical symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 at that time. The CRA tool recognized these individuals as potentially COVID-19 positive and directed them to the proper level of care. These use cases fulfil the idea of preclinical triage; however, the accuracy and influence on health care must be examined in the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Nowicka
- Provincial Specialist Hospital them. J. Gromkowski, Wrocław, Poland
- Infermedica, Wrocław, Poland
| | | | - Anna Szymanek Pasternak
- Provincial Specialist Hospital them. J. Gromkowski, Wrocław, Poland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Simon
- Provincial Specialist Hospital them. J. Gromkowski, Wrocław, Poland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland
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13
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Topaz M, Peltonen LM, Mitchell J, Alhuwail D, Barakati SS, Lewis A, Moen H, Veeranki SPK, Block L, Risling T, Ronquillo C. How to Improve Information Technology to Support Healthcare to Address the COVID-19 Pandemic: an International Survey with Health Informatics Experts. Yearb Med Inform 2021; 30:61-68. [PMID: 33882605 PMCID: PMC8416206 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1726491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To identify the ways in which healthcare information and communication technologies can be improved to address the challenges raised by the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS The study population included health informatics experts who had been involved with the planning, development and deployment of healthcare information and communication technologies in healthcare settings in response to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected via an online survey. A non-probability convenience sampling strategy was employed. Data were analyzed with content analysis. RESULTS A total of 65 participants from 16 countries responded to the conducted survey. The four major themes regarding recommended improvements identified from the content analysis included: improved technology availability, improved interoperability, intuitive user interfaces and adoption of standards of care. Respondents also identified several key healthcare information and communication technologies that can help to provide better healthcare to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, including telehealth, advanced software, electronic health records, remote work technologies (e.g., remote desktop computer access), and clinical decision support tools. CONCLUSIONS Our results help to identify several important healthcare information and communication technologies, recommended by health informatics experts, which can help to provide better care to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results also highlight the need for improved interoperability, intuitive user interfaces and advocating the adoption of standards of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Topaz
- School of Nursing, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | | | - James Mitchell
- School of Computing and Mathematics, Keele University, UK
| | - Dari Alhuwail
- Information Science Department, Kuwait University, Kuwait
- Health Informatics Unit, Dasman Diabetes Institute, Kuwait
| | | | | | - Hans Moen
- Department of Future Technologies, University of Turku, Finland
| | - Sai Pavan Kumar Veeranki
- Health & Bioresources/Molecular Diagnostics, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Graz, Austria
- Technical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Lori Block
- School of Nursing, University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Tracie Risling
- College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Charlene Ronquillo
- Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada
- School of Nursing, University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC, Canada
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14
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Khoshrounejad F, Hamednia M, Mehrjerd A, Pichaghsaz S, Jamalirad H, Sargolzaei M, Hoseini B, Aalaei S. Telehealth-Based Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review of Features and Challenges. Front Public Health 2021; 9:711762. [PMID: 34350154 PMCID: PMC8326459 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.711762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: As an ever-growing popular service, telehealth catered for better access to high-quality healthcare services. It is more valuable and cost-effective, particularly in the middle of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, this study aimed to systematically review the features and challenges of telehealth-based services developed to support COVID-19 patients and healthcare providers. Methods: A comprehensive search was done for the English language and peer-reviewed articles published until November 2020 using PubMed and Scopus electronic databases. In this review paper, only studies focusing on the telehealth-based service to support COVID-19 patients and healthcare providers were included. The first author's name, publication year, country of the research, study objectives, outcomes, function type including screening, triage, prevention, diagnosis, treatment or follow-up, target population, media, communication type, guideline-based design, main findings, and challenges were extracted, classified, and tabulated. Results: Of the 5,005 studies identified initially, 64 met the eligibility criteria. The studies came from 18 countries. Most of them were conducted in the United States and China. Phone calls, mobile applications, videoconferencing or video calls, emails, websites, text messages, mixed-reality, and teleradiology software were used as the media for communication. The majority of studies used a synchronous communication. The articles addressed the prevention, screening, triage, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up aspects of COVID-19 which the most common purpose was the patients' follow-up (34/64, 53%). Thirteen group barriers were identified in the literature, which technology acceptance and user adoption, concerns about the adequacy and accuracy of subjective patient assessment, and technical issues were the most frequent ones. Conclusion: This review revealed the usefulness of telehealth-based services during the COVID-19 outbreak and beyond. The features and challenges identified through the literature can be helpful for a better understanding of current telehealth approaches and pointed out the need for clear guidelines, scientific evidence, and innovative policies to implement successful telehealth projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farnaz Khoshrounejad
- Department of Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mahsa Hamednia
- Department of Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Ameneh Mehrjerd
- Department of Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Shima Pichaghsaz
- Department of Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Hossein Jamalirad
- Department of Computer Engineering, Ayatollah Amoli University, Science and Research Branch, Amol, Iran
| | - Mahdi Sargolzaei
- Department of Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Benyamin Hoseini
- Pharmaceutical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Shokoufeh Aalaei
- Department of Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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15
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Tu J, Shen M, Zhong J, Yuan G, Chen M. The Perceptions and Experiences of Mobile Health Technology by Older People in Guangzhou, China: A Qualitative Study. Front Public Health 2021; 9:683712. [PMID: 34249848 PMCID: PMC8267812 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.683712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The study explores older people's perceptions and experiences with mobile technology adoption in hospitals. Twenty nine older people were interviewed at a tertiary hospital in Guangzhou from June to December 2020. All the interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Older people are a diversified group. Various factors impact their readiness for technology use, including their educational level, age, past experiences, living arrangements, etc. The older people in this study in general expressed a great concern about using the new health technology and many encountered barriers to its successful adoption. Yet, the barriers and difficulties that they encountered are embedded in a changed social context in China. The findings above provide insights into the adoption of health technology, and tailored measures to facilitate older people's technology adoption are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiong Tu
- School of Sociology and Anthropology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Manxuan Shen
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiudi Zhong
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Gang Yuan
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Miaohong Chen
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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16
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The Smart Safeguard System for COVID-19 to prevent cluster-infection in workplaces. J Infect Public Health 2021; 14:1042-1044. [PMID: 34174533 PMCID: PMC8214659 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2021.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) broke out in China since December 2019, and rapidly spread worldwide. To contain the disease, unessential businesses had been shut down in several countries to a varying extent. Nowadays, the enterprises are resuming productions and businesses. While the resumption of production is crucial to social development, it elevates the risk of cluster-infections at the workplaces. Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital therefore set up the Smart Safeguard System for COVID-19, aiming to provide rapid screening and consistent protection to assist the local enterprises with resumption. The system has received positive feedback as being helpful and practical. It has the potential to be widely used to prevent the cluster-infection of COVID-19 at workplaces during the pandemic.
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17
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What Can COVID-19 Teach Us about Using AI in Pandemics? Healthcare (Basel) 2020; 8:healthcare8040527. [PMID: 33271960 PMCID: PMC7711608 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare8040527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic put significant strain on societies and their resources, with the healthcare system and workers being particularly affected. Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers the unique possibility of improving the response to a pandemic as it emerges and evolves. Here, we utilize the WHO framework of a pandemic evolution to analyze the various AI applications. Specifically, we analyzed AI from the perspective of all five domains of the WHO pandemic response. To effectively review the current scattered literature, we organized a sample of relevant literature from various professional and popular resources. The article concludes with a consideration of AI’s weaknesses as key factors affecting AI in future pandemic preparedness and response.
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