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The Impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) on Health Outcomes: A Mediating Effect Analysis Based on Cross-National Panel Data. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 2022:2225723. [PMID: 35990542 PMCID: PMC9385304 DOI: 10.1155/2022/2225723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
When ICTs (Information and Communications Technologies) are combined with healthcare, they can make a key contribution to gradually improve national health outcomes. The global outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 further highlighted the important role of e-Health and m-Health service modes. This research structures a mediated effect model to explore dynamic relationships between ICT factors, ICT impacts, and national health outcomes, among which ICT factors are independent variables; ICT impacts are mediating variables, and national health outcome indicators selected from United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and World Development Indicators are dependent variables. The fixed effect model is used to process a set of 141 countries’ panel data from 2012 to 2016 from World Bank and World Economic Forum, while the classical three-step test method and Sobel test combined with fixed effects are used to test the mediated effects of the panel data. The results show that there are significant associations between ICT factors and national health outcome indicators, while only some of the partial mediated effects are proved. ICT environment and ICT usage can influence both the under-five mortality rate and adolescent fertility rate via ICT social impact. However, the mediated effect of ICT social impact on maternal mortality ratio and life expectancy at birth has not been confirmed. Meanwhile, the mediated effect of ICT economic impact has not been proven. This research is an interdisciplinary research in the field of information and communication technology and public health and reveals the path and mechanism whereby ICT factors improve national health outcomes, which can help global policymakers drive the next phase of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and continue to improve the overall health at the national level.
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Tavares AI. eHealth, ICT and its relationship with self-reported health outcomes in the EU countries. Int J Med Inform 2019; 112:104-113. [PMID: 29500007 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2018.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Revised: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
This work contributes to the discussion on the relationship between ICT and ehealth solutions in primary care, and self-reported health and health status in the European Union. The method used is an ordinary least squares linear model. The results show that there is no significant relation between self-reported health outcomes and ICT and ehealth indexes, except for self-reported chronic health problems. The more advanced that countries are in ICT, the larger is the share of people reporting a chronic health problem. This provides evidence on the existence of a link between chronic patients and ICT development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Isabel Tavares
- Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra - Portugal and CEISUC - Center for Health Studies and Research, University of Coimbra - Portugal, Av. Dias da Silva, 165-Coimbra, Portugal.
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Kukula VA, Dodoo AAN, Akpakli J, Narh-Bana SA, Clerk C, Adjei A, Awini E, Manye S, Nagai RA, Odonkor G, Nikoi C, Adjuik M, Akweongo P, Baiden R, Ogutu B, Binka F, Gyapong M. Feasibility and cost of using mobile phones for capturing drug safety information in peri-urban settlement in Ghana: a prospective cohort study of patients with uncomplicated malaria. Malar J 2015; 14:411. [PMID: 26481106 PMCID: PMC4615326 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-015-0932-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 10/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The growing need to capture data on health and health events using faster and efficient means to enable prompt evidence-based decision-making is making the use of mobile phones for health an alternative means to capture anti-malarial drug safety data. This paper examined the feasibility and cost of using mobile phones vis-à-vis home visit to monitor adverse events (AEs) related to artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) for treatment of uncomplicated malaria in peri-urban Ghana. Methods A prospective, observational, cohort study conducted on 4270 patients prescribed ACT in 21 health facilities. The patients were actively followed by telephone or home visit to document AEs associated with anti-malarial drugs. Call duration and travel distances of each visit were recorded. Pre-paid call cards and fuel for motorbike travels were used to determine cost of conducting both follow-ups. Ms-Excel 2010 and STATA 11.2 were used for analysis. Results Of the 4270 patients recruited, 4124 (96.6 %) were successfully followed up and analyzed. Of these, 1126/4124 (27.3 %) were children under 5 years. Most 3790/4124 (91.9 %) follow-ups were done within 7 days of ACT intake. Overall, follow up by phone (2671/4124—64.8 %) was almost two times the number done by home visits (1453/4124—35.2 %). Duration of telephone calls ranged from 38 s to 53 min, costing between GH¢0.26 (0.20USD) and GH¢41.70 (27.USD). On the average, the calls lasted 3 min 51 s (SD = 3 min, 21 s) costing GH¢2.70 (0.77USD). Distance travelled for home visit ranged from 0.65 to 62 km costing GH¢0.29 (0.20USD) and GH¢279.00 (79.70USD). Thirty-two per cent (1128/4124) of patients reported AEs. In total, 1831 AE were reported, 1016/1831(55.5 %) by telephone and 815/1831 (44.5 %) by home visits. Events such as nausea, dizziness, diarrhoea, and vomiting were commonly reported. Conclusion Majority of patients was successfully followed up by telephone and reported the most AEs. The cost of telephone interviewing was almost two times less than the cost of home visit. Telephone follow up should be considered for monitoring drug adverse events in low resource settings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexander A N Dodoo
- Centre for Tropical Clinical Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
| | | | | | - Christine Clerk
- Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
| | | | | | - Simon Manye
- Dodowa Health Research Centre, Dodowa, Ghana.
| | | | | | | | | | - Patricia Akweongo
- Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
| | | | | | - Fred Binka
- INDEPTH-Network, Accra, Ghana. .,University of Science and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana.
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Puigdomènech E, Trujillo-Gómez JM, Martín-Cantera C, Díaz-Gete L, Manzano-Montero M, Sánchez-Fondevila J, Gonzalez-Fernandez Y, Garcia-Rueda B, Briones-Carrió EM, Clemente-Jiménez ML, Castaño C, Birulés-Muntané J. Information and communication technologies for approaching smokers: a descriptive study in primary healthcare. BMC Public Health 2015; 15:2. [PMID: 25971903 PMCID: PMC4429913 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-15-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2014] [Accepted: 12/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Common interventions for smoking cessation are based on medical advice and pharmacological aid. Information and communication technologies may be helpful as interventions by themselves or as complementary tools to quit smoking. The objective of the study was to determine the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the smoking population attended in primary care, and describe the major factors associated with its use. METHODS Descriptive observational study in 84 health centres in Cataluña, Aragon and Salamanca. We included by simple random sampling 1725 primary healthcare smokers (any amount of tobacco) aged 18-85. Through personal interview professionals collected Socio-demographic data and variables related with tobacco consumption and ICTs use were collected through face to face interviews Factors associated with the use of ICTs were analyzed by logistic regression. RESULTS Users of at least one ICT were predominantly male, young (18-45 years), from most favoured social classes and of higher education. Compared with non-ICTs users, users declared lower consumption of tobacco, younger onset age, and lower nicotine dependence. The percentages of use of email, text messages and web pages were 65.3%, 74.0% and 71.5%, respectively. Factors associated with the use of ICTs were age, social class, educational level and nicotine dependence level. The factor most closely associated with the use of all three ICTs was age; mainly individuals aged 18-24. CONCLUSIONS The use of ICTs to quit smoking is promising, with the technology of mobile phones having a broader potential. Younger and more educated subjects are good targets for ICTs interventions on smoking cessation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Puigdomènech
- />Unidad de Soporte a la Investigación Barcelona Ciudad, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Atención Primaria Jordi Gol (IDIAP Jordi Gol), C/ Sardenya, 375, entresol, 08025 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jose-Manuel Trujillo-Gómez
- />Unidad de Soporte a la Investigación Barcelona Ciudad, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Atención Primaria Jordi Gol (IDIAP Jordi Gol), C/ Sardenya, 375, entresol, 08025 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carlos Martín-Cantera
- />Unidad de Soporte a la Investigación Barcelona Ciudad, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Atención Primaria Jordi Gol (IDIAP Jordi Gol), C/ Sardenya, 375, entresol, 08025 Barcelona, Spain
- />Centre d’ Atenció Primaria Passeig de Sant Joan, Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain
- />Departament of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Díaz-Gete
- />Centre d’Atenció Primaria La Sagrera, Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Jessica Sánchez-Fondevila
- />Unidad de Soporte a la Investigación Barcelona Ciudad, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Atención Primaria Jordi Gol (IDIAP Jordi Gol), C/ Sardenya, 375, entresol, 08025 Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Elena-Mercedes Briones-Carrió
- />Unidad de Soporte a la Investigación Barcelona Ciudad, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Atención Primaria Jordi Gol (IDIAP Jordi Gol), C/ Sardenya, 375, entresol, 08025 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mª-Lourdes Clemente-Jiménez
- />Centro Sanitario Santo Grial (Huesca), Grupo Aragonés de Investigación en Atención Primaria, Asociación para la Prevención del Tabaquismo en Aragón (APTA), Aragón, Spain
| | - Carmen Castaño
- />La Alamedilla Health Centre, Castilla y León, Health Service–SACYL, redIAPP, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Joan Birulés-Muntané
- />Unidad de Soporte a la Investigación Barcelona Ciudad, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Atención Primaria Jordi Gol (IDIAP Jordi Gol), C/ Sardenya, 375, entresol, 08025 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Grupo Estudio TABATIC
- />Unidad de Soporte a la Investigación Barcelona Ciudad, Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Atención Primaria Jordi Gol (IDIAP Jordi Gol), C/ Sardenya, 375, entresol, 08025 Barcelona, Spain
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Clinical social networking--a new revolution in provider communication and delivery of clinical information across providers of care? J Digit Imaging 2014; 27:192-9. [PMID: 24149968 DOI: 10.1007/s10278-013-9653-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The adoption of social media technologies appears to enhance clinical outcomes through improved communications as reported by Bacigalupe (Fam Syst Heal 29(1):1-14, 2011). The ability of providers to more effectively, directly, and rapidly communicate among themselves as well as with patients should strengthen collaboration and treatment as reported by Bacigalupe (Fam Syst Heal 29(1):1-14, 2011). This paper is a case study in one organization's development of an internally designed and developed social technology solution termed "Unite." The Unite system combines social technologies' features including push notifications, messaging, community groups, and user lists with clinical workflow and applications to construct dynamic provider networks, simplify communications, and facilitate clinical workflow optimization. Modeling Unite as a social technology may ease adoption barriers. Developing a social network that is integrated with healthcare information systems in the clinical space opens the doors to capturing and studying the way in which providers communicate. The Unite system appears to have the potential to breaking down existing communication paradigms. With Unite, a rich set of usage data tied to clinical events may unravel alternative networks that can be leveraged to advance patient care.
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Martínez-Pérez B, de la Torre-Díez I, López-Coronado M, Herreros-González J. Mobile apps in cardiology: review. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2013; 1:e15. [PMID: 25098320 PMCID: PMC4114428 DOI: 10.2196/mhealth.2737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2013] [Revised: 06/26/2013] [Accepted: 06/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cardiovascular diseases are the deadliest diseases worldwide, with 17.3 million deaths in 2008 alone. Among them, heart-related deaths are of the utmost relevance; a fact easily proven by the 7.25 million deaths caused by ischemic heart disease alone in that year. The latest advances in smartphones and mHealth have been used in the creation of thousands of medical apps related to cardiology, which can help to reduce these mortality rates. Objective The aim of this paper is to study the literature on mobile systems and applications currently available, as well as the existing apps related to cardiology from the leading app stores and to then classify the results to see what is available and what is missing, focusing particularly on commercial apps. Methods Two reviews have been developed. One is a literature review of mobile systems and applications, retrieved from several databases and systems such as Scopus, PubMed, IEEE Xplore, and Web of Knowledge. The other is a review of mobile apps in the leading app stores, Google play for Android and Apple’s App Store for iOS. Results Search queries up to May 2013 located 406 papers and 710 apps related to cardiology and heart disease. The most researched section in the literature associated with cardiology is related to mobile heart (and vital signs) monitoring systems and the methods involved in the classification of heart signs in order to detect abnormal functions. Other systems with a significant number of papers are mobile cardiac rehabilitation systems, blood pressure measurement, and systems for the detection of heart failure. The majority of apps for cardiology are heart monitors and medical calculators. Other categories with a high number of apps are those for ECG education and interpretation, cardiology news and journals, blood pressure tracking, heart rate monitoring using an external device, and CPR instruction. There are very few guides on cardiac rehabilitation and apps for the management of the cardiac condition, and there were no apps that assist people who have undergone a heart transplant. Conclusions The distribution of work in the field of cardiology apps is considerably disproportionate. Whereas some systems have significant research and apps are available, other important systems lack such research and lack apps, even though the contribution they could provide is significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Borja Martínez-Pérez
- University of Valladolid, Department of Signal Theory and Communications, and Telematics Engineering, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain.
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