Abstract
BackgroundPersonal health record (PHR) technology can be used to support workplace health promotion, and prevent social and economic losses related to workers’ health management. PHR services can not only ensure interoperability, security, privacy, and data quality, but also consider the user’s perspective in their design.ObjectiveUsing Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) and national health care data sets, this study aimed to design and develop an app for providing worker-centered, interconnected PHR services.MethodsThis study considered the user’s perspective, using the human-centered design (HCD) methodology, to develop a PHR app suitable for occupational health. We developed a prototype after analyzing quantitative and qualitative data collected from workers and a health care professional group, after which we performed a usability evaluation. We structured workers’ PHR items based on the analyzed data, and ensured structural and semantic interoperability using FHIR, Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine–Clinical Terms (SNOMED-CT), and Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC). This study integrated workers’ health information scattered across different Korean institutions through an interface method, and workers’ PHRs were managed through a cloud server, using Azure API for FHIR.ResultsIn total, 562 workers from industrial parks participated in the quantitative study. The preferred data items for PHR were medication, number of steps walked, diet, blood pressure, weight, and blood glucose. The preferred features were ability to access medical checkup results, health information content provision, consultation record inquiry, and teleconsultation. The worker-centered PHR app collected data on, among others, life logs, vital signs, and medical checkup results; offered health care services such as reservation and teleconsultation; and provided occupational safety and health information through material safety data sheet search and health questionnaires. The app reflected improvements in user convenience and app usability proposed by 19 participants (7 health care professionals and 12 end users) in the usability evaluation. The After-Scenario Questionnaire (ASQ) was evaluated with a mean score of 5.90 (SD 0.34) out of 7, and the System Usability Scale (SUS) was evaluated a mean score of 88.7 (SD 4.83) out of 100.ConclusionsThe worker-centered PHR app integrates workers’ health information from different institutions and provides a variety of health care services from linked institutions through workers’ shared PHR. This app is expected to increase workers’ autonomy over their health information and support medical personnel’s decision making regarding workers’ health in the workplace. Particularly, the app will provide solutions for current major PHR challenges, and its design, which considers the user’s perspective, satisfies the prerequisites for its utilization in occupational health.
Highlights
BackgroundChanges in lifestyle habits and the spread of chronic diseases have increased health problems within companies [1]
We designed a Personal health record (PHR) app following the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data collected from workers and a group of health care professionals, employing the human-centered design (HCD) methodology
Health information is generated from a variety of sources [55], and the generation of interoperable PHR requires the integration of data from different sources [56]
Summary
BackgroundChanges in lifestyle habits and the spread of chronic diseases have increased health problems within companies [1]. Managing workers’ health at the corporate level can prevent social and economic losses, and employers are increasingly interested in improving workers’ health and welfare as a corporate strategy [4,5,6]. The concept of workplace health promotion denotes that employers, workers, and local communities work together to improve workers’ mental and physical health and welfare [8]. Its primary challenge is increasing worker participation; studies have shown participation rates of less than 50% [11] and average annual reduction rates of 28% [12] These obstacles can be overcome by applying health care technology to workplace health promotion [13]. Personal health record (PHR) technology can be used to support workplace health promotion, and prevent social and economic losses related to workers’ health management. PHR services can ensure interoperability, security, privacy, and data quality, and consider the user’s perspective in their design
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