Health Seekers Research Articles

A scoping review to map public-facing websites for non-traumatic wrist disorders with quality evaluation.

Public-facing resources for non-traumatic wrist disorders (NTWD) exist, but care recipients and healthcare professionals alike are uncertain where to access the most useful resources and have raised concerns over the quality of information provided. Previous studies involving stakeholders highlight a need for quality evaluation of these resources. The aim of this study was to identify website resources accessible to UK-based online health seekers and explore their content through quality assessment. A scoping review of public-facing websites was conducted in accordance with Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines and PRISMA-ScR checklist. An a-priori search strategy was performed of publicly accessible websites using lay terms were entered into a simple Google search. The DISCERN tool was used to appraise the quality of health information with additional data charted to pre-determined criteria. The 82 websites meeting inclusion criteria scored an average of 2/5 DISCERN. Nine funding categories existed with private service websites were the most common. 18 different diagnoses were found with twenty different management interventions were recommended. Considerable variation was found in the quality of websites providing information which people with NTWD are likely to access. Quality and trustworthiness of website information on NTWD are not the preserve of any sector or organisation and we identified potential for improvements across the board.

Value-Based Market Segmentation of West Asian Medical Tourism Market: A Case of Iran.

Identifying different groups of customers and their preferences and needs enable countries to gain a competitive advantage in the medical tourism market. We aimed to segment medical tourists from West Asian countries seeking medical services in Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 596 medical tourists who sought medical services in Iran in 2021. Data were collected using a valid questionnaire. Segmentation was performed based on medical tourism attributes (medical, destination, and tourism attributes), using cluster analysis methods; wards, and K means. The segments ' evaluation and profiling were conducted using discriminant analysis, chi-square, and oneway ANOVA tests. Our study divided the market into five segments: health seekers (3.8%), health and destination seekers (8.9%), tourism seekers (17.8%), infrastructure seekers (10.23%), and perfectionism (59.45%). In all segments, the health attributes were of high importance. The perfectionism segment registered the highest score in all three attributes (more than 5 of 6). Improving health attributes and offering luxurious medical services can be the main strategy for Iran to attract the most medical tourists and achieve a good position in this marketplace. The implication of this study is policymaking for targeting the most profitable segment of this marketplace.

Differentiation of rural summer health tourism for urban elderly: Tourist segmentation based on tourism experience

An increasing number of mountain villages in China are developing rural summer health tourism for the urban elderly (RSHTUE). However, Chinese RSHTUE destination operators provide almost the same services without considering the heterogeneity of RSHTUE tourists. This study classified RSHTUE tourists into four clusters based on their tourism experiences: self-actualizers, health seekers, loneliness relievers, and urban escapees. Chi-square was performed to identify differences in the socio-demographic characteristics among the four clusters. RSHTUE should be developed for differentiation. Results of this study can guide destination managers in accurately identifying segmented tourists and providing tailored services to meet the needs of different tourist segments.

Ethnographic Investigations into Medical Violence in Nepali Healthcare Facilities

Introduction: Violence is not an inherent byproduct of human relationships, but conflicts are. The factors and circumstances that lead to tension and conflicts between health seekers and Nepali medical establishments and staff members who work there are examined in this article. Development: Embedded with relevant literature review, through the analysis of qualitative information, this part of the article is developed into four different sections. The first part deals with the context of the medical consultations that result in the development of a problematic relationship. This is followed by the examination of different types of violence, confrontations, and protests that emerge through such relationships. The implications of swelling medical promises and consequent heightened expectations are analyzed in the third part whereas the fourth part highlights how the typical medical practices that exist in Nepali hospitals itself is increasing the possibility of confrontations and violence. Conclusions: The frequent occurrence of tussles and medical violence in both public and private hospitals in Nepal suggests that they can happen in any hospital, irrespective of ownership. There is always a communication gap between the service providers and the patient party because of the esoteric nature of medicine. Conflict and violence towards service providers can also thrive in the context of a differential explanatory model of the two sides. The mounting animosity also signals a decline in trust between healthcare providers and seekers in Nepal.

Depiction of conversational agents as health professionals: a scoping review.

The purpose of this scoping review was to examine the depiction of conversational agents as health professionals. We identified the professional characteristics that are used with these depictions and determined the prevalence of these characteristics among conversational agents that are used for health care. The depiction of conversational agents as health professionals has implications for both the users and the developers of these programs. For this reason, it is important to know more about these depictions and how they are implemented in practical settings. This review included scholarly literature on conversational agents that are used for health care. It focused on conversational agents designed for patients and health seekers, not health professionals or trainees. Conversational agents that address physical and/or mental health care were considered, as were programs that promote healthy behaviors. This review was conducted in accordance with JBI methodology for scoping reviews. The databases searched included MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, CINAHL with Full Text (EBSCOhost), Scopus, Web of Science, ACM Guide to Computing Literature (Association for Computing Machinery Digital Library), and IEEE Xplore (IEEE). The main database search was conducted in June 2021, and an updated search was conducted in January 2022. Extracted data included characteristics of the report, basic characteristics of the conversational agent, and professional characteristics of the conversational agent. Extracted data were summarized using descriptive statistics. Results are presented in a narrative summary and accompanying tables. A total of 38 health-related conversational agents were identified across 41 reports. Six of these conversational agents (15.8%) had professional characteristics. Four conversational agents (10.5%) had a professional appearance in which they displayed the clothing and accessories of health professionals and appeared in professional settings. One conversational agent (2.6%) had a professional title (Dr), and 4 conversational agents (10.5%) were described as having professional roles. Professional characteristics were more common among embodied vs disembodied conversational agents. The results of this review show that the depiction of conversational agents as health professionals is not particularly common, although it does occur. More discussion is needed on the potential ethical and legal issues surrounding the depiction of conversational agents as health professionals. Future research should examine the impact of these depictions, as well as people's attitudes toward them, to better inform recommendations for practice.

The National Health Policy, 2017: Health Seeker’s Profile and Accrued Benefit Analysis

The landscape of health is fast changing in developing countries. India being a signatory to the Alma Ata Declaration on “Health for All” has transformed the landscape of health in the country through Constitutional guarantees, plans, and policy measures. Constitutional bindings like those like Art 21, 38, 39(A) and the Directive Principles of State Policy have put compulsion on the Government of India to take measures for the universalization of health care and this is one of the ambitious targets of the 12th five-year plan aimed at comprehensive health care security to all. It mandates the country to ensure affordable, accountable, appropriate promotive, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative health care services and equitable access to health care to all citizens of India despite their caste, class, gender, religion, etc. In this context. In 2017, the Government of India introduced its health policy to provide coverage to the entire population of the developing country, i.e., India. It was a welcome initiative on the part of the country. After 6 years, the present article tries to map the health seekers' profile and how far benefits of health reform have been accrued by them. The researchers in this article have employed descriptive design with quantitative methods of data collection in the city of Bhubaneswar. The study concludes that the 2017 Healthcare policy has undoubtedly addressed the discrepancies in healthcare services to the population in terms of gender, age, and economic status, but still finds private healthcare services to cover more commoners and ensure services to them.

Antimalarial Health Seekers' Preferences and Perceptions: Insights from Ghana

Antimalarial Health Seekers' Preferences and Perceptions: Insights from Ghana

The wrap-less revolution: Consumer segmentation by facilitators of and barriers to package-free shopping

Packaging creates substantial environmental pressures by generating vast waste. A potential retail solution entails the offer of package-free products, a shift that demands active participation by consumers. Therefore, the current study explores factors that facilitate and bar consumers from adopting package-free shopping, using both an explorative, qualitative study (focus groups) and a quantitative research method (survey). It thereby defines consumer segments on the basis of multiple factor analysis and hierarchical clustering. Three clusters emerge: Proximity Shoppers (36%), Quality and Health Seekers (27%), and Minimal Waste Buyers (37%). The first cluster primarily consists of shoppers seeking a nearby store that offers package-free products. The second pursues high-quality, healthy, and natural package-free products. Finally, considerations of packaging and food waste prompt the third cluster. These clusters differ in education levels, gender, age, travel distance to store, experience with package-free shopping, attitudes toward package-free shopping, purchase intentions for package-free products, health consciousness, and environmental concerns. The results thus provide practicable insights to retailers, product manufacturers, and public policy makers determined to achieve environmental benefits.

In search of health: medical tourism at the US-Mexico border/lands

ABSTRACT This article provides evidence for viewing medical tourism through the lens of transborder theory in order to analyze the variation in access to health care for populations who share the US-Mexico border/lands. Using digital ethnography methods, we examine medical tourism at the US-Mexico border. Through three case studies, we highlight how the global free movement of seeking health care at the borderlands of nation-states provides an oasis for residents of one side of the border but creates and intensifies unequal access to health care on the other. We present evidence from YouTube testimonies, health blog sites, and Twitter to illustrate this discrepancy. This article, therefore, considers the role that the demographics of health seekers play in medical tourism and free movement across borderlands in their search for ‘affordable’ care services.

The Health System’s Response to and the Impact of COVID-19 on Health Services, Providers, and Seekers: A Rapid Review in the Wake of the Pandemic

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global healthcare systems, requiring rapid adaptations. This study evaluates the impact on health systems and services in India during the peak of the first wave and its aftermath. It analyses disruptions, adaptive measures, and challenges faced by healthcare providers and seekers to enhance future preparedness. Methods: Primary studies conducted in India exploring the impact of COVID-19 on health services provision, utilisation, availability, and the well-being of providers and seekers were included. Electronic searches were conducted in six databases: PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, CINAHL, and the WHO database on COVID-19. The results were analysed using narrative synthesis. Results and Conclusion: The review examined 38 articles with 22,502 subjects. Health service provision, utilisation, and availability were significantly impacted, particularly in outpatient departments (n = 19) and elective services (n = 16), while emergency services remained sub-optimal (n = 20). Adaptations were made in precautionary measures, protocols, staff allocation, training, personal protective equipment (PPE), infrastructure, and resources. Providers faced mental health challenges including depression, stress (n = 14), fear of infection (n = 9), stigmatisation (n = 5), and financial repercussions (n = 5). Seekers also encountered notable challenges (n = 13). Future preparedness necessitates improved healthcare infrastructure, resource optimisation, and comprehensive protocols. Lessons should inform strategies to mitigate disruptions and prioritise the well-being of providers and seekers in future outbreaks.

Determinants of Health-Seeking Behavior in Major Depressive Disorder: An Observational Study.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common illnesses in the world anda major cause of years lived with disability.It is necessary to diagnose and treat depression promptly. To identify and compare factors affecting health-seeking behavior in patients suffering from MDD. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted. The study population was divided into two groups: early and late health seekers (cut off: three months). Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 (PHQ-9) as well as Perceived and Personal Depression Stigma Scores were calculated.Data were analyzed and the chi-square test and z-test were used to calculate statistical significance. There were 102 participants. The majority were female (62.75%) and the maximum number of participants were from the age group of 26-45 years (65.69%). There were more early help seekers (61.76%) than late help seekers (38.24%). The majority of early help seekers were married individuals. Distance played a vital role in help-seeking behavior. A significant association was also found between participants' personal stigma and late treatment seeking. The most common reason for delaying medical attention was that patients thought that they could cure themselves, followed by a lack of awareness. Delay and hesitance observed concerning health-seeking behavior are assumed to be associated with factors such as gender, income, family or marital status, stigma, lack of awareness, beliefs and practices, and deficient health facilitiescausing delays in the diagnosis and management of MDD. The research supported that involving primary health care centers, spreading awareness about the disease, and increasing psychiatric facilities, along with a special emphasis on factors as mentioned like gender, marital status, stigma, and feasibility of reaching facility as distance plays a major role in causing delay, and can help decrease the duration of symptom from the onset, initiating appropriate treatment, and improving prognosis.

The complexity of food purchase motivations: Impacts of key priorities, knowledge, and information sources on active purchase of food labels

Studies of consumer preferences of specialty food labels have characterized the collection of values underlying active purchase decisions of individual labels. We explore whether a discernible structure of values and decision-making frameworks exists among consumers and across a variety of specialty food labels: USDA organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, and Certified Humane®. We segment consumers based on their motivations for purchasing the three labels simultaneously using cluster analysis, and then analyze the decision-making complexity for each cluster using hurdle models. Five clusters are identified and characterized: Never Buyers, Safety-First buyers, Biotechnology Avoiders, Health and Wellness Seekers, and Agricultural Idealists. Results indicate that the complexity of consumer motivations for buying specialty food labels is based on a hierarchical ordering of food values with the foundational value of food safety being the most important for a majority of consumers, and values related to environmental and animal welfare considerations present in only the most complex motivation structures. We also find that consumer interest in an animal welfare label may be constrained by limited consumer association of the label with food safety or other direct consumer benefits. Our results have significant implications for the development of specialty food labeling schemes and optimal communication strategies over specialty labeled food products.

AI Based Disease Predictor Model

Abstract: Diseases tracing plays important role in daily life. Every one cares about their own health. According to some social study, lot of people spends their time on online searching of health related issues. By browsing they get lot of information about the medical concepts and health related issues. Normally, people use Google to search their queries and that search engine respond them with the answer but that answer is in scattered format. User does not gets the exact answer for their queries. From previous work there has been vital work on the information needs of health seekers in terms of questions and then select those that ask for possible disease of their manifested symptoms for further analytic. To resolve such issues an extensive experiments on a real-world dataset labeled by online doctor’s show the significant performance. In this project, further restructuring of the question and answer has been done in order to get the exact answer of query. A tag mining framework for health seekers will be proposed; aim to identify discriminant features for each specific diseaases.

Use of Ayush measures and advocacies by Ayush practitioners and health seekers for the prevention of coronavirus disease-19: Cross-sectional analysis of an application-based data

Introduction: Ayush Sanjivani is a mobile application launched by the Ministry of Ayush to gather information regarding the acceptability and extent of utilization of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, and Homoeopathy (Ayush) advocacies for the prevention of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). The mobile application has different modules to garner the desired information regarding the trends of use of Ayush measures by the Indian public and practitioners. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the trends of the utilization of Ayush measures by the beneficiaries for the prevention of COVID-19 and to determine the benefit obtained in terms of self-reported parameters of general well-being, the overall impact on general health, and in preventing the onset of flu or COVID-19 like symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, muscle or body aches, cough, sore throat, and runny nose. Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken to analyze the data generated through the “Ayush Sanjivani mobile application” from May to July 2020. The responses generated in terms of demographic profile, utilization pattern, benefits obtained, the interventions used, and the data of beneficiaries in terms of geographic location and the interventions prescribed were analyzed statistically to assess the trends of the utilization of Ayush measures for prophylaxis as reported by the Ayush practitioners. Results: Data of 74,568 Ayush physicians and 13,521,245 beneficiaries/health seekers were used for the analysis. Ayush advocacies/measures were utilized by 69,195 (92.8%) physicians for prophylaxis. Samshamani vati, Chyavanprasha, and Arsenicum album-30C were the most commonly used Ayush interventions. Improvement in terms of appetite, bowel movements, sleep, mental well-being, stamina, preexisting disease, and disposition was reported by 42,400 (61.3%) physicians. Maximum beneficiaries were from the state of Gujarat followed by Madhya Pradesh. Arsenicum album 30°C was the most commonly prescribed/distributed intervention among the beneficiaries/health seekers. Conclusion: Maximum physicians reported utilization of Ayush prophylactic measures for the prevention of COVID-19. A large number of health seekers were provided Ayush prophylactic measures across various geographical locations in India.

German Health Narratives between Life Reform and Medical Enlightenment, 1890–1930

This article traces the emergence of the health narrative as a new genre of bodily knowledge in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Germany. Health narratives were life stories told by or about an individual, either real or fictional, who made conscious choices about how to conduct their bodily existence. Pioneered by lay health seekers known as life reformers, health narratives were co-opted by physicians hoping to reinvent medical enlightenment for the twentieth century. In addition to surveying the variety of forms that health narratives took in adult and children’s literature, the article explores the paradoxes and contradictions that ensued around voice, agency, embodiment, and selfhood as these narratives spread from life reform to medical contexts.

Amplifying Resilient Communities: Identifying Resilient Community Practices to Better Inform Health System Design

Globally, the COVID‐19 pandemic has been an inflection point, bringing heightened awareness around the preparedness and resilience of public health systems in dealing with severe shocks. While the pandemic has accentuated the existing weakness in public health systems, for many, especially those belonging to marginalized sections of society, seeking healthcare has always been fraught with severe challenges and frictions.This paper presents the findings from a two‐year design research project conducted in South Africa and Bangladesh, which studied the challenges faced by health seekers, especially those whose ability to access healthcare is compromised by a range of vulnerabilities. These populations display remarkably adaptive behaviors and innovations that are aimed at mitigating the lacunae in public health systems.In our analysis, these lacunae are articulated as points of friction, which are the gaps between the expectations of health seekers while accessing healthcare and the ability of health systems to meet these expectations. For vulnerable communities, these points of friction are often accentuated and more acutely felt. Taking a design thinking lens, we see these points of friction as opportunities for change that can potentially drive innovations in the public health space, leading to better health outcomes. The paper concludes with a set of design principles, which are meant to address the frictions identified during the course of the study and inform more user centered health systems in the future.

Identifying Consumer Mindsets Related to Sugars Consumption in Canadian Adults

Little is known about the attitudes and perceptions towards dietary sugars in Canadian adults. The objective of this study was to use rule-developing experimentation (RDE) to identify consumer mindsets related to dietary sugars in 18–50-year-old Canadians. Following an isomorphic permuted experimental design, participants (n = 269) each rated a unique set of 24 scenarios, each consisting of a distinct mixture of two to four messages about dietary sugars on a 5-point scale. A regression model was created for each respondent, identifying the value that each respondent attributed to each of the 16 messages. K-means clustering revealed three distinct mindset groups as follows: “Sugars Beliefs” (MS1), “Trend Analysts” (MS2), and “Health Seekers” (MS3). In conclusion, this study found that RDE is a useful methodological approach for evaluating how consumers think about dietary sugars and revealed mindset-specific messages that matter most to people who differ in their attitudes toward sugars.

Review Paper on a Healthcare Prognosis Using Machine Learning

Abstract: Diseases tracing plays important role in daily life. Every one cares about their own health. According to some social study, lot of people spends their time on online searching of health related issues. By browsing they get lot of information about the medical concepts and health related issues. Normally, people use Google to search their queries and that search engine respond them with the answer but that answer is in scattered format. User does not gets the exact answer for their queries. From previous work there has been vital work on the information needs of health seekers in terms of questions and then select those that ask for possible disease of their manifested symptoms for further analytic. To resolve such issues an extensive experiment on a real-world dataset labelled by online doctor’s show the significant performance. In this paper, we discussed the techniques for further restructuring of the question and answer has been done in order to get the exact answer of query. A tag mining framework for health seekers will be proposed; aim to identify discriminant features for each specific disease. In this paper we are going to use one of the most famous algorithm of machine learning that is decision tree. It is a type of supervised learning algorithm that is mostly used for classification problems. Surprisingly, it works for both categorical and continuous dependent variables. In this algorithm, we split the population into two or more homogeneous sets. This is done based on most significant attributes/ independent variables to make as distinct groups as possible. Keywords: SVM (Support Vector Machine), sparse deep learning, Classifiers, Querying, Signature mining

Dengue fever occurrence in India, Brazil, Paraguay, Philippines and Singapore using Google trends

Background. Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease and its occurrence is a worldwide problem. The health seekers may turn to the Internet based data for possible complications and various therapeutic approaches for the treatment. Therefore, our objective is to identify and characterize the seasonal transition of dengue fever using Google Trends. Methods. This was a cross-sectional study of dengue fever internet searches between 2004 and 2017. The Google was indexed the aggregated web data and ranked based on the search volume with respect to time. The countries selected for the study include India, Brazil, Paraguay, Philippines and Singapore based on the maximum number of cases across world. The selected regions were further classified in to seasonal time points and the relative search volume ranks were categorized to two season variables. Mann–Whitney U test was applied to identify the statistical significance. Results. The summer to monsoon transitions were showed highest number cases beginning from 2004 in the selected regions. Furthermore, dengue searches were peaked in both the seasons of summer and monsoon in selected regions. The analyses of data further revealed that 16.2 % of variation in dengue trends is associated with the time between 2004 and 2017.

Prevalence and clinical characterization of Kaphaja kasa in children

Introduction: Recurrent respiratory illnesses and cough are the very frequent reasons for which pediatricians help is sought for. Wet cough with wheezing is the cardinal feature seen in kaphaja kasa. Ayurveda gives excellent remedies for the management of recurrent respiratory illnesses including cough. Though Ayurveda pediatricians frequently manage kaphaja kasa in their office practice but studies highlighting its prevalence and clinical characterization are not published. The purpose of this study was to find out the prevalence and clinical profiling of Kaphaja kasa in children of 1 to 15years of age at Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara institute of Ayurveda teaching hospital (SDMIA and H), Bengaluru. Materials and methods: A retrospective study was done in 5898 children health seekers who attended outpatient department of Kaumarabhritya (Ayurveda Pediatrics) over a period of one year from November 2017 to October 2018. The 12 months data retrieved from the ERPMS software used for documentation of health seeker’s details. The presenting features influences of age, gender and socioeconomic status were used for categorization and discussion in this study. Results: This study showed 33.13% (1954) of children between 1 to 15years had Kaphaja kasa. Among them 63.05% were male children and rest were females (36.95%). Age group who suffered most was 1 to 5 years. The most presenting features were Kasa (wet cough-100%), Ghana snigdha shveta kapha (thick white sticky sputum-69.03%), Pratishyaya (Running nose-46.00%), Ghurghurka shabda (audible wheezes- 43.32%), Shvasa (dyspnea-41.81%) and least was Chardi (vomiting-2.09%). This study can be used as epidemiological data for the further studies etiological profiling and clinical effectiveness of Ayurveda intervention. Conclusion: prevalence of Kaphaja kasa was found to be 33.13% in children 1 to 15years. Clinical characterization of kaphaja kasa was done based on the percentage of signs and symptoms presented.