Technology In Healthcare Services Research Articles

The role of champions in the implementation of technology in healthcare services: a systematic mixed studies review

BackgroundChampions play a critical role in implementing technology within healthcare services. While prior studies have explored the presence and characteristics of champions, this review delves into the experiences of healthcare personnel holding champion roles, as well as the experiences of healthcare personnel interacting with them. By synthesizing existing knowledge, this review aims to inform decisions regarding the inclusion of champions as a strategy in technology implementation and guide healthcare personnel in these roles.MethodsA systematic mixed studies review, covering qualitative, quantitative, or mixed designs, was conducted from September 2022 to March 2023. The search spanned Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and Scopus, focusing on studies published from 2012 onwards. The review centered on health personnel serving as champions in technology implementation within healthcare services. Quality assessments utilized the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT).ResultsFrom 1629 screened studies, 23 were included. The champion role was often examined within the broader context of technology implementation. Limited studies explicitly explored experiences related to the champion role from both champions’ and health personnel’s perspectives. Champions emerged as promoters of technology, supporting its adoption. Success factors included anchoring and selection processes, champions’ expertise, and effective role performance.DiscussionThe specific tasks and responsibilities assigned to champions differed across reviewed studies, highlighting that the role of champion is a broad one, dependent on the technology being implemented and the site implementing it. Findings indicated a correlation between champion experiences and organizational characteristics. The role’s firm anchoring within the organization is crucial. Limited evidence suggests that volunteering, hiring newly graduated health personnel, and having multiple champions can facilitate technology implementation. Existing studies predominantly focused on client health records and hospitals, emphasizing the need for broader research across healthcare services.ConclusionsWith a clear mandate, dedicated time, and proper training, health personnel in champion roles can significantly contribute professional, technological, and personal competencies to facilitate technology adoption within healthcare services. The review finds that the concept of champions is a broad one and finds varied definitions of the champion role concept. This underscores the importance of describing organizational characteristics, and highlights areas for future research to enhance technology implementation strategies in different healthcare settings with support of a champion.

Telepharmacy knowledge, attitude, and experience among pharmacy students in Indonesia: A cross-sectional study

Background: The advancement of technology in healthcare services has given rise to telepharmacy. The success of telepharmacy depends on the knowledge, attitude, and experience of pharmacy students. However, telepharmacy is relatively new in the Indonesian pharmacy education system. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire to evaluate pharmacy students' knowledge, attitude, and experience related to telepharmacy. Results: The questionnaire was completed by 442 pharmacy students. Among them, 97.96% demonstrated a high level of knowledge about telepharmacy, and 96.60% had a positive attitude toward it. However, 85.97% of students had limited experience with telepharmacy. While there was a significant correlation between knowledge and attitude, no such correlation was observed between attitude and experience. Conclusion: The findings revealed that pharmacy students had high knowledge and attitude, but limited experience with telepharmacy. Additionally, there is a significant correlation between knowledge of telepharmacy and a positive attitude towards its use. To better prepare future pharmacists to provide effective telepharmacy services, it is essential to integrate telepharmacy practice models into the curriculum.

Multilateralism in Global Health: A New Paradigm

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the fragile state of the global economy and the impact of newly emerging diseases can have. As the World Health Organisation (WHO) declares the pandemic over, there is a need to re-think the prevalent ideas of multilateralism and enable global cooperation in preventing and managing future pandemics and impacts of climate change. The global multilateral institutions have developed since their inception after World War II into large-scale organisations which route funds towards development in social, economic and health of the member nations. However, they continue to be helmed by the Global North, with priorities being increasingly influenced by private individuals and multinational corporations which provide funds. The G20 and its member nations seek equitable representation in the global institutions. With India at its presidency as the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, the need of the hour is a reformed and equitable multilateralism with provisions for international cooperation, knowledge and data sharing in case of global emergencies, and pharmaceutical and vaccine supply chains that can work around the WTO’s TRIPS regulations in emergency conditions. The use of technology in healthcare services has gained momentum in the last decade and India’s call to declare digital health tools a public good is expected to be a major milestone in healthcare.

Blockchain Technology In Healthcare Services

The recent ransomware attack on AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) has highlighted internal system weaknesses in the healthcare sector, and blockchain technology has emerged as a potential solution to improve security and reduce the risk of future attacks. The decentralized blockchain technology makes it much more difficult for ransomware attackers to focus on a single point of failure. Additionally, blockchain technology provides recipients and data providers with the reassurance that their data has not been changed, enabling enterprises to have confidence and assurance in the integrity of their sensitive data. The sharing of data also restores control of data to its owners. The information is dispersed so that no one company can control it, yet it is still organized around the owner. Thamrin and Xu's research paper proposes a framework for healthcare data storage that includes hospital, city, and state blockchain networks. The proposed system uses a private cloud, but the researchers recommend a hybrid cloud for improved efficiency and adaptability. This innovative approach has the potential to enhance healthcare systems' data security, privacy, and accountability. However, a comprehensive analysis of the problem and an assessment of the potential effectiveness of blockchain technology is necessary before implementing any solutions.

Enhanced Sensing and Activity Recognition System Using IoT for Healthcare

Through the integration of advanced algorithms and smart sensing technology in healthcare services, huge medical benefits could be gained by the aged and sick people in determining their activity recognition. Human activity recognition (HAR) is still in the research for the past decades that promotes recognition of physical activities automatically. The main aim of HAR is to obtain and analyze the physical activities of a person, which could be promoted through several in-built sensors examined in the form of video data. Through this technique, necessary information could be obtained that also helps in preventing significant risks and also averts or alerts unfortunate events from happening. However, there is no particular categorization for human activity, and there is no description of the particular events to occur. The objective of this paper is to propose a healthcare information system based on IoT where enhancing activity recognition is the primary focus. Human activities are supposed to be diverse; it is necessary to choose appropriate sensors and the effective placement of those sensors in recognizing specific activities. One of the major challenges here is choosing the appropriate sensor for that particular instance and gathering data under particular circumstances. Due to the large coupling of sensors and their activity monitoring functionality, the solution to promote feasibility for the HAR predicament cannot be determined. A distinguishing feature of this paper is that it includes future users' perspectives.

Fever of unknown origin (FUO) on a land on cross-roads between Asia and Europa; a multicentre study from Turkey.

The differential diagnosis of Fever of Unknown Origin (FUO) is still a major clinical challenge despite the advances in diagnostic procedures. In this multicentre study, we aimed to reveal FUO aetiology and factors influencing the final diagnosis of FUO in Turkey. A total of 214 patients with FUO between the years 2015 and 2019 from 13 tertiary training and research hospitals were retrospectively evaluated. The etiologic distribution of FUO was infections (44.9%), malignancies (15.42%), autoimmune/inflammatory (11.68%) diseases, miscellaneous diseases (8.41%) and undiagnosed cases (19.62%). Brucellosis (10.25%), extrapulmonary tuberculosis (6.54%) and infective endocarditis (6.54%) were the most frequent three infective causes. Solid malignancies (7.1%) and lymphoma (5.6%), adult-onset still's disease (6.07%) and thyroiditis (5.14%) were other frequent diseases. The aetiological spectrum did not differ in elderly people (P<.05). Infections were less frequent in Western (34.62%) compared with Eastern regions of Turkey (60.71%) (P<.001, OR: 0.31, 95% Cl: 0.19 to 0.60). The ratio of undiagnosed aetiology was significantly higher in elderly people (p: 0.046, OR: 2.34, 95% Cl: 1.00 to 5.48) and significantly lower in Western Turkey (P: .004, OR: 3.07, 95% Cl: 1.39 to 6.71). Brucellosis, extrapulmonary tuberculosis and infective endocarditis remain to be the most frequent infective causes of FUO in Turkey. Solid tumours and lymphomas, AOSD and thyroiditis are the other common diseases. The aetiological spectrum did not differ in elderly people, on the other hand, infections were more common in Eastern Turkey. A considerable amount of aetiology remained undiagnosed despite the state-of-the-art technology in healthcare services.

User expectations and experiences during implementation of new technology in healthcare services

User expectations and experiences during implementation of new technology in healthcare services

A Novel Machine to Machine Based Health Monitoring Device using IoT

These days, health monitoring gadgets are assuming an essential role in health services. Such frameworks are considered as the most significant developments because of its creativity and innovation. A compact gadget is used to record imperative parameters of the human body like its temperature, Heart pulsates, and beat rate, and so forth by utilizing embedded innovation. Typically, it is very hard to make sense of the irregularities occurring in the human body. Much of the time an individual surrenders because of off base or an erroneous forecast of infection. Henceforth to follow the inconsistencies occurring in the human body there should be a framework that can screen the progressions occurring in the human body most unequivocally and precisely. In this paper, a novel machine to machine based health monitoring device using IoT technology in health care services is proposed which regularly monitors the health parameters of the patient through an electronic wearable device giving results that are well precise when compared with the standard medical equipment measurements. These data can be assessed over the Internet for precise treatments.

Impact of Trust and Privacy Concerns on Technology Acceptance in Healthcare: An Indian Perspective

This paper augments the technology acceptance model (TAM) by empirically investigating the influence of behavioral traits (privacy concerns and trust) and cognitive beliefs (perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use) on patients' behavioral intention to accept technology in healthcare service delivery. Despite increased emphasis on healthcare service delivery, there has been limited studies as to how various behavioral constructs are related to adoption of new technology in healthcare sector. To this end, and to develop meaningful insights, a conceptual model integrating behavioral constructs with constructs related to technology acceptance model is devised. The aim here is essentially to understand relationships that predict patients' acceptance of technology in healthcare services. The devised model is tested on responses obtained from survey of 416 patients availing healthcare service at various primary health centers in New Delhi, India. Structural equation modeling (SEM) is employed to conceptualize the model and validate nine hypotheses entailing key constructs. The results indicate that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, trust and privacy concern are direct predictors of patients' behavior to accept technology in availing healthcare services. In summary, this research provides an empirical contribution to the literature on effect of trust and privacy concerns on acceptance of technology in healthcare.

Life Satisfaction and Quality of Life Enjoyment among Retired People Aged 65 or Older

Ageing is a global concern. Today, we emphasize healthy ageing with life satisfaction and better quality of life. The advanced technology in healthcare services and medical treatment has led to greater longevity. Although older people reach retirement age at 65, they continue to work for their career. Retirement can be a financial impact as the working older people cannot continue to earn money for their living. They need to rely on support from their family and the government. Retirement is also the factor to make dramatically changes in roles and responsibilities, authority, social network, and self-value. This study aimed 1) to examine the level of life satisfaction and quality of life enjoyment and 2) to identify relationships between demo-graphic characteristics and life satisfaction and quality of life enjoyment among older people aged 65 or older. The study results are significant to show the important areas to improve life satisfaction and quality of life enjoyment among older people aged 65 or older. Social relationship, particularly, support from family is the most important element to enhance life sat-isfaction and quality of life enjoyment in retired people.

The effect of mobile messaging apps on cardiac patient knowledge of coronary artery disease risk factors and adherence to a healthy lifestyle.

To determine the effect mobile messaging apps on coronary artery disease patient knowledge of and adherence to a healthy lifestyle. Due to the increasing incidence of coronary artery disease in recent years, interventions targeting coronary artery disease risk factors are urgent public priorities. The use of mobile technology in healthcare services and medical education is relatively new with promising future prospects. This study used a quasiexperimental design that included pre- and posttest for intervention and control groups. The study was conducted from January-April 2017 with both intervention and control groups, in a teaching hospital in Klang Valley. Convenience sampling was used with inclusive criteria in choosing the 94 patients with coronary artery disease (intervention group: 47 patients; control group: 47 patients). The pretest was conducted as a baseline measurement for both groups before they were given standard care from a hospital. However, only the intervention group was given a daily information update via WhatsApp for 1month. After 1month, both groups were assessed with a posttest. The split-plot ANOVA analysis indicates that there is a significant and positive effect of the intervention on coronary artery disease patients' knowledge on coronary artery disease risk factors [F(1, 92)=168.15, p<0.001] with a large effect size ( =0.65). The mobile messaging apps also significantly improve the patients' adherence to a healthy lifestyle [F(1, 92)=83.75, p<0.001] with a large effect size ( =0.48). This study concluded that WhatsApp was an effective health intervention in increasing coronary artery disease patient's knowledge and subsequently increasing their adherence to healthy lifestyles. In clinical setting, mobile messaging apps are useful in information delivery and efficient patient monitory.

Role of Information Technology in Healthcare Services: Visitor’s Perception

The aging population, increasing pollution, and lethargic life style of human beings are some of the primary reasons for the growth of healthcare sector. Indian entrepreneurs have observed this growth opportunities and providing healthcare services in multiple ways. However, the literature emphasizes that without integrating information technology in existing healthcare facilities, quality service cannot be rendered to a large number of patients. With this backdrop, the present study is a novel endeavor to explore the role of information technology in Indian healthcare services. It aims to explain the relevance and dimensions of information technology in relation to healthcare services and examines the empirical relationship between identified dimensions and some demographical factors (age, educational qualification, income, and gender).The results of this study can be beneficial to healthcare professionals, service enablers, implementing agencies, and policy makers. Limitations, further research directions and conclusions have been discussed.

ICHRCloud: Web & Mobile based Child Health Imprints for Smart Healthcare.

Reducing child mortality with quality care is the prime-most concern of all nations. Thus in current IT era, our healthcare industry needs to focus on adapting information technology in healthcare services. Barring few preliminary attempts to digitalize basic hospital administrative and clinical functions, even today in India, child health and vaccination records are still maintained as paper-based records. Also, error in manually plotting the parameters in growth charts results in missed opportunities for early detection of growth disorders in children. To address these concerns, we present India's first hospital linked, affordable automated vaccination and real-time child's growth monitoring cloud based application- Integrated Child Health Record cloud (iCHRcloud). This application is based on HL7 protocol enabling integration with hospital's HIS/EMR system. It provides Java (Enterprise Service Bus and Hibernate) based web portal for doctors and mobile application for parents, enhancing doctor-parent engagement. It leverages highchart to automate chart preparation and provides access of data via Push Notification (GCM and APNS) to parents on iOS and Android mobile platforms. iCHRcloud has also been recognized as one of the best innovative solution in three nationwide challenges, 2016 in India. iCHRcloud offers a seamless, secure (256 bit HTTPS) and sustainable solution to reduce child mortality. Detail analysis on preliminary data of 16,490 child health records highlight the diversified need of various demographic regions. Thus, primary lesson would be to implement better validation strategies to fulfill the customize requisites of entire population. This paper presents first glimpse of data and power of the analytics in policy framework.

Use of digital technology in healthcare services

Use of digital technology in healthcare services

Designing Role of Online Health Educators in Healthcare Services

Web technology provides healthcare organizations the ability to broaden services beyond usual practices, and thus provides a particularly advantageous environment to achieve complex e-health goals. Furthermore, introducing web technology in healthcare services may add value to the overall healthcare process. Web technology helps healthcare organizations to extend the online health services (e-health) beyond their traditional mechanism. The changes enable customers (patients) to participate more in the process of healthcare, such as through their ability to generate personal health data to their personalized web-based interface. It allows patients to have greater control of information flow between healthcare organizations and customers, and among customers themselves. In this study the authors investigate the extended role of healthcare staff that provide e-health services. The authors have developed e-health models that accommodate customers' participation to engage more actively in the healthcare system. Through the model the authors developed a prototype—namely Clinic 2.0. Clinic 2.0 is set up to facilitate interactions between healthcare providers and customers. In the proposed systems, the authors introduced Online Health Educator (OHE)—a healthcare staff that is specifically responsible for administering Clinic 2.0. The authors have conducted a survey in Indonesia to draw the expectation of participants regarding the important role of OHE in Clinic 2.0 through a semi-structured interview conducted with participants to further investigate the pivotal roles of OHE. The authors found that e-health services need OHE to achieve customers' satisfaction.

The scope of mobile devices in health care and medical education

The use of mobile Internet devices (MIDs), smartphones, and proprietary software applications (also known as apps in short) can improve communication among medical caregivers. The utilization of these mobile technologies has further transformed health care, communications, commerce, education, and entertainment, among other fields. Newer technologies have the potential to be adapted for improvement in health care and medical education in general. Mobile technology is one of the latest strings of technological innovations that can be integrated into medical education. M-learning (the use of mobile technologies in teaching/training) has been used as a complimentary resource for interaction between students and instructors for motivation and learning. The main uses described for mobile devices in medical education can be divided into (a) information management (IM), (b) communication, and (c) time management. The field of mobile technology in health-care services and medical education is quite new and throws open ample opportunities for researchers to conduct further studies. Educators in medicine, dermatology, and public health as well as practicing physicians and surgeons need to embrace this new technology, study its further adoption, and assist in the responsible integration of these devices into the art and practice of medicine.