Use Of eHealth Services Research Articles

Assessing Patient Use of and Attitudes toward eHealth Services for Communication with Primary Care Centers in Saudi Arabia and Factors Affecting Usage.

This study investigates patients' use of eHealth services, their awareness of the availability of these services, and their intention to use them in primary care. It also examines patient characteristics and factors that influence the use of these services. A cross-sectional design using questionnaires was conducted. Based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), the participants rated the two most common services. Descriptive analyses and linear correlation analyses were performed. A simple linear regression was conducted to identify factors influencing the participants' intention to use eHealth services. In total, 1203 participants with an average age of 43.7 years were surveyed. The participants' usage rates varied, with the lowest at 2.4%, for measuring vital signs, and the highest at 47.4%, for booking appointments. The intentions to use the services ranged from 22.5%, for video consultations, to 46.6%, for prescription refill requests. Approximately 20% of the respondents were unaware of each service's availability. Positive associations were found between all the constructs and the intention to use online services, with a younger age being the most significant factor. The use of and intention to use eHealth services varied greatly. The participants were often unaware of the availability of these services. Promoting the availability and benefits of eHealth services could enhance patient engagement in primary care settings.

Factors influencing use of eHealth services during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The rapid advancement of information and communication technologies has made eHealth applications increasingly available and accessible. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for remote health service provision. This research aims to explore the usage, perceptions, and knowledge of eHealth interventions during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2021 (during the pandemic) and 2023 (post-pandemic) using a structured questionnaire based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS). The survey, conducted in Greece, included 638 participants in total (277 in 2021 and 361 in 2023). Structural equation modeling was employed to assess the factors influencing eHealth adoption. The findings indicate a slight increase in positive perceptions of eHealth usefulness, intention to use, and actual usage over the 2years. However, concerns remain regarding the ease of use and eHealth literacy. eHealth literacy significantly predicts the perceived usefulness and ease of use of eHealth services, both of which predict the intention to use them. Additionally, higher education levels are positively associated with eHealth literacy, while older age is negatively associated with ease of use. Gender did not significantly impact these factors. These findings were consistent across both surveys. Policy-makers should focus on simplifying eHealth services, removing technical barriers, and enhancing the population's eHealth literacy to promote wider adoption of eHealth services.

The population-based Tromsø 8 study and e-mental health

IntroductionAgeing populations with increased needs, rising costs of traditional services, and new technologies are some factors driving the use of e-health services. A Norwegian study with data from 2015-2016 found that 13.5% had used apps, 7.3% had used social media, and 5% had used video services for health purposes. Little is known about the effects of many online health services, but in general they seem to increase knowledge and make most people feel reassured, although some users feel more anxious or confused after using such tools. Recent technological developments have resulted in new online health services, including AI-based technologies. More updated knowledge regarding the population’s use of e-health services in general and e-mental health services in particular, is needed.ObjectivesThe objective here is to provide information about an upcoming large population-based epidemiological study and how it addresses e-health and e-mental health.MethodsWe introduce the upcoming 8th version of the epidemiological Tromsø Study and discuss its importance to the field of e-mental health.Results The Tromsø epidemiological study has since 1974 taken place in the Norwegian municipality of Tromsø. It contains information on a range of topics within health and illness, including topics from many medical specialities, psychiatry and substance use. In the upcoming 8th version of the study (2025-2026), more than 33,000 people aged above 40 will be invited to participate. The main questionnaire will include questions relating to a wide variety of topics, including on e-health use. We suspect the importance of e-health and e-mental health have increased lately, and we will examine how the use of e-health may impact mental health.ConclusionsCommunity-based studies, such as the Tromsø Study, allow researchers to study associations between many different variables, including mental health and e-health. The upcoming Tromsø 8 study will enable us to study e-health use and its relationship to mental health in a large sample representative of the Norwegian population.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Knowledge and Attitude regarding e-health services among elderly at selected urban community areas, Kolar, with a view to develop information pamphlet

E-health technologies potential to expand access to healthcare on a local, regional, and international level, reduce costs, and enhance public and individual health through individualized care and compiled health data. The widespread use of smartphones and tablets has made it possible for older adults, to access health information online which has led to a steady rise in their use of e-health services like getting reminders for appointments instructions for taking medications, telemedicine consultation and taking part in health programmes.To assess the knowledge and attitude of older adults on e-health services.A descriptive survey design was conducted in urban areas of the community in Kolar Karnataka. A total of 100 older adults were included using a purposive sampling technique & data collected through structured knowledge questionnaire a five point Likert scale among elderly. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS version 20. The findings showed that older adults, 5% of participants showed adequate knowledge and 75% showed moderate knowledge with only 20% of respondents having inadequate knowledge. Concerning attitudes towards e-health services it indicated that, the majority 80% of geriatric clients showed favourable attitudes, moderately favorable 19%, and unfavorable 1%. It’s found to be statistically significant for variables like age, usage of e-health services & source of information. e-health utilization was proven to be favorable attitude among older adults. Hence it's necessary to take measures in the hospital setup, to initiate e-health services to access the health services without undue stress and time wastage to wait for appointments.

Predictors of the Use of Physician's Televisits During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland.

Telemedicine-based contacts between patients and physicians were allowed in Poland only in 2016. However, using such services was not common due to the lack of a relevant reimbursement scheme. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of telemedicine and e-health systems increased radically. The aim of this study was the assessment of factors predicting the use of physician's televisit in the Polish general adult population. The analysis was based on data from an online survey of 2410 Internet users performed in October 2020. The logistic regression modeling revealed that both health (HL) and e-health literacy (eHL), the use of e-health services before the pandemic, the use of social media, and from sociodemographic variables, age, gender, vocational status, and marital status were significant predictors of obtaining televisit from a physician during the pandemic. Pre-pandemic experience with ehealth applications strongly predicted utilizing televisits during the pandemic. Respondents with higher levels of HL and eHL were more likely to use such telemedicine services than those with lower levels.

Factors associated with the use of public eHealth services in Poland - a 2022 nationwide cross-sectional survey.

Poland is an example of a European country that has made significant progress in digitizing healthcare during the last 5 years. There is limited data on the use of eHealth services by different socio-economic groups in Poland during the COVID-19 pandemic The aim of the study was to characterize public attitudes towards the use of e-Health services in Poland, as well as to identify factors associated with the use of e-Health services among adults in Poland. A questionnaire-based survey was carried out during 9-12 September 2022. A computer-assisted web interview methodology was used. A nationwide random quota sample of 1,092 adult Poles was selected. Questions on the use of 6 different public eHealth services in Poland and soci-economic characteristics were addressed. Two-thirds of participants (67.1%) had received an e-prescription in the last 12 months. More than half of the participants used the Internet Patient Account (58.2%) or the patient.gov.pl website (54.9%). One-third of the participants had teleconsultation with a doctor (34.4%), and approximately one-quarter of participants had received electronic sick leave (26.9%) or used electronic information about treatment dates (26.7%). Of the ten different socio-economic factors analyzed in this study, educational level, and place of residence (p<0.05) were the most important factors associated with the use of public eHealth services among adults in Poland. Living in rural areas or small cities is associated with a lower level of public eHealth services utilization. A relatively high interest in health education through eHealth methods was observed.

Psychotherapists’ perspective of the use of eHealth services to enhance positive mental health promotion

Objective Keyes’s two-continua model of mental health proposes that mental illness and positive mental health are two separate, correlated, unipolar dimensions. eHealth services have been used to deliver mental health care, though the focus remained largely on symptom reduction and management of negative aspects of mental health. The potential of eHealth services to promote positive mental well-being, however, has not been tapped sufficiently. The present study aims to explore psychotherapists’ perspective on the feasibility of eHealth services to enhance positive mental health promotion. Methods Seven focus group discussions were conducted among professionals ( n = 38) who delivered psychotherapy to examine positive mental health in their practice. Responses related to the use of e-psychotherapy to promote mental well-being were extracted for use in a secondary analysis of data in this study. Thematic analysis of data via inductive approach was conducted to allow emergence of common themes. Results Three main themes related to psychotherapists’ perspective on the feasibility of eHealth intervention in enhancing positive mental health were identified: (1) use of eHealth to educate and improve positive mental health; (2) concerns on incorporating psychotherapy into online services; (3) other factors that affect uptake or effectiveness of eHealth intervention for positive mental health. Conclusions The study generally found support among psychotherapists for the feasibility of eHealth intervention in promoting positive mental health among clients. Potential difficulties in implementation and practicality concerns were discussed.

Bezbednost podataka u mobilnom zdravstvu

Introduction/purpose: The digitization of healthcare has gained particular importance in the years since the emergence of COVID-19 and also has become one of the primary goals of the Government of the Republic of Serbia. Telemedicine is a good solution when the patient cannot come to a healthcare facility. Mobile healthcare applications are already widely used, but in both fields the important challenge is data security. The aim of this paper is to review solutions for data security in mobile healthcare from the technical side and possible challenges in the process of digitization of the healthcare system in Serbia. Methods: This review is based on current papers in this area, on the available relevant literature and the authors' many years of experience in this field. Experiences in the process of digitization of healthcare in Serbia are based on available articles and regulations. Finally, possible challenges are presented from the authors' perspective based on everything presented in the field of data security in mobile healthcare. Results: The analysis of the papers reviewed from the point of view of data security showed that users are often ready to sacrifice their privacy for the sake of convenience provided by mobile applications. Conclusion: Based on the review of the papers and clear data security requirements that include the presented safeguards, one of the main tasks of the entire community is to raise awareness of information security and awareness of the need for cyber hygiene of each individual, which is the basis for the safe use of e-health services.

E-health services for rural areas of Uttarakhand: A systematic literature review

Background: When it comes to enhancing the standard of living and promoting societal growth, e-health services are indispensable. The major success of health services depends on technological interventions in health services. The key drivers of technology provide enhanced reliability, accessibility and quality of medical facilities to the patients. The interventions of technology in health services result in a reduction of costs, speedy remedial measures without any delay. Purpose of the study: The review focused on examining applications of e-health in enhancing the quality of health services in rural areas of Uttarakhand. Methodology Adopted: A systematic review study was implemented for the purpose of study. A total of databases were analyzed on the website Pubmed.gov.in, spanning literatures from January 1, 2000 to 1 January 2022. Theoretical result: Over time, in rural parts of Uttarakhand, only a small number of researchers have examined the implementation and use of e-health services and health service usage.

CN11 Patient involvement in development of digital pathway eHealth service

The use of eHealth services has increased significantly in recent years. According to earlier publications the eHealth services support patient´s self-management and involvement in their own treatment. The eHealth services are useful in searching for information on cancer disease. They also allow the patients to view a part of their own medical record and to communicate with a healthcare professional regardless of time and place. In eHealth services, patients value simultaneous access to information and healthcare professionals´ support.

EHealth Literacy in German Skin Cancer Patients.

The global incidence of skin cancer has steadily increased in recent years, and malignant melanoma still has one of the fastest-growing incidence rates among all malignant tumors in the western world. Thus, newly diagnosed patients have an increased need for health information concerning their disease. Using a standardized questionnaire, our study aims to investigate our patients’ primary sources of health-related information as well as their self-proclaimed eHealth literacy. We received 714 questionnaires. Regardless of age, the primary source of information was the treating dermato-oncologist, followed by the treating general practitioner and the Internet. However, with increasing age, the usage of the Internet decreased. Hence, younger participants were better equipped to find health-related information while using the Internet. Additionally, comprehending health-related information and gaining medical knowledge was significantly increased in better-educated participants. Overall, our study shows that with increased use of eHealth services, accessing web-based information increased, correlating with a better eHealth literacy of our patients. eHealth technologies are increasingly becoming more prevalent as a primary source of information in our modern health care system. Thus, it is crucial to educate cancer patients in eHealth literacy to make autonomous, informed decisions and gain more confidence in dealing with their disease.

Citizens' Use of eHealth Services During COVID-19 in Relation to National Policy Goals.

The main goals of the Swedish eHealth strategy are to enable citizens to achieve good and equal health and welfare, and to support self-determination and increased participation in society. We analyzed the relationship between these goals and the use of eHealth services offered for citizens prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was collected through a national citizen survey issued in 2019 and 2021 to a sample size of 15.000 representative individuals each. Results showed that the use of eHealth services was highest in the 30-49 years age group and among respondents with high education. There were no major differences between respondents with high, medium, or low income, and neither between respondents with different degrees of self-perceived health, nor between native Swedish and non-Swedish respondents. Changes in use of different eHealth services over time were most probably related to the pandemic and are not significant. All age groups showed a similar relative increase regarding their use of eHealth services, except when searching the Internet for diagnosis and treatment where persons above 75 years of age had the largest increase. Most significant were the increase in online visits and the decrease in maintaining health, training, or food diaries. Strategic goals related to equity seem to be partly met as eHealth services are used to the same degree by different socio-economic groups. However, the older population uses eHealth services less than other age groups and a deeper understanding of the relationship between specific services and their impact on strategic goals is needed.

Perception of telemedicine and eHealth technology for cancer care in north east India: A survey in Arunachal Pradesh

The epidemiological burden of cancer is higher in the North Eastern region than other part of India. Papumpare register in Arunachal Pradesh has the highest age-adjusted rate of female cancer and the second highest rate of male cancer among all Indian registers. Arunachal Pradesh has only one tertiary care facility, and most cancer patients are sent to other states for treatment. The purpose of this study was to determine the scope of Telemedicine and people's perceptions on the use of digital health services. Data from secondary sources and an online survey with 565 responses were analysed.More than half of the respondents have a favourable attitude toward digital health, use of internet services, and trust in telemedicine. Improving digital infrastructure and raising public knowledge about the use of eHealth services is a pressing need. Telemedicine has the potential to improve the health-care system in the north-eastern area by reducing outward migration and lowering the economic cost of treatment.

COVID-19 and people's continued trust in eHealth systems: a new perspective

ABSTRACT Individuals’ use of eHealth services has increased significantly. However, the recent pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in a significant reallocation of health resources and support. This study investigated the impact of service quality dimensions on individuals’ continued trust in eHealth during COVID-19. A decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) approach was used to identify and analyse the causal relationships between service quality dimensions and individuals’ continued trust in eHealth services. A total of 134 eHealth users (78 males and 56 females; aged 29–61 years) responded to the DEMATEL questionnaire. The results showed a variation in the impact of service quality factors on individuals’ continued trust in eHealth services. This study found three core factors (responsiveness, assurance and tangibility) that influence individuals’ continued trust in eHealth services. Other secondary factors (e.g. content quality, reliability, efficiency and hedonic benefits) were found to be primarily influenced by the core factors. The identified relationships in this study can aid the decision-making process of healthcare providers and increase the efficiency of healthcare delivery.

Use of Health Information Technology by Adults With Diabetes in the United States: Cross-sectional Analysis of National Health Interview Survey Data (2016-2018).

BackgroundThe use of health information technology (HIT) has been proposed to improve disease management in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.ObjectiveThis study aims to report the prevalence of HIT use in adults with diabetes in the United States and examine the factors associated with HIT use.MethodsWe analyzed data from 7999 adults who self-reported a diabetes diagnosis as collected by the National Health Interview Survey (2016-2018). All analyses were weighted to account for the complex survey design.ResultsOverall, 41.2% of adults with diabetes reported looking up health information on the web, and 22.8% used eHealth services (defined as filled a prescription on the web, scheduled an appointment with a health care provider on the web, or communicated with a health care provider via email). In multivariable models, patients who were female (vs male: prevalence ratio [PR] 1.16, 95% CI 1.10-1.24), had higher education (above college vs less than high school: PR 3.61, 95% CI 3.01-4.33), had higher income (high income vs poor: PR 1.40, 95% CI 1.23-1.59), or had obesity (vs normal weight: PR 1.11, 95% CI 1.01-1.22) were more likely to search for health information on the web. Similar associations were observed among age, race and ethnicity, education, income, and the use of eHealth services. Patients on insulin were more likely to use eHealth services (on insulin vs no medication: PR 1.21, 95% CI 1.04-1.41).ConclusionsAmong adults with diabetes, HIT use was lower in those who were older, were members of racial minority groups, had less formal education, or had lower household income. Health education interventions promoted through HIT should account for sociodemographic factors.

Usability assessment of an interactive health technology for kidney living donors: protocol for a prospective cross-sectional survey

IntroductionSeveral web portals for kidney patients are available, but assessments of their performance are scarce. A crucial aspect of living donation is to provide standardised information about the risks of...

EHealth and mHealth Development in Spain: Promise or Reality?

In the last decades, the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has progressively spread to society and public administration. Health is one of the areas in which the use of ICTs has more intensively developed through what is now known as eHealth. That area has recently included mHealth. Spanish health system has stood out as one of the benchmarks of this technological revolution. The development of ICTs applied to health, especially since the outbreak of the pandemic caused by SARS Cov-2, has increased the range of health services delivered through smartphones and the development of subsequent specialized apps. Based on the data of a Survey on Use and Attitudes regarding eHealth in Spain, the aim of this research was to conduct a comparative analysis of the different eHealth and mHealth user profiles. The results show that the user profile of eHealth an mHealth services in Spain is not in a majority. Weaknesses are detected both in the knowledge and use of eHealth services among the general population and in the usability or development of their mobile version. Smartphones can be a democratizing vector, as for now, access to eHealth services is only available to wealthy people, widening inequality.

Older persons' experience of eHealth services in home health care: A meta-ethnography eHealth services in home health care.

This study aimed to describe older persons' experiences of eHealth services in home health care. A meta-ethnographic approach was applied, and a systematic literature search was conducted in three databases. In total, 11 articles were included and analysed, which resulted in two themes and six sub-themes. The results show that for older persons to use the eHealth services, they must provide some additional value compared to current contacts with healthcare professionals. Those with regular healthcare contact do not experience the eHealth service as adding anything to the care they already receive. The introduction of eHealth services involves learning how to use the new technology, and some older persons experience the technology as motivating and inspiring. The eHealth service makes some feel safer while some do not trust the technology. In order to make the best use of eHealth services, it is important that the services are adjusted not only to each person's needs but also to their personal capabilities and resources, while the older person must feel valued as an active partner in the care process. Thus, when using eHealth services, the older person's perspective needs to be given priority and decisions should not only be based on organizational considerations.

Barriers and facilitators to the use of e-health by older adults: a scoping review

BackgroundLimited attention has been paid to how and why older adults choose to engage with technology-facilitated health care (e-health), and the factors that impact on this. This scoping review sought to address this gap.MethodsDatabases were searched for papers reporting on the use of e-health services by older adults, defined as being aged 60 years or older, with specific reference to barriers and facilitators to e-health use.Result14 papers were included and synthesised into five thematic categories and related subthemes. Results are discussed with reference to the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology2. The most prevalent barriers to e-health engagement were a lack of self-efficacy, knowledge, support, functionality, and information provision about the benefits of e-health for older adults. Key facilitators were active engagement of the target end users in the design and delivery of e-health programs, support for overcoming concerns privacy and enhancing self-efficacy in the use of technology, and integration of e-health programs across health services to accommodate the multi-morbidity with which older adults typically present.ConclusionE-health offers a potential solution to overcome the barriers faced by older adults to access timely, effective, and acceptable health care for physical and mental health. However, unless the barriers and facilitators identified in this review are addressed, this potential will not be realised.

What’s the Name of the Game? The Impact of eHealth on Productive Interactions in Chronic Care Management

Chronic care management is dependent on productive interactions between patients and healthcare professionals. Digital health technologies (eHealth) open up new possibilities for improving the quality of care, but there is a limited understanding of what productive interactions entail. This study explores characteristics of productive interactions to support self-care and healthcare in the context of eHealth use in diabetes care. We collected qualitative data based on interviews with nurses and responses to open-ended survey questions from patients, prior to and post using an eHealth service for self-monitoring and digital communication. We found that eHealth’s influence on productive interactions was characterized by unconstrained access, health parameter surveillance, and data-driven feedback, with implications for self-care and healthcare. Our findings indicate that eHealth perforates the boundaries that define interactions under traditional, non-digital care. This was manifested in expressions of uncertainty and in blurred boundaries between self-care and healthcare. We conclude that the attainment of a sustainable eHealth ecosystem will require healthcare to acknowledge eHealth as a disruptive change that may require re-organization to optimally support the productive use of eHealth services for both patients and staff, which includes agreement on new routines, as well as social interaction rules.