Smart health systems for personal health action plans

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jochen Meyer ◽  
Susanne Boll
Keyword(s):  
Health Systems ◽  
Personal Health ◽  
Action Plans ◽  
Health Action ◽  
Smart Health

scholarly journals Health tracker: data acquisition and analysis for monitoring health trends and assessing disease risk

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 72
Author(s):  
Du'a Alzaleq ◽  
Suboh Alkhushayni ◽  
Austin FitzGerald
Keyword(s):  
Health Systems ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Health Data ◽  
Personal Health ◽  
Mobile Platforms ◽  
Health Trends ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Mobile Health Application ◽  
Smart Health ◽  
Health Application

This paper describes HealthTracker, a mobile health application to record, store, display, and analyze personal health data. This application allows an individual to log several types of data encompassing their personal health. HealthTracker serves as a model for both a recording and a recommending system. Its goal is to serve as a bridge for future personal health systems to build from. A person’s health information is displayed in an easy-to-understand manner but is also practical for medical professionals. Users should find the system useful and effective no matter if they use it simply or extensively. Currently, the system serves as a prototype for determining the practical applications for smart health systems running on mobile platforms.  

(Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ram Dixit ◽  
Sahiti Myneni
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Mental Models ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Health Data ◽  
Information Architecture ◽  
Personal Health ◽  
User Centered Design ◽  
Card Sort ◽  
Connected Health

BACKGROUND Connected Health technologies are a promising solution for chronic disease management. However, the scope of connected health systems makes it difficult to employ user-centered design in their development, and poorly designed systems can compound the challenges of information management in chronic care. The Digilego Framework addresses this problem with informatics methods that complement quantitative and qualitative methods in system design, development, and architecture. OBJECTIVE To determine the accuracy and validity of the Digilego information architecture of personal health data in meeting cancer survivors’ information needs. METHODS We conducted a card sort study with 9 cancer survivors (patients and caregivers) to analyze correspondence between the Digilego information architecture and cancer survivors’ mental models. We also analyzed participants’ card sort groups qualitatively to understand their conceptual relations. RESULTS We observed significant correlation between the Digilego information architecture and cancer survivors’ mental models of personal health data. Heuristic analysis of groups also indicated informative discordances and the need for patient-centric categories relating health tracking and social support in the information architecture. CONCLUSIONS Our pilot study shows that the Digilego Framework can capture cancer survivors’ information needs accurately; we also recognize the need for larger studies to conclusively validate Digilego information architectures. More broadly, our results highlight the importance of complementing traditional user-centered design methods and innovative informatics methods to create patient-centered connected health systems.

scholarly journals Heat Perception and Coping Strategies: A Structured Interview-Based Study of Elderly People in Cologne, Germany

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7495
Author(s):  
Juliane Kemen ◽  
Silvia Schäffer-Gemein ◽  
Johanna Grünewald ◽  
Thomas Kistemann
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Heat Waves ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Heat Strain ◽  
Action Plans ◽  
Health Action ◽  
Heat Perception ◽  
And Coping

The transdisciplinary project “Heat-Health Action Plan for Elderly People in Cologne” addresses the most heat-vulnerable risk group, people over 65 years of age. A quantitative study aimed to better understand heat perception and coping strategies of elderly people during heat waves to inform heat-health action plans. We conducted a representative quantitative survey via structured interviews with 258 randomly chosen people over 65 years old, living in their own homes in four areas of Cologne, Germany. These areas varied, both in terms of social status and heat strain. Data regarding demographics, health status, coping strategies, and heat perception were collected in personal interviews from August to October 2019. The majority of the participants perceived heat strain as moderate to very challenging. Women, people with a lower monthly income, and those with a lower health status found the heat more challenging. We found that participants adapted to heat with a number of body-related, home-protective, and activity-related coping strategies. The number of coping strategies was associated with perceived personal heat strain. There is a definite underuse of water-related heat adaption strategies among the elderly. This is of increasing relevance, as rising heat impact will lead to more heat-related geriatric morbidity. Our results are seminal to inform elderly-specific, socio-adapted local heat-health action plans.

A Secure and Decentralized Trust Management Scheme for Smart Health Systems

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Maryam Ebrahimi ◽  
Mohammad Sayad Haghighi ◽  
Alireza Jolfaei ◽  
Nasrin Shamaeian ◽  
Mohammad Hesam Tadayon
Keyword(s):  
Health Systems ◽  
Trust Management ◽  
Management Scheme ◽  
Smart Health ◽  
Trust Management Scheme

scholarly journals Examining attitudes toward and ability to interact with an online personal health record: A case study in Saudi Arabia

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bandar Faisal Al-Mifgai ◽  
Joseph Sharit ◽  
Arzu Onar-Thomas ◽  
Shihab Asfour
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Personal Health Record ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Personal Health ◽  
Health Record ◽  
Health Numeracy ◽  
Electronic Health

Objective: This study examined the ability for adults from a developing country to use a personal health record (PHR) to perform health-management tasks. The effects of gender differences as well as differences in attitudes about using the internet to manage health prior to and after exposure to the PHR were also investigated.Methods: A simulation of a PHR based on a well-established U.S. online patient portal was designed and tailored for this particular study population. Two hundred and three adults with a mean age of 40.9 years were recruited from various areas in Saudi Arabia and asked to perform seven common health-management tasks of varying degrees of difficulty. Their electronic health literacy and health numeracy, as well as their attitudes about using online health systems for managing their health prior to and following their interaction with the PHR, were assessed using questionnaires.Results: After controlling for education, perceived health status, and comfort using the internet, electronic health literacy and health numeracy were still found to be significant predictors of participants’ task performance, but only for the more challenging health-management tasks. No important differences based on gender were found. Exposure to the PHR significantly increased the acceptability of using the internet for managing their health.Conclusions: The change in attitudes following interaction with the PHR suggests that many adults in this society could benefit from these electronic health systems, including females who, due to cultural considerations, may desire greater control in managing their health. However, the importance of electronic health literacy and health numeracy suggests the need for designs that minimize the impact of these factors for successful performance of health-management tasks.

scholarly journals Editorial: Personal Health Systems

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dipak Kalra ◽  
Michael Strübin
Keyword(s):  
Health Systems ◽  
Personal Health

scholarly journals Assessing the use and understanding of the Portuguese Heat–Health Warning System (ÍCARO)

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Leite ◽  
A J Santos ◽  
S Silva ◽  
B Nunes ◽  
R Mexia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Local Level ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Action Plans ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Health Warning ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Level Information ◽  
Health Action ◽  
Mortality Forecasts ◽  
Related Mortality

Abstract Background Heatwaves can lead to increased mortality. Portugal has a Heat-Health Warning System (HHWS) in place (ÍCARO system). Researchers at the Instituto Ricardo Jorge send a daily report with heat-related mortality forecasts to key stakeholders (e.g. Heat-Health Action Plans (HHAP) staff). HHAP practitioners issue warnings and implement measures to prevent heatwaves-related mortality. ICARO is amongst the recommended data sources to assess risk and issue warnings but its use and understanding is unknown. Therefore, we aimed to assess ÍCARO’s use and understanding by key HHAP practitioners. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with national and regional HHAP practitioners. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using thematic content analysis. Intercoder reliability was applied to a sample of segments from 5 of 6 interviews. Results We conducted 6 interviews with 9 professionals (mean time 52 minutes). We identified 4 categories: Report’s content and presentation, Report’s reception and communication, ÍCARO and risk assessment, Other issues. Practitioners use ÍCARO and perceived it as very relevant tool. However, they mentioned several questions on its interpretation. Practitioners also felt their questions were not fully answered, given researchers’ use of statistical terms. Finally, practitioners referred the need to assess risk at the local level, information not currently provided. We also identified the need for improved communication and report’s clarity. Conclusions Our study stresses the need for an integrated collaboration between experts within HHWS and HHAP. Despite ICARO’s understanding being challenging, practitioners consider it a relevant tool. Researchers should use less statistical language and clarify ÍCARO interpretation. Practitioners’ needs should be considered when developing or revising tools. We are currently implementing some of these recommendations in an attempt to close the gap between researchers and practitioners. Key messages Portuguese Heat–Health Action Plans practitioners use heat-related mortality forecasts (ICARO) and perceived it as very relevant instrument. However there find ICARO’s interpretation challenging. Portuguese Heat/Health Action Plans Practitioners’ needs should be considered when revising or developing tools, and notes should be added to clarify statistical/technical concepts.

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