Virtual Health Assistant

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Swathi ◽  
E Saranya ◽  
R.M. Prabakaran ◽  
M Sachin Kumar ◽  
S Bairavel
Keyword(s):  
Health Assistant

scholarly journals EREBOTS: Privacy-Compliant Agent-Based Platform for Multi-Scenario Personalized Health-Assistant Chatbots

Electronics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 666
Author(s):  
Davide Calvaresi ◽  
Jean-Paul Calbimonte ◽  
Enrico Siboni ◽  
Stefan Eggenschwiler ◽  
Gaetano Manzo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Physical Conditioning ◽  
Privacy Management ◽  
Web Interface ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Multimodal Interactions ◽  
Physical Exercises ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Health Assistant ◽  
Personalized Health

Context. Asynchronous messaging is increasingly used to support human–machine interactions, generally implemented through chatbots. Such virtual entities assist the users in activities of different kinds (e.g., work, leisure, and health-related) and are becoming ingrained into humans’ habits due to factors including (i) the availability of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, (ii) the increasingly engaging nature of chatbot interactions, (iii) the release of dedicated APIs from messaging platforms, and (iv) increasingly complex AI-based mechanisms to power the bots’ behaviors. Nevertheless, most of the modern chatbots rely on state machines (implementing conversational rules) and one-fits-all approaches, neglecting personalization, data-stream privacy management, multi-topic management/interconnection, and multimodal interactions. Objective. This work addresses the challenges above through an agent-based framework for chatbot development named EREBOTS. Methods. The foundations of the framework are based on the implementation of (i) multi-front-end connectors and interfaces (i.e., Telegram, dedicated App, and web interface), (ii) enabling the configuration of multi-scenario behaviors (i.e., preventive physical conditioning, smoking cessation, and support for breast-cancer survivors), (iii) online learning, (iv) personalized conversations and recommendations (i.e., mood boost, anti-craving persuasion, and balance-preserving physical exercises), and (v) responsive multi-device monitoring interface (i.e., doctor and admin). Results. EREBOTS has been tested in the context of physical balance preservation in social confinement times (due to the ongoing pandemic). Thirteen individuals characterized by diverse age, gender, and country distribution have actively participated in the experimentation, reporting advancements in the physical balance and overall satisfaction of the interaction and exercises’ variety they have been proposed.

scholarly journals Developing the national community health assistant strategy in Zambia: a policy analysis

2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Mumba Zulu ◽  
John Kinsman ◽  
Charles Michelo ◽  
Anna-Karin Hurtig
Keyword(s):  
Policy Analysis ◽  
Community Health ◽  
National Community ◽  
Health Assistant

scholarly journals Defining the role and scope of practice of allied health assistants within Queensland public health services

2013 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Stute ◽  
Andrea Hurwood ◽  
Julie Hulcombe ◽  
Pim Kuipers
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Allied Health ◽  
Support Staff ◽  
Scope Of Practice ◽  
Public Health Services ◽  
Qualitative Feedback ◽  
Health Assistant ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Professional Support Staff ◽  
High Level

Background The uptake and utilisation of allied health assistants as professional support staff has been variable across disciplines and jurisdictions. Although they are potentially very important in the current health workforce context, there is little agreement on their roles or the most suitable methods to define these roles. Method Based on a review of literature, existing role descriptions and focus groups, a Delphi survey process was undertaken. This process comprising three rounds of discussion and clarification via email, with between 107 and 188 participants, was undertaken to define and establish consensus on allied health assistant roles at three levels. Results Three cycles of editing, qualitative feedback and rating of agreement with statements resulted in substantial clarification of roles and a meaningful degree of consensus regarding the role and scope of such positions. High levels of agreement were not reached for more high-level or contested clinical tasks. Conclusions The Delphi process resulted in key tasks and roles being defined and contentious aspects clearly identified. The process facilitated engagement with workforce members most closely affected by these questions. It was a useful means of drawing together the opinions of the workforce and informing implementation trials to follow. What is known about the topic? Allied health assistants are important members of health teams. Current developments in health services necessitate considerable growth in these positions. The role and scope of practice of allied health assistants is poorly defined and varies between disciplines, settings and facilities, which threatens the establishment of these positions. What does this paper add? This study describes a methodology used to define the role and scope of practice of allied health support staff, which resulted in high levels of consensus and documentation of concerns regarding these positions. Tasks and roles have been defined at different allied health assistant position levels. What are the implications for practitioners? The definition of roles and establishment of scope of practice of emerging positions can be substantially advanced by well researched and widely consultative methods. For more advanced allied health assistant positions to be effectively implemented, tasks relating to treatment, leadership, documentation, assessment and team participation must be clearly elucidated and agreed.

scholarly journals Improving User Experience of Virtual Health Assistants: Scoping Review

10.2196/31737 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (12) ◽  
pp. e31737
Author(s):  
Rachel G Curtis ◽  
Bethany Bartel ◽  
Ty Ferguson ◽  
Henry T Blake ◽  
Celine Northcott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
User Experience ◽  
Experimental Research ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Health Domains ◽  
Relational Behavior ◽  
Design Characteristics ◽  
Health Assistant ◽  
The Look ◽  
The Impact

Background Virtual assistants can be used to deliver innovative health programs that provide appealing, personalized, and convenient health advice and support at scale and low cost. Design characteristics that influence the look and feel of the virtual assistant, such as visual appearance or language features, may significantly influence users’ experience and engagement with the assistant. Objective This scoping review aims to provide an overview of the experimental research examining how design characteristics of virtual health assistants affect user experience, summarize research findings of experimental research examining how design characteristics of virtual health assistants affect user experience, and provide recommendations for the design of virtual health assistants if sufficient evidence exists. Methods We searched 5 electronic databases (Web of Science, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and ACM Digital Library) to identify the studies that used an experimental design to compare the effects of design characteristics between 2 or more versions of an interactive virtual health assistant on user experience among adults. Data were synthesized descriptively. Health domains, design characteristics, and outcomes were categorized, and descriptive statistics were used to summarize the body of research. Results for each study were categorized as positive, negative, or no effect, and a matrix of the design characteristics and outcome categories was constructed to summarize the findings. Results The database searches identified 6879 articles after the removal of duplicates. We included 48 articles representing 45 unique studies in the review. The most common health domains were mental health and physical activity. Studies most commonly examined design characteristics in the categories of visual design or conversational style and relational behavior and assessed outcomes in the categories of personality, satisfaction, relationship, or use intention. Over half of the design characteristics were examined by only 1 study. Results suggest that empathy and relational behavior and self-disclosure are related to more positive user experience. Results also suggest that if a human-like avatar is used, realistic rendering and medical attire may potentially be related to more positive user experience; however, more research is needed to confirm this. Conclusions There is a growing body of scientific evidence examining the impact of virtual health assistants’ design characteristics on user experience. Taken together, data suggest that the look and feel of a virtual health assistant does affect user experience. Virtual health assistants that show empathy, display nonverbal relational behaviors, and disclose personal information about themselves achieve better user experience. At present, the evidence base is broad, and the studies are typically small in scale and highly heterogeneous. Further research, particularly using longitudinal research designs with repeated user interactions, is needed to inform the optimal design of virtual health assistants.

Emotional expectations reported by hospitalized women in southeastern Brazil before being submitted to mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction: A clinical-qualitative study

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s507-s507
Author(s):  
G.L. Almeida ◽  
R.M.C. Sena ◽  
V.L.P. Alves ◽  
C. Cardoso-Filho ◽  
E.R. Turato
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Breast Reconstruction ◽  
Immediate Breast Reconstruction ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Immediate Reconstruction ◽  
Female Population ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
Health Assistant ◽  
The Aesthetic

IntroductionBreast cancer is a type that more affects female population in the world. Surgical indication, present in most cases, is a mutilating procedure and mentally traumatic for majority of women subjected. Thus, immediate breast reconstruction, which is the choice to rebuild the breast during the mastectomy surgery, is an alternative to reduce discomforts associated with loss of the breast, in addition to being associated potentially with improved emotional and psychosocial quality of life.ObjectiveTo discuss, from psychological viewpoint, the emotional expectations about surgical results of a planned mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction, reported by women with breast cancer treated in a university hospital in Campinas, state of São Paulo.MethodQualitative design, particularized in the clinical-qualitative method, adequate to health assistant settings, using the semi-directed interview with open-ended questions in-depth, fully transcribed and after submitted to content clinical-qualitative analysis. Intentional sample closed by criterion of information theoretical saturation with 12 sequential participants.ResultsAmongst the emergent categories from free-floating readings, we have chosen the following to presentation:.–The desire of healing above expectations of the aesthetic aspects;–The perception of the surgical approach predominantly with aesthetic effects;–The desire of a contra-lateral healthy breast withdrawal, too.ConclusionsFace the proposal of mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, days before the surgery, women reported to be well emotionally organized for the procedure, although in different ways. This occurs probably due to emotional meanings built by many experiences from their psychological histories, as well as from values provided by the socio-cultural environments.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Health Assistant and Instructor's Guide

1969 ◽  
Vol 69 (10) ◽  
pp. 2242
Author(s):  
Christine Huffaker ◽  
Esther Caldwell ◽  
Barbara R. Hegner
Keyword(s):  
Instructor's Guide ◽  
Health Assistant

Personal Health Assistant on Android Mobile Device: Sleeping, Nutrition and Exercise

2014 ◽  
Vol 931-932 ◽  
pp. 1365-1369
Author(s):  
Kiatateeti Anusornpakdee ◽  
Matugorn Limpanadusadee ◽  
Sangsuree Vasupongayya ◽  
Sinchai Kamolphiwong
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Nutrition Information ◽  
Competitive Environment ◽  
Personal Health ◽  
Night Sleep ◽  
Health Advice ◽  
Good Nutrition ◽  
Health Assistant ◽  
Data Analysis Methods

Good health can be achieved by maintaining good behaviors such as a good night sleep, enough exercise and good nutrition. However, the competitive environment nowadays prevents such good behaviors. Thus, this work aims to develop an application on mobile devices that is able to (1) record the daily sleeping, exercise and nutrition information, (2) analyze the collected information in order to provide a notification or an alarm, and (3) present the analyzed results in a simple and easy to understand format. The proposed application can collect data from other application and from the users. A set of simple data analysis methods is performed on the collected data in order to provide a personal health advice based on the user pre-defined preferences.

scholarly journals Exploring utilisation of the allied health assistant workforce in the Victorian health, aged care and disability sectors

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Huglin ◽  
L. Whelan ◽  
S. McLean ◽  
K. Greer ◽  
D. Mitchell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Allied Health ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Allied Health Professionals ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Group Data ◽  
Health Assistant

Abstract Background Allied health assistants (AHAs) support allied health professionals (AHPs) to meet workforce demands in modern healthcare systems. Previous studies have indicated that AHAs may be underutilised in some contexts. This study aims to identify factors contributing to the effective utilisation of AHAs across health, aged care and disability sectors and possible pathway elements that may optimise AHA careers in Victoria. Methods Using an interpretive description approach data collection included a workforce survey and semi structured interviews (individual and group). Data analysis included descriptive statistics, independent t-tests and thematic analysis. Participants included allied health assistants, allied health professionals and allied health leaders in the health, aged care or disability sectors; educators, managers or student of allied health assistance training; and consumers of Victorian health, disability or aged care services. Results The literature scan identified numerous potential barriers to and enablers of AHA workforce utilisation. A total of 727 participants completed the survey consisting of AHAs (n = 284), AHPs & allied health leaders (n = 443). Thirteen group and 25 individual interviews were conducted with a total of 119 participants. Thematic analysis of the interview data identified four interrelated factors (system, training, individual and workplace) in pre-employment training and workplace environments. These factors were reported to contribute to effective utilisation of the AHA workforce across health, aged care and disability sectors. Study findings were also used to create a conceptual diagram of potential AHA career pathway elements. Conclusion This study identified pre-employment and workplace factors which may contribute to the optimal utilisation of the AHA workforce across Victorian health, aged care and disability sectors. Further study is needed to investigate the transferability of these findings to national and global contexts, and testing of the conceptual model.

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