scholarly journals Healthcare telemonitoring and business dynamics: challenges and opportunities for SUS

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. 65
Author(s):  
Antonio da Cruz Paula ◽  
José Manuel Santos de Varge Maldonado ◽  
Carlos Augusto Grabois Gadelha
Keyword(s):  
American Studies ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Unified Health System ◽  
Pubmed Database ◽  
Business Dynamics ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Emergency Room Care ◽  
Using Data

OBJECTIVE: To point out challenges and opportunities for the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) with the use of telemonitoring to face the increasing costs of non-communicable chronic diseases, based on its general panorama in Brazil, business dynamics and reapplication of data from American studies. METHODS: Quali-quantitative approach with exploratory research. The field work focused on the analysis of the national market from private companies, since no experiences or studies related to this theme were identified in the SUS. To analyze the panorama and market dynamics, we investigated the offer of this technology based on the products and services available and their demand by reference hospitals the ten largest private health plan companies. To support the central discussion, we analyzed the reduction of costs with hospital admissions by the SUS due to chronic non-communicable diseases sensitive to telemonitoring (HCDST), using data from Datasus and some American studies from the MEDLINE/PubMed database. RESULTS: Although in the embryonic phase, business agents search for new business opportunities, whereas public initiatives for the use of telemonitoring in collective health seem inexistent. The reapplication of U.S. data would reduce spending on HCDST and provide benefits, such as the reduction in emergency room care, acute hospitalizations, readmissions and home care time, among others, which point to even greater economic gains. CONCLUSIONS: The development of a major project to reduce HCDST using this technology has the potential to advance in a comprehensive network of primary care, contribute to a greater dynamism of the national productive and innovative base and induce innovations along the chain of this emerging industry.

scholarly journals Hospital admissions due to ambulatory care sensitive conditions among children by age group and health region

2015 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly Holanda Prezotto ◽  
Maria Marta Nolasco Chaves ◽  
Thais Aidar de Freitas Mathias
Keyword(s):  
Ambulatory Care ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Health Region ◽  
Unified Health System ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Ambulatory Care Sensitive ◽  
Sensitive Conditions

OBJECTIVE to describe hospital admissions for ambulatory care sensitive conditions in children under five years of age in the State of Paraná, Brazil by condition type, age group and health region. METHOD a temporal ecological study was conducted using data from the Unified Health System Hospital Information System for the period 2000 to 2011. Conditions were grouped in accordance with the list of ambulatory care sensitive conditions in Brazil. RESULTS there was an increase in the rate of admissions for ambulatory care sensitive conditions in all age groups in 50% of the health regions, with a marked increase in children under the age of one. Pneumonia, gastroenteritis and asthma were the main causes of admissions. There was an increase in the proportion of overall admissions accounted for by pneumonia and gastroenteritis. CONCLUSION the increase in admissions reveals the need for actions to improve access to primary healthcare and provide effective treatment of the main ambulatory care sensitive conditions in order to prevent hospital admissions among children.

Using social robots to create inclusive classroom experiences for children with mixed visual abilities

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Isabel Neto
Keyword(s):  
Social Engagement ◽  
Field Work ◽  
School Community ◽  
Social Robots ◽  
Inclusive Classroom ◽  
Classroom Experiences ◽  
Special Schools ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Design Activities ◽  
Group Interviews

Visually impaired children are increasingly educated in mainstream schools rather than special schools. However, even though being included with their sighted peers, previous research reveals concerns with classroom participation, lack of collaborative learning, reduced social engagement, and potential for isolation. My dissertation explores designing and building interactive social robots to promote inclusive classroom experiences and social engagement between children with mixed visual abilities. Social robots have the potential to foster engagement, participation, and collaboration due to their unique multi-sensory capabilities, actuators, and agency. Situated in a local mainstream school, I conducted extensive field work that involved engaging with the school community, including children, teachers, therapists, and parents through ethnographic observations, contextual inquiry, group interviews, and design activities. The identified challenges and opportunities will guide the design of social robots capable of supporting inclusive classroom experiences and sustaining long-term social engagement between mixed visual abilities' pupils. I will explore opportunities for off-the-shelf and custom-built robots to address existing challenges by following a user-centred methodology to design prototype, and evaluate solution with the school community.

Labour Union Leadership and Gender Equality Challenges: Evidence from Kenya’s Electrical Traders and Allied Workers Union

2021 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evans Okumu ◽  
Ernest N. Nadome ◽  
Mike K. Chepkong’a
Keyword(s):  
Trade Union ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Sampling Procedure ◽  
Structural Constraints ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Leadership Positions ◽  
Trade Union Movement ◽  
Union Leadership ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Using Data

The research investigates the challenges female union members encounter while seeking or assuming labour union leadership positions. Using evidence from Kenya’s Electrical Traders and Allied Workers Union, this article aims at identifying sociocultural barriers, role conflict, and structural constraints on women in relation to gender inequality. The article is based on exploratory research using data comprising both qualitative and quantitative data obtained from interviewing 63 female respondents who were identified using a non-probability sampling procedure referred to as snowballing. The research revealed a significant proportion of the respondents observed that patriarchal union structures favour men, but hinder women from accessing leadership positions. Most viewed the trade union leadership roles as demanding and burdensome and therefore incompatible with their culturally designated family roles. Institutionalised sexism in the trade union discouraged women from assuming leadership positions, since they are unlikely to penetrate the male-dominated informal leadership lobbies and networks in the trade union. The study concludes that the union, and by extension the umbrella trade union movement, should adopt and implement affirmative actions that are focused to maintain women in union leadership structures.

Challenges and opportunities for social entrepreneurs in civil engineering in Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernesto Ferreira Vasconcellos ◽  
Bernardo Henrique Leso ◽  
Marcelo Nogueira Cortimiglia
Keyword(s):  
Civil Engineering ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Social Entrepreneurs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
The Government

Purpose This paper aims to identify challenges and opportunities for social enterprises (SE) in civil engineering in Brazil. Design/methodology/approach Starting from the transformative social innovation theory and inspired by grounded theory principles, this paper conducts three-stage exploratory research. First, this paper mapped the Brazilian SE civil engineering ecosystem. Next, this paper classified the SE initiatives along with an organizing framework. Finally, this paper conducted 11 interviews with key ecosystem actors and analyzed data through iterative, parallel and interrelated content analysis procedures. Findings The 37 SE found were classified along “Sustainability,” “Housing,” “Transportation” and “Sanitation” pillars, which are aligned with the United Nations’ social development goals. This paper found 50 challenges and opportunities, which were aggregated along seven dimensions. Three elements are particularly relevant as opportunities: opportunities for SE with ecosystem supporters, specialized investors and partnership with major companies; while government and early investment are the most relevant challenges. Research limitations/implications Research findings and conclusions cannot be extended to other sectors and countries. Usual limitations associated with exploratory qualitative research must also be highlighted. Practical implications The government should offer financial and technical support for civil engineering in working in partnership with ecosystem supporters. Academy could use SE content and ecosystem for its students and should offer diverse resources for network creation. Originality/value Focusing on civil engineering SE in Brazil, this study sheds light on a high-impact sector that has not been studied yet.

Impact of the National Policy on Integrative and Complementary Practices on Brazilian Public Homeopathy Services

Homeopathy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renata Lemonica ◽  
Karina Pavao Patricio
Keyword(s):  
Research Study ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
The South ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Unified Health System ◽  
East Region ◽  
The Face ◽  
Health Demands ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Homeopathy has been experiencing a period of expansion in Brazil due to its practical relevance in the face of new global and national health demands, culminating in the launch in 2006 of the National Policy for Integrative and Complementary Practices (NPICP) by the Ministry of Health of Brazil, which standardized and regularized the position of homeopathy within the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). Aims To understand the impact of the guidelines proposed by the NPICP on homeopathy services in the SUS, specifically in the south-east region of Brazil, according to the perceptions of their managers. Methods This is a descriptive, exploratory research study with a qualitative approach, conducted in homeopathy services in the south-east region of Brazil, through semi-structured interviews and with data processed using content analysis. Results The data show the importance of the NPICP in regulating and offering homeopathy in the services studied. However, the NPICP's objective of promoting and fully developing integrative and complementary practices has not been achieved because it has failed to translate strategies into actions. Conclusions Though important to the development of homeopathy services in any given location, policies stated in the NPICP were revealed to have limited impact on the implementation and development of new services. Without further legislation, training programs and appropriate budget allocation, new services will be unable to thrive and their users unable to benefit from a more comprehensive approach to healthcare.

Expanding Business Intelligence Power with System Dynamics

2011 ◽  
pp. 126-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edilberto Casado
Keyword(s):  
Data Mining ◽  
System Dynamics ◽  
Real World ◽  
Business Intelligence ◽  
Simulation And Modeling ◽  
Business World ◽  
Data Mining Techniques ◽  
Business Dynamics ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Systems Thinking Approach

This chapter explores the opportunities to expand the forecasting and business understanding capabilities of Business Intelligence (BI) tools with the support of the system dynamics approach. System dynamics tools can enhance the insights provided by BI applications — specifically by using data-mining techniques, through simulation and modeling of real world under a “systems thinking” approach, improving forecasts, and contributing to a better understanding of the business dynamics of any organization. Since there is not enough diffusion and understanding in the business world about system dynamics concepts and advantages, this chapter is intended to motivate further research and the development of better and more powerful applications for BI.

scholarly journals Sustainability Assessment: Exploring the Frontiers and Paradigms of Indicator Approaches

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomás B. Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Scientific Development ◽  
Assessment Procedure ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Critical Perspective ◽  
Current State ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Combination Of Methods ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Global And Local

Sustainability assessment approaches could support all levels of decision-making and policy processes (including strategies, policies, plans, programs, projects, and activities/operations), thus improving the management of natural and human systems. Sustainability Indicators (SIs) have been extensively used to assess and communicate the progress toward sustainable development. However, despite all the SI initiatives and the well-known advantages and popularity, several risks have been pointed out, so there is a need to rethink the current state of SIs and build visions that could reshape the indicator reality. The main goal of this research is to develop a constructive debate around the possible futures and paths of SIs’, by conducting a critical analysis of a set of challenges and opportunities identified by the literature. This was explored through a critical perspective and viewpoint article that discusses what could be some of the new frontiers and paradigms in SIs. Exploratory research supported by a combination of methods was conducted, consisting of a search of the literature and qualitative document analysis, followed by an assessment procedure based upon an evaluation ranking scale. The classification scale integrated three main criteria of valuation: Relevancy, feasibility, and societal impacts. The findings showed that most of the challenges and opportunities analyzed are old and mainly technically oriented, with a low potential impact on society, including end-users and practitioners. The majority of the challenges have low-to-medium feasibility, showing that there would be difficulty in implementing them, and so they should be improved or redesigned. A set of key questions on SIs’ futures is proposed, aiming to represent a critical view of the relevant challenges and opportunities analyzed, but underpinned and observed from a crosscutting angle, represented by the societal role. The SI research community should be ready to adapt ways of thinking and doing, responding to new global and local paradigms and using transdisciplinary collaborative scientific development and innovation as the foundations for the change process, wherein communities and the individual have central roles to play.

Assessing the objectives of dry ports: main issues, challenges and opportunities in Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thiago de Almeida Rodrigues ◽  
Caroline Maria de Miranda Mota ◽  
Udechukwu Ojiako ◽  
Fikri Dweiri
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Second Step ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Dry Ports ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe purpose is to identify the main characteristics of dry ports (DPs) in Brazil, discussing the role of this logistic player, challenges and opportunities. Furthermore, this study provides a structured framework to drive DP decision-makers, identifying and assessing a network of means–end objectives, which could be replicable to other contexts.Design/methodology/approachThis article approached initially a literature review and exploratory research to discuss the main characteristics of DPs in Brazil. The second step was to conduct a qualitative analysis following the value-focused thinking (VFT) approach in two case studies in Pernambuco state to assess the achievement of the main objectives.FindingsThis article identified that the main characteristics of DPs in Brazil are offering additional services with a cheaper storage cost, handling mainly import cargo and being connected to seaports through highways. Moreover, this study resulted in a framework to assess the objectives of DPs, which could be replicable in other contexts, improving the current operations of DPs.Practical implicationsThe framework to assess DPs' objectives bridged the gap between the literature and the practice working as a tool to drive decision-makers to improve the current performance of DPs in Brazil. Additionally, the main issues, challenges and opportunities discussed provide managers, policymakers and DPs operators with valuable insights into this theme.Originality/valueThis paper is the first study to present a framework to assess the objectives of DPs as a valuable tool to drive decision-makers to improve DPs operations. From this study, lessons could be learned and the process described could be replicable in other countries.

scholarly journals Generalised anxiety disorder and hospital admissions: findings from a large, population cohort study

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. e018539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivia Remes ◽  
Nicholas Wainwright ◽  
Paul Surtees ◽  
Louise Lafortune ◽  
Kay-Tee Khaw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Service Use ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Late Onset ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Generalised Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Administrative Health Databases

ObjectiveGeneralised anxiety disorder (GAD) is the most common anxiety disorder in the general population and has been associated with high economic and human burden. However, it has been neglected in the health services literature. The objective of this study is to assess whether GAD leads to hospital admissions using data from the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer-Norfolk. Other aims include determining whether early-onset or late-onset forms of the disorder, episode chronicity and frequency, and comorbidity with major depressive disorder (MDD) contribute to hospital admissions.DesignLarge, population study.SettingUK population-based cohort.Participants30 445 British participants were recruited through general practice registers in England. Of these, 20 919 completed a structured psychosocial questionnaire used to identify presence of GAD. Anxiety was assessed in 1996–2000, and health service use was captured between 1999/2000 and 2009 through record linkage with large, administrative health databases. 17 939 participants had complete data on covariates.Main outcome measurePast-year GAD defined according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition.ResultsIn this study, there were 2.2% (393/17 939) of respondents with GAD. Anxiety was not independently associated with hospital admissions (incidence rate ratio (IRR)=1.04, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.20) over 9 years. However, those whose anxiety was comorbid with depression showed a statistically significantly increased risk for hospital admissions (IRR=1.23, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.49).ConclusionPeople with GAD and MDD comorbidity were at an increased risk for hospital admissions. Clinicians should consider that meeting criteria for a pure or individual disorder at one point in time, such as past-year GAD, does not necessarily predict deleterious health outcomes; rather different forms of the disorder, such as comorbid cases, might be of greater importance.

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