Physical Activity Support Predicts Safety-Net Patients’ Digital Health-Care Engagement: Implications for Patient Care Delivery

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-315
Author(s):  
Sharon S. Laing ◽  
Ryan Sterling ◽  
Carlota Ocampo
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Health Care Engagement

Purpose: Assess relationship among health services received and patients’ digital health-care engagement. Design: Quantitative cross-sectional survey study. Setting: Community health centers in Washington state and DC. Sample: N = 164 adult safety-net patients. Intervention: Not applicable Measures: Outcomes were knowledge and use of health apps. Predictors were health service access (access to specialists and health information); health service delivery (healthy eating and physical activity counsel); health service satisfaction; and perceived service value. Analysis: Descriptive and multivariate regression analyses. Odds ratios (OR) reported for 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Response rate was 35%. Of all, 71% were knowledgeable of smartphone use for wellness and 48% used health apps. Physical activity (PA) counseling predicted knowledge and health apps use. Respondents receiving PA counseling were 2.61 times more likely to be knowledgeable about using smartphones for health promotion (OR = 2.61; P = .047; 95% CI: 1.01-6.73). Respondents receiving PA counseling were 2.89 times more likely to use health apps (OR = 2.89; P = .022; 95% CI: 1.17-7.17). Health information access predicted health apps use; respondents with easy access to general health information were 0.29 times as likely to use health apps (OR = 0.29; P = .043; 95% CI: 0.09-0.96). Conclusion: Targeted preventive care support encourages digital health-care engagement. mHealth may supplement health-care needs outside clinics.

Correlates of Willingness to Share Data from Wearable Health and Activity Trackers: Analysis of 2019 Health Information National Trends Survey Data (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camella J. Rising ◽  
Anna Gaysynsky ◽  
Kelly D. Blake ◽  
Roxanne E. Jensen ◽  
April Oh
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Activity Trackers ◽  
Share Data ◽  
National Trends

BACKGROUND Sharing data from wearable health and activity trackers with others (e.g., health care providers, family, friends) may improve health and behavioral outcomes of wearable users by generating social support and supporting health self-management competency. Investigating individual factors that influence US adults’ willingness to share wearable data with different types of individuals may provide insights about population subgroups most or least likely to benefit from wearable interventions. Specifically, identifying digital health behaviors potentially associated with willingness to share wearable data is needed given that use and engagement with various technologies may broadly influence online health information-sharing behaviors. OBJECTIVE To identify sociodemographic, health, and digital health behavior correlates of US adults’ willingness to share wearable data with health care providers and with family or friends. METHODS Data for the analytic sample (N=1300) were obtained from the National Cancer Institute’s 2019 Health Information National Trends Survey. Digital health behavior measures included frequency of wearable use, use of smartphones or tablets to help communicate with providers, use of social networking sites to share health information, and participating in an online health community. Multivariable logistic regression analysis of weighted data examined associations between digital health behaviors and willingness to share wearable data, controlling for sociodemographics and health-related characteristics. RESULTS A majority of US adults were willing to share wearable data with providers (81.86%) and with family or friends (69.51%). Those who reported higher health self-efficacy (odds ratio [OR] 1.97, 95% CI 1.11, 3.51), higher level of trust in providers as a source of health information (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.12, 3.49), and higher level of physical activity (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.21, 3.31) had greater odds of reported willingness to share data with providers. Additionally, those with higher frequency of wearable use (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.35, 3.43) and reported use of smartphones or tablets to help communicate with providers (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.09, 3.63) had greater odds of reported willingness to share with providers. Only higher level of physical activity was associated with greater odds of reported willingness to share wearable data with family or friends (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.02, 2.84). CONCLUSIONS Findings of this study suggest that, among US adult wearable users, behavior-related factors, rather than sociodemographic characteristics, are key drivers of willingness to share health information from wearables with others. Moreover, behavioral correlates of willingness to share wearable data are unique to the type of recipient (i.e., providers vs. family or friends). Future studies could use these findings to inform development of interventions that aim to improve use of patient-generated data from wearable devices in health care settings, in particular.

scholarly journals 31.C. Workshop: Development and implementation of action plans on health literacy

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Knowledge Society ◽  
Implementation Strategies ◽  
Social Consequences ◽  
Action Plans

Abstract Health literacy (HL) has become an important topic in many countries. As HL - meaning the ability to access, understand, appraise and apply health information (Sørensen et al. 2012) - is important to make sound health decisions, to promote health and to take an active part in managing health and illness in everyday life and navigating the health care system. In the modern digital knowledge society, HL is also indispensable for orienting oneself in the abundance of mostly digital health information, including incorrect and false information, for locating reliable information and for assessing the trustworthiness and quality of information. However, available studies show that HL is insufficient in many countries. Low HL has - as many studies show - negative social consequences ranging from unhealthy behaviour, higher risk for diseases, less self-care and deficits in coping with illness and chronicity, to over- and misuse (extensive use) of health care. The promotion of HL is therefore an important public health task. An increasing number of population studies and policy documents currently underline this. The WHO has therefore included HL into many of its strategies, like the declarations of Shanghai (2016) and Astana (2018), and has published several publications focusing on HL, like the Solid Facts (2013), the 57th Health Evidence Network Report (2018) or the Roadmap for Implementing Health Literacy Activities (2019). In many countries, strategies and national action plans to improve HL have been developed in response to the political call for action, e.g. in Scotland, Germany and recently also in Portugal. Other countries and regions are currently working on the development of a HL action plan, e.g. Belgium and the WHO European Region action plan on HL. The development and especially the implementation strategies of action plans in different countries and the experiences gained will be discussed comparatively in the workshop. Following an introduction (10'), two countries, which already have action plans will introduce their implementation strategy in one presentation each: Germany and Portugal (30'). This will be followed by two presentations of countries/regions in which action plans are currently being developed: Belgium and WHO Europe (30'). Afterwards the participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss on the different strategies (20'). The workshop will help other initiatives to successfully develop and implement policy plans and strategies in different fields of public health. Key messages Strategies and national action plans to improve HL have been developed in different countries/regions. It is important to reflect on the chosen development and implementation strategies and to discuss their effects, successes and barriers.

scholarly journals The impact of the use of health information and communication technology on health care delivery in Manitoba, Canada

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Israel R Kabashiki ◽  
Ngozi I Moneke
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Health Care Delivery ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Quality Of Health Care ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Wait Times ◽  
Information And Communication

Background: Health Information and Communication Technology (HICT) has the potential to reduce patient wait time and improves patient satisfaction. The Long wait times for patients to receive medical services are a big issue in Canada. The Canadian government has invested in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to shorten patient referral wait times for medical services. Little was known about the association between ICT investments and the quality of health care delivery, and particularly between the use of ICT and referral wait times in the Manitoba Health System (MHS). Methods: The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to determine if a relationship existed between the use of HICT and the quality of health care delivery in the MHS. The quality of health care delivery was measured in terms of referral wait time, health information sharing effectiveness, physicians’ satisfaction, and patients’ satisfaction. Conclusion: Findings indicated the absence of a significant association between HICT use and referral wait times. Significant correlations were found to exist between (1) HICT use and health information sharing effectiveness, (2) HICT use and physician’s satisfaction, and (3) HICT use and patient’s satisfaction. Four recommendations emerged from this study: First, patient satisfaction should be used as an indicator of the quality of health care delivery. Second, health knowledge repository and expert systems should be integrated into health ICT systems to minimize unnecessary referrals. Third, a mixed health system should be implemented to shorten wait times. Fourth, the portability of the Canadian Medicare should be enhanced to allow Manitobans in particular and Canadians in general to seek medical services abroad. This study was intended to contribute to the existing body of knowledge associated with ICT investments’ outcomes and health care delivery in the MHS.  

scholarly journals Rural Men’s Health, Health Information Seeking, and Gender Identities: A Conceptual Theoretical Review of the Literature

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 863-876 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley Hiebert ◽  
Beverly Leipert ◽  
Sandra Regan ◽  
Jacquelyn Burkell
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Men’S Health ◽  
Men's Health ◽  
Healthy Population ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Gender Identities ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviors

Beginning as early as 2009, recent shifts in Canadian health care delivery indicate that access to health information is essential to promote and maintain a healthy population. It is important to understand how and where various populations, such as underresourced rural populations, access health information so that public health agencies can develop and deliver appropriate information with, for, and in these contexts. There is a paucity of research that specifically examines how rural Canadian men seek health information; therefore, this review aimed to conceptualize this process based on three dynamic key constructs: health patterns of rural Canadians, health information–seeking behaviors, and rural gender identities. This conceptual theoretical literature review included 91 articles at the intersection of these three constructs. Discussion focuses on how residing in a rural region influences men’s health and health care access. Health information–seeking behaviors are discussed in terms of social networks and framed with a rural context. Connell’s theory of masculinity provides a useful approach to dissecting how rural men’s gender identities influence their health attitudes, and how such attitudes are embedded in rural social and cultural norms. Each major construct—health in rural Canada, health information seeking, and rural gender identities—is discussed to highlight how specific embodiments of masculinity may promote and inhibit men’s health information–seeking and positive health behaviors.

scholarly journals Potential Benefits and Risks Resulting From the Introduction of Health Apps and Wearables Into the German Statutory Health Care System: Scoping Review (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Heidel ◽  
Christian Hagist
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Disease Management ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Data Privacy ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Treatment Quality ◽  
Exclusion Criterion ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Risks And Benefits ◽  
Care System

BACKGROUND Germany is the first country worldwide that has introduced a digital care act as an incentive system to enhance the use of digital health devices, namely health apps and wearables, among its population. The act allows physicians to prescribe statutory financed and previously certified health apps and wearables to patients. This initiative has the potential to improve treatment quality through better disease management and monitoring. OBJECTIVE The aim of this paper was to outline the key concepts related to the potential risks and benefits discussed in the current literature about health apps and wearables. Furthermore, this study aimed to answer the research question: Which risks and benefits may result from the implementation of the digital care act in Germany? METHODS We conducted the scoping study by searching the databases PubMed, Google Scholar, and JMIR using the keywords health apps and wearables. We discussed 55 of 136 identified articles published in the English language from 2015 to March 2019 in this paper using a qualitative thematic analysis approach. RESULTS We identified four key themes within the articles: Effectivity of health apps and wearables to improve health; users of health apps and wearables; the potential of bring-your-own, self-tracked data; and concerns and data privacy risks. Within these themes, we identified three main stages of benefits for the German health care system: Usage of health apps and wearables; continuing to use health apps and wearables; and sharing bring-your-own; self-tracked data with different agents in the health care sector. CONCLUSIONS The digital care act could lead to an improvement in treatment quality through better patient monitoring, disease management, personalized therapy, and better health education. However, physicians should play an active role in recommending and supervising health app use to reach digital-illiterate or health-illiterate people. Age must not be an exclusion criterion. Yet, concerns about data privacy and security are very strong in Germany. Transparency about data processing should be provided at all times for continuing success of the digital care act in Germany.

Digital Health

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric D. Perakslis ◽  
Martin Stanley ◽  
Erin Brodwin
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Detailed Examination ◽  
Medical Diagnostics ◽  
Medical Interventions ◽  
Health Technologies ◽  
Solid Models ◽  
Medical Side

Digital health has been touted as a true transformation of health care, but all medical interventions have associated risks that must be understood and quantified. The Internet has brought many advancements, which quickly jumped from our computers into our pockets via powerful and completely connected mobile devices that are now being envisioned as devices for medical diagnostics and care delivery. As health care struggles with cost, inequity, value, and rapid virtualization, solid models of benefit-risk determination, new regulatory approaches for biomedical products, and clear risk-based conversations with all stakeholders are essential. Detailed examination of emerging digital health technologies has revealed 10 categories of digital side effects or “toxicities” that must be understood, prevented when possible, and managed when not. These toxicities include cyberthreat, loss of privacy, cyberchondria and cyber addiction, threats to physical security, charlatanism, overdiagnosis and overtreatment, medical/user error, and the plague of medical misinformation. For digital health to realize its promise, these toxicities must be understood, measured, warned against, and managed as concurrent side effects, in the same fashion as any other medical side effect.

A Viewpoint of Security for Digital Health Care in the United States

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven A. Demurjian ◽  
Alberto De la Rosa Algarín ◽  
Jinbo Bi ◽  
Solomon Berhe ◽  
Thomas Agresta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
The United States ◽  
Hard Copy ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Patient Portals ◽  
Health Records

In health care, patient information of interest to health providers, researchers, public health researchers, insurers, patients, etc., is stored in different locations via electronic media and/or hard-copy formats. All potential users need electronic access to health information technology systems such as: electronic health records, personal health records, patient portals, and ancillary systems such as imaging, laboratory, pharmacy, etc. Controlling access to information from multiple systems requires granularity levels of privileges ranging from one patient to a cohort to an entire population. In this paper, we present a viewpoint of the state of secure digital health care in the United States, focusing on the resources that need to be protected as dictated by legal entities and regulations, the available approaches in the present state-of-the art, and, the potential needs for the future of security for digital health care. By utilizing a real world scenario, the authors explore the limitations of health information exchange in the United States, and present one possible architecture for secure digital health care that builds on existing technology alternatives.

Principle-driven virtual care practice to ensure quality and accessibility

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-84
Author(s):  
Kendell Ho ◽  
Ken Harris ◽  
Toni Leamon
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Professional Community ◽  
Alternative Form ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Virtual Care ◽  
The Right

COVID-19 has accelerated the use of telehealth or virtual care (VC) as an alternative form of health care delivery. Clearly, VC provides unprecedented convenience and timeliness for patients seeking care from their health professionals. As a result, a substantial increase in telehealth providers is occurring, and the Canadian government is investing millions to support digital health care treatments and telehealth services. However, it is vital that the health professional community carefully examine the quality of care being delivered digitally and determine when it is appropriate to use VC as an alternative to face-to-face care. This article highlights some principles for health policymakers, health professionals, and health consumers to consider to ensure that VC is used appropriately and ethically for the right health conditions and in the right contexts.

Medical students’ perceptions and expectations regarding digital health education and training: A qualitative study

2020 ◽  
pp. 1357633X2093243
Author(s):  
Sisira Edirippulige ◽  
Sophie Gong ◽  
Malshi Hathurusinghe ◽  
Sarah Jhetam ◽  
Jasmine Kirk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
Perceptions And Expectations ◽  
And Training

Introduction Digital health – the convergence of digital technologies within health and health care to enhance the efficiency of health-care delivery – is fast becoming an integral part of routine medical practice. The integration of digital health into traditional practice brings significant changes. Logic dictates that for medical practitioners to operate in this new digitally enabled environment, they require specific knowledge, skills and competencies relating to digital health. However, very few medical programmes in Australia and globally include digital health within their regular curriculum. This pilot study aimed to explore medical students’ perceptions and expectations of digital health education and training (ET). Methods An online survey and focus groups were used to collect information about medical students’ perceptions and expectations relating to digital health and ET relating to this field within the medical programme at the University of Queensland. Sixty-three students took part in the survey, and 17 students were involved in four focus groups. Results Most participants had no formal ET in digital health. Most participants ( n = 43; 68%) expressed a willingness to learn about digital health as part of their medical programme. Discussion Primarily, knowledge- and practice-related factors have motivated students to learn about digital health. The analysis of focus group data identified two superordinate themes: (a) drivers of digital health ET and (b) expectations relating to digital health ET. Students agreed that digital health is a relevant field for their future practice that should be taught as part of their regular curriculum.

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