scholarly journals User experiences and perceptions of health wearables: an exploratory study in Cambodia

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Liverani ◽  
Por Ir ◽  
Virginia Wiseman ◽  
Pablo Perel
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Battery Life ◽  
User Experiences ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Health Technologies

Abstract Background In many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), health system capacities to address the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are often inadequate. In these countries, wearable health technologies such as smartbands and smartwatches could be used as part of public health programmes to improve the monitoring, prevention, and control of NCDs. Considering this potential, the purpose of this study was to explore user experiences and perceptions of a health wearable in Cambodia. Methods Data collection involved a survey, conducted between November 2019 and January 2020, among different categories of participants (including hypertensive participants, non-hypertensive participants, postgraduate students, and civil servants). All participants were given a sample of a watch-type wearable and advised to use it day and night. One month after product delivery, we conducted a survey to explore their views and experiences. Results were analysed by using descriptive statistics and Chi square or Fisher's exact test to compare responses from urban and rural participants. Results A total of 156 adult participants completed the study. Technology acceptance was positive overall. 89.1% of the participants said they would continue using the watch and 76.9% of them would recommend it to either friends or relatives, while 94% said the device stimulated them to think more frequently about their health. However, challenges to technology adoption were also identified, including concerns with the accuracy and quality of the device and unfamiliarity with the concept of health self-monitoring, especially among the elderly. Short battery life and cost were also identified as potential barriers to continued use. Conclusions Health wearables are a promising new technology that could be used in Cambodia and in other LMICs to strengthen health sector responses to the challenges of NCDs. However, this technology should be carefully adapted to the local context and the needs of less resourced population groups. In addition, further studies should examine if adequate health sector support and infrastructure are in place to implement and sustain the technology.

scholarly journals User experiences and perceptions of health wearables: a cross-sectional study in Cambodia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Liverani ◽  
Por Ir ◽  
Virginia Wiseman ◽  
Pablo Perel
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Baseline Survey ◽  
Battery Life ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
User Experiences ◽  
Health Technologies

Abstract Background: In many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), health system capacities to address the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are often inadequate. In these countries, wearable health technologies such as smartbands and smartwatches could be used as part of public health programmes to improve the monitoring, prevention, and control of NCDs. Considering this potential, a study was conducted in Cambodia to explore user experiences and perceptions of a watch-type health wearable, including utilisation patterns, perceived usefulness and usability, and willingness to pay. Methods: Data collection involved a baseline survey, conducted in 2019 with different categories of participants (including hypertensive participants, non-hypertensive participants, postgraduate students, and civil servants), and a follow-up survey with the same participants, one month after they were given a sample of the wearable and advised to wear it day and night. Results were analysed using descriptive statistics, test statistics, and binomial regression to predict the utilisation of the paired smartphone application. Results: A total of 156 adult participants completed the baseline and follow-up surveys. The reception of the technology was positive overall: 89.1% of the participants said they would continue using the watch and 76.9% of them would recommend it to either friends or relatives, while 94% said the device stimulated them to think more frequently about their health\. However, challenges to technology acceptance were identified, including concerns with the accuracy and quality of the device and unfamiliarity with the concept of health self-monitoring, especially among the elderly. Short battery life and cost were also identified as potential barriers to continued use. Conclusions: Health wearables are a promising new technology that could be used in Cambodia and in other LMICs to strengthen health sector responses to the challenges of NCDs. However, this technology should be carefully adapted to the local context and the needs of less resourced population groups. In addition, further research should investigate if adequate health sector support and infrastructure are in place to implement and sustain the technology.

scholarly journals Combating antibiotic resistance using guidelines and enhanced stewardship in Kenya: a protocol for an implementation science approach

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. e030823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesse Gitaka ◽  
Moses Kamita ◽  
Dominic Mureithi ◽  
Davies Ndegwa ◽  
Moses Masika ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Implementation Science ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Antibiotic Usage ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Local Context ◽  
National Commission ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Science Approach

IntroductionAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing problem globally especially in Sub-Saharan Africa including Kenya. Without any intervention, lower/middle-income countries (LMICs) will be most affected due to already higher AMR levels compared with higher income countries and due to the far higher burden of diseases in the LMICs. Studies have consistently shown that inappropriate use of antimicrobials is the major driver of AMR. To address this challenge, hospitals are now implementing antibiotic stewardship programmes (ASPs), which have been shown to achieve reduced antibiotic usage, to decrease the prevalence of resistance and lead to significant economic benefits. However, the implementation of the guideline is highly dependent on the settings in which they are rolled out. This study, employing an implementation science approach, aims to address the knowledge gap in this area and provide critical data as well as practical experiences when using antibiotic guidelines and stewardship programmes in the public health sector. This will provide evidence of ASP performance and potentially contribute to the county, national and regional policies on antibiotics use.Methods and analysisThe study will be conducted in three geographically diverse regions, each represented by two hospitals. A baseline study on antibiotic usage, resistance and de-escalation, duration of hospital stay, rates of readmission and costs will be carried out in the preimplementation phase. The intervention, that is, the use of antibiotic guidelines and ASPs will be instituted for 18 months using a stepwise implementation strategy that will facilitate learning and continuous improvement of stewardship activities and updating of guidelines to reflect the evolving antibiotic needs.Ethics and disseminationApprovals to carry out the study have been obtained from the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation and the Mount Kenya University Ethics Review Committee. The approvals from the two institutions were used to obtain permission to conduct the study at each of the participating hospitals. Study findings will be presented to policy stakeholders and published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. It is anticipated that the findings will inform the appropriate antibiotic use guidelines within our local context.

scholarly journals Using the Technology Acceptance Model to Identify Factors That Predict Likelihood to Adopt Tele-Neurorehabilitation

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marlena Klaic ◽  
Mary P. Galea
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Technology Acceptance Model ◽  
Computer Anxiety ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Human Decision ◽  
Acceptance Model

Tele-neurorehabilitation has the potential to reduce accessibility barriers and enhance patient outcomes through a more seamless continuum of care. A growing number of studies have found that tele-neurorehabilitation produces equivalent results to usual care for a variety of outcomes including activities of daily living and health related quality of life. Despite the potential of tele-neurorehabilitation, this model of care has failed to achieve mainstream adoption. Little is known about feasibility and acceptability of tele-neurorehabilitation and most published studies do not use a validated model to guide and evaluate implementation. The technology acceptance model (TAM) was developed 20 years ago and is one of the most widely used theoretical frameworks for predicting an individual's likelihood to adopt and use new technology. The TAM3 further built on the original model by incorporating additional elements from human decision making such as computer anxiety. In this perspective, we utilize the TAM3 to systematically map the findings from existing published studies, in order to explore the determinants of adoption of tele-neurorehabilitation by both stroke survivors and prescribing clinicians. We present evidence suggesting that computer self-efficacy and computer anxiety are significant predictors of an individual's likelihood to use tele-neurorehabilitation. Understanding what factors support or hinder uptake of tele-neurorehabilitation can assist in translatability and sustainable adoption of this technology. If we are to shift tele-neurorehabilitation from the research domain to become a mainstream health sector activity, key stakeholders must address the barriers that have consistently hindered adoption.

scholarly journals Continued use intention of wearable health technologies among the elderly: an enablers and inhibitors perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Shamim Talukder ◽  
Samuli Laato ◽  
A.K.M. Najmul Islam ◽  
Yukun Bao
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Integrative Model ◽  
Epistemic Values ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Health Technologies ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Continued Use

PurposeWearable health technologies (WHTs) show promise in improving the health and well-being of the aging population because they promote healthy lifestyles. They can be used to collect health information from users and encourage them to be physically active. Despite potential benefits of WHTs, recent studies have shown that older people have low continued use intention toward WHTs. Previous work on this topic is disjointed, and new theoretical viewpoints are required.Design/methodology/approachThe authors propose an enablers and inhibitors perspective to model factors influencing continued use intention of WHTs among the elderly. To test the model, we collected data from Chinese elderly (N = 295) who had prior experience using WHTs.FindingsThe study results show that social value is the strongest enabler of continued WHT use, and emotional and epistemic values and device quality also increase use continuance. Inertia and technology anxiety were identified as significant inhibitors. A post hoc importance performance map analysis revealed that while emotional value is a highly significant predictor of continued WHT use, existing WHTs do not stimulate such value in our sample.Research limitations/implicationsThe research findings illustrate the importance of incorporating user resistance in technology acceptance studies in general and WHT usage studies in particular. This study contributes by providing an integrative model of technology continued use intention for the elderly along with practical implications for policymakers.Originality/valueA limited number of prior studies have taken both enablers and inhibitors into account when explaining continued WHT use intention among the elderly. This paper fills this research gap and contributes to the WHT literature by considering both enablers and inhibitors in the same model. Moreover, this study contributes to the ongoing research on WHT, and more broadly, gerontechnology use among the elderly.

Using Technology Acceptance Model to Study Customers’ Perception Towards Green Banking

Think India ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 402-409
Author(s):  
Deepak Shrivastava ◽  
Apurva Shrivastava ◽  
Gyan Prakash
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Technology Acceptance Model ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Banking System ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Perceived Ease Of Use ◽  
Acceptance Model

Tech-friendliness in this new era is an important quotient considered and the persons’ acceptance towards the technology frequency matters a lot. But still the frequency varies from person to person, this brought in the concept of Technology Acceptance Model given by Fred Davis in 1989. The theory of TAM is based on two theories that are Theory of Reasoned Action and Theory of Planned Behavior, TAM is extended version of these two. Green Banking is a new technology introduced by the banks that focuses on the growth of Sustainable development and Banking system too. Thus, banks ask their customers to use it or practice it in their daily life transactions. But every customer has their own point of view on the usage of Green banking. Thus, the research aims to understand the customers’ perception towards the Green Banking for this TAM is used. The research states that Perceived risk is the primary factor that is followed by perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use that impacts the decision to use green banking. Thus, the behavioral intention results in actual use of green banking usage for which people are trying to accept the new technology. So, the banks have earned points for creating awareness among their customers but still they have to work hard and clarify their customers’ problems and vanish that hitch that is stopping them to use green banking easily.

Workplace “Digital Culture” and the Uptake of Digital Solutions

2020 ◽  
pp. 368-402
Author(s):  
Simeon J. Yates ◽  
Eleanor Lockley
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Cultural Change ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Digital Culture ◽  
Representative Survey ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
Company Culture ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Uk

This chapter reviews prior work on technology acceptance and then reports on a nationally representative survey of UK employees exploring both employee’s personal experiences of digital technologies at home and work and their evaluations of the effectiveness of the technologies and the “digital culture” in their organization. Presenting the results of 3040 UK workers, it seeks to explore the factors that influence digital roll-outs by focusing on the experiences and perceptions of the UK workforce as a whole, with the expectation that introducing new technology alone isn’t enough. This research explores how “digitally ready” organizations are in the UK in terms of people, processes, and company culture. It concludes that a large proportion of the UK workforce are not seeing the benefits of digital technologies. Importantly, there is a need for organizations to understand that making digital solutions a success is a process of cultural change in their organization.

scholarly journals A framework for designing medical devices resilient to low-resource settings

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Piaggio ◽  
Rossana Castaldo ◽  
Marco Cinelli ◽  
Sara Cinelli ◽  
Alessia Maccaro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Delphi Study ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Low Resource Settings ◽  
Health Technologies ◽  
Low Resource ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
High Resource ◽  
International Experts ◽  
Global Population ◽  
Different Parts

Abstract Background To date (April 2021), medical device (MD) design approaches have failed to consider the contexts where MDs can be operationalised. Although most of the global population lives and is treated in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMCIs), over 80% of the MD market share is in high-resource settings, which set de facto standards that cannot be taken for granted in lower resource settings. Using a MD designed for high-resource settings in LMICs may hinder its safe and efficient operationalisation. In the literature, many criteria for frameworks to support resilient MD design were presented. However, since the available criteria (as of 2021) are far from being consensual and comprehensive, the aim of this study is to raise awareness about such challenges and to scope experts’ consensus regarding the essentiality of MD design criteria. Results This paper presents a novel application of Delphi study and Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) to develop a framework comprising 26 essential criteria, which were evaluated and chosen by international experts coming from different parts of the world. This framework was validated by analysing some MDs presented in the WHO Compendium of innovative health technologies for low-resource settings. Conclusions This novel holistic framework takes into account some domains that are usually underestimated by MDs designers. For this reason, it can be used by experts designing MDs resilient to low-resource settings and it can also assist policymakers and non-governmental organisations in shaping the future of global healthcare.

scholarly journals A Feasibility Study of the Use of Smartwatches in Wearable Fall Detection Systems

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 2254
Author(s):  
Francisco Javier González-Cañete ◽  
Eduardo Casilari
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Fall Detection ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
False Alarms ◽  
Battery Life ◽  
Area Network ◽  
Battery Lifetime ◽  
Detection Systems ◽  
Operational Aspects

Over the last few years, the use of smartwatches in automatic Fall Detection Systems (FDSs) has aroused great interest in the research of new wearable telemonitoring systems for the elderly. In contrast with other approaches to the problem of fall detection, smartwatch-based FDSs can benefit from the widespread acceptance, ergonomics, low cost, networking interfaces, and sensors that these devices provide. However, the scientific literature has shown that, due to the freedom of movement of the arms, the wrist is usually not the most appropriate position to unambiguously characterize the dynamics of the human body during falls, as many conventional activities of daily living that involve a vigorous motion of the hands may be easily misinterpreted as falls. As also stated by the literature, sensor-fusion and multi-point measurements are required to define a robust and reliable method for a wearable FDS. Thus, to avoid false alarms, it may be necessary to combine the analysis of the signals captured by the smartwatch with those collected by some other low-power sensor placed at a point closer to the body’s center of gravity (e.g., on the waist). Under this architecture of Body Area Network (BAN), these external sensing nodes must be wirelessly connected to the smartwatch to transmit their measurements. Nonetheless, the deployment of this networking solution, in which the smartwatch is in charge of processing the sensed data and generating the alarm in case of detecting a fall, may severely impact on the performance of the wearable. Unlike many other works (which often neglect the operational aspects of real fall detectors), this paper analyzes the actual feasibility of putting into effect a BAN intended for fall detection on present commercial smartwatches. In particular, the study is focused on evaluating the reduction of the battery life may cause in the watch that works as the core of the BAN. To this end, we thoroughly assess the energy drain in a prototype of an FDS consisting of a smartwatch and several external Bluetooth-enabled sensing units. In order to identify those scenarios in which the use of the smartwatch could be viable from a practical point of view, the testbed is studied with diverse commercial devices and under different configurations of those elements that may significantly hamper the battery lifetime.

scholarly journals Feasibility, usability and acceptability of paediatric lung ultrasound among healthcare providers and caregivers for the diagnosis of childhood pneumonia in resource-constrained settings: a qualitative study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e042547
Author(s):  
Atif Riaz ◽  
Olga Cambaco ◽  
Laura Elizabeth Ellington ◽  
Jennifer L Lenahan ◽  
Khatia Munguambe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Lung Ultrasound ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Pneumonia Diagnosis

ObjectivesPaediatric pneumonia burden and mortality are highest in low-income and middle-income countries (LMIC). Paediatric lung ultrasound (LUS) has emerged as a promising diagnostic tool for pneumonia in LMIC. Despite a growing evidence base for LUS use in paediatric pneumonia diagnosis, little is known about its potential for successful implementation in LMIC. Our objectives were to evaluate the feasibility, usability and acceptability of LUS in the diagnosis of paediatric pneumonia.DesignProspective qualitative study using semistructured interviewsSettingTwo referral hospitals in Mozambique and PakistanParticipantsA total of 21 healthcare providers (HCPs) and 20 caregivers were enrolled.ResultsHCPs highlighted themes of limited resource availability for the feasibility of LUS implementation, including perceived high cost of equipment, maintenance demands, time constraints and limited trained staff. HCPs emphasised the importance of policymaker support and caregiver acceptance for long-term success. HCP perspectives of usability highlighted ease of use and integration into existing workflow. HCPs and caregivers had positive attitudes towards LUS with few exceptions. Both HCPs and caregivers emphasised the potential for rapid, improved diagnosis of paediatric respiratory conditions using LUS.ConclusionsThis was the first study to evaluate HCP and caregiver perspectives of paediatric LUS through qualitative analysis. Critical components impacting feasibility, usability and acceptability of LUS for paediatric pneumonia diagnosis in LMIC were identified for initial deployment. Future research should explore LUS sustainability, with a particular focus on quality control, device maintenance and functionality and adoption of the new technology within the health system. This study highlights the need to engage both users and recipients of new technology early in order to adapt future interventions to the local context for successful implementation.Trial registration numberNCT03187067.

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