scholarly journals Mobile Health (mHealth) in the Developing World: Two Decades of Progress or Retrogression

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert S Istepanian ◽  
Michel Kulhandjian ◽  
Georgi Chaltikyan
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Mobile Communications ◽  
Developing World ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Mobile Health Systems ◽  
Market Driven ◽  
The Impact

Mobile healthcare, or mHealth, is one of the key pillars of information and communication technologies for healthcare that consists of telemedicine, telehealth, eHealth, and mHealth. In the past two decades, mobile health has become a transformative concept for healthcare delivery innovations on a global scale. The success was based on the market-driven strategies that utilised the advances in mobile communications, computing, and sensor technologies, especially in recent years. Those market-driven mobile health systems were also closely associated with the global proliferation of smartphones, and based on the correlated usage principle of the smartphone applications for healthcare and wellbeing. However, the global commercial success of the smartphone-based mHealth model was not widely translated into successful scaled-up and tangible healthcare benefits, especially in low- and-middle income countries, compared to the consumer mobile health markets. The numerous healthcare challenges in the developing world remained largely untackled by the existing mobile health systems and models. The much-hyped transformative benefits of these systems remain largely unfulfilled. For two decades since the inception of this concept, the majority of the population in resource-limited healthcare settings still remain in poorer health and live in worsened conditions, with limited if any access to basic healthcare services. The much-hyped mobile health services that promised transforming these fragile and limited healthcare conditions, did not come to wider fruition globally. The COVID-19 pandemic, with its devastating human and economic impact worsened this status. An overview of the origin and the basic principles of mobile health, its current landscape and status in the developing world is presented. The impact of the smartphone-centric model that dominated the landscape of mobile health systems in these countries is discussed, and a critical view on the limitation of this mobile health model adopted widely in these settings is provided.

A Secure Robust and Privacy Enhanced Mobile Healthcare Framework

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 61-81
Author(s):  
Hisham M. Alsaghier ◽  
Shaik Shakeel Ahamad
Keyword(s):  
Health Systems ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Integrated Circuit ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Healthcare Industry ◽  
Continuous Transition ◽  
Trusted Platform Module ◽  
Mobile Healthcare ◽  
Mobile Health Systems

This article describes how the exponential growth of mobile applications has changed the way healthcare services function, and mobile healthcare using the Cloud is the most promising technology for healthcare industry. The mobile healthcare industry is in a continuous transition phase that requires continual innovation. There has been identified some of the challenges in the area of security protocols for mobile health systems which still need to be addressed in the future to enable cost-effective, secure and robust mobile health systems. This article addresses these challenges by proposing a secure robust and privacy-enhanced mobile healthcare framework (SRPF) by adopting a Community Cloud (CC), WPKI cryptosystems, Universal Integrated Circuit Cards (UICCs) and a Trusted Platform Module (TPM). All the security properties are provided within this framework. SRPF overcomes replay attacks, Man in the Middle (MITM) Attacks, Impersonation attacks and Multi-Protocol attacks as SRPF was successfully verified using a scyther tool and by BAN logic.

A Secure Robust and Privacy Enhanced Mobile Healthcare Framework

2020 ◽  
pp. 437-455
Author(s):  
Hisham M. Alsaghier ◽  
Shaik Shakeel Ahamad
Keyword(s):  
Health Systems ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Integrated Circuit ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Healthcare Industry ◽  
Continuous Transition ◽  
Trusted Platform Module ◽  
Mobile Healthcare ◽  
Mobile Health Systems ◽  
Trusted Platform

This article describes how the exponential growth of mobile applications has changed the way healthcare services function, and mobile healthcare using the Cloud is the most promising technology for healthcare industry. The mobile healthcare industry is in a continuous transition phase that requires continual innovation. There has been identified some of the challenges in the area of security protocols for mobile health systems which still need to be addressed in the future to enable cost-effective, secure and robust mobile health systems. This article addresses these challenges by proposing a secure robust and privacy-enhanced mobile healthcare framework (SRPF) by adopting a Community Cloud (CC), WPKI cryptosystems, Universal Integrated Circuit Cards (UICCs) and a Trusted Platform Module (TPM). All the security properties are provided within this framework. SRPF overcomes replay attacks, Man in the Middle (MITM) Attacks, Impersonation attacks and Multi-Protocol attacks as SRPF was successfully verified using a scyther tool and by BAN logic.

scholarly journals Interoperability frameworks linking mHealth applications to electronic record systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kagiso Ndlovu ◽  
Maurice Mars ◽  
Richard E. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Developing World ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Implementation Strategies ◽  
Electronic Record ◽  
Digital Information ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Health Records ◽  
Healthcare Needs ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background mHealth presents innovative approaches to enhance primary healthcare delivery in developing countries like Botswana. The impact of mHealth solutions can be improved if they are interoperable with eRecord systems such as electronic health records, electronic medical records and patient health records. eHealth interoperability frameworks exist but their availability and utility for linking mHealth solutions to eRecords in developing world settings like Botswana is unknown. The recently adopted eHealth Strategy for Botswana recognises interoperability as an issue and mHealth as a potential solution for some healthcare needs, but does not address linking the two. Aim This study reviewed published reviews of eHealth interoperability frameworks for linking mHealth solutions with eRecords, and assessed their relevance to informing interoperability efforts with respect to Botswana’s eHealth Strategy. Methods A structured literature review and analysis of published reviews of eHealth interoperability frameworks was performed to determine if any are relevant to linking mHealth with eRecords. The Botswanan eHealth Strategy was reviewed. Results Four articles presented and reviewed eHealth interoperability frameworks that support linking of mHealth interventions to eRecords and associated implementation strategies. While the frameworks were developed for specific circumstances and therefore were based upon varying assumptions and perspectives, they entailed aspects that are relevant and could be drawn upon when developing an mHealth interoperability framework for Botswana. Common emerging themes of infrastructure, interoperability standards, data security and usability were identified and discussed; all of which are important in the developing world context such as in Botswana. The Botswana eHealth Strategy recognises interoperability, mHealth, and eRecords as distinct issues, but not linking of mHealth solutions with eRecords. Conclusions Delivery of healthcare is shifting from hospital-based to patient-centered primary healthcare and community-based settings, using mHealth interventions. The impact of mHealth solutions can be improved if data generated from them are converted into digital information ready for transmission and incorporation into eRecord systems. The Botswana eHealth Strategy stresses the need to have interoperable eRecords, but mHealth solutions must not be left out. Literature insight about mHealth interoperability with eRecords can inform implementation strategies for Botswana and elsewhere.

scholarly journals Wireless Body Area Networks: UWB Wearable Textile Antenna for Telemedicine and Mobile Health Systems

Micromachines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashok Yadav ◽  
Vinod Kumar Singh ◽  
Akash Kumar Bhoi ◽  
Gonçalo Marques ◽  
Begonya Garcia-Zapirain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Systems ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Radiation Effects ◽  
Analytical Investigation ◽  
Ultra Wideband ◽  
Impedance Bandwidth ◽  
Textile Antenna ◽  
Mobile Health Systems ◽  
The Time Domain

A compact textile ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna with an electrical dimension of 0.24λo × 0.24λo × 0.009λo with microstrip line feed at lower edge and a frequency of operation of 2.96 GHz is proposed for UWB application. The analytical investigation using circuit theory concepts and the cavity model of the antenna is presented to validate the design. The main contribution of this paper is to propose a wearable antenna with wide impedance bandwidth of 118.68 % (2.96–11.6 GHz) applicable for UWB range of 3.1 to 10.6 GHz. The results present a maximum gain of 5.47 dBi at 7.3 GHz frequency. Moreover, this antenna exhibits Omni and quasi-Omni radiation patterns at various frequencies (4 GHz, 7 GHz and 10 GHz) for short-distance communication. The cutting notch and slot on the patch, and its effect on the antenna impedance to increase performance through current distribution is also presented. The time-domain characteristic of the proposed antenna is also discussed for the analysis of the pulse distortion phenomena. A constant group delay less than 1 ns is obtained over the entire operating impedance bandwidth (2.96–11.6 GHz) of the textile antenna in both situations, i.e., side by side and front to front. Linear phase consideration is also presented for both situations, as well as configurations of reception and transmission. An assessment of the effects of bending and humidity has been demonstrated by placing the antenna on the human body. The specific absorption rate (SAR) value was tested to show the radiation effect on the human body, and it was found that its impact on the human body SAR value is 1.68 W/kg, which indicates the safer limit to avoid radiation effects. Therefore, the proposed method is promising for telemedicine and mobile health systems.

Secure Mobile Health Systems: Principles and Solutions

2007 ◽  
pp. 81-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milan Marković ◽  
Zoran Savić ◽  
Branko Kovačević
Keyword(s):  
Health Systems ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Mobile Health Systems

Mobile Health Services

2016 ◽  
pp. 1551-1567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nabila Nisha ◽  
Mehree Iqbal ◽  
Afrin Rifat ◽  
Sherina Idrish
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Mobile Communications ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Information Quality ◽  
System Development ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Future Research ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Facilitating Conditions

Today, information and communication technology (ICTs) are influencing health system development across many developing countries, particularly through the application of mobile communications. As such, there has been an initiation of a new paradigm of mobile health services which has made healthcare delivery more accessible, affordable and effective. However, such service delivery platform has been mainly targeted towards the rural population, so there is growing concerns about its acceptance and future use intentions in the urban areas. The aim of this paper is to examine and critically assess the underlying factors that can influence future use intentions of mHealth services in the context of Bangladesh. The conceptual model of the study identifies that information quality, facilitating conditions, trust and effort expectancy plays an important role in capturing users' overall perceptions of mobile health services. Finally, the study highlights the managerial implications, future research directions and limitations from the perspective of Bangladesh.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document