scholarly journals The Contribution of Digital Health in the Response to Covid-19 in Vietnam

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Long Viet Bui ◽  
Son Thai Ha ◽  
Ha Ngoc Nguyen ◽  
Truong Thanh Nguyen ◽  
Thuy Phuong Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health System ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Diagnosis And Treatment ◽  
Health Development ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Health Application ◽  
Health Applications

Emerging from early of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has become one of the most serious health crisis globally. In response to such threat, a wide range of digital health applications has been deployed in Vietnam to strengthen surveillance, risk communication, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19. Digital health has brought enormous benefits to the fight against COVID-19, however, numerous constrains in digital health application remain. Lack of strong governance of digital health development and deployment; insufficient infrastructure and staff capacity for digital health application are among the main drawbacks. Despite several outstanding problems, digital health is expected to contribute to reducing the spread, improving the effectiveness of pandemic control, and adding to the dramatic transformation of the health system the post-COVID era.

Healthcare apps on smartphones available in Brazil: a preliminary classification (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
André De Faria Pereira Neto ◽  
Leticia Barbosa ◽  
Rodolfo Paolucci
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Disease Prevention ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
World Health ◽  
Computing Device ◽  
Care Treatment ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Applications

UNSTRUCTURED Billions of people in the world own a smartphone. It is a low-cost, portable computing device with countless features, among which applications stand out, which are programs or software developed to meet a specific goal. A wide range of applications available ranging from entertainment and personal organization to work and education is available currently. It is a vast and profitable market. Health applications have been a means of intervention for different areas, including chronic diseases, epidemics, and health emergencies. A recently published paper in the journal with the highest impact factor in Digital Health (“Journal of Medical Internet Research”) proposes a classification of health applications. This study performs a critical analysis of this organization and presents other sort criteria. This paper also presents and analyzes the “Meu Info Saúde” (“My Health Info”) app – a pioneering government initiative focused on primary care launched by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. The application classification proposal that will be presented builds on the intervention strategies in the health-disease process, namely: “Health Promotion”, “Disease Prevention” and “Care, Treatment and Rehabilitation”, as defined by official documents such as the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most applications present in the sample are of private and foreign origin, free to download, but with a display of ads or the sale of products and services. The sampled applications were classified as “Health Promotion”, and some applications have also been categorized as “Disease Prevention” or “Care, Treatment or Rehabilitation” because they have multiple functionalities. The applications identified as “Health Promotion” focused only on individuals’ lifestyle and their increased autonomy and self-care management capacity. From this perspective, the apps analyzed in this paper differ from the “Meu Info-Saúde” application developed at Fiocruz.

scholarly journals Digital health Systems in Kenyan Public Hospitals: a mixed-methods survey

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naomi Muinga ◽  
Steve Magare ◽  
Jonathan Monda ◽  
Mike English ◽  
Hamish Fraser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health System ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Adoption Process ◽  
Efficient System ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Government

Abstract Background As healthcare facilities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries adopt digital health systems to improve hospital administration and patient care, it is important to understand the adoption process and assess the systems’ capabilities. This survey aimed to provide decision-makers with information on the digital health systems landscape and to support the rapidly developing digital health community in Kenya and the region by sharing knowledge. Methods We conducted a survey of County Health Records Information Officers (CHRIOs) to determine the extent to which digital health systems in public hospitals that serve as internship training centres in Kenya are adopted. We conducted site visits and interviewed hospital administrators and end users who were at the facility on the day of the visit. We also interviewed digital health system vendors to understand the adoption process from their perspective. Semi-structured interview guides adapted from the literature were used. We identified emergent themes using a thematic analysis from the data. Results We obtained information from 39 CHRIOs, 58 hospital managers and system users, and 9 digital health system vendors through semi-structured interviews and completed questionnaires. From the survey, all facilities mentioned purchased a digital health system primarily for administrative purposes. Radiology and laboratory management systems were commonly standalone systems and there were varying levels of interoperability within facilities that had multiple systems. We only saw one in-patient clinical module in use. Users reported on issues such as system usability, inadequate training, infrastructure and system support. Vendors reported the availability of a wide range of modules, but implementation was constrained by funding, prioritisation of services, users’ lack of confidence in new technologies and lack of appropriate data sharing policies. Conclusion Public hospitals in Kenya are increasingly purchasing systems to support administrative functions and this study highlights challenges faced by hospital users and vendors. Significant work is required to ensure interoperability of systems within hospitals and with other government services. Additional studies on clinical usability and the workflow fit of digital health systems are required to ensure efficient system implementation. However, this requires support from key stakeholders including the government, international donors and regional health informatics organisations.

Digital Health Applications in the Context of Dementia: A Questionnaire Study to develop an Assessment Tool about the Likelihood of Use among Physicians (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Schinle ◽  
Mayumi Kaliciak ◽  
Christina Erler ◽  
Christopher Milde ◽  
Wilhelm Stork
Keyword(s):  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Measurement Tool ◽  
Good Test ◽  
Dementia Patients ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Technology Experience ◽  
Patient Side ◽  
Health Application ◽  
Health Applications

BACKGROUND Age-related diseases such as dementia are playing an increasingly important role with regard to global population development. Thus, prevention, diagnostics and interventions require more accessibility, which can be realized through digital health applications. With the "app on prescription" Germany made history by being the first country worldwide to offer physicians the possibility to prescribe and reimburse digital health applications starting by the end of the year 2020. OBJECTIVE Considering the lack of knowledge about correlations with the likelihood of use among physicians, the aim of this study is to address the question of what makes the use of an digital health application by physicians more likely. METHODS We developed and validated a novel measurement tool - the Digital-Health-Compliance-Questionnaire (DHCQ) - to assess the role of four proposed factors on the likelihood of using a health application. Therefore, a survey was conducted online that evaluated the likelihood of using a digital application for screening of Alzheimers’ dementia called DemPredict. Within this survey, five latent dimensions (acceptance, attitude towards technology, technology experience, payment for time of use and effort of collection), the dependent variable "likelihood of use" and answers to exploratory questions were recorded and tested within directed correlations. The study was completed by 331 physicians from Germany, of whom a total of 301 physicians fulfilled the study criteria (e.g., being in regular contact to dementia patients). This data was analysed using a range of statistical methods to validate the DHCQs’ dimensions. RESULTS The DHCQ revealed good test theoretical measures: it showed excellent fit indices (TLI = .98, CFI = .982, SRMR = .073, RMSEA = .037), good internal consistency (Cronbachs-alpha = .83) and showed signs of moderate to large correlations between the DHCQ-dimensions and the dependent variable. The correlations between {“acceptance”|“attitude towards technology”| “technology experience”|“payment for time of use”} and "likelihood of use" ranged from r = 0.29 to r = 0.79 as well as between “effort of collection” and "likelihood of use" at r = -0.80. In addition, we found high levels of skepticism regarding data protection and the age of the subjects was found to be negatively related to their technical experience as well as their attitude towards technology. CONCLUSIONS In the context of the results, increased communication between the medical and technology sectors and significantly more awareness rising are recommended in order to make the use of digital health applications more attractive for physicians because it can be adjusted to their everyday needs. Further research could explore the connection between areas such as adherence on patient side and its impact on the likelihood of use by the physician.

scholarly journals Analysis of Medical Worker Satisfaction Level Towards the Implementation of Digitalized E-Health Applications of Health Services at Member of Indonesian Clinic Association in Kediri 2021

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 169-173
Author(s):  
Ishak Sulistianto Rahardjo ◽  
Ratna Wardani
Keyword(s):  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Health Management Information System ◽  
Satisfaction Level ◽  
The Right ◽  
Health Application ◽  
Health Applications

Health services that are easy to access, fast, safe, confidential, integrated, effective and efficient are demands on the quality of public services, especially for health sector in the Disruption Era. The purpose of this research was to determine the extent of the SimKes (e-health) application implementation and to explore supportive and impeding factors of health service digitalization at the member clinics of ASKLIN Kediri Branch so that it affects the medical workers’ satisfaction as an application user. The method used in this research is qualitative approach which defined as a research procedure that produces descriptive data. Collecting data using Purposive Sampling by in-depth interview techniques with semi-structured questions to 14 informants and 2 Triangulators Data Sources, namely the founder and creator of SimKes Khanza and the head of the BPJS Kesehatan’s Participant Benefits Guarantor Kediri Branch. From the research’s results, it is known that the SimKes (e-health) application has been used in all health service line in almost all ASKLIN member Clinics in Kediri Branch and the satisfaction level of medical workers using the SimKes (e-health) application ranges from 75-80%. The constraints in implementing SimKes application have been successfully mapped, including application users’ age, data networks and application customization, financing to other profession technical matters, which can increase the satisfaction of medical workers who use e-health applications if they get the right treatment. The implementation of the Health Management Information System (SimKes) application in digital health services (telemedicine/e-health) is expected to maximize health services at Health Service Facilities, especially at the member Clinics of the Indonesian Clinic Association, Kediri Branch. Digitalized health service implementations are expected to provide reliable and integrated data and information so that they can become a tool for effective and efficient management of health development.

scholarly journals Use of e-health in general practices during the covid-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelle Keuper
Keyword(s):  
Care Delivery ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Web Surveys ◽  
Remote Healthcare ◽  
General Practices ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Digital Processes ◽  
Video Calling ◽  
Health Application ◽  
Health Applications

Background and purpose – The covid-19 pandemic has forced general practices to look for ways to deliver care safely, by the use of remote healthcare solutions such as e-health. The aim of this study is to investigate the use of e-health in general practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, and theintention of general practices to continue using e-health tools more intensively in the near future. Methods – Web surveys were sent to all Dutch general practices at two moments during the pandemic: in April 2020, during the first wave of the pandemic in the Netherlands, and in July 2020, between the first and second wave, when infection numbers were lower. The surveys contained questions on the use of specific e-health tools, including e-consultations and video calling. Results – 75%of the general practices indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic caused them to start using e-health applications or made them to intensify these in April 2020. In July 2020, almost all practices indicated that they used at least one e-health application (98%). Online prescriptions ordering service and e-consultations were used by more than 80% of all practices. However, a minority of practices (<33%) answered that they intend to use (new) e-health applications more intensively after the pandemic. Some significant differences were found in the use of specific e-health applications between different practice types. Conclusions – This study confirms the expectation that there was an increased uptake of e-health applications in Dutch general practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. The relative low number of practices that intend to sustain the increased usage of e-health in their practice in the future may point towards a temporary uptake of digital health care delivery, rather than accelerated implementation of digital processes.

scholarly journals Stakeholders’ Perceptions of the Implementation of a Patient-Centric Digital Health Application for Primary Healthcare in India

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 315-324
Author(s):  
Dharamjeet Singh Faujdar ◽  
Tarundeep Singh ◽  
Manmeet Kaur ◽  
Sundeep Sahay ◽  
Rajesh Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Health System ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Work Performance ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Health Information System ◽  
Data Entry ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Health Application ◽  
Patient Centric

Objectives: Health systems are shifting from traditional methods of healthcare delivery to delivery using digital applications. This change was introduced at a primary care centre in Chandigarh, India that served a marginalised population. After establishing the digital health system, we explored stakeholders’ perceptions regarding its implementation.Methods: Ethnographic methods were used to explore stakeholders’ perceptions regarding the implementation of the Integrated Health Information System for Primary Health Care (IHIS4PHC), which was developed as a patient-centric digital health application. Data were collected using focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. Participatory observations were made of day-to-day activities including outpatient visits, outreach field visits, and methods of health practice. The collected information was analysed using thematic coding.Results: Healthcare workers highlighted that working with the digital health system was initially arduous, but they later realised its usefulness, as the digital system made it easier to search records and generate reports, rapidly providing evidence to make decisions. Auxiliary nurse midwives reported that recording information on computers saved time when generating reports; however, systematic and mandatory data entry made recording tedious. Staff were apprehensive about the use of computer-based data for monitoring their work performance. Patients appreciated that their previous records were now available on the computer for easy retrieval.Conclusions: The usefulness of the digital health application was appreciated by various primary healthcare stakeholders. Barriers persisted due to perceived needs for flexibility in delivering healthcare services, and apprehensions continued because of increased transparency, accountability, and dependence on computers and digital technicians.

CLINICAL AND FORENSIC ASPECTS OF PHARMACOBEZOARS

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Basílio ◽  
Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Immediate Release ◽  
Diagnosis And Treatment ◽  
Blood Concentrations ◽  
Forensic Practice ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Therapeutic Doses ◽  
Complete History ◽  
Lethal Blood

Background: Pharmacobezoars are specific types of bezoars formed when medicines, such as tablets, suspensions, and/or drug delivery systems, aggregate and may cause death by occluding airways with tenacious material or by eluting drugs resulting in toxic or lethal blood concentrations. Objective: This work aims to fully review the state-of-the-art regarding pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment and other relevant clinical and forensic features of pharmacobezoars. Results: patients of a wide range of ages and in both sexes present with signs and symptoms of intoxications or more commonly gastrointestinal obstructions. The exact mechanisms of pharmacobezoar formation are unknown but is likely multifactorial. The diagnosis and treatment depend on the gastrointestinal segment affected and should be personalized to the medication and the underlying factor. A good and complete history, physical examination, image tests, upper endoscopy and surgery through laparotomy of the lower tract are useful for diagnosis and treatment. Conclusion: Pharmacobezoars are rarely seen in clinical and forensic practice. They are related to controlled or immediate-release formulations, liquid or non-digestible substances, in normal or altered digestive motility/anatomy tract, and in overdoses or therapeutic doses, and should be suspected in the presence of risk factors or patients taking drugs which may form pharmacobezoars.

scholarly journals Curricular Change and Resiliency in the Era of Coronavirus (COVID-19): The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) Experience

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnyce R Pock ◽  
Pamela M Williams ◽  
Ashley M Maranich ◽  
Ryan R Landoll ◽  
Catherine T Witkop ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health System ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Organizational Response ◽  
Educational Goals ◽  
Military Health System ◽  
Military Health ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Core Curricula ◽  
The Military

ABSTRACT Introduction The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has presented a myriad of organizational and institutional challenges. The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, like many other front line hospitals and clinics, encountered a myriad of challenges in fostering and sustaining the education of students enrolled at the nation’s only military medical school. Critical to the function of any academic medical institution, but particularly one devoted to the training of future physicians for the Military Health System, was the ability to rapidly adapt, modify, and create new means of keeping medical students engaged in their core curricula and progressing toward full and timely attainment of established educational goals and objectives. Methods This article highlights some of the particular challenges faced by faculty and students during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic and describes how they were managed and/or mitigated. Results Six key “lessons learned” were identified and summarized in this manuscript. These lessons may be applicable to other academic institutions both within and outside of the Military Health System. Conclusions Recognizing and embracing these key tenets of academic change management can accelerate the generation of a cohesive, organizational response to the next pandemic or public health crisis.

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