Semi-Automatic Systems for Exchanging Health Information

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 38-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Emmanouil ◽  
Antonia Mourtzikou ◽  
John Mantas
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Daily Practice ◽  
Modern Technology ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Modern Computer ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Automatic Systems

The present paper deals with the topic of application possibilities of modern technology in daily practice, for the benefit of citizens. In particular, this work examines the implementation of e-Government at the local level in the field of e-Health for exchanging information. In the authors' introduction, will see how from the first calculating machines, the authors have arrived today up to the modern computer, to the Internet and ICT. Then, the modern technology led them up to the e-Governance at central, regional and local level. Initially the authors examine the international, European and Greek ICT environment; subsequently, within the same geographical contexts, the authors investigated the existence of e-services and e-health services to citizens. Finally, the authors focus on issues related to automated machines for helping citizens on health related issues.

scholarly journals Lifestyle Segmentation to Explain the Online Health Information–Seeking Behavior of Older Adults: Representative Telephone Survey

10.2196/15099 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. e15099 ◽  
Author(s):  
Winja Weber ◽  
Anne Reinhardt ◽  
Constanze Rossmann
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Information Seeking Behavior ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Sociodemographic Variables ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Health Related

Background As a result of demographic changes, the number of people aged 60 years and older has been increasing steadily. Therefore, older adults have become more important as a target group for health communication efforts. Various studies show that online health information sources have gained importance among younger adults, but we know little about the health-related internet use of senior citizens in general and in particular about the variables explaining their online health-related information–seeking behavior. Media use studies indicate that in addition to sociodemographic variables, lifestyle factors might play a role in this context. Objective The aim of this study was to examine older people’s health-related internet use. Our study focused on the explanatory potential of lifestyle types over and above sociodemographic variables to predict older adults’ internet use for health information. Methods A telephone survey was conducted with a random sample of German adults aged 60 years and older (n=701) that was quota-allocated by gender, age, educational status, and degree of urbanity of their place of residence. Results The results revealed that participants used the internet infrequently (mean 1.82 [SD 1.07]), and medical personnel (mean 2.89 [SD 1.11]), family and friends (mean 2.86 [SD 1.21]), and health brochures (mean 2.85 [SD 1.21]) were their main sources of health information. A hierarchical cluster analysis based on values, interests, and leisure time activities revealed three different lifestyle types for adults aged over 60 years: the Sociable Adventurer, the Average Family Person, and the Uninterested Inactive. After adding these types as second-step predictors in a hierarchical regression model with sociodemographic variables (step 1), the explained variance increased significantly (R2=.02, P=.001), indicating that the Average Family Person and the Sociable Adventurer use the internet more often for health information than the Uninterested Inactive, over and above their sociodemographic attributes. Conclusions Our findings indicate that the internet still plays only a minor role in the health information–seeking behavior of older German adults. Nevertheless, there are subgroups including younger, more active, down-to-earth and family-oriented males that may be reached with online health information. Our findings suggest that lifestyle types should be taken into account when predicting health-related internet use behavior.

Toward an Informed-Patient Approach to E-Health Services

2016 ◽  
pp. 1269-1282
Author(s):  
Keren Mazuz ◽  
Seema Biswas ◽  
Rui Amaral Mendes
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Good Evidence ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Need To Evaluate ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Informed Patient

With the expanding utilization of digital and technological media by public health providers and healthcare consumers, there is a need to evaluate the patients' role. There is good evidence of the growing acceptability of the Internet in seeking health information. This paper aims to evaluate the patients' role as an informed-patient. This role, albeit, with its limitations, affects the ways by which people consume health, consult their doctors and also influence health policy. This paper is a sociological and anthropological analysis of the effect of e-health services on the informed-patients' role and their ability to bring about social change through the Internet and their use of e-healthcare services. Through analyzing current literature and examples of health-related websites, this analysis focuses on informed-patients and how they are able to demand better health services for themselves and for their communities.

Quality of Health Information on the Internet

2009 ◽  
pp. 443-455
Author(s):  
Kleopatra Alamantariotou
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Quality ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
The Internet ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Use Of The Internet ◽  
Effective Use

Recent statistics show that the World Wide Web has now grown to over 100 million sites: a phenomenal expansion in only 15 years (Mulligan 2007). It has been estimated that there are 100,000 sites offering health related information (Wilson 2002). As the amount of health information increases, the public find it increasingly difficult to decide what to accept and what to reject (Burgess 2007). Searching for information on the internet is both deceptively easy and the same time frustratingly difficult (Kiley 2002). The challenge for consumers is to find high quality, relevant information as quickly as possible. There has been ongoing debate about the quality of information aimed at patients and the general public and opinions differ on how it can be improved (Stepperd 1999). The purpose of this chapter is to provide a brief overview of the different perspectives on information quality and to review the main criteria for assessing the quality of health information on the internet. Pointers are provided to enable both clinicians and patients find high quality information sources. An understanding of these issues should help health professionals and patients to make effective use of the internet.

Toward an Informed-Patient Approach to E-Health Services

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-67
Author(s):  
Keren Mazuz ◽  
Seema Biswas ◽  
Rui Amaral Mendes
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Good Evidence ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Need To Evaluate ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Informed Patient

With the expanding utilization of digital and technological media by public health providers and healthcare consumers, there is a need to evaluate the patients' role. There is good evidence of the growing acceptability of the Internet in seeking health information. This paper aims to evaluate the patients' role as an informed-patient. This role, albeit, with its limitations, affects the ways by which people consume health, consult their doctors and also influence health policy. This paper is a sociological and anthropological analysis of the effect of e-health services on the informed-patients' role and their ability to bring about social change through the Internet and their use of e-healthcare services. Through analyzing current literature and examples of health-related websites, this analysis focuses on informed-patients and how they are able to demand better health services for themselves and for their communities.

The association between Internet use and health outcomes in the population of older adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
K Szulc ◽  
M Duplaga
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background The Internet has become one of the primary sources of health-related information. Less is known about the impact of Internet access and use on health-related outcomes in the older population, which frequently suffer from a digital divide. The main objective of this study was the assessment of the associations between Internet use and variables reflecting health status, the use of health services and health behaviours in the population at least 50 years old. Methods The analysis was carried out on the data set from the telephone-based survey in a sample of 1000 respondents representative for targeted age strata of Polish society. The effects of Internet use were assessed with logistic regression models after adjusting for key socioeconomic variables. Results Mean age (standard deviation) of respondents was 64.2 (9.6). In the study group, 51.1% respondents were Internet users, 19.4% - persons with disabilities, 21.2% were hospitalised at least once, and 51.0% visited health care facilities at least six times in preceding 12 months. The respondents being Internet users less frequently reported chronic diseases (OR, 95%CI: 0.21, 0.16-0.30), disability status (0.52, 0.37-0.72) and higher self-assessed health status (1.64, 1.24-2.16). They also less often used health services in the preceding 12 months (0.77, 0.60-0.99. Internet use was not associated with hospital admission in the preceding year (1.04, 0.76-1.41) and most of the health behaviours (smoking: 1.06, 0.77-1.45, physical activity: 0.85, 0.63-1.15, the consumption of fruits and vegetables: 0.73, 0.50-1.07). Interestingly, Internet users drunk more alcohol (1.52, 1.14-2.02). Conclusions In the population of older adults, the use of the Internet is associated with variables reflecting health status and the utilisation of health services. Higher health status and lower prevalence of chronic conditions among Internet users were found after adjusting for age and other socioeconomic factors. Key messages It was shown that Internet use may be related with more favourable health outcomes. The reported association should trigger further research on the impact of Internet in elderly persons.

scholarly journals Ethical and Legal Issues in the Use of Online-Based Health Services (E-Health)

SOEPRA ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fitriani Nur Damayanti ◽  
Absori Absori ◽  
Kelik Wardiono ◽  
Sri Rejeki
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Code Of Ethics ◽  
Online Communication ◽  
Legal Issues ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Ethical And Legal Issues

The internet offers unprecedented power to provide users with health information for patients, health professionals, and professionals. Maintaining the integrity, data systems, and confidentiality of individual health information, quality of content, and consumer protection and the commercial interests of the health industry against unethical practices, are areas of greatest concern in the implementation and use of the Internet. However, there is no national and international legislation for regulating the use of online-based health services. This research is a Literature review that aims to explore ethical and legal issues in the use of online-based health services (E-Health). The review process begins by identifying journal articles that are relevant to the research topic. This study concludes that the use of online-based health services (E-Health) is an important public health issue. E-Health emerged as a tool for developing new diagnostics and therapeutic interventions. Ethical issues related to crossing clinical practice and online communication about health services. This allows discriminatory or unethical behavior and is not following the professional code of ethics. E-Health licensing standards and regulations have not been implemented in many countries. So that health workers are required to code of ethics in the use of online-based health services (E-Health).

scholarly journals Associations Between the Use of eHealth and Out-of-Hours Services in People With Type 1 Diabetes: Cross-Sectional Study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Helen Hansen ◽  
Tor Claudi ◽  
Eirik Årsand
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Information ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Out Of Hours ◽  
Frequent Users ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Anxiety Depression

BACKGROUND Despite the increasing prevalence of diabetes and the increasing use of eHealth, little is known about the association between provider-based health services and eHealth among people with diabetes. This is the second study in a project exploring the associations between the use of eHealth and the use of provider-based health services. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to investigate which eHealth services are used among out-of-hours (OOH) visitors with type 1 diabetes (T1D), and whether the use of eHealth (eg, apps, search engines, video services, and social media) was associated with the use of OOH services. We also wanted to investigate associations between anxiety, reassurance, and change in doctor-seeking behavior because of health information acquired from the Internet, and the use of OOH services. METHODS We used data from a 2018 email survey of members of the Norwegian Diabetes Association (18-89 years old). Respondents with T1D were eligible for analyses. Using descriptive statistics, we estimated the use of OOH services and eHealth. Using logistic regressions, we studied the associations between the use of OOH services and the use of eHealth, as well as associations between the use of OOH services and reported consequences of using Internet-based health information. RESULTS In the sample of 523 people with T1D (mean age 47 years), 26.7% (129/484) visited OOH services once or more during the previous year. Among the OOH visitors, search engines were used for health purposes by 86.7% (111/128), apps (health apps in general) by 63.6% (82/129), social media by 45.3% (58/128), and video services by 28.4% (36/127). The use of OOH services was positively associated with self-reported anxiety/depression (odds ratio [OR] 4.53, 95% CI 1.43-14.32) and with the use of apps (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.05-2.85), but not with other types of eHealth. Those who had felt anxious based on information from the Internet were more likely to visit OOH services compared with those who had not felt anxious (OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.50-3.78). People who had decided to consult a doctor based on information from the Internet were more likely to visit OOH services (OR 2.76, 95% CI 1.64-4.66), compared to those who had not made such an Internet-based decision. CONCLUSIONS People with T1D were frequent users of OOH services, and the OOH visitors were frequent users of eHealth. The use of OOH services was positively associated with the use of health apps, with self-reported anxiety/depression, and with feeling anxious based on information from the Internet. Likewise, deciding to consult a doctor based on information from the Internet was positively associated with OOH visits. The use of eHealth seems to have a significant impact on people with T1D.

scholarly journals Gender Differences in Online Health-Related Search Behaviors Among Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 660-660
Author(s):  
Matthew Picchiello ◽  
Payton Rule ◽  
Tina Lu ◽  
Brian Carpenter
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Health Care Information ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Search Behaviors

Abstract Nearly 60% of older adults use the internet for health-related reasons. Some studies have demonstrated differences in the frequency at which men and women perform various online activities. However, few studies have investigated gender differences in health-related search behaviors (HRSB). The purpose of this study was to examine differences in self-reported HRSB between older men and women. A total of 47 older adults (M age = 66.6, 55% female, 87% White) completed a survey assessing perceived usefulness and trust in the internet for health-care information, types of websites used, and reasons for looking up health information. Independent samples t-tests revealed that, compared to women, men regard the internet as more useful in helping them make health care decisions (t (45) = 2.715) and as a more trustworthy source (t (45) = 2.24, p's < 0.05). Men were more likely to get health information through sources affiliated with educational institutions (χ2(1) = 3.9) and government agencies (χ2(1) = 8.8), whereas women were more likely to use social media, (χ2(1) = 4.3, p's < 0.05). Lastly, men were more likely to use the internet to learn about information on medical procedures (χ2(1) = 5.1), while women were more likely to learn about alternative treatments (χ2(1) = 4.9, p 's < 0.05) online. As 72.3% of participants indicated the internet as their first source for health information, interventions geared towards enhancing HRSB for older adults are needed, especially for older women whose HRSB may make them particularly vulnerable to misinformation.

scholarly journals Lifestyle Segmentation to Explain the Online Health Information–Seeking Behavior of Older Adults: Representative Telephone Survey (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Winja Weber ◽  
Anne Reinhardt ◽  
Constanze Rossmann
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Information Seeking Behavior ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Sociodemographic Variables ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Health Related

BACKGROUND As a result of demographic changes, the number of people aged 60 years and older has been increasing steadily. Therefore, older adults have become more important as a target group for health communication efforts. Various studies show that online health information sources have gained importance among younger adults, but we know little about the health-related internet use of senior citizens in general and in particular about the variables explaining their online health-related information–seeking behavior. Media use studies indicate that in addition to sociodemographic variables, lifestyle factors might play a role in this context. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine older people’s health-related internet use. Our study focused on the explanatory potential of lifestyle types over and above sociodemographic variables to predict older adults’ internet use for health information. METHODS A telephone survey was conducted with a random sample of German adults aged 60 years and older (n=701) that was quota-allocated by gender, age, educational status, and degree of urbanity of their place of residence. RESULTS The results revealed that participants used the internet infrequently (mean 1.82 [SD 1.07]), and medical personnel (mean 2.89 [SD 1.11]), family and friends (mean 2.86 [SD 1.21]), and health brochures (mean 2.85 [SD 1.21]) were their main sources of health information. A hierarchical cluster analysis based on values, interests, and leisure time activities revealed three different lifestyle types for adults aged over 60 years: the Sociable Adventurer, the Average Family Person, and the Uninterested Inactive. After adding these types as second-step predictors in a hierarchical regression model with sociodemographic variables (step 1), the explained variance increased significantly (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup>=.02, <i>P</i>=.001), indicating that the Average Family Person and the Sociable Adventurer use the internet more often for health information than the Uninterested Inactive, over and above their sociodemographic attributes. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that the internet still plays only a minor role in the health information–seeking behavior of older German adults. Nevertheless, there are subgroups including younger, more active, down-to-earth and family-oriented males that may be reached with online health information. Our findings suggest that lifestyle types should be taken into account when predicting health-related internet use behavior.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document