scholarly journals Mobile Health Technology and Healthcare Providers: Systemic Barriers to Adoption

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 267-278
Author(s):  
Somayyeh Zakerabasali ◽  
Seyed Mohammad Ayyoubzadeh ◽  
Tayebeh Baniasadi ◽  
Azita Yazdani ◽  
Shahabeddin Abhari

Objectives: Despite the growing use of mobile health (mHealth), certain barriers seem to be hindering the use of mHealth applications in healthcare. This article presents a systematic review of the literature on barriers associated with mHealth reported by healthcare professionals.Methods: This systematic review was carried out to identify studies published from January 2015 to December 2019 by searching four electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar). Studies were included if they reported perceived barriers to the adoption of mHealth from healthcare providers’ perspectives. Content analysis and categorization of barriers were performed based on a focus group discussion that explored researchers’ knowledge and experiences.Results: Among the 273 papers retrieved through the search strategy, 18 works were selected and 18 barriers were identified. The relevant barriers were categorized into three main groups: technical, individual, and healthcare system. Security and privacy concerns from the category of technical barriers, knowledge and limited literacy from the category of individual barriers, and economic and financial factors from the category of healthcare system barriers were chosen as three of the most important challenges related to the adoption of mHealth described in the included publications.Conclusions: mHealth adoption is a complex and multi-dimensional process that is widely implemented to increase access to healthcare services. However, it is influenced by various factors and barriers. Understanding the barriers to adoption of mHealth applications among providers, and engaging them in the adoption process will be important for the successful deployment of these applications.

2019 ◽  
pp. 1357633X1985674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoshi Yang ◽  
Carrie L Kovarik

Introduction Mobile health has a promising future in the healthcare system in most developed countries. China’s rapidly developing mobile technology infrastructure offers an unprecedented opportunity for wide adoption of mobile health interventions in the delivery of effective and timely healthcare services. However, there is little data on the current extent of the mobile health landscape in China. The aim of this study was to systematically review the existing mobile health initiatives in China, characterise the technology used, disease categories targeted, location of the end user (urban versus rural), and examine the potential effects of mobile health on health system strengthening in China. Furthermore, we identified gaps in development and evaluation of the effectiveness of mobile health interventions. Methods A systematic review of the literature published from 18 December 2015–3 April 2019 was conducted and yielded 2863 articles from English and Chinese retrieval database and trial registries, including PubMed, EMBASE, China National Knowledge of Infrastructure and World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. Studies were included if they used mobile health to support patient healthcare outcomes. Results A total of 1129 full-text articles were assessed and 338 were included in this study. The review found that most studies targeted client education and behaviour change via applications (apps) (65.4%), including WeChat, and text messaging (short text messages) (19.8%) to improve patient medical treatment outcomes such as compliance and appointment reminders. The most common disease-specific mobile health interventions focused primarily on chronic disease management and behaviour change in cardiology (13.3%), endocrinology/diabetes (12.1%), behavioural health (11.8%), oncology (11.2%) and neurology (6.8%). The mobile health interventions related to nutrition (0.6%) and chronic respiratory diseases (1.6%) are underrepresented in mobile health in comparison to the burden of disease in China. The majority (90.0%) of the mobile health interventions were conducted exclusively in urban areas, with few opportunities reaching rural populations. Conclusions Overall, mobile health has a promising future in China, with recent rapid growth in initiatives. The majority are focused on education and behaviour change in the realm of chronic diseases and target patients in urban areas. The imbalance in mobile health between the urban and rural areas, as well as between population disease spectrum and health service delivery, pose substantial dilemmas. However, mobile health may be redirected to correct this imbalance, possibly improving access to healthcare services, and filling the gaps in order to improve health equity for the underserved populations in China.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 28-45
Author(s):  
Young B. Choi ◽  
Christopher E. Williams

Data breaches have a profound effect on businesses associated with industries like the US healthcare system. This task extends more pressure on healthcare providers as they continue to gain unprecedented access to patient data, as the US healthcare system integrates further into the digital realm. Pressure has also led to the creation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, Omnibus Rule, and Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health laws. The Defense Information Systems Agency also develops and maintains security technical implementation guides that are consistent with DoD cybersecurity policies, standards, architectures, security controls, and validation procedures. The objective is to design a network (physician's office) in order to meet the complexity standards and unpredictable measures posed by attackers. Additionally, the network must adhere to HIPAA security and privacy requirements required by law. Successful implantation of network design will articulate comprehension requirements of information assurance security and control.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Reza Mohammadi ◽  
Zeinab Tabanejad ◽  
Shahabeddin Abhari ◽  
Behnam Honarvar ◽  
Mina Lazem ◽  
...  

Context: Considering the pivotal role of telemedicine in providing healthcare services for remote areas, some of the military medical centers, especially in developed countries, use different types of telemedicine programs. Objectives: The present study aimed at identifying the implemented telemedicine projects in military medicine worldwide and introducing their features. Evidence Acquisition: The current systematic review was performed in 2018. PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched for articles published from 2014 to 2018 by a combination of related keywords, and the related original articles were then selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were collected by a data extraction form, and then the data were summarized and reported based on the study objectives. Results: Of the 173 articles retrieved from the first round of search, 12 were included in the study; five (41.66%) studies had used the synchronous (real-time telemedicine) method. The United States, with nine studies, had the highest number of projects in military telemedicine. Most studies (n = 7) were performed on tele-psychology and the application of telemedicine in psychology. All selected studies reported the positive effects of telemedicine on providing healthcare for military forces. Conclusions: The proper utilization of telemedicine equipment is effective in saving time for both patients and healthcare providers, reducing costs, supporting in natural disasters, and satisfying patients with military medicine. To achieve telemedicine program objectives, they should be set precisely. Considering the importance of timely healthcare services, it is suggested to utilize synchronous methods and tools such as video conferencing.


2011 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 413-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Fornaciari ◽  
Arthur Vleugels ◽  
Stefaan Callens ◽  
Kristof Eeckloo

AbstractThe Belgian healthcare system consists of a complex of more or less autonomous groups of healthcare providers. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that the fundamental right to qualitative healthcare is secured through the services they provide. In Belgium, the regulatory powers in healthcare are divided between the federal state and the three communities. Both levels, within their area of competence, monitor the quality of healthcare services. Unique to the Belgian healthcare system is that the government that providers are accountable to is not always the same as the government that is competent to set the criteria. The goal of this article is to provide an overview of the main mechanisms that are used by the federal government and the government of the Flemish community to monitor healthcare quality in hospitals. The Flemish community is Belgian’s largest community (6.2 million inhabitants). The overview is followed by a critical analysis of the dual system of quality monitoring.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Özlem Özkan ◽  
Yeşim Aydin Son ◽  
Arsev Umur Aydinoğlu

AbstractWith the increasing use of genetic testing and applications of bioinformatics in healthcare, genetic and genomic data needs to be integrated into electronic health systems. We administered a descriptive survey to 174 participants to elicit their views on the privacy and security of mobile health record systems and inclusion of their genetic data in these systems. A survey was implemented online and on site in two genetic diagnostic centres. Nearly half of the participants or their close family members had undergone genetic testing. Doctors constituted the only profession group that people trusted for the privacy of their health and genetic data; however, people chose to limit even their doctor’s access to their genetic/health records. The majority of the respondents preferred to keep full access for themselves. Several participants had negative experience or preconceptions about electronic health records: the medical reports of 9.7% of the respondents had been used or released without their consent, 15.1% stated that they avoided being tested due to violation risks, and 3.5% asked their doctors to enter a less embarrassing health status in their records. The participants wanted to see some regulations and security measurements before using any system for their health/genetic data. In addition, significantly more participants stating that storing genetic data in a mobile system was riskier compared to other health data. Furthermore, the comparative analysis revealed that being young, being a woman and having higher education were associated with having greater privacy concerns.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. H. D. Bahaa Aldin Alhaffar ◽  
Sandor Janos

AbstractTen years of the Syrian war had a devastating effect on Syrian lives, including millions of refugees and displaced people, enormous destruction in the infrastructure, and the worst economic crisis Syria has ever faced. The health sector was hit hard by this war, up to 50% of the health facilities have been destroyed and up to 70% of the healthcare providers fled the country seeking safety, which increased the workload and mental pressure for the remaining medical staff. Five databases were searched and 438 articles were included according to the inclusion criteria, the articles were divided into categories according to the topic of the article.Through this review, the current health status of the Syrian population living inside Syria, whether under governmental or opposition control, was reviewed, and also, the health status of the Syrian refugees was examined according to each host country. Public health indicators were used to summarize and categorize the information. This research reviewed mental health, children and maternal health, oral health, non-communicable diseases, infectious diseases, occupational health, and the effect of the COVID − 19 pandemic on the Syrian healthcare system. The results of the review are irritating, as still after ten years of war and millions of refugees there is an enormous need for healthcare services, and international organization has failed to respond to those needs. The review ended with the current and future challenges facing the healthcare system, and suggestions about rebuilding the healthcare system.Through this review, the major consequences of the Syrian war on the health of the Syrian population have been reviewed and highlighted. Considerable challenges will face the future of health in Syria which require the collaboration of the health authorities to respond to the growing needs of the Syrian population. This article draws an overview about how the Syrian war affected health sector for Syrian population inside and outside Syria after ten years of war which makes it an important reference for future researchers to get the main highlight of the health sector during the Syrian crisis.


Author(s):  
Muhammad Anshari ◽  
Mohammad Nabil Almunawar

Pervasive mobile health is mobile health that provides healthcare services accessible regardless of time and place with patients can continuously be connected through their smart mobile devices. It offers healthcare providers a more comprehensive perspective of patients' condition and thus aid in achieving complex healthcare goal(s) such as building lasting relationships with patients. The service can be further extended to accommodate customers' participation in health and healthcare processes to improve healthcare services by extending roles of patients. The advancement of the Web technologies, especially social networks, push eHealth to embrace mobile devices (mHealth) and personalize customers centric services with a possibility to extend and improve services by enabling active participation of patients, patient's families, and the community at large in healthcare processes and personal health decision making. This chapter addresses some important concepts of mHealth, challenges, future trends, and some related terminologies to provide a holistic view of mHealth.


Author(s):  
Muhammad Anshari ◽  
Mohammad Nabil Almunawar

Pervasive mobile health is mobile health that provides healthcare services that are accessible regardless of time and place where patients can continuously be connected through their smart mobile devices. It offers healthcare providers a more comprehensive perspective of patients' conditions and thus aids in achieving complex healthcare goal(s) such as building lasting relationships with patients. The service can be further extended to accommodate customers' participation in health and healthcare processes to improve healthcare services by extending roles of patients. The advancement of the web technologies, especially social networks, push e-health to embrace mobile devices (m-health) and personalize customer-centric services with a possibility to extend and improve services by enabling active participation of patients, patients' families, and the community at large in healthcare processes and personal health decision making. This chapter addresses some important concepts of m-health, challenges, future trends, and some related terminologies to provide a holistic view of m-health.


Author(s):  
Waddaa Redha ◽  
Kirsten Hartwick ◽  
Neal Sikka

With the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010, significant changes are occurring within the healthcare system. It is imperative that ways to both reduce cost and improve health are found. Since emergency medicine is often considered the gateway to the healthcare system, healthcare providers need to determine the best way to provide high quality care in the emergency department while also curbing costs. Mobile health, or mHealth, utilizes technology to increase the mobility of patients and their providers and provides a medium to transfer data and information efficiently. In emergency medicine, this technology can be applied in various treatments including wound care, stroke care, and prehospital care. In this article, the authors discuss the current uses of mHealth within emergency care and potential areas for future growth.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leming Zhou ◽  
Jie Bao ◽  
Valerie Watzlaf ◽  
Bambang Parmanto

BACKGROUND A large number of mobile health (mHealth) apps have been created to help users to manage their health or receive health care services. Many of these mHealth apps have proven to be helpful for maintaining or improving their users’ health. However, many people still choose not to use mHealth apps or only use them for a short period. One of the reasons behind this lack of use is the concern for their health information security and privacy. OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to determine the relationship between users’ characteristics and their security and privacy concerns and to identify desired security features in mHealth apps, which could reduce these concerns. METHODS A questionnaire was designed and validated by the research team. This questionnaire was then used to determine mobile app users’ security and privacy concerns regarding personal health data in mHealth apps as well as the security features most users’ desire. A semistructured interview was used to identify barriers to and facilitators of adopting mHealth apps. RESULTS In total, 117 randomly selected study participants from a large pool took part in this study and provided responses to the validated questionnaire and the semistructured interview questions. The results indicate that most study participants did have concerns about their privacy when using mHealth apps. They also expressed their preferences regarding several security features in mHealth apps, such as regular password updates, remote wipe, user consent, and access control. An association between their demographic characteristics and their concerns and preferences in security and privacy was identified; however, in most cases, the differences among the different demographic groups were not statistically significant, except for a few very specific aspects. These study participants also indicated that the cost of apps and lack of security features in mHealth apps were barriers for adoption, whereas having free apps, strong but easy-to-use security features, and clear user protection privacy policies might encourage them to use mHealth apps in their health management. CONCLUSIONS This questionnaire and interview study verified the security and privacy concerns of mHealth app users, identified the desired security and privacy features, and determined specific barriers to and facilitators of users adopting mHealth apps. The results can be used to guide mHealth app developers to create apps that would be welcomed by users.


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