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.

scholarly journals Views and experiences of family physicians about Syrian refugee patients in Turkey: a qualitative research

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duygu Ayhan Baser ◽  
Özge Mıhcı ◽  
Meltem Tugce Direk ◽  
Mustafa Cankurtaran
Keyword(s):  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Family Physicians ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Syrian Refugee

Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the attitudes, views and solution proposals of family physicians (FPs) about primary healthcare problems of Syrian refugee patients. This study would be the very first study for Turkey that evaluates the attitudes, views and solution proposals of FPs about primary healthcare problems of Syrian refugee patients. Background: Following the anti-regime demonstrations that started in March 2011, the developments in Syria created one of the biggest humanitarian crises in the world and the largest number of asylum seekers continue to be hosted in Turkey. There are some studies evaluating asylum seekers’ access to healthcare services in Europe, and the common result is that refugees have free access to primary healthcare services in most countries; however, they face many obstacles when accessing primary healthcare services. While there are studies in the literature evaluating the situation of access to primary healthcare services from the perspective of asylum seekers; there are few studies evaluating the opinions/views of FPs. Methods: A qualitative methodology informed by the grounded theory was used to guide the research. A total of 20 FPs were interviewed face to face through semi-structured interviews, using 12 questions about their lived experience and views caring of refugee population. Interviews were analysed thematically. Finding: The following themes were revealed: Benefiting from Primary Health Care Services, Benefiting from Rights, Differences Between the Approach/Attitudes of Turkish Citizens and Refugees, Barriers to Healthcare Delivery, Training Needs of Physicians, Solution proposals. FPs reported that there is a need for support in primary care and a need for training them and refugees in this regard and they specified refugee healthcare centres are the best healthcare centres for refugees; however, the number of these and provided services should be increased.

scholarly journals Patient satisfaction survey: A gateway to quality improvement in primary healthcare in the IAF

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 ◽  
pp. 105-108
Author(s):  
VV Joshi ◽  
R Dev ◽  
NK Tripathy
Keyword(s):  
Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Quality Of Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Important Indicator ◽  
Tertiary Healthcare

Patient satisfaction is an important indicator to assess and improve quality of healthcare services. In Armed Forces Medical Services, studies on patient satisfaction are scant and mainly hospital based. Hence, a study was conducted with an objective to assess patient satisfaction in seven Primary Healthcare Delivery Centers (PHDCs) in one of the operational commands in the Indian Air Force (IAF). Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire Short Form 18 (PSQ-18), a simple tool, was used for the survey. The study was unique in the sense that few centers in the survey were remotely located from tertiary care hospitals and the Medical Officers in these PHDCs were relatively inexperienced. The analysis of the survey clearly brought out distinct differences in certain dimensions of patient satisfaction across the PHDCs. In addition, utility of the Hindi translated version of PSQ-18 was ascertained. Based on the results of the study, few important conclusions were drawn; (a) patient satisfaction could be assessed using simple questionnaire such as PSQ-18, (b) the Hindi translated version of PSQ-18 can also be used as a useful tool depending on the participants’ preference, and (c) the observed dimensions affecting patient satisfaction could be addressed through specific interventions. Similar survey is recommended to be conducted across primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare establishments in the IAF.

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.

scholarly journals Protocol for a systematic review of barriers, facilitators and outcomes in primary healthcare services for women in Pakistan

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e043715
Author(s):  
Sara Rizvi Jafree ◽  
Qaisar Khalid Mahmood ◽  
Ain ul Momina ◽  
Florian Fischer ◽  
Jane Barlow
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Synthesis Method ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
The Government

IntroductionThe lack of universal health coverage and high poverty rates among the majority of women in Pakistan makes it essential to understand the quality and effectiveness of primary healthcare services. The aim of this project is to systematically review the available literature for interventions for primary healthcare services for women in order to provide the basis for future healthcare policy. The primary objective is to identify the effectiveness of the intervention in terms of how successful it was in improving health of women; whereas the secondary aim is to identify barriers and facilitators for delivery of primary healthcare services.Methods and analysisA systematic review using a narrative synthesis will be undertaken, including qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods studies from January to June 2021. Electronic databases will be used including PubMed, BMC, Medline, CINAHL and Cochrane Library. The search will be conducted in English and no date restrictions will be applied. A thematic synthesis method will be used for data synthesis involving three steps: (1) the identification, coding and initial theme generation for effectiveness of primary healthcare interventions in Pakistan for women, (2) identification and grouping of overarching themes, and related subthemes, to develop descriptive themes for barriers and facilitators for primary healthcare delivery, and (3) generation of general analytical themes in order to present recommendations in terms of improved health outcomes for women.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval for this study was obtained from the Institutional Review Board, Forman Christian College University. Results will be disseminated via publications in international peer-reviewed journals. In addition, conference proceedings will be used to inform the government, researchers, donors, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders. This study will result in a systematic identification and synthesis of barriers and facilitators for women’s health outcomes that will help inform future primary health policies.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020203472.

scholarly journals PrimaryCare@COVID-19: the implementation of digital monitoring services for patients with chronic diseases during the Covid-19 pandemic (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Velez Lapão ◽  
Mariana Santos ◽  
Melanie Maia ◽  
Vasco Pedrosa ◽  
Jorge Seixas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Design Science ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Healthcare Provision ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Primary Healthcare Centers

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic is straining health systems and disrupting the delivery of healthcare services, in particular for the elderly and those with chronic conditions, who are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. OBJECTIVE The aim of this project is to support primary healthcare provision with a digital health platform that will allow primary care physicians and nurses to remotely manage the care of patients with chronic diseases or COVID-19 infections. METHODS The project followed the 6 steps of the Design Science implementation methodology framework: problem identification and motivation, definition of the objectives aligned with Goal-oriented care, artefact design and development, solution demonstration, evaluation, and communication. RESULTS The digital platform was developed for the specific objectives of the project and successfully piloted in three primary healthcare centers in the Lisbon Health Region. The health professionals were able to safely and thoroughly manage their first patients remotely with high degrees of satisfaction. The first COVID-19 messages were sent to the patients, addressing infodemic issues. CONCLUSIONS Although still in the first steps of implementation, we are seeing promising results with a positive uptake by healthcare providers and patients. Further research is planned to evaluate the impact on patient’s health related outcomes. We are confident that this platform could be scaled-up to all primary healthcare centers in Portugal in the next months, ready to tackle a second wave of COVID-19.

scholarly journals A Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence-Based, Patient-Centric Healthcare System for Combating the COVID-19 Pandemic: Opportunities and Applications

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1019
Author(s):  
Mohamed Yaseen Jabarulla ◽  
Heung-No Lee
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Data ◽  
Disruptive Technologies ◽  
Drug Manufacturing ◽  
Digital Healthcare ◽  
Patient Centric

The world is facing multiple healthcare challenges because of the emergence of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. The pandemic has exposed the limitations of handling public healthcare emergencies using existing digital healthcare technologies. Thus, the COVID-19 situation has forced research institutes and countries to rethink healthcare delivery solutions to ensure continuity of services while people stay at home and practice social distancing. Recently, several researchers have focused on disruptive technologies, such as blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI), to improve the digital healthcare workflow during COVID-19. Blockchain could combat pandemics by enabling decentralized healthcare data sharing, protecting users’ privacy, providing data empowerment, and ensuring reliable data management during outbreak tracking. In addition, AI provides intelligent computer-aided solutions by analyzing a patient’s medical images and symptoms caused by coronavirus for efficient treatments, future outbreak prediction, and drug manufacturing. Integrating both blockchain and AI could transform the existing healthcare ecosystem by democratizing and optimizing clinical workflows. In this article, we begin with an overview of digital healthcare services and problems that have arisen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Next, we conceptually propose a decentralized, patient-centric healthcare framework based on blockchain and AI to mitigate COVID-19 challenges. Then, we explore the significant applications of integrated blockchain and AI technologies to augment existing public healthcare strategies for tackling COVID-19. Finally, we highlight the challenges and implications for future research within a patient-centric paradigm.

Healthcare under the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in a decentralised health system

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-167
Author(s):  
Virendra Kumar ◽  
Anindya Jayanta Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Health System ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Health Planning ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Health Centres ◽  
Panchayati Raj

Purpose This paper aims to explore the challenges and benefits arising from the involvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in the provisioning of primary healthcare in a decentralised health system of India. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative study design was used in this study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews from 89 respondents selected from nine primary health centres across the district. A thematic analytical framework approach was used to analyse the data. Findings The research results indicate that there are several challenges resulting from PRIs involvement, including prioritisation of service providers and users, coercive unethical work and lack of communication. However, there are some benefits associated with the involvement of the PRIs in service provisioning, including improved availability and regularity of healthcare providers at the health centres. Research limitations/implications The implications of the findings suggest that the PRIs play an important role in healthcare provisioning; however, their involvement is ineffective due to their partial capabilities and approach, which creates a non-conducive environment. Practical implications Health issues are among the most important human concerns, and recognising and addressing the grassroot challenges help to locate, and overcome the challenges that hinder the smooth healthcare provisioning process. Originality/value National Rural Health Mission has recognised the PRIs as a platform to promote decentralised health planning and for achieving its goals in India. The PRIs are significantly involved in planning, monitoring and provisioning of primary healthcare services at grassroot level. This paper addresses the challenges and benefits that emerged due to their involvement.

Digital Healthcare Strategy

2022 ◽  
pp. 238-282
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Health System ◽  
National Health ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Information System ◽  
National Health System ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
System A ◽  
Key Indicators

This goal of this chapter is to introduce digital strategies for healthcare. The chapter begins with an analysis of key indicators of public health and the healthcare sector. Next, the chapter presents key principles for healthcare, focusing on the constitution of the national health system. A case study focusing on Poland is then presented. After this, the chapter puts forth a digital strategy for the national health system. This is followed by an analysis of several health systems: the patient information system, the clinic information system, the pharmacy information, and the hospital information system. Next, the use of big data for healthcare is considered. The chapter concludes by putting forth a model for the national health information system and by discussing important trends in the development of digital health.

Barriers to and facilitators of the uptake of digital health technology in cardiology: a systematic review

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Whitelaw ◽  
D Pellegrini ◽  
H.G.C Van Spall
Keyword(s):  
Digital Health ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Clinical Workflow ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Health Technologies ◽  
Patient Level ◽  
Use Of Technology

Abstract Background Digital health technology has the potential to revolutionize the quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery. However, the uptake of digital health technology has been low in clinical practice. The factors that contribute to the limited adoption of digital health technology, particularly in cardiology, are unclear. Purpose We identified and synthesized the barriers to and facilitators of digital health technology uptake in cardiology, with a focus on provider- and patient- level barriers and facilitators. Methods We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL databases for studies published January 2000 - December 2019 that reported barriers to and/or facilitators of digital health technology adoption in cardiology. Two reviewers screened and extracted data independently. We conducted a thematic analysis to identify major themes pertaining to digital health technology uptake by both providers and patients. Results The search identified 3062 unique studies, of which 23 qualitative studies met eligibility criteria. Seventeen studies included semi-structured interviews and 6 included focus groups. Five (22%) studies reported provider-level facilitators, which included technology usability, integration into clinical workflow, and improved patient outcomes. Eighteen (78%) studies reported patient-level facilitators, which included ongoing technical support, improved access to healthcare services, and improved self-management. Six (26%) studies reported provider-level barriers, which included lack of integration into clinical workflow, increased healthcare costs, and lack of validation and reliability of technology. Finally, 19 (83%) studies reported patient-level barriers which included lack of knowledge about technology, limited internet access, and physical impairments making use of technology difficult. Conclusions Identifying barriers to and facilitators of digital health technology could help improve its uptake in cardiology. The findings of this study can be used to inform researchers, clinicians, and stakeholders who wish to develop and implement digital health technologies that meet the needs of providers and patients. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

scholarly journals Healthcare providers’ perspectives of providing primary healthcare services to persons with physical disabilities in rural Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ebenezer Dassah ◽  
Heather M. Aldersey ◽  
Mary Ann McColl ◽  
Colleen Davison
Keyword(s):  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Physical Disabilities ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Disabled People ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Rural Ghana ◽  
Healthcare Needs

Abstract Background: A growing body of evidence has shown that persons with physical disabilities experience substantial barriers in accessing primary healthcare (PHC) services in rural areas. Negative attitudes from healthcare providers and inaccessible healthcare facilities and equipment are common experiences that negatively affect access to quality healthcare for persons with physical disabilities. However, there is limited research that explores this issue from the perspectives of healthcare providers. This qualitative study explores the perspectives of healthcare providers in delivering PHC services to persons with physical disabilities in rural Ghana. Understanding healthcare providers’ perspectives could help leverage previous findings from clients’ experiences to more fully inform the development of specific and actionable research and interventions to improve healthcare delivery for disabled people. Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews with 15 healthcare providers and used thematic analysis to analyze the data. Results: Participants reported their perspectives in three major themes: challenges in providing healthcare (eg, limited availability of drugs and medical equipment, limited healthcare providers, financial constraints, and inaccessible facilities and equipment); strategies in navigating the challenges (eg, improvising techniques and employing professional values, referring clients, and providing financial assistance to clients); and positive experience in providing healthcare (eg, feeling rewarded and appreciated). Conclusion: The findings reinforce the need to consider the availability of rehabilitation professionals and services to address the specific healthcare needs of disabled people at the PHC level in Ghana. The findings also point to a need for further research on the perspectives of healthcare policymakers about how to navigate the systemic barriers encountered by providers in providing care to persons with physical disabilities in rural Ghana in particular, and other similar rural areas.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document