Comparison of User-Oriented Information Services on the Websites of Large Hospitals in China and the United States: Cross-sectional Study

Background Many people use the internet to access health care information to support health care decisions, and hospital websites can be the first point of contact to provide health care information services for consumers. However, little is known about the current information services provided by the websites of large Chinese hospitals. Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the information services of the websites of large hospitals in China and the United States. We hope that our findings will benefit hospital managers worldwide in providing service information on the web. Methods This study adopted a cross-sectional analytical approach to evaluate the websites of large hospitals in China and the United States in 2020. A total of 300 large hospitals were randomly selected, of which half were in China and half were in the United States. Based on the 7Ps marketing mix, we identified 39 items that represent typical hospital website information services, covering the following seven dimensions: product, price, place, propagation, people, process, and physical evidence. Results Most of the items (34/39, 87%) related to information services offered by hospital websites were less covered in China than in the United States; however, 5 items (appointments by a third-party platform, mobile payment, hospital value, hospital environment display, and physicians’ profiles) had higher coverage in China. The average scores for hospital websites in China and the United States were 13.25 (SD 2.99) points and 23.16 (SD 2.76) points, respectively. Generally, high scores were given to the south areas of China and north areas of the United States. Conclusions Hospital websites in China lagged behind those in the United States with regard to information services offered. We recommend that hospital managers in China place more emphasis on the people, product, and propagation dimensions of the 7Ps marketing mix in the construction of information services on hospital websites. Through the comparison of the websites of large hospitals in China and the United States, our study findings can provide suggestions for forming standard hospital website construction guidelines worldwide.

The HUNT Study: a population-based cohort for genetic research

The Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) is a population-based cohort of ~229,000 individuals recruited in four waves beginning in 1984 in Trøndelag County, Norway. ~88,000 of these individuals have available genetic data from array genotyping. HUNT participants were recruited during 4 community-based recruitment waves and provided information on health-related behaviors, self-reported diagnoses, family history of disease, and underwent physical examinations. Linkage via the Norwegian personal identification number integrates digitized health care information from doctor visits and national health registries including death, cancer and prescription registries. Genome-wide association studies of HUNT participants have provided insights into the mechanism of cardiovascular, metabolic, osteoporotic and liver-related diseases, among others. Unique features of this cohort that facilitate research include nearly 40 years of longitudinal follow-up in a motivated and well-educated population, family data, comprehensive phenotyping, and broad availability of DNA, RNA, urine, fecal, plasma, and serum samples.

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

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.

Information System for Screening and Automation of Document Management in Oncological Clinics

Introduction: Automation of business documentation workflow in medical practice substantially accelerates and improves the process and results in better service development. Methods: Efficient use of databases, data banks, and document-oriented storage (warehouses data), including dual-purpose databases, enables performing specific actions, such as adding records, introducing changes into them, performing an either ordinary or analytical search of data, as well as their efficient processing. With the focus on achieving interaction between the distributed and heterogeneous applications and the devices belonging to the independent organizations, the specialized medical client application has been developed, as a result of which the quantity and quality of information streams of data, which can be essential for effective treatment of patients with breast cancer, have increased. Results: The application has been developed, allowing automating the management of patient records, taking into account the needs of medical staff, especially in managing patients’ appointments and creating patient’s medical records in accordance with the international standards currently in force. This work is the basis for the smoother integration of medical records and genomics data to achieve better prevention, diagnosis, prediction, and treatment of breast cancer (oncology). Conclusion: Since relevant standards upgrade the functioning of health care information technology and the quality and safety of patient’s care, we have accomplished the global architectural scheme of the specific medical automation system through harmonizing the medical services specified by the HL7 international.

The Effectiveness of Mobile-Learning in Teaching Corrective Exercises to Scoliosis Patients: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Background: Mobile-learning (M-learning) has recently provided new opportunities and facilitated patient education due to its attractiveness and ease of access. As a result, the present study aimed to design an application (app) and evaluate the effectiveness of M-learning in teaching CEx to patients suffering from scoliosis.Methods: This quasi-experimental study was fulfilled in two phases, namely, app design and educational intervention among scoliosis patients, and then reflections on the effectiveness of the app and educational intervention implementation concerned. Within the implementation step, the scoliosis patients referred to the rehabilitation center affiliated with Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran, were divided into case and control groups upon imaging and grading their spine curvature. The effectiveness of the educational intervention was also assessed through the rate of recovery in spine curvature and users’ opinions and satisfaction with the app usability via the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ). Results: In this sense, the accuracy index was equal to 100% based on physiotherapists’ approval. The level of satisfaction with the educational intervention in the case group with a mean value of 97% was also higher than that in the controls (88%). Moreover, the values ​​of the Cob angle change in the case group were significantly higher than that in the controls. Based on the analysis of the UEQ outcomes, the highest and the lowest levels of satisfaction among the users were associated with the “perspicuity” and “stimulation” dimensions of the app, respectively.Conclusion: Given that the new models of care are today mostly focused on the role of patients, moving toward patient self-management, the app designed here could be utilized as a model for developing broader similar systems and programs for treatment management, patient monitoring, emergency response, personalized health monitoring, and widespread access to health care information.

Security Engineering of Patient-Centered Health Care Information Systems in Peer-to-Peer Environments: Systematic Review

Background Patient-centered health care information systems (PHSs) enable patients to take control and become knowledgeable about their own health, preferably in a secure environment. Current and emerging PHSs use either a centralized database, peer-to-peer (P2P) technology, or distributed ledger technology for PHS deployment. The evolving COVID-19 decentralized Bluetooth-based tracing systems are examples of disease-centric P2P PHSs. Although using P2P technology for the provision of PHSs can be flexible, scalable, resilient to a single point of failure, and inexpensive for patients, the use of health information on P2P networks poses major security issues as users must manage information security largely by themselves. Objective This study aims to identify the inherent security issues for PHS deployment in P2P networks and how they can be overcome. In addition, this study reviews different P2P architectures and proposes a suitable architecture for P2P PHS deployment. Methods A systematic literature review was conducted following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) reporting guidelines. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis. We searched the following databases: IEEE Digital Library, PubMed, Science Direct, ACM Digital Library, Scopus, and Semantic Scholar. The search was conducted on articles published between 2008 and 2020. The Common Vulnerability Scoring System was used as a guide for rating security issues. Results Our findings are consolidated into 8 key security issues associated with PHS implementation and deployment on P2P networks and 7 factors promoting them. Moreover, we propose a suitable architecture for P2P PHSs and guidelines for the provision of PHSs while maintaining information security. Conclusions Despite the clear advantages of P2P PHSs, the absence of centralized controls and inconsistent views of the network on some P2P systems have profound adverse impacts in terms of security. The security issues identified in this study need to be addressed to increase patients’ intention to use PHSs on P2P networks by making them safe to use.

ContSOnto: A Formal Ontology for Continuity of Care

The global pandemic over the past two years has reset societal agendas by identifying both strengths and weaknesses across all sectors. Focusing in particular on global health delivery, the ability of health care facilities to scale requirements and to meet service demands has detected the need for some national services and organisations to modernise their organisational processes and infrastructures. Core to requirements for modernisation is infrastructure to share information, specifically structural standardised approaches for both operational procedures and terminology services. Problems of data sharing (aka interoperability) is a main obstacle when patients are moving across healthcare facilities or travelling across border countries in cases where emergency treatment is needed. Experts in healthcare service delivery suggest that the best possible way to manage individual care is at home, using remote patient monitoring which ultimately reduces cost burden both for the citizen and service provider. Core to this practice will be advancing digitalisation of health care underpinned with safe integration and access to relevant and timely information. To tackle the data interoperability issue and provide a quality driven continuous flow of information from different health care information systems semantic terminology needs to be provided intact. In this paper we propose and present ContSonto a formal ontology for continuity of care based on ISO 13940:2015 ContSy and W3C Semantic Web Standards Language OWL (Web Ontology Language). ContSonto has several benefits including semantic interoperability, data harmonization and data linking. It can be use as a base model for data integration for different healthcare information models to generate knowledge graph to support shared care and decision making.