Individuals’ adoption of smart technologies for preventive health care: a structural equation modeling approach

Healthcare is moving towards new patterns and models, with an increasing attention paid to prevention. Smart technologies for mobile health care are emerging as new instruments to monitor the state of essential parameters in citizens. A very debated subject in literature is the critical role played by citizens’ acceptance and willingness to pay for mobile health technologies, especially whereas the services provided are preventive rather than curative. The adoption of such technologies is, indeed, a necessary condition for the success of mobile personalized health care. In this view, a conceptual framework, grounded on Technology Acceptance Model, is developed to explore the determinants of users’ willingness to adopt and pay for a mobile health care application for cardiovascular prevention. Empirical data are collected from a sample of 212 non-hypertensive Italian individuals and analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling. Results confirm that usefulness and ease of use determine both intention to accept and willingness to pay for mobile health smart technologies. Results show also the significant role played by social influence as well the role as antecedents played by technology promptness, innovativeness and prevention awareness. This study offers novel insights to design and promote smart application to improve mobile health care, with implications for researchers and practitioners in health care, research & development, and marketing

DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTEGRATED SERVICE MODEL TO ACHIEVE PERSONAL HEALTH LIBRARIES FOR CONSUMERS

This concept paper establishes the framework for additional research regarding how medical records are stored and shared. Health Information Technology is rapidly developing, and one large barrier to true interoperability is data silos. This integrated service model proposes using Health Record Banks (HRB) to store and share data, while using open source applications to limit costs and create opportunities for the consumer to be at the center of their own medical records. This includes the authorization phase, in which patients will be able to seamlessly allow access to their records for clinicians they choose. This conceptual framework includes using eXist data base, PHP servers, applications, and testing mobile health apps using Ionic framework to transmit patient data in between multiple organizations using both FHIR and C-CDA standards. If this framework is used to its potential, there could be significant increases in transition of care, personalized medicine, and population health management, which will ultimately lead to better health outcomes for the population. Furthermore, this framework was designed to work on the back end of existing EHR’s, so there would not be additional data entry for clinical or administrative staff. The use of public libraries was also examined as a means of accessibility for those who did not have smart phones or personal computers

Design smart city apps using activity theory.

In this paper we describe an innovative approach to the design process of Smart City interventions. We tested it with participants enrolled in the Master\u2019s Degree program in \u201cInnovators in enterprise and public administration\u201d: the objective of the Master was to stimulate the acquisition of technical and methodological skills useful in designing and implementing specific Smart City actions. During the "project work" phase, participants learned about a design method named SAM \u2013 Smart City Model - based on the Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT). We present an overview of design criteria for Smart City projects, the description of the theoretical framework of Activity Theory, and our proposal of the SAM design model. We also present some examples of student\u2019s \u201cprojects\u201d and a more extensive description of one case study about the full design process of an App planned using SAM, for \u201csmart health\u201d vaccine management and monitoring services. The App was later published and made available to the citizens and was successful in attracting thousands of users. All the participants considered the model very useful in particular because it made possible to understand the interaction and solve contradictions between different stakeholders and systems involved

Technology and Caregiving: Emerging Interventions and Directions for Research.

An array of technology-based interventions has increasingly become available to support family caregivers, primarily focusing on health and well-being, social isolation, financial, and psychological support. More recently the emergence of new technologies such as mobile and cloud, robotics, connected sensors, virtual/augmented/mixed reality, voice, and the evermore ubiquitous tools supported by advanced data analytics, coupled with the integration of multiple technologies through platform solutions, have opened a new era of technology-enabled interventions that can empower and support family caregivers. This paper proposes a conceptual framework for identifying and addressing the challenges that may need to be overcome to effectively apply technology-enabled solutions for family caregivers. The paper identifies a number of challenges that either moderate or mediate the full use of technologies for the benefit of caregivers. The challenges include issues related to equity, inclusion, and access; ethical concerns related to privacy and security; political and regulatory factors affecting interoperability and lack of standards; inclusive/human-centric design and issues; and inherent economic and distribution channel difficulties. The paper concludes with a summary of research questions and issues that form a framework for global research priorities

MobiHealth-Innovative 2.5/3G mobile services and applications for health care

MobiHealth aims at introducing new mobile value added services in the area of healthcare, based on 2.5 (GPRS) and 3G (UMTS) technologies, thus promoting the use and deployment of GPRS and UMTS. This will be achieved by the integration of sensors and actuators to a Wireless Body Area Network (BAN). These sensors and actuators will continuously measure and transmit vital constants along with audio and video to health service providers and brokers, improving on one side the life of patients and allowing on the other side the introduction of new value-added services in the areas of disease prevention and diagnostic, remote assistance, para-health services, physical state monitoring (sports) and even clinical research. Furthermore, the MobiHealth BAN system will support the fast and reliable application of remote assistance in case of accidents by allowing the paramedics to send reliable vital constants data as well as audio and video directly from the accident site

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Towards NFC payments using a lightweight architecture for the Web of Things

The Web (and Internet) of Things has seen the rapid emergence of new protocols and standards, which provide for innovative models of interaction for applications. One such model fostered by the Web of Things (WoT) ecosystem is that of contactless interaction between devices. Near Field Communication (NFC) technology is one such enabler of contactless interactions. Contactless technology for the WoT requires all parties to agree one common definition and implementation and, in this paper, we propose a new lightweight architecture for the WoT, based on RESTful approaches. We show how the proposed architecture supports the concept of a mobile wallet, enabling users to make secure payments employing NFC technology with their mobile devices. In so doing, we argue that the vision of the WoT is brought a step closer to fruition

A Conceptual Architecture for an ICT-based Personal Health System for Cardiac Rehabilitation

Traditional cardiac rehabilitation is strongly based on supervised exercise therapy. However, studies show that after leaving a rehabilitative care facility it is difficult for cardiac patients to continue with exercise therapy and overall to conduct the necessary behavioral changes for a healthier life. The novel approach for cardiac rehabilitation presented in this paper is based on including health services (e.g. exercise, support with healthy behavior, etc.) in everyday life. One goal is to foster physical activities which are not solely conducted with the goal to exercise. Another goal is to provide personalized and context-aware health services which proactively assist patients with their disease management. Therefore, a conceptual architecture of an ICT-based personal health system is presented in this paper. The goal is a better alignment with the individual needs of patients and the inclusion of life-long disease management into daily life