An Investigation on Integrating Eastern and Western Medicine with Informatics

Today, in many western countries, acceptance of alternate forms of healthcare such as Chinese medicine (CM) is increasing. In fact, countries such as Australia, Canada, and England are going so far as to set regulations, education, and standards regarding the practice of CM in these respective countries. Further, we can see the integration between western and Chinese medicine delivery of care and treatments in many instances. Information Systems and Information Technology (IS/IT) can be a key enabler in assisting this integration. The following study examines aspects of such integrations using IS/IT and identifies that CM IS/IT is more likely to succeed when there is synthesis between key aspects of the unique environment and user requirements. This perspective is supported theoretically by adapting Churchman’s Inquiring Systems to frame CM as a combination of Hegelian and Kantian inquiring systems with the support of Singerian, Lockean, and Leibnizian inquiring systems and Knowledge Management (KM) features. Based on this, the study then proposes a new design for a patient management system in clinics and hospitals

Science and Technology Governance and Ethics - A Global Perspective from Europe, India and China

This book analyzes the possibilities for effective global governance of science in Europe, India and China. Authors from the three regions join forces to explore how ethical concerns over new technologies can be incorporated into global science and technology policies. The first chapter introduces the topic, offering a global perspective on embedding ethics in science and technology policy. Chapter Two compares the institutionalization of ethical debates in science, technology and innovation policy in three important regions: Europe, India and China. The third chapter explores public perceptions of science and technology in these same three regions. Chapter Four discusses public engagement in the governance of science and technology, and Chapter Five reviews science and technology governance and European values. The sixth chapter describes and analyzes values demonstrated in the constitution of the People’s Republic of China. Chapter Seven describes emerging evidence from India on the uses of science and technology for socio-economic development, and the quest for inclusive growth. In Chapter Eight, the authors propose a comparative framework for studying global ethics in science and technology. The following three chapters offer case studies and analysis of three emerging industries in India, China and Europe: new food technologies, nanotechnology and synthetic biology. Chapter 12 gathers all these threads for a comprehensive discussion on incorporating ethics into science and technology policy. The analysis is undertaken against the backdrop of different value systems and varying levels of public perception of risks and benefits. The book introduces a common analytical framework for the comparative discussion of ethics at the international level. The authors offer policy recommendations for effective collaboration among the three regions, to promote responsible governance in science and technology and a common analytical perspective in ethics

"It's a whole package" : Type 2 diabetes and what it means for the body, life and self of people of Indian origin in New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology (with an endorsement in Health Psychology) at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand

Type 2 diabetes represents a considerable health problem for the Indian population group in New Zealand. In order to minimise the risk posed by this disease, recommended therapeutic goals include glycaemic control, maintaining a healthy weight and strict control of blood pressure. Culturally derived understandings of the illness and options for management will affect the way in which the person of Indian origin reacts to diabetes. This study looked at the way in which Type 2 diabetes is constructed and positioned while reflecting on how Indian culture might affect the way in which diabetes is interpreted and experienced. Seven males and five females, identifying themselves as being of Indian origin and managing Type 2 diabetes without the use of insulin were selected for the study. Semi-structured interviews were taped, transcribed and analysed using a reflexive approach to Foulcauldian discourse analysis Understanding diabetes begins through describing and accounting for the diabetic body which is believed to be different to other bodies. The way in which the person with diabetes might chose to control the disease and minimise harm to the body is validated by particular beliefs in cause and nature. As a result, the person with diabetes is able to construct a constantly evolving picture of the way in which the disease develops, what can be expected of it and what diabetes means for them, for their families and social connections. All this takes place within the particular social and cultural perceptual system of the person of Indian origin and the environment within which they live their every-day lives. The person with diabetes is actively engaged in processing new information, weighing options and defining who they are, not merely as someone with diabetes but as multi-dimensional individuals. Drawing on different constructions of the self, to justify and explain actions taken, opens up or limits access to opportunities to make changes and embrace new behaviors to manage their diabetes

Diagnostic accuracy of pattern differentiation algorithm based on Chinese medicine theory: a stochastic simulation study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Clinical practice of Chinese medicine requires little information for differentiation of <it>Zang-fu </it>patterns. This study is to test the impact of information amount on the diagnostic accuracy of pattern differentiation algorithm (PDA) using stochastic simulation of cases.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A dataset with 69 <it>Zang-fu </it>single patterns was used with manifestations according to the Four Examinations, namely inspection (Ip), auscultation and olfaction (AO), inquiry (Iq) and palpation (P). A variable quantity of available information (<it>N</it>_%) was randomly sampled to generate 100 true positive and 100 true negative manifestation profiles per pattern to which PDA was applied. Four runs of simulations were used according to the Four Examinations: Ip, Ip+AO, Ip+AO+Iq and Ip+AO+Iq+P. The algorithm performed pattern differentiation by ranking a list of diagnostic hypotheses by the amount of explained information <it>F</it>_%. Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and negative and positive predictive values were calculated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Use the Four Examinations resulted in the best accuracy with the smallest cutoff value (<it>N</it>_%= 28.5%), followed by Ip+AO+Iq (33.5%), Ip+AO (51.5%) and Ip (52.0%). All tested combinations provided concave-shaped curves for accuracy, indicating an optimal value subject to <it>N</it>_{%-<it>cutoff</it>}. Use of <it>N</it>_%-cutoffas a secondary criterion resulted in 94.7% (94.3; 95.1) accuracy, 89.8% (89.1; 90.6) sensitivity, and 99.5% (99.3; 99.7) specificity with the Four Examinations.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Pattern differentiation based on both explained and optimum available information (<it>F</it>_%and <it>N</it>_{%-<it>cutoff</it>}) is more accurate than using explained and available information without cutoff (<it>F</it>_%and <it>N</it>_%). Both <it>F</it>_%and <it>N</it>_{%-<it>cutoff </it>}should be used as PDA's objective criteria to perform <it>Zang-fu </it>single pattern differentiation.</p

An overview of decision table literature 1982-1995.

This report gives an overview of the literature on decision tables over the past 15 years. As much as possible, for each reference, an author supplied abstract, a number of keywords and a classification are provided. In some cases own comments are added. The purpose of these comments is to show where, how and why decision tables are used. The literature is classified according to application area, theoretical versus practical character, year of publication, country or origin (not necessarily country of publication) and the language of the document. After a description of the scope of the interview, classification results and the classification by topic are presented. The main body of the paper is the ordered list of publications with abstract, classification and comments.

Using IS/IT to Support the Delivery of Chinese Medicine: The Design of a Chinese Medicine Clinic System

Using Information System/Information Technology (IS/IT) in Chinese Medicine (CM) has not been discussed much, if at all, in the literature. This is unlike the numerous references to the role for IS/IT to support various aspects of western medicine practice. Though the diagnosis and treatments between western medicine and CM are different, the clinical processes are similar. Thus, we believe that by implementing IS/IT system solutions, CM practice can also enjoy many benefits. CM practice relies on expert knowledge, hence applying knowledge management (KM) concepts to any proposed Chinese Medicine Clinic System (CMCS) is a necessary critical factor in the design of suitable IS/IT solutions in this context. This paper serves to identify a role for IS/IT in assisting CM clinic daily key processes as well as identify key system features and functions for a suitable CMCS