INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICTs) IN THE SERVICES OF HEALTHCARE SECTOR IN EUROPE

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) consists of all technical means used to handle information and aid communication, including both computer and network hardware as well as necessary software. Information and Communication Technologies tools and services are used in many sectors like development, education, e-services, policy, health and medicine and so one. This paper links the ICTs tools and services for health. ICTs has the potential to impact almost every aspect of the health sector. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have an important role in service engineering, improving medical knowledge and practice, and defining new fields of research.eHealth, healthcare sector, telemedicine services, health portals, health information networks, digital health infrastructure

End stage renal disease and survival in people with diabetes:a national database linkage study

© The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Association of Physicians. Funding This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust through the Scottish Health Informatics Programme (SHIP). The SHIP is collaboration between the Universities of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews and the Information Services Division of National Health Service National Service Scotland. Funding for diabetes register linkage and data extraction was provided by the Chief Scientist’s Office of the Scottish Government. The Scottish Diabetes Research Network receives financial support from National Health Services Research Scotland. The Scottish Renal Registry is funded by the Information Services Division of National Health Service National Services Scotland but relies heavily on the goodwill of the contributing renal units who spent a large amount time working with Scottish Renal Registry staff to ensure that the data held within the register are accurate and complete.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Topics in social network analysis and network science

This chapter introduces statistical methods used in the analysis of social networks and in the rapidly evolving parallel-field of network science. Although several instances of social network analysis in health services research have appeared recently, the majority involve only the most basic methods and thus scratch the surface of what might be accomplished. Cutting-edge methods using relevant examples and illustrations in health services research are provided

A collaborative approach to improving youth mental health.

Nga Taiohi Whai Marama / Youth Connex was developed collaboratively by three organisations: Health Waikato Mental Health, Te Runanga o Kirikiriroa, and Linkage. These organisations had a vision of creating greater integration and improved pathways between youth and mental health services, as well as providing a service explicitly based on youth-friendly principles. The key aims of Whai Marama Youth Connex are to improve youth’s access to services and contribute to the development of a youth service-provider network. To fulfil this we aim to provide a range of services, integrated pathways and capacity building on several levels, the client level, the provider level and the funder level. Debbie Goodwin (Tuhoe) was employed as the Manager of the service and has a key role in developing the organisation, planning and shaping its services, and employing and managing its’ staff. She will give an overview of how the service is developing in partnership and biculturally, how youth-friendly principles are enacted, and what some of the key issues have been in its early stages

European survey on knowledge and attitudes of public health professionals on public health genomics: pilot study

Background: During the past decade a debate has arisen on the possible utility of genomic science for public health purposes. Within this context, a survey is being conducted to assess attitudes of European public health (PH) professionals belonging to European Public Health Association (EUPHA) network regarding their role in the implementation of public health genomics (PHG), and their knowledge and attitudes regarding genetic testing and the delivery of genetic services. Methods: A pilot on-line survey was conducted on professionals from Sapienza University of Rome and the Vrije University of Amsterdam. The survey tool is composed of 5 sections: Personal details, Professional activity, Knowledge on genetic testing and delivery of genetic services, Attitudes on genetic testing and delivery of genetic services, Attitudes on the role of PH professionals in PHG. Results: 34 people responded to the questionnaire, mostly medical doctors (61.8%). No respondents correctly identified all evidence-based applications of genetic testing. More than one third of respondents agreed that it would be more important to invest resources in the social and environmental causes of ill health than in genetic testing. Nearly 70% thought that PHG needs to be grounded on evidence of effectiveness, a lower rate agreed ii should be grounded on cost-effectiveness. The rate of agreement with the proposed roles of PH professionals in PHG was very high. Conclusion: This pilot study showed a positive attitude but the need to improve knowledge of PH professionals on PHG. It provided useful input for the implementation of the survey to all members of the EUPHA network

How the health-seeking behaviour of pregnant women affects neonatal outcomes: findings of system dynamics modelling in Pakistan

Background: Limited studies have explored how health-seeking behaviour during pregnancy through to delivery affect neonatal outcomes. We modelled health-seeking behaviour across urban and rural settings in Pakistan, where poor neonatal outcomes persist with wide disparities. Methods and findings: A system dynamics model was developed and parameterised. Following validation tests, the model was used to determine neonatal mortality for pregnant women considering their decisions to access, refuse and switch antenatal care services in four provider sectors: public, private, traditional and charitable. Four health-seeking scenarios were tested across different pregnancy trimesters. Health-seeking behaviour in different subgroups by geographical locations and social network effect was modelled. The largest reduction in neonatal mortality was achieved with antenatal care provided by skilled providers in public, private or charitable sectors, combined with the use of institutional delivery. Women’s social networks had strong influences on if, when and where to seek care. Interventions by Lady Health Workers had a minimal impact on health-seeking behaviour and neonatal outcomes after trimester 1. Optimal benefits were achieved for urban women when antenatal care was accessed within trimester 2, but for rural women within trimester 1. Antenatal care access delayed to trimester 3 had no protective impact on neonatal mortality. Conclusions: System dynamics modelling enables capturing the complexity of health-seeking behaviours and impact on outcomes, informing intervention design, implementation of targeted policies and uptake of services specific to urban/rural settings considering structural enablers/barriers to access, cultural contexts and strong social network influences

Have pro-poor health policies improved the targeting of spending and the effective delivery of health care in South Africa?

Since 1994 there have been a number of radical changes in the public health care system in South Africa. Budgets have been reallocated, decision making was decentralised, the clinic network was expanded and user fees for primary health care were abolished. The paper examines how these recent changes have affected the incidence of spending and the accessibility and quality of health care. The paper finds that between 1995 and 2003 there have been advances in the pro-poor spending incidence of both clinics and hospitals. The increased share of the health budget allocated to the more pro-poor clinic services has contributed further to the improvement in the targeting of overall health spending. Also, it appears that the elimination of user fees for clinics and the expansion of the clinic network have helped to make health services more affordable and geographically accessible to the poor and were associated with a notable rise in health service utilisation for individuals in the bottom two expenditure quintiles. South Africa’s spending on clinics and hospitals is well targeted and more progressive than other developing country public health systems. Unfortunately, it appears that to a considerable extent this result is driven by perceptions that services offered in public hospitals and clinics are of a low and variable quality. These perceptions seem to be encouraging most of those who can afford to pay more for health services to opt out of the public health system, thereby increasing the pro-poor incidence of public health spending. Complaints by users of public health facilities include long waiting times, staff rudeness and problems with drug availability. Dissatisfaction with health services is significantly higher in the public sector than in the private sector and the gap has expanded slightly over time. It is consequently not surprising that a substantial and increasing share of individuals – also including the very poorest – prefer to consult private providers.fiscal incidence, South Africa, health

Integrating digital Health services : the role of the government and the challenge of cost allocation

eHealth, mHealth and eCare services are growing in numbers at a fast pace. This is mainly driven by technology and the societal challenges of an aging and more chronically burdened population while pressure on both human and financial resources increases. Though the adoption of these digital health services is challenging and experience difficulties. This work focusses on the main barriers that cause a 'gap' in the value network. Via case research following barriers are identified: 1) low willingness to pay, 2) unbalanced cost/benefit ratios of the actors or unfair cost allocation and 3) negative impacted business models. Furthermore the several roles of the government within the value network of digital health services are discussed and reflections and guidelines for digital health service developers are foreseen

Cross-sectional study of the provision of interventional oncology services in the UK

Objective: To map out the current provision of interventional oncology (IO) services in the UK. Design: Cross-sectional multicentre study. Setting: All National Health Service (NHS) trusts in England and Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland health boards. Participants: Interventional radiology (IR) departments in all NHS trusts/health boards in the UK. Results: A total of 179 NHS trusts/health boards were contacted. We received a 100% response rate. Only 19 (11%) institutions had an IO lead. 144 trusts (80%) provided IO services or had a formal pathway of referral in place for patients to a recipient trust. 21 trusts (12%) had plans to provide an IO service or formal referral pathway in the next 12 months only. 14 trusts (8%) did not have a pathway of referral and no plans to implement one. 70 trusts (39%) offered supportive and disease-modifying procedures. One trust had a formal referral pathway for supportive procedures. 73 trusts (41%) provided only supportive procedures (diagnostic or therapeutic). Of these, 43 (59%) had a referral pathway for disease-modifying IO procedures, either from a regional cancer network or through IR networks and 30 trusts (41%) did not have a referral pathway for disease-modifying procedures. Conclusion: The provision of IO services in the UK is promising; however, collaborative networks are necessary to ensure disease-modifying IO procedures are made accessible to all patients and to facilitate larger registry data for research with commissioning of new services