Trends in Patient Generated Data – An Initial Review

In recent years, patient-centered care has gained significant momentum in healthcare and the patient is more involved as an active participant in data generation. In this state of the art review we identify trends in patient generated data (PGD) and areas in need of further research by reviewing papers published in the health tracks of five high-ranked IS conferences. Our results suggest that research is mostly empirically grounded and primarily focuses on sickness rather than wellness issues. There is an emphasis on chronic diseases and self-management, dealing with user motivation, and a focus mostly on mobile apps. Though technology plays an important part, there is scarce problematization of and theorization on PGD. Further studies are needed that investigate the effects of PGD on patients and healthcare providers, include a wider range of issues and incorporate wearable devices more comprehensively

Versorgungszentren in ländlichen Provinzen Nordschwedens (Vårdcentraler)

Ewers M, Schaepe C, Hämel K, Schaeffer D. Versorgungszentren in ländlichen Provinzen Nordschwedens (Vårdcentraler). PORT - Patientenorientierte Zentren zur Primär- und Langzeitversorgung. Stuttgart: Robert Bosch Stiftung; 2018

Designing an e-service for stroke patients - How can visualization support the management of the individual care process?

Background: An important factor in approaching the challenges of chronic diseases, requiring long-term management and high costs, is the active participation of the patient in the care process. Objectives: Facing the problem of lacking patient-tailored, comprehensive health management software, the aim of this thesis is to generate ideas for a graphical user interface (GUI) to support stroke patients in the management of their individual care process. The objectives are to prototype a GUI for a patient e-service and to evaluate its usefulness and usability with stroke patients. Methods: A scenario-based, user-centered design method was used to envision ideas for the user interface. Static prototypes were realized with the tool Pencil and for the implementation of a dynamic prototype web programming techniques were used. For the evaluation of the prototypes the methods of focus group discussion and cooperative evaluation were applied. Results: The situation of a representative stroke patient and his interaction with the e-service were described in scenarios. Graphical user interfaces of the involved system views were derived from the scenarios and illustrated with static wireframe prototypes. A welcome screen, a care process timeline overview, and a diary with data sharing functionality were designed. The diary functionality was further examined by implementing a prototypical web application. During the evaluation, feedback for further improvements was gathered, and assumptions about the user information and functionality needs could be verified. Conclusion: The developed prototypes represent a suitable graphical user interface and visualizations to support stroke patients in the management of their care process. An overview of appointments on the welcome screen, a diary to document and monitor health, a timeline overview of all time-related health information and a selected sharing functionality were found to be important features of a personal health system for stroke patients

Attitude of healthcare workers towards the use of the virtual electronic medical record system at Ithembalabantu Clinic, Durban.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Successful implementation of electronic medical record systems (EMRs) can result in many benefits. This study conceptualized a model to investigate the predictors influencing the use of the Virtual Electronic Medical Record (VEMR) system. The Theory of Reasoned Action was adopted to investigate healthcare workers’ attitudes and behaviours toward the use of the VEMR system at Ithembalabantu clinic. The model guided in measuring the attitude of healthcare workers towards the use of the VEMR system at Ithembalabantu clinic, Durban by conducting observation and interview schedules. Thirty (30) responses were obtained from the employees who were exposed to the use of the VEMR system where narrative qualitative technique was used to analyze the results. The individual attitude toward the use of the system, the subjective norms and the intention behaviour were found to be significant predators of the actual usage of the VEMR system. System benefits and user satisfaction were found to hypothetically lead to the continuance intention to use the system. As a result of this study, healthcare facilities will be better placed to understand the insights of healthcare workers regarding the adoption of the VEMR system and how those come to influence their usage behaviours

An exploration of ehealth and digital literacy in pharmacy practice.

The aim of this research programme was to explore ehealth technology in pharmacy practice in Scotland and, by doing so, contribute original knowledge to this area. Strategists worldwide believe technology has the potential to promote quality, safety and efficiency in healthcare. This has been reflected in national ehealth policies designed to support collaborative working between medical and non-medical healthcare practitioners and, more recently, the whole health and social care team. A meta-narrative systematic review was conducted to explore and contextualise research related to healthcare professionals views of the adoption of ehealth technologies to support shared care. Findings indicate the importance of organisational development and training for core and optional ehealth services with pharmacists particularly under-represented in ehealth research. Socio-technical systems theory and the computer supported cooperative working framework were adopted to explore healthcare practitioners perceptions of ehealth in relation to integrated care. Findings from the review indicate ehealth research continues to focus on doctors and nurses. No ehealth application was perceived to be an unqualified success with the socio-technical gap still evident. Multiple case studies were conducted to develop explanatory theory around the digital literacy experiences, education and training related needs of pharmacy staff in the NHS Grampian area. Digital literacy levels were self-reported as basic with mixed views on the need for formal education and training. Findings indicate organisational and social factors may act as restraining forces against implementation of technology in pharmacy and associated digital literacy training. A final theory testing, systematic review was conducted into digital literacy training experiences of pharmacy staff applying Kirkpatricks four level model. It found a lack of evidence of specific, measurable digital literacy levels but indications that suggest digital literacy should be included in pharmacy education at all levels and career stages. This research provides novel insight into ehealth and digital literacy in pharmacy practice. Combined ehealth, education and pharmacy research has been demonstrated to be an under-researched area therefore these findings contribute original knowledge

Front-Line Physicians' Satisfaction with Information Systems in Hospitals

Day-to-day operations management in hospital units is difficult due to continuously varying situations, several actors involved and a vast number of information systems in use. The aim of this study was to describe front-line physicians' satisfaction with existing information systems needed to support the day-to-day operations management in hospitals. A cross-sectional survey was used and data chosen with stratified random sampling were collected in nine hospitals. Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The response rate was 65 % (n = 111). The physicians reported that information systems support their decision making to some extent, but they do not improve access to information nor are they tailored for physicians. The respondents also reported that they need to use several information systems to support decision making and that they would prefer one information system to access important information. Improved information access would better support physicians' decision making and has the potential to improve the quality of decisions and speed up the decision making process.Peer reviewe