Satisfaction with paper-based dental records and perception of electronic dental records among dental professionals in Myanmar

Objectives To overcome challenges in the implementation of electronic dental record systems in a low-resource setting, it is crucial to know the level of users’ satisfaction with the existing system of paper-based dental records and their perceptions of electronic dental records. Methods A cross-sectional paper-based questionnaire survey was conducted among Myanmar dental professionals who worked in one of two teaching hospitals or in private dental clinics. Descriptive data were analyzed and regression analysis was carried out to identify factors influencing perceptions of electronic dental records. Results Most dental professionals (&gt;60%) were satisfied with just three out of six aspects of paper-based dental records (familiarity, flexibility, and portability). In addition, generalized positive perceptions were found among decision makers towards electronic dental records, and 86% of dentists indicated that they were willing to use them. Financial concerns were identified as the most important barrier to the implementation of electronic dental records among dentists who were not willing to use the proposed system. Conclusions The first step towards implementing electronic dental records in Myanmar should be improvement of the content and structure of paper-based dental records, especially in private dental clinics. Utilization of appropriate open-source electronic dental record software in private dental clinics is recommended to address perceived issues around financial barriers. For the long term, we recommend providing further education and training in health informatics to healthcare professionals to facilitate the efficient use of electronic dental record software in Myanmar in the future.</p

Satisfaction with paper-based dental records and perception of electronic dental records among dental professionals in Myanmar

Objectives To overcome challenges in the implementation of electronic dental record systems in a low-resource setting, it is crucial to know the level of users’ satisfaction with the existing system of paper-based dental records and their perceptions of electronic dental records. Methods A cross-sectional paper-based questionnaire survey was conducted among Myanmar dental professionals who worked in one of two teaching hospitals or in private dental clinics. Descriptive data were analyzed and regression analysis was carried out to identify factors influencing perceptions of electronic dental records. Results Most dental professionals (>60%) were satisfied with just three out of six aspects of paper-based dental records (familiarity, flexibility, and portability). In addition, generalized positive perceptions were found among decision makers towards electronic dental records, and 86% of dentists indicated that they were willing to use them. Financial concerns were identified as the most important barrier to the implementation of electronic dental records among dentists who were not willing to use the proposed system. Conclusions The first step towards implementing electronic dental records in Myanmar should be improvement of the content and structure of paper-based dental records, especially in private dental clinics. Utilization of appropriate open-source electronic dental record software in private dental clinics is recommended to address perceived issues around financial barriers. For the long term, we recommend providing further education and training in health informatics to healthcare professionals to facilitate the efficient use of electronic dental record software in Myanmar in the future.</p

Electronic medical records in Myanmar: user perceptions at Marie Stopes International clinics in Myanmar

Using paper-based records to store patient data is common in a developing country like Myanmar. Implementing electronic medical records (EMR) can have a significant impact on the efficiency and quality of patient care. In this paper, potential users’ perceptions around an EMR system was obtained via qualitative interviews conducted with clinic staff from a non-governmental healthcare provider, Marie Stopes International Myanmar (MSI-M). Users’ prospective concerns included the extra workload and training required during the transition stage, accessibility and confidentiality of data held under the new system, and the provision of technical support and the suitability of current infrastructure. Generally, respondents regarded EMR favorably, with expectations of knowledge gains from training, and for facilitating their routine work when accessing, retrieving, and reviewing patient data. The findings represent the perceptions and acceptability relating to EMR by clinic staff in an international non-governmental organization operating in Myanmar

Design of a Vaccine Passport Validation System Using Blockchain-based Architecture: Development Study

BackgroundCOVID-19 is an ongoing global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. As of June 2021, 5 emergency vaccines were available for COVID-19 prevention, and with the improvement of vaccination rates and the resumption of activities in each country, verification of vaccination has become an important issue. Currently, in most areas, vaccination and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results are certified and validated on paper. This leads to the problem of counterfeit documents. Therefore, a global vaccination record is needed. ObjectiveThe main objective of this study is to design a vaccine passport (VP) validation system based on a general blockchain architecture for international use in a simulated environment. With decentralized characteristics, the system is expected to have the advantages of low cost, high interoperability, effectiveness, security, and verifiability through blockchain architecture. MethodsThe blockchain decentralized mechanism was used to build an open and anticounterfeiting information platform for VPs. The contents of a vaccination card are recorded according to international Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resource (FHIR) standards, and blockchain smart contracts (SCs) are used for authorization and authentication to achieve hierarchical management of various international hospitals and people receiving injections. The blockchain stores an encrypted vaccination path managed by the user who manages the private key. The blockchain uses the proof-of-authority (PoA) public chain and can access all information through the specified chain. This will achieve the goal of keeping development costs low and streamlining vaccine transit management so that countries in different economies can use them. ResultsThe openness of the blockchain helps to create transparency and data accuracy. This blockchain architecture contains a total of 3 entities. All approvals are published on Open Ledger. Smart certificates enable authorization and authentication, and encryption and decryption mechanisms guarantee data protection. This proof of concept demonstrates the design of blockchain architecture, which can achieve accurate global VP verification at an affordable price. In this study, an actual VP case was established and demonstrated. An open blockchain, an individually approved certification mechanism, and an international standard vaccination record were introduced. ConclusionsBlockchain architecture can be used to build a viable international VP authentication process with the advantages of low cost, high interoperability, effectiveness, security, and verifiability

Building equity in chronic disease management in Thailand : a whole-system provincial trial of systematic, pro-active chronic illness care

Thailand has a history of implementing innovative and proactive policies to address the health needs of its population. Since 1962 Thailand has implemented initiatives that led to it having a health system characterized by a primary care focus, decentralization and mechanisms to maximize equity and universal access to basic care at the local level. Thai health structures initially evolved to meet challenges including infectious and developmental diseases and later HIV. Early in the 21st century chronic illness rapidly became the greatest cause of morbidity and mortality and the question has arisen how Thailand can adapt its strong health system to deal with the new epidemics. This article describes an effort to reorient provincial health services to meet the needs of the increasing number of people with diabetes and heart disease. It describes measures taken to build on the equity-promoting elements of the Thai health system. The project included; a situational analysis, development and implementation of a chronic disease self-management intervention implemented by nurses and alignment of provincial health services. The self-management intervention is currently being evaluated within a clustered randomized control trial. The evaluation has been developed to fit with the focus on equity in relation to both selection criteria and the outcomes that are being assessed.<br /

Investigating the Adoption of an Integrated Hospital Information System in Rural Uganda: A Case of Kisiizi Hospital

Part 3: Southern-Driven Human-Computer InteractionInternational audienceElectronic Medical Records (EMRs) have been proposed to improve the quality of services in healthcare organisations. However, sometimes, the design contexts of these systems tend to be different from the use contexts. This and other factors have been reported to cause failures of EMR adoptions. By focusing on factors from the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model, we use interviews and questionnaire as data collection instruments to study the adoption of an EMR which was locally developed in rural Uganda; to generate lessons that would sustain the use of the EMR.We found out that all of the following factors, from the UTAUT model, significantly affected the usage of the system and, consequently, facilitated the adoption of the EMR at Kisiizi Hospital: expected improvement in job performance, the easiness with which the system can be learned and used, support and influence from management and peers, and the availability of organisational and technical infrastructures to support the use of the system. All of these were largely due to the fact that physicians from Kisiizi Hospital initiated and drove the system development and implementation processes, making sure that correct requirements were captured, and championing the use of the system by staff at the hospital. The in-context explanations for the findings are also provided