The Role of Information and Communication Technology in Self-Management of Chronic Diseases: An Empirical Investigation through Value Sensitive Design

This paper primarily investigates sensitivity towards patients’ values in the designs of the information and communication technologies (ICTs) that are capable of empowering them. We focus on the role of ICTs in self-management (SM) of diabetes, a chronic disease. Chronic diseases, declared an invisible epidemic by the World Health Organization, cause and perpetuate poverty and impede the economic development of many countries. As a means of informing the design of ICTs that facilitate self-management, we draw on value sensitive design (VSD) to conduct an in-depth interpretive field study to reveal the values that are important to diabetic patients. Specifically, we reveal twelve values shared by these patients: accessibility, accountability, autonomy, compliance, dignity, empathy, feedback, hope, joy, privacy, sense-making, and trust. A conceptual model emerged from analyzing interviews with diabetic patients; this model explains how these values, which are integrated into ICT features, afford or constrain patients’ abilities to self-manage their activities. This study makes multiple theoretical contributions: By granting ICT artifacts a clear theoretical status, it advances the field of SM that has nominally covered ICTs; it extends design research by extending the VSD literature and by introducing a valuecentric design perspective to examine a complex sociotechnical system; and it broadens work system theory by applying it in the healthcare space. The study’s findings have implications for design science researchers, healthcare providers, and policymakers

Diabetes Self-Management Using Mobile Apps: An Empirical Investigation Based On App Reviews And Through Value Sensitive Design Perspective

Smartphones have penetrated our everyday lives. Novel technologies facilitate self-management of chronic diseases such as diabetes. However, not all the patients are motivated to use technologies to manage their chronic conditions. Patients depend on certain human values to self-manage their conditions and these values are not implicated in the technologies they use. In this research in progress study we draw on value sensitive design methodological and theoretical approach to investigate human responses to self-management technology. We collect app reviews for a diabetes app and schematically code the review. Our findings contribute to designing technologies and systems that account for the human values of the patients-users

Social Media Usage and Shopping Preferences: an Empirical Investigation

We empirically explore the associations between social media usage at home and shopping preferences using survey data. We focus on popular retail firms including brick-and-mortar firms such as Walmart, Target, Nordstrom, and Best Buy, and online retailers, such as Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Best Buy. Social media usage of popular platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Skype are analyzed. We draw on Media Richness Theory (MRT) and Strength of Weak Ties from Social Network Analysis (SNA) and related theories to explain our results. Our results have important implications for social marketing campaigns and social media policies for consumer retail firms

Social Media Usage and Cultural Dimensions: an Empirical Investigation

Cultural attributes of employees affect organizations in several different ways through their impact on organizational goals and decision-making processes. Social media create ample opportunities for organizations to improve competitiveness and efficiency of marketing and communications. We empirically investigate the impact of employee cultural dimensions on social media usage at work and at home. Such a study has not been undertaken before to the best of our knowledge and this would be the first study to connect cultural dimension characteristics of individuals with social media usage. Specifically, we investigate the effect of Power Distance (PD), Uncertainty Avoidance (UA), and Individualism-Collectivism (IC) on the use of popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Skype, and LinkedIn. Our results show that certain cultural dimensions predict higher or lower levels of use of specific social media platforms. We provide implications of our results on research and practice

Mobile Health Information Technology and Patient Care: Methods, Themes, and Research Gaps

The focus of the healthcare industry on delivering Patient-Centered Care (PCC) using Mobile Health Information Technologies (MHIT) is rapidly increasing, yet this critical area is still under-researched in the IS/IT literature despite the fact that mobile devices and their applications are widely spread and are likely to change the way of using and applying healthcare services. In this study we further analyze the literature reviewed in Dadgar et al (2013) to uncover research gaps in the area of MHIT which needs further attention. This work posits a preliminary research agenda, in forms of gaps, which can help propel future work in the field of MHIT for patient centered care

Study of environmental, economic and technical factors in occupational hazards and accidents of the Gas Company of Isfahan

This study aimed to investigate solutions to reduce incidents of  Gas Company operating in the province of Isfahan. The population of the present paper is all employees of the gas company. This study used a questionnaire to collect data univariate statistics and regression t-test and Friedman ranking is performed. The AMOS software was used to investigate the hypotheses. The results were significant at 05.0, indicating that the poor state of the environment, protection unavailability, inappropriate gas company personnel training, compliance and ethics training factors, organizational factors and work-related accidents are related

Study of environmental, economic and technical factors in occupational hazards and accidents of the Gas Company of Isfahan

This study aimed to investigate solutions to reduce incidents of  Gas Company operating in the province of Isfahan. The population of the present paper is all employees of the gas company. This study used a questionnaire to collect data univariate statistics and regression t-test and Friedman ranking is performed. The AMOS software was used to investigate the hypotheses. The results were significant at 05.0, indicating that the poor state of the environment, protection unavailability, inappropriate gas company personnel training, compliance and ethics training factors, organizational factors and work-related accidents are related

Clinical feature and Genetics in Rett syndrome; A report on Iranian patients

Background: Rett Syndrome is characterized by normal development for the first 6–18 months of life followed by the loss of fine and gross motor skills and the ability to engage in social interaction. Mutations methyl CpG-binding protein 2 gene (MECP2) have been found in the majority of patients. This study was performed to investigate the relation of Rett clinical diagnosis and its relation with mutations in MECP2. Materials and Methods: children suspected to Rett syndrome were invited to take part in this study. Those who had met classic Rett syndrome diagnostic criteria were enrolled. Severity of symptoms was assessed for all patients. Of peripheral blood samples collected in EDTA tubes, the genomic DNA was extracted by standard salting out method. MEPC2 gene mutation was studied by DNA sequencing method. Results and conclusion: 23 patients accepted to participate in the study. 11(47.8%) patients had MECP2 gene mutation meanwhile 12 ones (52.2%) had no mutation. change in genetics was in association with phenotypical manifestations. The most prevalent mutation was p.v288 which is mostly in association with partially or uncontrolled seizures. This was the first time that Rett syndrome patients were studied in both clinical manifestations and genetic changes in Iran

The effect of oral contraceptives on orthodontic tooth movement in rat

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ethinyl estradiol/norgestrel ? used in some oral contraceptives- on orthodontic tooth movement in Wistar rats. Material and Methods: Forty eight female three-month old Wistar rats with an average weight of 250?25gr were divided into two experimental and control groups. One week prior to appliance insertion and during the appliance therapy period, 100 mcg/kg/day of ethinyl estradiol and 1mg/kg/days of norgestrel were administered to the experimental group by gavage; meanwhile the control group received an equivalent volume of Sodium Chloride 0.9 % (Saline). Maxillary central incisors were tipped distally by insertion of springs exerting 30g force. Two, seven and fourteen days after spring insertion animals were sacrificed. The mesioincisal distance between maxillary incisors were measured. Subsequently, histological sections were prepared for histomorphometric studies. Results: 14 days after force application the orthodontic tooth movement was significantly lower in the experimental group (p<0.05). The number of osteoclasts were significantly lower in the experimental group 2, 7 and 14 days after spring insertion (p<0.05). Conclusion: Ethinyl estradiol/norgestrel (oral contraceptives) can significantly decrease the amount of tooth movement in the linear phase