Evaluation of ISO EN 13606 as a result of its implementation in XML
This article describes the evolution of an Extensible Markup Language (XML) Schema through three iterations, each of which emphasised one particular approach to delivering an executable equivalent to the printed standard. Developing these operational versions and incorporating feedback from users of these demonstrated where implementation compromises were needed and exposed defects in the standard. These are discussed herein. They may require a future technical revision to ISO EN 13606 to resolve the issues identified. (Source: Health Informatics Journal)
Source: Health Informatics Journal - November 19, 2013 Category: Information Technology Authors: Austin, T., Sun, S., Hassan, T., Kalra, D. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
General practitioners' attitudes towards decision-supported prescribing: An analysis of the Dutch primary care sector
This article aims to investigate the attitudes of general practitioners towards using decision support systems. A survey was distributed among 500 Dutch general practitioners. Virtually all 184 respondents indicated having a clinical information system, while only 21 percent indicated having a decision support plug-in; this correlated with their use of medical formularies. Only use of one of the medical formularies correlated with the number of recognized underprescription problems. General practitioners’ attitudes toward a newly proposed system aiding them with polypharmacy prescribing were mainly positive (57%); th...
Source: Health Informatics Journal - November 19, 2013 Category: Information Technology Authors: Meulendijk, M., Spruit, M., Drenth-van Maanen, C., Numans, M., Brinkkemper, S., Jansen, P. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
"I miss the care even though I know it's just a machine": An explorative study of the relationship between an Internet-based smoking cessation intervention and its participants
This study aimed to investigate how users perceive the different elements of an internet based smoking cessation intervention and to see if the program meet needs and expectations of people in a smoking cessation process. Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted in February 2010. Participants were recruited via the homepage of the smoking cessation program Dit Digitale Stopprogram (Your Digital Quit Program) operated by the Danish Cancer Society. The main result was that participants established a relationship to the program which influenced their smoking cessation process. Participants perceived the program as carin...
Source: Health Informatics Journal - August 26, 2013 Category: Information Technology Authors: Brandt, C. L., Dalum, P., Thomsen, T. T. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
'Trying to find information is like hating yourself every day': The collision of electronic information systems in transition with patients in transition
The consequences of parallel paper and electronic medical records (EMR) and their impact on informational continuity are examined. An interdisciplinary team conducted a multi-site, ethnographic field study and retrospective documentation review from January 2010 to December 2010. Three case studies from the sample of older patients with hip fractures who were transitioning across care settings were selected for examination. Analysis of data from interviews with care providers in each setting, field observation notes, and reviews of medical records yielded two themes. First, the lack of interoperability between electronic i...
Source: Health Informatics Journal - August 26, 2013 Category: Information Technology Authors: McMurray, J., Hicks, E., Johnson, H., Elliott, J., Byrne, K., Stolee, P. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Making sense of personal health information: Challenges for information visualization
This article presents a systematic review of the literature on information visualization for making sense of personal health information. Based on this review, five application themes were identified: treatment planning, examination of patients’ medical records, representation of pedigrees and family history, communication and shared decision making, and life management and health monitoring. While there are recognized design challenges associated with each of these themes, such as how best to represent data visually and integrate qualitative and quantitative information, other challenges and opportunities have recei...
Source: Health Informatics Journal - August 26, 2013 Category: Information Technology Authors: Faisal, S., Blandford, A., Potts, H. W. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Factors shaping effective utilization of health information technology in urban safety-net clinics
This study addresses this gap by exploring the unique challenges urban resource-poor safety-net clinics must consider when adopting and utilizing health information technology.
In-depth interviews (N = 15) were used with key stakeholders (clinic chief executive officers, medical directors, nursing directors, chief financial officers, and information technology directors) from staff at four clinics to explore (a) nonhealth information technology-related clinic needs, (b) how health information technology may provide solutions, and (c) perceptions of and experiences with health information technology.
Participants identified...
Source: Health Informatics Journal - August 26, 2013 Category: Information Technology Authors: George, S., Garth, B., Fish, A., Baker, R. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Safety cases for medical devices and health information technology: Involving health-care organisations in the assurance of safety
In the United Kingdom, there are more than 9000 reports of adverse events involving medical devices annually. The regulatory processes in Europe and in the United States have been challenged as to their ability to protect patients effectively from unreasonable risk and harm. Two of the major shortcomings of current practice include the lack of transparency in the safety certification process and the lack of involvement of service providers. We reviewed recent international standardisation activities in this area, and we reviewed regulatory practices in other safety-critical industries. The review showed that the use of saf...
Source: Health Informatics Journal - August 26, 2013 Category: Information Technology Authors: Sujan, M. A., Koornneef, F., Chozos, N., Pozzi, S., Kelly, T. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Factors associated with change in Internet usage of Swedish older adults (2004-2010)
This study investigates the older people in Sweden who started to use the Internet over a period of 6 years. Cognition, extraversion, openness, functional disability, household economy, sex, age and education were investigated in relation to starting to use the Internet. A chi-square test, Spearman correlation and a logistic regression analysis were conducted. It was found that higher cognition, being male and being between the ages of 60 and 80 years were determining factors in starting to use the Internet for the Swedish older adult. Our results indicate that the oldest-older adults are slow to adapt to using the Interne...
Source: Health Informatics Journal - May 27, 2013 Category: Information Technology Authors: Berner, J. S., Rennemark, M., Jogreus, C., Berglund, J. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Aggregate health data in the United States: Steps toward a public good
The rise of electronic medical records promotes the collection and aggregation of medical data. These data have tremendous potential utility for health policy and public health; yet there are gaps in the scholarly literature. No articles in the medical or legal literature have mapped the "information flows" from patient to database, and commentary has focused more on privacy than on data’s social value and incentives for production. Utilizing short case studies of data flows, I show that ample data exist, much of them are available online through government websites or hospital trade associations. However, available ...
Source: Health Informatics Journal - May 27, 2013 Category: Information Technology Authors: Rolnick, J. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Linking cancer registry and hospital discharge data for treatment surveillance
Cancer registry data often lack complete chemotherapy and radiation therapy information. To conduct treatment disparity surveillance, we linked 2005–2009 Nebraska Cancer Registry data with Nebraska hospital discharge data. Due to the high quality of both datasets and the proposed linkage procedure, we had a linkage rate of 97 percent. We demonstrate the utilization of the linked dataset in case finding, treatment update, and treatment surveillance. The results show that the linked dataset is likely to identify up to 5 percent of potential missed cases. We investigated the use of radiation therapy in treating colorect...
Source: Health Informatics Journal - May 27, 2013 Category: Information Technology Authors: Lin, G., Ma, J., Zhang, L., Qu, M. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Time-scheduled delivery of computer health animations: "Installing" healthy habits of computer use
The development of modern technology brings convenience to our lives but removes physical activity from our daily routines, thereby putting our lives at risk. Extended computer use may contribute to symptoms such as visual impairment and musculoskeletal disorders. To help reduce the risk of physical inactivity and promote healthier computer use, this study developed a time-scheduled delivery of health-related animations for users sitting in front of computers for prolonged periods. In addition, we examined the effects that the program had on the computer-related health behavior intentions and actions of participants. Two w...
Source: Health Informatics Journal - May 27, 2013 Category: Information Technology Authors: Wang, S.-C., Chern, J.-Y. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Cutting-edge technology for public health workforce training in comparative effectiveness research
A critical mass of public health practitioners with expertise in analytic techniques and best practices in comparative effectiveness research is needed to fuel informed decisions and improve the quality of health care. The purpose of this case study is to describe the development and formative evaluation of a technology-enhanced comparative effectiveness research learning curriculum and to assess its potential utility to improve core comparative effectiveness research competencies among the public health workforce. Selected public health experts formed a multidisciplinary research collaborative and participated in the deve...
Source: Health Informatics Journal - May 27, 2013 Category: Information Technology Authors: Salinas-Miranda, A. A., Nash, M. C., Salemi, J. L., Mbah, A. K., Salihu, H. M. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Are low income patients receiving the benefits of electronic health records? A statewide survey
This study seeks to determine whether physicians treating Medicaid patients were less likely to have adopted electronic health records. Physician surveys completed during physicians’ license renewal process in Arizona were merged with the physician licensing data and Medicaid administrative claims data. Survey responses were received from 50.7 percent (6,780 out of 13,380) of all physicians practicing in Arizona. Physician survey responses were used to identify whether the physician used electronic health records and the degree to which the physician exchanged electronic health records with other health-care provider...
Source: Health Informatics Journal - May 27, 2013 Category: Information Technology Authors: Butler, M. J., Harootunian, G., Johnson, W. G. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Appointment reminder systems and patient preferences: Patient technology usage and familiarity with other service providers as predictive variables
This study had two aims: to measure patient preferences for medical appointment reminder systems and to assess the predictive value of patient usage and familiarity with other service providers contacting them on responsiveness to appointment reminder systems. We used a cross-sectional design wherein patients’ at an urban, primary-care clinic ranked various reminder systems and indicated their usage of technology and familiarity with other service providers contacting them over text messages and e-mails. We assessed the impact of patient usage of text messages and e-mails and patient familiarity with other service pr...
Source: Health Informatics Journal - May 27, 2013 Category: Information Technology Authors: Finkelstein, S. R., Liu, N., Jani, B., Rosenthal, D., Poghosyan, L. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
A qualitative case study of LifeGuide: Users' experiences of software for developing Internet-based behaviour change interventions
This article reports a qualitative case study of users’ experiences and perceptions of the LifeGuide software. The aim was to explore users’ experiences and their perceptions of the benefits and limitations of this approach to intervention development. Twenty LifeGuide users took part in semi-structured interviews and one provided feedback via email. Thematic analysis identified three overarching themes: ‘Recognising LifeGuide’s potential’, ‘I’m not a programmer’ and ‘Knowledge sharing – the future of LifeGuide’. Users valued LifeGuide’s potential to a...
Source: Health Informatics Journal - March 13, 2013 Category: Information Technology Authors: Williams, S., Yardley, L., Wills, G. B. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
