scholarly journals Voice-Controlled Intelligent Personal Assistants in Health Care: International Delphi Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alena Ermolina ◽  
Victor Tiberius
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Delphi Study ◽  
Personal Health Information ◽  
Widespread Application ◽  
Privacy Concerns ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Personal Assistants ◽  
Near Future ◽  
Further Development

BACKGROUND Voice-controlled intelligent personal assistants (VIPAs), such as Amazon Echo and Google Home, involve artificial intelligence–powered algorithms designed to simulate humans. Their hands-free interface and growing capabilities have a wide range of applications in health care, covering off-clinic education, health monitoring, and communication. However, conflicting factors, such as patient safety and privacy concerns, make it difficult to foresee the further development of VIPAs in health care. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to develop a plausible scenario for the further development of VIPAs in health care to support decision making regarding the procurement of VIPAs in health care organizations. METHODS We conducted a two-stage Delphi study with an internationally recruited panel consisting of voice assistant experts, medical professionals, and representatives of academia, governmental health authorities, and nonprofit health associations having expertise with voice technology. Twenty projections were formulated and evaluated by the panelists. Descriptive statistics were used to derive the desired scenario. RESULTS The panelists expect VIPAs to be able to provide solid medical advice based on patients’ personal health information and to have human-like conversations. However, in the short term, voice assistants might neither provide frustration-free user experience nor outperform or replace humans in health care. With a high level of consensus, the experts agreed with the potential of VIPAs to support elderly people and be widely used as anamnesis, informational, self-therapy, and communication tools by patients and health care professionals. Although users’ and governments’ privacy concerns are not expected to decrease in the near future, the panelists believe that strict regulations capable of preventing VIPAs from providing medical help services will not be imposed. CONCLUSIONS According to the surveyed experts, VIPAs will show notable technological development and gain more user trust in the near future, resulting in widespread application in health care. However, voice assistants are expected to solely support health care professionals in their daily operations and will not be able to outperform or replace medical staff.

scholarly journals Voice-Controlled Intelligent Personal Assistants in Health Care: International Delphi Study

10.2196/25312 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. e25312
Author(s):  
Alena Ermolina ◽  
Victor Tiberius
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Delphi Study ◽  
Personal Health Information ◽  
Widespread Application ◽  
Privacy Concerns ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Personal Assistants ◽  
Near Future ◽  
Further Development

Background Voice-controlled intelligent personal assistants (VIPAs), such as Amazon Echo and Google Home, involve artificial intelligence–powered algorithms designed to simulate humans. Their hands-free interface and growing capabilities have a wide range of applications in health care, covering off-clinic education, health monitoring, and communication. However, conflicting factors, such as patient safety and privacy concerns, make it difficult to foresee the further development of VIPAs in health care. Objective This study aimed to develop a plausible scenario for the further development of VIPAs in health care to support decision making regarding the procurement of VIPAs in health care organizations. Methods We conducted a two-stage Delphi study with an internationally recruited panel consisting of voice assistant experts, medical professionals, and representatives of academia, governmental health authorities, and nonprofit health associations having expertise with voice technology. Twenty projections were formulated and evaluated by the panelists. Descriptive statistics were used to derive the desired scenario. Results The panelists expect VIPAs to be able to provide solid medical advice based on patients’ personal health information and to have human-like conversations. However, in the short term, voice assistants might neither provide frustration-free user experience nor outperform or replace humans in health care. With a high level of consensus, the experts agreed with the potential of VIPAs to support elderly people and be widely used as anamnesis, informational, self-therapy, and communication tools by patients and health care professionals. Although users’ and governments’ privacy concerns are not expected to decrease in the near future, the panelists believe that strict regulations capable of preventing VIPAs from providing medical help services will not be imposed. Conclusions According to the surveyed experts, VIPAs will show notable technological development and gain more user trust in the near future, resulting in widespread application in health care. However, voice assistants are expected to solely support health care professionals in their daily operations and will not be able to outperform or replace medical staff.

scholarly journals A Tool to Assess the Trustworthiness of Evidence-Based Point-of-Care Information for Health Care Professionals (CAPOCI): Design and Validation Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerlinde Lenaerts ◽  
Geertruida E Bekkering ◽  
Martine Goossens ◽  
Leen De Coninck ◽  
Nicolas Delvaux ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Delphi Study ◽  
Critical Appraisal ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Scoring Systems ◽  
Likert Scale ◽  
Ordinal Scale ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Care Information

BACKGROUND User-friendly information at the point of care for health care professionals should be well structured, rapidly accessible, comprehensive, and trustworthy. The reliability of information and the associated methodological process must be clear. There is no standard tool to evaluate the trustworthiness of such point-of-care (POC) information. OBJECTIVE We aim to develop and validate a new tool for assessment of trustworthiness of evidence-based POC resources to enhance the quality of POC resources and facilitate evidence-based practice. METHODS We designed the Critical Appraisal of Point-of-Care Information (CAPOCI) tool based on the criteria important for assessment of trustworthiness of POC information, reported in a previously published review. A group of health care professionals and methodologists (the authors of this paper) defined criteria for the CAPOCI tool in an iterative process of discussion and pilot testing until consensus was reached. In the next step, all criteria were subject to content validation with a Delphi study. We invited an international panel of 10 experts to rate their agreement with the relevance and wording of the criteria and to give feedback. Consensus was reached when 70% of the experts agreed. When no consensus was reached, we reformulated the criteria based on the experts’ comments for a next round of the Delphi study. This process was repeated until consensus was reached for each criterion. In a last step, the interrater reliability of the CAPOCI tool was calculated with a 2-tailed Kendall tau correlation coefficient to quantify the agreement between 2 users who piloted the CAPOCI tool on 5 POC resources. Two scoring systems were tested: a 3-point ordinal scale and a 7-point Likert scale. RESULTS After validation, the CAPOCI tool was designed with 11 criteria that focused on methodological quality and author-related information. The criteria assess authorship, literature search, use of preappraised evidence, critical appraisal of evidence, expert opinions, peer review, timeliness and updating, conflict of interest, and commercial support. Interrater agreement showed substantial agreement between 2 users for scoring with the 3-point ordinal scale (τ=.621, <i>P</i>&lt;.01) and scoring with the 7-point Likert scale (τ=.677, <i>P</i>&lt;.01). CONCLUSIONS The CAPOCI tool may support validation teams in the assessment of trustworthiness of POC resources. It may also provide guidance for producers of POC resources.

scholarly journals A MOOC to disseminate key concepts related to the future challenges of the French health system

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
C You ◽  
V Lissillour ◽  
A Lefébure
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health System ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
New Public Health ◽  
New Public ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Public Health Challenges

Abstract Background The increase of life expectancy creates critical health needs that developed countries health systems have to deal with. They are also confronted to persistent health inequalities. A common vision of these issues may not be shared by the health care professionals, decision-makers and citizens. In the context of the launch of new public health laws in France, the French School of Public Health (EHESP) decided to offer a MOOC entitled “Public Health and Health System: transition and transformation” (2019). Objectives The MOOC intends to raise awareness and increase understanding of public health challenges. It is designed for a wide audience of professionals, decision-makers and citizens in the French speaking world. The content was designed by a multidisciplinary team of academics from the EHESP (N = 50) and a network of health professionals (N = 21). The 6 modules address major themes of the recent health policies, e.g. social and territorial inequalities in health, health care security, health pathways, innovation or health democracy. Results Over the course of 6 consecutive weeks, almost 7800 people have enrolled in this e-learning. They are provided with short teaching videos (109 capsules of 4-5’) and webinars, have access to a number of supplementary reading material and a variety of self-assessment. Active learning is enhanced via forum involving peers and teaching staff. The full course represents around 20 hours of teaching. So far, completion rate has attained 13% which compares well with usual rate for MOOCs. Participants include a wide range of professionals, students and citizens from 87 different countries (72% from France) and 50% had a master or higher degree. The overall satisfaction rate is 98%. Conclusions This MOOC attracted the attention of a wide and diverse audience regarding the major public health issues. Some public health agencies have expressed interest in implementing the MOOC into their professional development program of their staff. Key messages Health system reforms are constantly implemented to face new public health challenges. A multidisciplinary MOOC can help raise awareness and understanding of the issue being addressed by new policies.

Telestroke and Teleneurology

2021 ◽  
pp. 95-108
Author(s):  
Hartmut Gross ◽  
Jeffrey A. Switzer
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Optimal Care ◽  
Widespread Application ◽  
Rural Sites ◽  
Physician Liability

Evaluation and treatment of acute stroke is the oldest and most widespread application of telemedicine. Telestroke systems allow provision of the same high quality of care provided at specialized stroke centers to patients at emergency departments without stroke coverage. The early treatment achieved with telestroke leads to better functional outcomes in stroke patients, thereby lowering overall cost of patient care. Telestroke networks facilitate optimal care, decrease hospital and physician liability, educate health care professionals, and keep many patients closer to home. Admissions to, rather than transfers from, rural sites retain hospitalization revenues locally and help keep small, financially struggling hospitals viable.

scholarly journals A critical frame analysis of the various perspectives on recent policy changes to refugee health care in Canada.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brittney Emslie
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Federal Court ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Holistic View ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Conservative Government ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers

This paper explores the Federal Court of Appeal’s (FCA) decision from July 4, 2014 that opposed the changes to the Interim Federal Health Program that traditionally provided a wide range of health care coverage for refugees and asylum seekers in Canada. Using a case-study approach, I will explore the various perspectives, outline policy implications and analyze what changes still need to be made from both federal and provincial governments. I will argue that Canada’s current conservative government is using a neoliberal lens to justify their harsh, decision-making regarding this issue and it is an approach that disregards fundamental human rights. However, it is clear that the humanitarian approach that is used by both the advocates as well as Justice MacTavish is the most popular amongst refugees, asylum seekers, academics, health care professionals and many Canadian citizens who oppose these changes. In my analysis, I use both critical frame and discourse analysis to unpack the various perspectives on this debate and explain how the stakeholders have framed their argument to offer a holistic view for understanding this unprecedented court ruling.

scholarly journals Does Licensing of Health Care Professionals Improve Health Care?

2007 ◽  
Vol 93 (3) ◽  
pp. 13-19
Author(s):  
Randall G. Holcombe
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Brand Names ◽  
Regulatory Agencies ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Quality Health Care ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Quality Health ◽  
High Quality Health Care

ABSTRACT If government licensing of health care professionals were eliminated, a wide range of private sector alternatives would emerge to replace current licensing systems. Some of those systems, such as private sector regulatory agencies and brand names, could play a large role in ensuring high-quality health care, and other mechanisms, such as board certification and hospital practicing privileges, already are in place. Non-governmental mechanisms to ensure high-quality health care would work better if all government restrictions on health care professionals were eliminated.

scholarly journals The Clinical Decision Support System AMPEL for Laboratory Diagnostics: Implementation and Technical Evaluation (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Beatriz Walter Costa ◽  
Mark Wernsdorfer ◽  
Alexander Kehrer ◽  
Markus Voigt ◽  
Carina Cundius ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Patient Safety ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Clinical Decision Support ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Laboratory Diagnostics ◽  
Technical Requirements ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Functional Components

BACKGROUND Laboratory results are of central importance for clinical decision making. The time span between availability and review of results by clinicians is crucial to patient care. Clinical decision support systems (CDSS) are computational tools that can identify critical values automatically and help decrease treatment delay. OBJECTIVE With this work, we aimed to implement and evaluate a CDSS that supports health care professionals and improves patient safety. In addition to our experiences, we also describe its main components in a general manner to make it applicable to a wide range of medical institutions and to empower colleagues to implement a similar system in their facilities. METHODS Technical requirements must be taken into account before implementing a CDSS that performs laboratory diagnostics (labCDSS). These can be planned within the functional components of a reactive software agent, a computational framework for such a CDSS. RESULTS We present AMPEL (Analysis and Reporting System for the Improvement of Patient Safety through Real-Time Integration of Laboratory Findings), a labCDSS that notifies health care professionals if a life-threatening medical condition is detected. We developed and implemented AMPEL at a university hospital and regional hospitals in Germany (University of Leipzig Medical Center and the Muldental Clinics in Grimma and Wurzen). It currently runs 5 different algorithms in parallel: hypokalemia, hypercalcemia, hyponatremia, hyperlactatemia, and acute kidney injury. CONCLUSIONS AMPEL enables continuous surveillance of patients. The system is constantly being evaluated and extended and has the capacity for many more algorithms. We hope to encourage colleagues from other institutions to design and implement similar CDSS using the theory, specifications, and experiences described in this work.

scholarly journals Barriers and facilitators for individualized rehabilitation during breast cancer treatment – a focus group study exploring health care professionals’ experiences

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrika Olsson Möller ◽  
Ing-Marie Olsson ◽  
Katarina Sjövall ◽  
Ingela Beck ◽  
Lisa Rydén ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Cancer Trajectory ◽  
Rehabilitation Needs

Abstract Background Breast cancer (BC) and related treatment are associated with the risk of developing a wide range of persistent disabling impairments. Despite extensive research in the field and an enhanced focus on BC rehabilitation, up to 34–43% of these patients are at risk of developing chronic distress. In addition, it is known that these patients repeatedly report unmet needs, which are strongly associated with reduced quality of life. However, despite knowledge that patients’ needs for support during BC rehabilitation varies greatly, individualized rehabilitation is often lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to explore health care professionals’ (HCPs) experiences of current rehabilitation practice and describe current barriers and facilitators for individualized rehabilitation for patients following BC treatment. Methods A total of 19 HCPs were included, representing various professions in BC care/rehabilitation within surgical, oncological and specialized cancer rehabilitation units at a university hospital in Sweden. Five semi structured focus group interviews were conducted and inductively analysed using conventional qualitative content analysis. Results Three categories were captured: (1) varying attitudes towards rehabilitation; (2) incongruence in how to identify and meet rehabilitation needs and (3) suboptimal collaboration during cancer treatment. The results showed a lack of consensus in how to optimize individualized rehabilitation. It also illuminated facilitators for individualized rehabilitation in terms of extensive competence related to long-term experience of working with patients with BC care/rehabilitation. Further, the analysis exposed barriers such as a great complexity in promoting individualized rehabilitation in a medically and treatment-driven health care system, which lacked structure and knowledge, and overarching collaboration for rehabilitation. Conclusion This study suggests that the cancer trajectory is medically and treatment-driven and that rehabilitation plays a marginal role in today’s BC trajectory. It also reveals that structures for systematic screening for needs, evidence-based guidelines for individualized rehabilitation interventions and structures for referring patients for advanced rehabilitation are lacking. To enable optimal and individualized recovery for BC patients’, rehabilitation needs to be an integrated part of the cancer trajectory and run in parallel with diagnostics and treatment.

scholarly journals Task-Sharing Between Pediatricians and Non-Physician Healthcare Professionals in Outpatient Child Health Care in Germany: Assessment of Need and Acceptance for Concept Development

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 ◽  
pp. 004695802096929
Author(s):  
Angelika Beyer ◽  
Laura Rehner ◽  
Wolfgang Hoffmann ◽  
Neeltje van den Berg
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Transition Process ◽  
Pediatric Care ◽  
Three Dimension ◽  
Task Sharing ◽  
Rural Regions ◽  
Physician Health ◽  
Wide Range

Although pediatricians in Germany work as general practitioners for children, they are planned and trained as medical specialists. In consequence, distances between practices and residences of patients can be very large. The implementation of task-sharing models is a promising option to sustain pediatric outpatient care in rural regions. In this study we assessed the need for and acceptance of delegation of tasks in outpatient pediatric healthcare to non-physician healthcare professionals and developed a task-sharing concept. A standardized questionnaire was developed and addressed a wide range of healthcare professionals. On the basis of the results of the questionnaire and a subsequent workshop involving representatives of the various fields of pediatric care a delegation-concept was developed. A total of 206 questionnaires were answered (response rate: 17%). About 70% of the respondents (n = 145) agreed with the delegation of counseling on prevention, 66% (n = 135) with the delegation of tasks in the transition process into adult medicine. All proposed tasks were conceivable for at least a third of the respondents. Mostly, pediatricians could envision delegation more than the non-physician health care professionals. A three-dimension-delegation-concept was developed: which tasks can be delegated to whom in which setting. Basically, if nurses or medical practice assistants are adequately qualified, all tasks can be delegated to both. The delegation was approved by most of the respondents. Implementation of task-sharing provides a new option to support pediatricians and create better access to outpatient pediatric health care in rural regions. The next step should be the implementation of the delegation concept in pilot projects.

Healthcare Games and the Metaphoric Approach

2012 ◽  
pp. 24-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Lelardeux ◽  
Julian Alvarez ◽  
Thierry Montaut ◽  
Michel Galaup ◽  
Pierre Lagarrigue
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Serious Game ◽  
Wide Range

Many serious games dedicated to the health sector have been identified. Within this wide range, the authors have explored the Serious games offering an educational dimension and targeting either individuals or health-care professionals. Based on a corpus built around this orientation, the goal is to determine whether or not it is possible to find a use, targeted or not, involving metaphorical contexts among different titles. In the corpus studied, no metaphor is used for serious game targeting health-care professionals contrary to serious games targeting individuals. For this target, the game universe is mainly metaphorical. A discussion in the light of didactic and motivational arguments suggests that a metaphorical universe could be beneficial in the case where more transversal skills are targeted.

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