Health informatics journal
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Health Informatics J · Jun 2010
ReviewThe public and the Internet: multifaceted drives for seeking health information.
The aim of this study was to gain insight into people's drives, or motives, for seeking health information on the Internet. A systematic literature review, restricted to handbooks and reviews, was conducted by searching the databases of various disciplines. ⋯ Based on these results, three hypotheses were generated for future research: (1) drives are interconnected and may be present simultaneously in the process of seeking information; (2) they not only serve as antecedents for the need for information, but are present throughout the entire information-seeking process; (3) they are subject to change throughout the information-seeking process. Various drives play a role in the health information-seeking process.
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Health Informatics J · Mar 2010
A patient centred framework for improving LTC quality of life through Web 2.0 technology.
The NHS and Social Care Model - a blueprint supporting organisations in improving services for people with long-term conditions (LTCs) - noted options to support people with LTCs might include technological tools supporting personalised care and choice and providing resources for patients to self-care and self-manage. Definitions concerning the integration of health information and support with Web 2.0 technology are primarily concerned with approaches from the healthcare perspective. ⋯ Existing theoretical frameworks offer a means of informing the design and measurement of this framework. This article describes how Web 2.0 technology could impact on the quality of life of individuals with LTCs and suggests a starting point for developing a theoretically informed patient centred framework.
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Health Informatics J · Sep 2009
Comparative StudyElectronic software significantly improves quality of handover in a London teaching hospital.
The study compared paper-based and electronic-based medical handover with respect to quality of information transfer during hospital out-of-hours shifts, and analysed the caseload burden of the hospital night team. The participants were 1645 hospital patients transferred from the day team to the out-of-hours team over four months in 2006. Quality of information transfer was determined by clinical data handed over within pre-set fields, and caseload burden by the frequency of tasks required at handover. ⋯ Electronic handover achieved a significantly higher number of completed fields than paper-based handover. Blood collection, checking blood and X-ray results, and adjusting fluid balance and intravenous cannulation account for most of the workload during the nightshift. Electronic handover provides better continuity of care than paper-based handover, and redistribution of tasks during working hours would benefit night staff.
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Health Informatics J · Jun 2009
Reflections on the use of electronic health record data for clinical research.
The adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) offers the potential to improve the delivery, quality, and continuity of clinical care, but widespread use has not yet occurred. In this article, we describe our use of clinical (production) data that were derived from outpatient and inpatient visits at a university teaching hospital for clinical research, a use for which the data and their structure were not originally designed. ⋯ We describe the approaches taken to ensure compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and to leverage the vast stores of structured and unstructured data that are currently underused. We conclude by reflecting on what we would have done differently and by making recommendations to streamline the process.
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Health Informatics J · Dec 2008
A content analysis of mass media sources in relation to the MMR vaccine scare.
In light of the mass media coverage that the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine received as a result of questions raised about its safety, a content analysis of mass media articles about the MMR vaccine was undertaken. The analysis examined 227 articles published in five different information sources in a 2 month period. ⋯ The analysis showed that the content and format of articles between different information sources varied widely. These differences can be attributed to the information source in which they are published, but the variability in the content of these information sources provides a challenge to parents who were shown to be using the mass media as an information source.