Showing papers in "Health technology in 2015"

mHealth taxonomy: a literature survey of mobile health applications

Abstract: There has been tremendous increase in both the different types of Mobile Health (mHealth) applications and the number of applications being created for both the clinical and consumer healthcare space. The rapid proliferation of mHealth applications is creating confusion in the domain among both consumers and healthcare professionals due to uncertainty about reliability, security, regulation, and integration concerns. New applications are being developed faster than researchers, patients, and healthcare professionals can grasp the multiplicity of the mHealth applications and the various ways they can be used. This paper proposes a taxonomy of existing and emerging mHealth applications to help all users understand this domain.

How trustworthy are apps for maternal and child health

Abstract: Mobile technologies have become important tools for promoting and implementing healthcare. A key feature of smartphones and tablet computers is their ability to run software applications (apps), which can address specific health-related areas, including maternal and child health; however, there is little independent regulation or guidance for the development and publication of health apps in many countries, including Australia. This research examined health apps in two major app stores (Google and Apple) that address maternal and child health. Ten free maternal and child health apps available in Google and Apple stores were examined to evaluate their trustworthiness and technical performance. This was determined based on evidence of health professional involvement and use of evidence-based medical content, as well as an evaluation of functionality, usability and security. Only four of the ten apps examined were developed with the involvement of health professionals and four provided information from evidence-based medical content. Significantly, only four were fully functional, two were fully usable and three adequately implemented security mechanisms to guarantee privacy of user data. Two of the apps were inoperative. In conclusion, this study found great variation in the quality of content, functionality and security of ten maternal and child health apps. These results suggest developers, owners and health providers should work to improve maternal and child health apps, consumers need help to determine the trustworthiness of health apps, and sponsors and regulators should establish standards and endorse compliant health apps.

Off-the-person electrocardiography: performance assessment and clinical correlation

Abstract: Previous work by our group introduced a novel concept and sensor design for “off-the-person” ECG, for which evidence on how it compares against standard clinical-grade equipment has been largely missing. Our objectives with this work are to characterise the off-the-person approach in light of the current ECG systems landscape, and assess how the signals acquired using this simplified setup compare with clinical-grade recordings. Empirical tests have been performed with real-world data collected from a population of 38 control subjects, to analyze the correlation between both approaches. Results show off-the-person data to be correlated with clinical-grade data, demonstrating the viability of this approach to potentially extend preventive medicine practices by enabling the integration of ECG monitoring into multiple dimensions of people’s everyday lives.

Conceptualising health information seeking behaviours and exploratory search: result of a qualitative study

Abstract: The Internet has become an important source of health information for many people, including non-medical experts. While much health information is provided through the Internet, such information is often spread across multiple websites and providers. With the decentralised nature of the Internet, people are often unable to access health information at a single point, and thus extra efforts are needed for seeking information with search engines. The information seeking process is a crucial step for obtaining the needed health information. According to prior research, seekers apply an exploratory approach in the information seeking process of health-related topics. Although information seeking behaviours have been studied extensively in past research, few details specifically about information seeking in the health context can be found. This paper reports on a qualitative study that investigates the information needs and behaviours of health information seekers. Based on the results of the study, we present a model conceptualising health information seeking behaviours as well as the characteristics of the exploratory search approach observed in the health information seeking process.

Microlearning mApp raises health competence: hybrid service design

Abstract: Work place health support interventions can help support our aging work force, with mApps offering cost-effectiveness opportunities. Previous research shows that health support apps should offer users enough newness and relevance each time they are used. Otherwise the ‘eHealth law of attrition’ applies: 90 % of users are lost prematurely. Our research study builds on this prior research with further investigation on whether a mobile health quiz provides added value for users within a hybrid service mix and whether it promotes long term health? We developed a hybrid health support intervention solution that uses a mix of electronic and physical support services for improving health behaviours, including a mobile micro-learning health quiz. This solution was evaluated in a multiple-case study at three work sites with 86 users. We find that both our mobile health quiz and the overall hybrid solution contributed to improvements in health readiness, −behaviour and -competence. Users indicated that the micro-learning health quiz courses provided new and relevant information. Relatively high utilization rates of the health quiz were observed. Participants indicated that health insights were given that directly influenced every day health perceptions, −choices, coping and goal achievement strategies, plus motivation and self-norms. This points to increased user health self-management competence. Moreover, even after 10 months they indicated to still have improved health awareness, −motivation and -behaviours (food, physical activity, mental recuperation). A design analysis was conducted regarding service mix efficacy; the mobile micro-learning health quiz helped fulfil a set of key requirements that exist for designing ICT-enabled lifestyle interventions, largely in the way it was anticipated.

Introducing remote physical rehabilitation for patients with chronic disorders by means of telemedicine

Abstract: This study involved an evaluation of a telemedicine service implemented as a partial replacement of a physical outpatient rehabilitation program The telemedicine service was an exercise-based tele-rehabilitation service facilitating remote physical rehabilitation for patients suffering from chronic lower back pain or pulmonary disease Effectiveness was evaluated with multiple outcomes on quality (complaints, disability and physical condition) and access (usability, satisfaction and motivational character of the service) Patients referred by their rehabilitation physician to a physical outpatient rehabilitation program between October 2009 and May 2010 were asked to participate in the control group Patients referred to the program between June 2010 and December 2011 were asked to participate in the intervention group The control group received the conventional rehabilitation program The intervention group received the rehabilitation program in which telemedicine was used as partial replacement of face to face care Instead of 3 visits per week to the clinic as was being carried out in conventional care, patients visited the outpatient rehabilitation clinic for 2 days and they were instructed to exercise at least 1 day in their own environment using the exercise-based tele-rehabilitation service One hundred and eighteen patients were included in this study: 38 patients in the control group and 80 patients in the intervention group Both groups equally benefit from the outpatient rehabilitation program There were no significant differences between the groups The usability (system usability scale sore of 712 (SD 150; n = 47), satisfaction (average rate 60 (SD 20; n = 55), and level of motivation of the exercise-based tele-rehabilitation service were sufficient, but slightly disappointing The telemedicine supported the outpatient rehabilitation program as partial replacement of face to face care was as effective as the conventional outpatient rehabilitation program

A retrospective analysis of oxygen concentrator maintenance needs and costs in a low-resource setting: experience from The Gambia

Abstract: Oxygen is an essential medicine for the treatment of pneumonia, the leading cause of death in children under five worldwide. Yet, providing a sufficient and reliable supply of oxygen is a major challenge for many health facilities in the developing world, particularly in paediatric care units. The cost-effectiveness of oxygen concentrators versus compressed gas cylinders as a source of oxygen in low-resource health facilities has been demonstrated, but evidence of their long-term functionality is scarce. The Biomedical Engineering Department at the Medical Research Council Unit in The Gambia manages and maintains 27 oxygen concentrators at several sites across the country, and has kept electronic records of all preventive maintenance checks and repairs on these devices since 2006. Through a retrospective analysis of these maintenance records, the objective of this study was to assess the long-term reliability and maintenance needs of oxygen concentrators in a low-income setting with biomedical engineering technologist support. We found that the majority of concentrator repairs are low-cost and require a low experience level to complete. We estimate that the useful lifespan of oxygen concentrators in low-resource settings could reasonably exceed 7 years provided a system is in place for routine preventive maintenance. We conclude the paper with additional insights on the broader support ecosystem required to manage and maintain oxygen concentrators in low-resource settings.

Secure architecture to manage EHR’s in cloud using SSE and ABE

Abstract: Cloud computing turns up as an advanced computing model in all business domains. It is a novel interactive data model to realize industries and users who store data in cloud servers. The healthcare sector is one of the major industries for working with the enormous amount of data. With the advent of cloud computing, many healthcare organizations are motivated towards outsourcing their medical records, which are called Electronic Health Records (EHR’s) from local sites to the cloud environment. Outsourcing this sensitive data (i.e. EHR’s) helps organizations to provide cost-effective personalized services to patients. However, securing outsourcing data is a problematic issue. This paper proposes a Searchable Symmetric Encryption (SSE) and Attribute-Based Encryption (ABE) secure architecture to build privacy in the health care systems using the private cloud. Our system provides efficient key management using a pseudorandom number generator to avoid unauthorized access and preserving privacy in EHR’s storage. With the help of modified SSE, we can hide both keyword and access pattern, and improve search efficiency. The system provides EHR’s access in the emergency (when data owner does not meet the requirements) with the help of the ABE. Role-based login is another technique that is provided to monitor EHR’s activities to prevent misbehavior. Through the analysis of the proposed architecture, the privacy and efficiency in the cloud data is guaranteed.

Recruiting rural and urban LGBT populations online: differences in participant characteristics between email and Craigslist approaches

Abstract: Current recruitment strategies to reach lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) groups typically yield highly localized, mostly urban samples. Online recruitment strategies hold much promise for engaging rural and other underrepresented LGBT individuals in health research, but little research has been conducted examining the relative strengths of differing online recruitment methods. The purpose of the current study was to explore the effectiveness of both email and Craigslist recruitment to access rural sexual and gender minorities, and to examine if individuals across modalities differ significantly from each other with regards to demographic and psychosocial characteristics. Participants for the study were recruited through two sequentially implemented online convenience sampling recruitment methods: listserv based and Craigslist based. Participants completed an online battery assessing demographic characteristics, disclosure of sexual orientation/gender identity, health behaviors, and various psychosocial characteristics. A total of 3279 LGBT-identified individuals were recruited, 980 through Listservs and 2299 through Craigslist. Participants came from all 50 US states and nearly 30 % reported living in a rural area. When comparing the Listserv and Craigslist recruits, the groups differed on nearly every demographic and psychosocial characteristic assessed, ranging from racial/ethnic diversity to levels of psychological distress. Online recruitment strategies are feasible for accessing both rural and urban LGBT populations, and are highly effective at doing so. These strategies yield samples with remarkable diversity geographically, demographically, and psychosocially. In addition, similar to comparisons between in-person and online recruitment, samples recruited through different online methods significantly differ from each other in demographic and psychosocial characteristics.

The emerging interface of healthcare system and mobile communication technologies

Abstract: The rate of adoption of mobile phones by the masses as a preferred mode of communication is on an upward spiral across the globe and India is no exception. Mobile devices have now acquired the status of a basic need instead of being just an auxiliary and luxury gadget. Mobile networks are the most pervasive communication platform that exists today and could be used as one of the most efficacious media to interconnect providers, practitioners and other stakeholders to a substantially large number of consumers in the healthcare system. This study emphasizes the inter-connectedness between mobile phone services and access to the healthcare in this century of rapid information and human circulation. This article simultaneously explores the ‘potentialities’ of mHealth in improving the outreach of health based service facilities.

Costs of development and maintenance of an internet program for teens with type 1 diabetes

Abstract: Many adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have difficulty completing self-management tasks within the context of their social environments. Group-based approaches to psycho-educational support have been shown to prevent declines in glucose control, but are challenging to implement due to youths’ many activities and costs. A novel solution is providing psycho-educational support via the internet. The purpose of this study is to describe the cost of developing and maintaining two internet psycho-educational programs, both of which have been shown to improve health outcomes in adolescents with T1D. We calculated actual costs of personnel and programming in the development of TEENCOPE™ and Managing Diabetes, two highly interactive programs that were evaluated in a multi-site clinical trial (n = 320). Cost calculations were set at U.S. dollars and converted to value for 2013 as expenses were incurred over 6 years. Development costs over 1.5 years totaled $324,609, with the majority of costs being for personnel to develop and write content in a creative and engaging format, to get feedback from teens on content and a prototype, and IT programming. Maintenance of the program, including IT support, a part-time moderator to assure safety of the discussion board (0.5–1 hour/week), and yearly update of content was $43,845/year, or $137.00 per youth over 4.5 years. Overall, program and site development were relatively expensive, but the program reach was high, including non-white youth from 4 geographically distinct regions. Once developed, maintenance was minimal. With greater dissemination, cost-per-youth would decrease markedly, beginning to offset the high development expense.

Reimbursement for teledermatology in the United States: a review

Abstract: Many individuals do not have adequate access to dermatologic care. Teledermatology stands as a potential method of increasing access to dermatologic care. However, one of the biggest obstacles to the expansion of teledermatology is reimbursement. Policies for reimbursement vary based on the insurer, the state, and even the city. In general, there is a lack of federal funding for teledermatology, but various contained systems—such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, Department of Corrections, and academic medical centers – have used teledermatology sustainably. Whereas live-interactive teledermatology can often qualify for federal reimbursement, store-and-forward teledermatology (with some exceptions) typically cannot. Over the past decade, the number of active teledermatology programs has significantly decreased, and reimbursement difficulty is most likely a contributing factor. More uniform policies by organizations like Medicaid and private payers would enable a greater expansion of teledermatology services.

The use of subcutaneous RFID microchip in health care - a willingness to challenge

Abstract: This paper investigates the possibility of introducing subcutaneous microchip radio frequency identification device (RFID) in medicine and health care. Microchips are used for many years for different purposes in production and sale, medicine and also to identify some domestic animals. In the study we were interested in whether people in Slovenia would be willing to use subcutaneous microchip and under what conditions. This paper presents the preliminary results of study carried out from January to March 2014. The results show that there is potential for use of RFID implantable microchip in health care also in Slovenia. The attitude of respondents toward adoption of microchips depends on their personal characteristics and on characteristic of microchip. The biggest concern of the respondents was the possibility of GPS tracking of microchip.

A stage model of information technology in healthcare

Abstract: The healthcare industry faces significant challenges such as spiraling costs, shortage of qualified personnel, a rapidly aging population, and increase in chronic diseases as well as epidemics. Healthcare information technology (IT) has been suggested as a mitigator for some of these challenges. Particularly, IT can enable the automation, integration, and management of clinical and administrative functions in healthcare. This has the potential to lower costs, relieve the workload of healthcare professionals, and obtain improvements in healthcare quality as advances in IT take place. In this regard, studying the stages of healthcare IT progression is essential to understand the past trends, address the current challenges, and make use of IT to enhance the provision of healthcare in future. However, although there is considerable literature on the stages of IT evolution, studies specific to healthcare IT are sparse. With the unique challenges of the healthcare sector, we aim to address such a gap in our study. Drawing on the Nolan stage model, we propose a model to explain the stages of IT evolution in the healthcare sector, incorporating initiation, contagion, control, and integration stages. The model was developed with a focus on healthcare IT in Singapore, due to Singapore’s advanced IT and medical infrastructure and relatively lower spending on healthcare compared to other developed countries. In this manner, this study contributes to the understanding of the role of IT in healthcare from a dynamic and evolutionary view.

Real-time abnormal cell detection using a deformable snake model

Abstract: Abnormal cell detection by optical microscopy is widely used, and a large number of biopsies required where the process of determining cell’s position in the histological sample image are very time consuming. In this paper, a proof-of-concept study was done to segmented abnormal cells in real time with high performance metrics focusing on minimizing cost and maximizing efficiency. We developed an improved snake/active contour method for fast cancer cells detection by integrated Canny approach. The implementation of this algorithm on Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology substantially decreases the required time for identifying abnormal cells. It also allows an efficient and fast computation of active contour in high throughput image analysis applications where time performance is critical. In order to demonstrate the feasibility of this approach, we implemented the architecture on Xilinx Virtex-FPGAs technology which offers for a scalable and a totally embedded on Chip FPGA. The proposed architecture was validated using 30 images from each histopathological type of colon cells, namely, Benign Hyperplasia (BH), Intraepithelial Neoplasia (IN) and Carcinoma (Ca). This method successfully detected the different cell types with computation time in the order of milliseconds. It was compared with manual cells segmented by using the performance metrics of similarity. The experimental results showed that the proposed snake implementation on FPGA produced accurate and stable results. It was able to rapidly identify multiple cellular types from optical microscope images, and effectively addressed difficult problems such as irregular shapes in carcinoma cells. The short computation time in this method makes it applicable to real-time cancer cell detection.

The use of a nursing informatics system as an exemplar to investigate business value of IT in healthcare

Abstract: Researchers and decision makers in healthcare are taking great interest in clinical practices where there is a high potential to improve healthcare outcomes and reduce costs by incorporating a myriad of technology solutions. However, to date very few, if any of these IS/IT (information systems/information technology) solutions have realised the expected improvements to quality care with the expected cost reductions. This makes the need to evaluate the impact of IT on overall performance of clinical practices i.e. business value of IT a key strategic imperative in healthcare. To address this key need, we propose a comprehensive framework that conceptualises business value of IT in healthcare in different layers. To illustrate the proposed framework, a case study is used, which serves to examine the proposed conceptual model. The exemplar case study is an Australian-made nursing documentation system; an enterprise system that caters for multiple clinical users in acute healthcare contexts and hence provides appropriate richness to validate the proposed model.

Survey on HealthCloud characteristics

Abstract: Migration of the healthcare applications to cloud computing needs certain features to be fulfilled for complete user satisfaction. The users quench for satisfaction can be fulfilled by attaining the cloud computing characteristics such as data storage, accessibility, information sharing, interoperability, security, service availability, scalability, resiliency, resource management, and monitoring. The work is a survey on the cloud computing characteristics and its implementation in healthcare applications.

Use of inertial sensors as devices for upper limb motor monitoring exercises for motor rehabilitation

Abstract: This paper presents the development of a system that uses inertial sensors, wireless transceivers and virtual models to monitor the exercises of motor rehabilitation of the upper limbs based on Kabat’s method. This method involves performing rehabilitation complex exercises that cannot be easily reproduced by the patient, requiring permanent assistance of a qualified professional. However, it is very expensive to have a professional expert assisting the patient throughout the treatment. Therefore, the development of technologies to monitor this type of exercise is necessary. The Kabat’s method has several applications, e.g. in motor rehabilitation of stroke patients. Stroke is considered the second most common cardiovascular disorder and affects about 9.6 million people in Europe alone, and an estimated 6 million people worldwide die from this disorder. Also, the natural aging process increases the number of strokes, and the demand for healthcare and motor rehabilitation services. To minimize this problem, we propose an experimental system consisting of inertial sensors, wireless transceivers and virtual models according to the models of Denavit & Hartenberg and Euler Angles & Tait Bryan. Through inertial sensors, this system can characterize the movement performed by the patient, compare it with a predefined motion and then indicate if the motor system performed the correct movement. The patients monitor their own movements and the movement pattern (correct movement). All movements are stored in a database allowing continuous checking by a qualified professional. Several experimental tests have shown that the average system error was 0.97°, which is suitable to the proposed system.

Are smartphone health applications effective in modifying obesity and smoking behaviours? A systematic review

Abstract: Technological interventions specifically, mobile health application have risen dramatically. Individuals prefer to seek support from a mobile health application, which can serve to be effective in delivering health promotion initiatives and interventions. Therefore, we aimed to assess the available mobile “apps” for smoking and obesity by conducting a systematic review of current mobile “app” controlled interventions. Research articles published between 2006 and 2013 were considered, seven research papers were included within the review. An introduction and overview of the current research available in understanding the efficacy and development of mobile health ‘apps’ was outlined. In conclusion this review proposes the need for more comprehensive research within this area. Publishing accurate findings will provide good basis for understanding if smoking or obesity can be altered and supported through smartphone mobile application. Mobile technology has the potential to reach millions, with the on-going development of new innovative phones, offering health promotion and intervention through this portal is the future.

Portable electrocardiograph based on the integrated circuit ADS1294 using an android application as interface

Abstract: An electrocardiograph was designed and implemented, being capable of obtaining electrical signals from the heart, and sending this data via Bluetooth to a tablet, in which the signals are graphically shown. The user interface was done through an Android application. Because of the technological progress and the increasing use of full portable systems, such as tablets and cell phones, it is important to understand the functioning and development of an application, which provides a basis for conducting studies using this technology as an interface. The project development includes concepts of electronics and its application to achieve a portable and functional final project, besides using a specific programmable integrated circuit for electrocardiogram, electroencephalogram and electromyogram, the ADS1294. Using a simulator of cardiac signals, 36 different waveforms were recorded, including normal sinus rhythm, arrhythmias and artifacts. Simulations include variations of heart rate from 30 to 190 beats per minute (BPM), with variations in peak amplitude of 1 mV to 2 mV. Tests were performed with a subject at rest and in motion, observing the signals obtained and the damage to their interpretation due to the introduction of muscle movement artifacts in motion situations. Another test, only at rest, was performed in a second subject in order to detect Wolff-Parkinson-White’s syndrome.

VISIGNET: a wireless body area network with cloud data storage for the telemonitoring of vital signs

Abstract: Telemonitoring systems, including Wireless Body Area Networks (WBAN), are an important support for the monitoring of patients with chronic diseases. This article shows the development and evaluation process of VISIGNET, a prototype open hardware interoperable vital signs monitoring system that captures data of clinical variables from a patient and sends them to a cloud-based service for their remote visualization. The article first presents a synthesis of the system design, which consists of a WBAN that captures data from three sensors, namely heart rate, body temperature, and blood pressure. Then, it explains the WBAN operation and the data transmission process to Xively, a cloud service. Finally, this article shows the findings of the evaluation of the system, analyzing parameters like coverage, the Frame Error Rate (FER), end-to-end delay, and the battery life of the sensors. It also shows the implementation of a case study with 100 patients from two health centers.

Using a multiagent organizational approach to improve knowledge provision for shared decision making in patient-physician relationships: an example from Germany

Abstract: An integral aspect of sound patient centric healthcare delivery is the notion of shared decision making between patient and provider This paradigm is well documented in the extant literature However, what appears to be a stumbling block to date is successfully implementing such an approach within established healthcare processes This void is causing problems in healthcare delivery in particular in EU countries such as Germany because knowledge sources are distributed and underlie strict privacy policies; while the lack of adequate shared decision making compromises the quality of healthcare delivery and can lead to errors and inefficient workflow This paper which is based on an extensive research project serves to analyze the provision of personal guidance services for shared decision making in eHealth service networks By doing so, we address the problem of distributed and privacy-aware knowledge sharing by the formation of agent-based organizations to represent the relationships of patients and physicians and study this problem from the perspective of multiagent systems; ie, we develop technology enabled collaboration solutions The efficacy of the proffered decision support system will be demonstrated by a scenario-based evaluation We contend that such an approach will address the current void

Content-based image retrieval system to support the diagnosis of human papillomavirus

Abstract: This article describes the development of a Content- Based Image Retrieval system of digital images of cervix biopsy infected with Human Papillomavirus. Through a query image, the system performs a search in the database of digital images of cervix biopsies. The search makes possible to recover the diagnoses of the images stored in the database that might represent lesions similar to the query image. By using feature extraction techniques of low-level, a representation of the visual content of the images is calculated. This representation is used to compare the images by means of similarity measures. The system has been built as a helping tool for medical diagnoses; the purpose is to reuse the knowledge gained by carrying out diagnoses and treatments in order to diagnose new images. The evaluation of the system produced an average precision of 80 % for the retrieval of similar images stored in the database.

Design and development of bed with commode

Abstract: Managing bedridden patients is an important issue as number of persons and round the clock assistance are required to manage such patients. Any reduction in time and effort for managing such patients is always desirable. In this context, a survey was conducted to identify need & requirements of special bed for bedridden patients. Based on the survey a new bed was designed and fabricated. The new bed has a provision to attach commode as and when required and patients can carry out their physiological functions by using commode attached to bed. The bed is convertible from bed to chair and facilitates sitting of patient without shifting. It consists of a suitable opening in the bed top & mattress which is normally covered by a platform during normal position. This platform slides out and clears the opening in bed. Simultaneously, a commode pot rises through the opening for use. After use, bed is brought back to its normal position. Few patients who used the bed confirmed the utility of it. The highlight of the bed is that there is no need to lift the patient as commode opening can be created and commode can be attached from the bottom without disturbing the patient. Also, the overall product design and mechanism used for commode motion is novel.

Portrayal of medical decision making around medical interventions life-saving encounters on three medical television shows

Abstract: Previous literature has shown that patients obtain information about the medical system from television shows. Additionally, shared decision making is regularly cited as the ideal way to make decisions during a medical encounter. Little information exists surrounding the characteristics of medical decision-making, such as who makes the decision on medical television shows. We evaluate the characteristics of medical decisions in life-saving encounters on medical television shows and evaluate if these characteristics were different on staged and reality television shows. We coded type of medical intervention, patient’s ability to participate in decision, presence of patient advocate during decision, final decision maker, decision to use intervention, and controversy surrounding decision on three television shows. Frequencies by show were calculated and differences across the three television shows and between staged (ER) and reality (BostonMed and Hopkins) television shows were assessed with chi-square tests. The final data set included 37 episodes, 137 patients and 593 interventions. On ER, providers were significantly more likely to make the decision about the medical intervention without informing the patient when a patient was capable of making a decision compared to BostonMed or Hopkins (p < 0.001). Across all shows, 99 % of all decisions on whether to use a medical intervention resulted in the use of that intervention. Medical interventions are widely portrayed in the medical television shows we analyzed. It is possible that what patients see on television influences their expectations surrounding the decision making process and the use of medical interventions in everyday healthcare encounters.

A review of the use of information communication technology to aid decision-making for live kidney donors and recipients

Abstract: To understand the role that information communication technology (ICT) might play in addressing the informational and decision-making needs of live kidney donors and recipients, a comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify studies that describe the features of technological support used by living kidney donors and recipients and their perspectives on this technology. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINAHL databases and reviewed articles from 2000 through August 2014. Descriptive synthesis was used to analyse the findings and group the technologies into information, communication, decision-making and account management tools. The use of websites for information and social-networking sites for communication were the key technologies in current use to support donors and recipients. We note a lack of decision-making tools and specific support for the live donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) decision process. We offer a set of recommendations, which combines the technologies and features identified in the review with additional features to address the identified gap. These recommendations can be used by health organisations and system developers to extend existing or design new ICT systems that can help live kidney donors and recipients by increasing their awareness about live kidney donation, improve psychosocial support, and assist in the difficult LDKT decision-making process.