Information and communication technologies and health in low income countries: the potential and the constraints
01 Jan 2001-Bulletin of The World Health Organization (World Health Organization)-Vol. 79, Iss: 9, pp 850-855
TL;DR: The potential offered by technological progress in the information and communication technologies (ICTs) industries for the health sector in developing countries is outlined, some examples of positive experiences in India are presented, and the difficulties in achieving this potential are considered.
Abstract: This paper outlines the potential offered by technological progress in the information and communication technologies (ICTs) industries for the health sector in developing countries, presents some examples of positive experiences in India, and considers the difficulties in achieving this potential. The development of ICTs can bring about improvements in health in developing countries in at least three ways: as an instrument for continuing education they enable health workers to be informed of and trained in advances in knowledge; they can improve the delivery of health and disaster management services to poor and remote locations; and they can increase the transparency and efficiency of governance, which should, in turn, improve the availability and delivery of publicly provided health services. These potential benefits of ICTs do not necessarily require all the final beneficiaries to be reached directly, thus the cost of a given quantum of effect is reduced. Some current experiments in India, such as the use of Personal Digital Assistants by rural health workers in Rajasthan, the disaster management project in Maharashtra and the computerized village offices in Andhra Pradesh and Pondicherry, suggest creative ways of using ICTs to improve the health conditions of local people. However, the basic difficulties encountered in using ICTs for such purposes are: an inadequate physical infrastructure; insufficient access by the majority of the population to the hardware; and a lack of the requisite skills for using them. We highlight the substantial cost involved in providing wider access, and the problem of resource allocation in poor countries where basic infrastructure for health and education is still lacking. Educating health professionals in the possible uses of ICTs, and providing them with access and "connectivity", would in turn spread the benefits to a much wider set of final beneficiaries and might help reduce the digital divide.
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TL;DR: JITT is an effective tool in medical education for teaching topical anesthetic cream application onto the back by pediatric emergency department nurses, and may offer other possibilities for enhancing medical education.
Abstract: Introduction: Just-In-Time Training (JITT) is an emerging concept in medical education. Providing a brief educational intervention in the form of a video immediately prior to the patient intervention may be an effective method to teach health care providers. In this pilot study, we sought to determine if pediatric emergency department nurses could effectively apply a topical anesthetic to the lower back for lumbar puncture after watching a JITT video. Methods: Between October 19, 2011 and November 1, 2011, thirty nurses were asked to complete a questionnaire assessing their comfort level on applying a topical anesthetic prior to lumbar puncture. Accuracy of sham cream placement onto the back of an infant mannequin was assessed pre- and post-JITT video. Self-reported comfort levels in cream placement, cream coverage, and overall accuracy of cream placement were compared both pre- and post-JITT intervention. Results: There was a statistically significant change in the self-reported comfort level of the subjects in applying the cream post-JITT ( p < .01). In addition, there was a statistically significant difference in cream coverage after the JITT ( p < .01). Furthermore, subjects who were inaccurate with cream placement pre-JITT were more likely to be accurate post-JITT ( p < .01). Conclusions: JITT is an effective tool in medical education for teaching topical anesthetic cream application onto the back by pediatric emergency department nurses. JITT may offer other possibilities for enhancing medical education.
3 citations
Dissertation•
01 Apr 2019
3 citations
Cites background from "Information and communication techn..."
...Information and Communications Technologies (ICT): “Digital devices that can acquire, record, organize, retrieve, display, manipulate and disseminate information” [5]....
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01 Jan 2017
TL;DR: In this paper, the availability and usage of data and information in the engineering phase and in the assembly phase were investigated at manual assembly stations across three production plants within a case-pany.
Abstract: The present customer based and data driven world of business, together with the evolving social and technological trends continue to drive product complexity and product variety to a new height, one that is characterized by product customization. In the product realization pro-cess, the assembly floor remains the most vital part of the manufacturing process; to cope with the rigorous demands of product complexity and product variety, operators rely heavily on quality assembly instruction in manual assembly operations. Previous studies conducted at Volvo Group Trucks Operations (GTO) revealed the different working processes for creating assembly instructions, due to historical growth and acquisitions of other truck manufacturers. These different working processes are one of the main reasons for the reported quality devia-tion in assembly operations. This thesis therefore provides the current state analysis of data and information handling in the product realization process. Two research methods, direct observation and Semi-structured interview, were employed to investigate the availability and usage of data and information in the engineering phase and in the assembly phase. The study was conducted at manual assembly stations across three production plants within a case com-pany. The result indicates gaps and differences in opinion of how data is perceived, interpret-ed and utilized. Hence there are no standard approach on how data and information is man-aged in the manufacturing engineering IT systems and assembly information systems within all levels of the organization. (Less)
3 citations
Cites background from "Information and communication techn..."
...Social economic activities have been broadened globally due to technological development (Chandrasekhar and Ghosh, 2001)....
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14 Nov 2017
TL;DR: A model that is based on the UML standard is used within the INSPIRE project in order to achieve its required goals and a taxonomy of services categorized according to different targets, i.e., elders and people with disabilities, is presented.
Abstract: This paper proposes a conceptual model of social care services that takes into account different characteristics of services and activities. This model encompasses a multidimensional conceptualization of social and health care services integration, used in the Integrated Unique Access Point (IUAP), and considers those characteristics that are relevant to answer a fragile user’s need. On the basis of the proposed model, this paper outlines the methodological considerations with regard to information management, modelling and design of data related to social care services. To this end, a taxonomy of services categorized according to different targets, i.e., elders and people with disabilities, is presented. Our model that is based on the UML standard is used within the INSPIRE project in order to achieve its required goals.
3 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: This study intends to identify some of the prospects for IT-applications in healthcare organizations in countries like Pakistan just for the reduction of their sense of isolation in the world by connecting the doctors’ community online through internet facilities to learn, and do business and carry out organizational processes effectively.
Abstract: E-health systems used in different health setups are rare in developing countries but they consist of the computerization of patient records in hospitals and clinics, document delivery through Internet, information exchange and communication, e-Cards for patient ID, electronic scheduling system, hospital labs and hospital admission, computerized diagnosis and support for treatment. It also provides advanced decision-making and sophisticated use of diagnostic laboratories. Every e-health system establishes a basic ‘infrastructure’ of computers, networks, communications and a technical department filled with IT professionals to continuously uphold and improve the infrastructure, give training to the doctors & physicians and other medical staff and continuously provide technical support as and when required by them. Given the uncontrollable nature of technical support for e-health systems, developing countries like Pakistan are facing issues in creating full-bodied infrastructural facilities that are both competitive with the external environment and compatible with the internal user requirements. This piece of writing is an effort to highlight some of the main issues in developing countries in connection with adoption and use of e-health systems. Also this study intends to identify some of the prospects for IT-applications in healthcare organizations in countries like Pakistan just for the reduction of their sense of isolation in the world by connecting the doctors’ community online through internet facilities to learn, and do business and carry out organizational processes effectively. Keywords : ICTs, E-health systems, components (e-health) and practices (e-health).
2 citations
Cites background from "Information and communication techn..."
...This makes it difficult for governments of developing countries to determine their investment priorities (Chandrasekhar & Ghosh, 2001)....
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References
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Book•
01 Jan 1999
TL;DR: The Public Report of Basic Education in India presents a comprehensive evaluation of the educational system in India with an extensive survey of 200 villages in five states.
Abstract: The Public Report of Basic Education in India presents a comprehensive evaluation of the educational system in India. Based on an extensive survey of 200 villages in five states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan, the report gives a voice to thousands of parents, teachers, and children.
439 citations
TL;DR: This is a fascinating collection of essays exploring "why some people are healthy and others not," from a variety of disciplines and theoretical perspectives that challenges the widespread belief that health care is the most important determinant of health and argues for a more comprehensive and coherent understanding of the determinants of health.
Abstract: This is a fascinating collection of essays exploring \"why some people are healthy and others not,\" from a variety of disciplines and theoretical perspectives. It represents the efforts of a group of researchers from diverse backgrounds who have met intermittently over the last five years as part of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. Their common focus was to understand the determinants of a population's health. The book's point of departure is that \"factors in the social environment, external to the health care system, exert a major and potentially modifiable influence on the health of populations through biological channels that are just now beginning to be understood.\" (p. 23) Via this observation, the volume challenges the widespread belief that health care is the most important determinant of health and argues for a more comprehensive and coherent understanding of the determinants of health. This thesis is lucidly presented in the introductory chapter. Evans brings together findings from a number of studies that provoke fundamental questions about our understanding of health.
359 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, composite solar cells of improved efficiency comprise two cells of different characteristics arranged in optical series but electrically insulated from each other, each cell is of larger crystal grain size than its substrate, which grain size is achieved by growing the cell semiconductor on a molten intermediate rheotaxy layer of a suitable semi-conductor which solidifies at a temperature below the melting temperature of the solar cell.
Abstract: Composite solar cells of improved efficiency comprise two cells of different characteristics arranged in optical series but electrically insulated from each other. Preferably, each cell is of larger crystal grain size than its substrate, which grain size is achieved by growing the cell semi-conductor on a molten intermediate rheotaxy layer of a suitable semi-conductor which solidifies at a temperature below the melting temperature of the solar cell semi-conductor. The substrate and the intermediate rheotaxy layer of the overlying cell are transparent to that fraction of sunlight which is utilized by the underlying cell. Various configurations of overlying and underlying cells are disclosed.
299 citations
Book•
01 Jan 2000
TL;DR: In this paper, the successful use of information and communication technology (ICT) in rural development is discussed, and sixteen case studies are presented, which spell out the various applications of ICT that have made a difference in the delivery of services or products in rural India.
Abstract: This book documents the successful use of information and communication technology (ICT) in rural development. The book begins with an introductory chapter that traces the history of ICT use in rural India, examines some of the problems that have afflicted the implementation of rural development programmes, at the same time showing how ICT applications could help overcome them, assesses the early efforts in ICT use, and proposes a scheme by which to classify ICT applications. Written by administrators who lead projects in their areas, sixteen case studies follow, which spell out the various applications of ICT that have made a difference in the delivery of services or products in rural India. Among the services covered are health care, milk distribution, disaster management, postal services, telephones, and services for the disabled. These applications of ICT cover the use of simple and inexpensive technologies at one end, and sophisticated satellite-based communication at the other. An important collection that delineates the main elements of a strategy that can be used by governmental agencies to derive maximum developmental impact from investments in ICT
85 citations