The Role of Library and Information Science Education in the Development of Community Health Information Services for People Living with HIV/AIDS: Perspectives of Directors and Managers of Public Libraries

This article identifies the role of library and information science (LIS) education in the development of community health information services for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Preliminary findings are presented from semi- structured qualitative interviews that were conducted with eleven directors and managers of local branches in the Knox County Public Library (KCPL) System that is located in the East Tennessee region in the United States. Select feedback reported by research participants is summarized in the article about strategies in LIS education that can help local public librarians and others in their efforts to become more responsive information providers to PLWHA. Research findings help better understand the issues and concerns regarding the development of digital and non-digital health information services for PLWHA in local public library institutions.

Socio-Cultural Barriers Influencing Utilization of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Information and Services among Adolescents and Youth 10 - 24 Years in Pastoral Communities in Kenya

Background: As in other developing countries, sexual and reproductive ill-health continues to mostly affect adolescents and youths. Samburu and Turkana counties in Kenya have some of the highest levels of total fertility rates (TFR) at 6.3 and 6.9 respectively placing them well above the national TFR of 3.9. Establishing factors that influence utilization of SRH services among adolescent and youth aged 10 - 24 years is critical in developing an effective program. Method: We used primary data from qualitative and purposeful study design. Data collection used Focus group discussions (FGD), In-depth interviews (IDIs) and Key informant interviews (IDIs). The target groups were adolescents and youth aged 10 - 24 years, health care providers, community health volunteers (CHVs), chemist assistants, parents of adolescents and youth, teachers, spiritual leaders and traditional activists. Findings and Conclusion: Socio-cultural factors were found to influence utilization of SRH services and information. Early marriage, being youth, male only decisions on sexuality matters and fear of family contribute to unprotected sex while myths and misconceptions on contraceptives affected utilization. The findings revealed that youth needs to know sources, how contraceptives work and how to use them. The findings suggest capacity building of health care providers, CHVs, teachers, parents and community leaders on adolescence, sexuality needs of adolescents and disadvantages of female genital mutilation (FGM) including early marriage.

Integration of Location-Allocation and Accessibility Models in GIS to Improve Urban Planning for Health Services in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia

In this study, accessibility and location-allocation models have been integrated into GIS to improve spatial planning and environmental sustainability of health services in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah. This integration provides a planning framework in order to check the efficiency of the spatial allocation of health services and to generate alternatives either by proposing an active service or to improve an existing one. To achieve these objectives, the accessibility to the service area was analyzed within the analysis of health services networks, which are divided into eight types: public hospitals, specialized hospitals, health units, healthcare centers, infirmaries, clinic complexes, the Red Crescent Center, and ambulance facilities, with time intervals of (5 minutes - 10 minutes - 15 minutes) to access coverage ranges, and the location-allocation model was used based on the maximum coverage model within a response time not exceeding 15 minutes, The results of the study revealed the poor distribution of health services Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah suffers from weak accessibility to health services coverage areas and is unable to meet the needs of its population at present. The current need for health services reached twenty-four locations, including two public hospitals, three specialized hospitals, two health centers, three ambulance facilities, four infirmaries, three clinic complexes, four health units, and three Red Crescent centers.

Smart Dynamic Resource Allocation Model for Patient-Driven Mobile Medical Information System Using C4.5 Algorithm

A mobile medical information system (MMIS) is an integrated application (app) of traditional hospital information systems (HIS) which comprise a picture archiving and communications system (PACS), laboratory information system (LIS), pharmaceutical management information system (PMIS), radiology information system (RIS), and nursing information system (NIS). A dynamic resource allocation table is critical for optimizing the performance to the mobile system, including the doctors, nurses, or other relevant health workers. We have designed a smart dynamic resource allocation model by using the C4.5 algorithm and cumulative distribution for optimizing the weight of resource allocated for the five major attributes in a cooperation communications system. Weka is used in this study. The class of concept is the performance of the app, optimal or suboptimal. Three generations of optimization of the weight in accordance with the optimizing rate are shown.

Trust and Security on Semantic HIM (Health Information Management)

Information technology have changed information media by networking and internet using technology in health as same as another part improve efficiency and effectiveness. Currently, the medical document is reality-based medicine, so that is the most important, richest and the most realistic source of medical and health information. Health information management systems that require systems to the storage, retrieval, storage and elimination of health records (by law), and adjust to the rules of professional. These processes are difficult and time consuming for human. In the meantime semantic HIM seem best solution.

How reliable is online diffusion of medical information targeting patients and families?

AIM: To determine whether online diffusion of the "Ten Warning Signs of Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases(PID)'' adheres to accepted scientific standards.METHODS: We analyzed how reproducible is online diffusion of a unique instrument, the "Ten Warning Signs of PID", created by the Jeffrey Modell Foundation(JMF),by Google-assisted searches among highly visited sites from professional, academic and scientific organizations;governmental agencies; and patient support/advocacy organizations. We examined the diffusion, consistency of use and adequate referencing of this instrument.Where applicable, variant versions of the instrument were examined for changes in factual content that would have practical impact on physicians or on patients and their families.RESULTS: Among the first 100 sites identified by Google search, 85 faithfully reproduced the JMF model, and correctly referenced to its source. By contrast, the other15 also referenced the JMF source but presented one or more changes in content relative to their purported model and therefore represent uncontrolled variants, of unknown origin. Discrepancies identified in the latter included changes in factual content of the original JMF list(C), as well as removal(R) and introduction(I) of novel signs(Table 2), all made without reference to any scientific publications that might account for the drastic changes in factual content. Factual changes include changes inthe number of infectious episodes considered necessary to raise suspicion of PID, as well as the inclusion of various medical conditions not mentioned in the original.Together, these changes will affect the way physicians use the instrument to consult or to inform patients,and the way patients and families think about the need for specialist consultation in view of a possible PID diagnosis.CONCLUSION: The retrieved adaptations and variants,which significantly depart from the original instrument,raise concerns about standards for scientific information provided online to physicians, patients and families.

On Rural Medical Care and Health Undertaking Development during New Medical Reform

Based on in-depth survey of township hospitals in Lushan County of Henan Province, this paper studies the development situations of rural medical care and health undertaking in the course of new medical reform. Results show that both rural medical institution and public health undertaking have considerable development in this course. Working capital situation gradually turns better. However, there are still problems and challenge of shortage of high quality medical care personnel, lack of employment mechanism, poor medical environment, and imperfect bidding and purchasing system of medicines. To further develop rural medical situation, it should improve medical environment, speed up informationization construction, and give prominence to functional orientation.

Knowledge and Skills for Management of Sexually Transmitted Infections by Rural Medical Practitioners in Bangladesh

Sexually transmitted infection (STI) management is considered rudimentary among rural medical practitioners (RMPs) in Bangladesh. We sought to understand the level of knowledge and skills in STI management and to assess the impact of a two-day training orientation among RMPs in Tangail district. Data were collected through a baseline survey of 225 practicing RMPs in the study area and a three-month follow-up survey of 99 RMPs who participated in a two-day STI/HIV orientation training. The level of formal training among RMPs ranged from none (22.7%), to paramedical training (14.7%) and local medical assistant training (62.6%). The baseline survey revealed a low level of STI/HIV knowledge and misconceptions about the transmission of STI/HIV among RMPs. RMPs mostly prescribed first line antibiotics for treatment of common reproductive tract infections (RTIs) including STIs, but they rarely prescribed the correct dosages according to the national RTI/STI management guidelines. Only 3% of RMPs were able to correctly answer all four HIV transmission (unprotected sexual intercourse, blood transfusion, needle sharing and mother to child transmission) questions at baseline, while 94.9% of RMPs answered all four correctly at three months following the training (p = 0.001). Only 10% of RMPs reported suggesting the recommended drug (azithromycin) and only 2% mentioned about the recommended dosage (2 gm single dose) for the treatment of urethritis/cervicitis;compared to 49.5% suggested azithromycin at follow-up with 39.4% mentioned the recommended 2 gm single dose (p = 0.001). Our study found low level of knowledge and poor practices related RTI/STI management among RMPs. Short orientation training and education intervention shown promise to increase knowledge and management skills for RTIs/STIs.

Gender differences in mental health service utilization among respondents reporting depression in a national health survey

This study examined whether people who self-reported depression sought mental health treatment in the year after being interviewed, and how gender affected utilization. Depression data were obtained from the Canadian Community Health Survey (2000-01), and linked to medical records in Ontario (n = 24,677). Overall, women had higher rates of mental health service utilization, but there were no gender differences in rates of specialist care. The gender difference in mental health contact was greater for those without depression, as opposed to those with depression. Among those without depression, women were significantly more likely than men to use mental health services;however, rates were similar for women and men with depression. This finding suggests that men may be more likely than women to delay seeing a doctor for minor mental health concerns, but will seek help once a problem reaches a threshold.

Integrating Electronic Systems for Requesting Clinical Laboratory Test into Digital Clinical Records: Design and Implementation

Clinical laboratory tests are basic elements that support healthcare tasks such as disease detection, diagnosis and monitoring of response to treatments. Current laboratory information systems focus on the patient database, tests and results, with multiple modules available, connecting with the various analytical systems or work areas. However laboratory information systems functioned as “islands of information”, because their design was fundamentally inward-looking and disconnected from other healthcare computer applications. Actually, the Electronic Health Register (EHR) is considered by clinicians as a tool with great potential healthcare benefits. The EHR, in the sense of a unique and complete record of a patient’s healthcare and state of health, regardless of the healthcare level used, is a real attempt to eliminate these “islands of information” and need modules to act as “bridges” with the laboratory information systems. This type of module, which in generic terms may be referred to as a laboratory test request module, has become an essential feature of the EHR. These modules need to use a laboratory coding system as a common language for exchanging information, ensuring that tests and results are unequivocally identified. The development of the laboratory test request module requires the commitment of professionals and political authorities, being necessary time for their design and an adequate pilot phase. The laboratory professionals have to assume a leadership role in the whole process of design, development and implementation of these modules, integrating in the equipment of information technologies of healthcare providers. In our manuscript we review the elements that may prove electronic systems for requesting clinical laboratory test into digital clinical records and the key elements to move from theory to practice.

The Elder Health Information Technology Framework for Geriatric Care in Rural India: A Policy Initiative

Healthcare monitoring and analysis of healthcare parameters is a reality to reduce costs and increase access to specialist and experts that holds the future for geriatric care in India. This paper proposes distinct methods towards the implementation of rural elder health information technologies (IT), which includes electronic medical records, clinical decision support, mobile medical applications, and software driven medical devices used in the diagnosis or treatment of disease for the older adult population in the villages of India. The purpose is online patient satisfaction at the microlevel (village panchayat) through methods accessible and affordable by establishing a common standard of operations at the village primary care units giving way to early disease detection and routine screening among the aged population avoiding institutionalization. The rural elder health IT framework is of great interest for all stakeholders in the field, as it benefits the investors and the consumers, adding to the technological infrastructure, thereby opening new avenues of research in health informatics, telemedicine and enhancing the scope of geriatric research, which in turn enhances the health-related quality of life for the rural older adults in the remote villages of the nation.

Mobile EMR Use for Epidemiological Surveillance on a Medical Service Trip in Honduras: A Pilot Study

Rationale: Medical treatment on short-term primary care medical service trips (MSTs) is generally symptom-based and supplemented by point-of-care testing. This pilot study contributes to the effective planning for such austere settings based on predicted symptomology. Objective: We aimed to prospectively document the epidemiology of patients seen during two low-resource clinics on a MST in Honduras and apply predefined case definitions adapted from guidelines used by international healthcare organizations (e.g. World Health Organization). Methods: An observational design was used to track the epidemiology during two clinics on an MST in Limon, Honduras in March 2015. The QuickChart mobile electronic medical record (EMR) application was piloted to document diagnoses according to predefined case definitions. Results: The most commonly diagnosed syndromes were upper respiratory complaints (20.19%), nonspecific abdominal complaints (20.19%), general pain (15.38%), hypertension (9.62%), pruritus (6.73%), and asthma/ COPD (4.81%). The case definitions accounted for 94% of all complaints and diagnoses on the brigade. Discussion: The distribution of common patient diagnoses on this MST was similar to that which had been reported elsewhere. The use of broader symptom-based case definitions for epidemiologic surveillance could also facilitate the syndromic management of patients seen on MSTs, and improve the consistency of treatment offered. Conclusion: Case definitions for common syndromes on primary care MSTs may be a feasible method of standardizing patient management. Preliminary use of the QuickChart EMR was acceptable for documentation of epidemiology in the field. Further study is necessary to investigate the reliability of syndromic diagnostic criteria between different clinicians and in a variety of MST settings.

Information Assurance Technique for Mitigation of Data Breaches in the Human Service Sector

This research paper analyzes data breaches in the human service sector. The hypothesis for the solution to this problem is that there will be a significant reduction in data breaches in the human service sector due to an increase in information assurance. The hypothesis is tested using data from the United States Department of Health and Human Services data breach notification repository during January 2018-December 2020. Our result shows that without the increased mitigation of information assurance, data breaches in the human service sector will continue to increase.

Financial Sustainability of a Public or Private Health System,a Condition for a Romania With a Healthy Population

Can Romania have a sustainable health system,so that the population can choose medical services at a state hospital or at a private hospital?A healthy state,with a healthy population,can ensure a viable balance with a secure future.Each country ensures its health system through levers,policies,and well-defined sources of funding,determined by demographics,geographical position,culture,nationality,has the necessary sources to implement its own health system,whether it is public or private.The programs that can be implemented in the health system start from the quality of medical services,which must be provided so that each patient can be sure that medical needs are achievable.We have a people with diverse traditions,a beautiful culture,specialized doctors and yet the medical system is still fragile.Funding programs must help us start this health system,build many private hospitals,so from prevention to services specialized,surgical,to be able to bring in the country specialized medical staff to us but gone to many states of the world.Any change can lead us to what we want,the health of our population in the village,the city,the majority of the population,the identification of possibilities to revive the health system.The market of private health systems,diversified by international players,bank brokers,manages to bring important changes in the health system.From a technical point of view,health insurance has its originality in the impossibility of being able to predict the insured’s illness and the costs necessary for recovery.Any risk related to personal injury,illness,temporary incapacity for work,can be identified,assessed in the form of medical expenses,loss of income,as a result,disability,borne by both the individual and the family,due to the inability to insure a normal activity,daily existence.Insurance can be considered as a method of controlling the health risk.The current situation regarding the disease of the population whit COVID often makes us understand that we must be prepared at all times.The situation of the pandemic SARS-COV 19 found a timely solution through the private health system.

A Discussion on the Establishment of Financial Shared Service Center for Medical Groups

Financial transformation has become a trend,and under the influence of medical reform policies,such as the zero-price difference in pharmaceutical consumables and medical insurance payment by disease,the cost pressure on the medical industry is exceptionally high.The primary focus of this paper is on how to integrate resources and obtain cost advantages through financial shared service center,so as to increase the competitiveness of regional medical groups.

医防融合的关键问题、机制创新与实现路径

我国医疗服务与公共卫生服务相互割裂的问题由来已久,医防融合是新时代背景下实现健康中国战略的重要举措。当前,在医防融合试点实践中,存在医疗卫生服务体系多头管理、紧密型医联体尚未真正形成、医院“重医轻防”理念仍未转变、医防信息不能互联互通等问题。对此,可以借鉴宿迁的经验,从组织管理、医防服务供给、卫生筹资、医防人才与医防信息等方面入手,实现医防融合的机制创新,在此基础上,将医防融合作为常态化制度持续向纵深推进。

中国基层医疗服务发展对老年人健康的影响

实现健康老龄化是我国积极应对人口老龄化的一项重要战略任务。老年人的健康状况和医疗服务需求特点决定了基层医疗服务在促进老年健康中的重要地位。基层医疗服务发展对老年人健康具有重要影响。分析评估我国基层医疗服务发展的成就和不足,更好地发挥基层医疗服务在促进健康老龄化和建设健康中国中的作用具有重要的现实意义。本文从老年人感知的基层医疗服务可及性、服务可得性和服务适配性三个维度构建反映基层医疗服务发展水平的综合指标,利用2015年和2018年中国健康与养老追踪调查(CHARLS)数据,实证检验和分析我国基层医疗服务发展水平对老年人健康的影响及其作用机制。研究发现老年人感知的基层医疗服务发展水平越高,自评健康水平就越高,自评健康改善状况也越好,说明基层医疗服务发展对老年人健康具有积极作用,且结论具有稳健性。基层医疗服务发展会改善医疗服务便利性,降低医疗服务费用,促进老年人的医疗服务利用,降低老年人医疗服务需求未满足的程度;基层医疗服务还担负着向辖区居民开展疾病预防与控制、健康教育、居民健康档案管理、慢性病患者健康管理、老年健康与医养结合服务等初级卫生保健服务的职责,可以改善老年人健康管理水平;基层医疗服务发展能够提高老年人健康素养,有助于培养健康生活方式与行为,最大限度消除健康危险因素,从而促进老年人健康。机制检验发现医疗服务需求满足程度、健康管理状况、健康素养与行为在基层医疗服务发展影响老年人健康过程中发挥了部分中介作用。异质性分析结果表明基层医疗服务发展对老年健康的影响在不同地区、不同年龄阶段、不同收入水平和健康状况的老年群体之间存在显著差异。中西部地区和农村地区老人、中低龄老人、低收入老人和罹患慢性病的老人从基层医疗服务发展中受益更大。政府应进一步优化基层医疗资源配置,增强基层医疗服务能力,增加服务供给,在提高老年人医疗服务需求满足程度的同时提高老年人健康管理水平,提升老年人健康素养,培养健康行为方式,更好地发挥基层医疗服务促进老年人健康的作用。

A Personalized Adverse Drug Reaction Early Warning Method Based on Contextual Ontology and Rules Learning

Background: The fatality of adverse drug reactions (ADR) has become one of the major causes of the non-natural disease deaths globally, with the issue of drug safety emerging as a common topic of concern. Objective: The personalized ADR early warning method, based on contextual ontology and rule learning, proposed in this study aims to provide a reference method for personalized health and medical information services. Methods: First, the patient data is formalized, and the user contextual ontology is constructed, reflecting the characteristics of the patient population. The concept of ontology rule learning is then proposed, which is to mine the rules contained in the data set through machine learning to improve the efficiency and scientificity of ontology rule generation. Based on the contextual ontology of ADR, the high-level context information is identified and predicted by means of reasoning, so the occurrence of the specific adverse reaction in patients from different populations is extracted. Results: Finally, using diabetes drugs as an example, contextual information is identified and predicted through reasoning, to mine the occurrence of specific adverse reactions in different patient populations, and realize personalized medication decision-making and early warning of ADR.