Hospital-based health technology assessment:The next frontier for traditional Chinese medicine hospitals

Hospital-based health technology assessment(HB-HTA)is highly valuable in the application of hospital medical technology,cost control,improvement of medical quality,and protection of medical safety,and its use is increasing daily globally.However,in China,HB-HTA is still in its infancy,and it is yet to be adopted in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).Therefore,this article introduces the application and development of HB-HTA,as well as discusses the current situation of TCM and related future development strategies to provide ideas and references for the development of HB-HTA in TCM.We conclude and recommend that all major stakeholders,including the state,health departments,and hospital leaders,support and promote the exploration and development of HB-HTA in TCM hospitals and integrative medicine hospitals.We also suggest the utilization of existing talents and introduction of other necessary talents to promote better and faster organizational development,as well as suggest the formation of a national and internationally recognized HB-HTA guidance manual and toolkit for TCM hospitals based on both the national HTA guidelines and the evaluation of TCM hospitals pilot projects.Moreover,we recommend that HB-HTA pilot study should be executed with Chinese patent medicine as the starting point to form the implementation process and framework in the TCM arena.

The Impact of Health Information Technology on Hospital Performance: A Systematic Integrative Literature Review

Objective: To review, categorise, and synthesise findings from literature on health information technology (HIT) functionalities, HIT use, and the impact of HIT on hospital performance. Materials and Methods: We conducted a systematic integrative literature review based on a compre-hensive database search. To organise, categorise and synthesise the ex-isting literature, we adopted the affordance actualization theory. To align the literature with our research framework, we used four categories: 1) the functionalities of HIT and how these functionalities are measured;2) use and immediate outcomes of HIT functionalities;3) different perfor-mance indicators and how HIT functionalities affect them;and 4) what hospital characteristics influence the outcome of hospital performance. Results: Fifty-two studies were included. We identified four types of HIT. Only ten studies (19.2%) define the use of HIT by explicitly meas-uring the use rate of HIT. We identified five dimensions of hospital per-formance indicators. Every dimension showed mixed results;however, in general, HIT has a positive impact on mortality and patient readmis-sions. We found several hospital characteristics that may affect the rela-tionship between HIT and hospital-level outcomes. Discussion: Further efforts should focus on embedded research on HIT functionalities, use and effects of HIT implementations with more performance indicators and adjusted for hospital characteristics. Conclusion: The proposed framework could help hospitals and researchers make decisions regard-ing the functionalities, use and effects of HIT implementation in hospi-tals. Given our research outcomes, we suggest future research opportuni-ties to improve understanding of how HIT affects hospital performance. .

Review and Prospect of Research on Structural Health Monitoring Technology for Bridges

As a crucial infrastructure in the transport system,the safe operation of bridges is directly related to all aspects of people’s daily lives.The development of bridge structural health monitoring technology and its application play an important role in ensuring the safety and extending the service life of bridges.This paper carries out in-depth research and analysis on the related technology of bridge structural health monitoring.Firstly,the existing monitoring technologies at home and abroad are sorted out,and the advantages and problems of various methods are compared and analyzed,including nondestructive testing,stress measurement,vibration characteristic identification,and other commonly used monitoring technologies.Secondly,the key technologies and equipment in the bridge health monitoring system,such as sensor technology,data acquisition,and processing technology,are introduced in detail.Finally,the development trend in the field of bridge health monitoring is prospected from both theoretical research and technical application.In the future,with the development of emerging technologies such as big data,cloud computing,and the Internet of Things,it is expected that bridge health monitoring with intelligent and systematic features will be more widely applied to provide a stronger guarantee for the safe and efficient operation of bridges.

Exploring Nutritional Compositions,Volatile Compounds,Health Benefits,Emerging Processing Technologies,and Potential Food Products of Glutinous Rice:A Review

Glutinous rice(Oryza sativa var.glutinosa)stands out as one of the most popular rice varieties globally,amidst thousands of rice cultivars.Its increasing popularity is attributed to its rich nutritional compositions and health benefits.This review aims to summarize the nutritional compositions,volatile compounds,and health benefits of glutinous rice.Further,in-depth studies are necessary to explore the utilization of glutinous rice in enhancing processing technologies and developing new food products.Glutinous rice has been shown to possess numerous health benefits,including antioxidant activity,bioactive compounds,anti-cancer properties,anti-inflammatory effects,anti-diabetic potential,and cholesterol-lowering effects.Besides its nutritional compositions,the major volatile compounds identified in glutinous rice could serve as a functional food for human consumption.Emerging processing technologies related to glutinous rice are elaborated to improve the latest developments for incorporating them into various food products.

Shaoma Zhijing granule for children with tic disorders: A rapid health technology assessment

Objective:To rapidly assess the effectiveness,safety,economy,and applicability of Shaoma Zhijing granule(SZG)for the treatment of children with tic disorders(TD),and provide currently available best evidence for decision-makers of health policies.Methods:We conducted a rapid health technology assessment(RHTA)to explore the value of SZG.A systematic literature search in eight literature databases and on three clinical trial registration platforms was performed.The literature was screened according to eligibility criteria.The screening process and data extraction were conducted by two reviewers,and the quality of the literature was also assessed.The results were summarized,analyzed,and presented in tables or figures.Results:A total of five randomized controlled trials(RCTs)were included in this study,of which one was published in English(in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry)and four in Chinese journals.The overall risk of bias for the five RCTs was evaluated as“some concerns.”SZG monotherapy or in combi-nation with tiapride was better than tiapride alone in improving traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndromes and tic symptoms,with a daily cost of¥67.50e107.22.Adverse events were mainly related to the digestive,respiratory,and neurological systems,but all were mild.Conclusion:Overall,the current RHTA of published,peer-reviewed literature has located a small body of evidence evaluating the use of SZG for the treatment of TD in children.SZG has effects on improving TCM syndromes and tic symptoms;the daily cost is¥67.50e107.22;and all adverse events are mild.High-quality studies with long-term follow-up should be conducted,so as to provide local evidence and consistently guide and improve scientific decision-making.

Development of piezoelectric-based technology for application in civil structural health monitoring

Piezoelectric material,as one of the great potential materials,had attracted lots of attention all over the world due to its distinguish advantages.In this paper,the development of piezoelectric-based technology for application in the field of civil structural health monitoring(CSHM),was summarized and discussed.Based on the different identification mechanisms,the piezoelectric transducer-based technology can be divided into two main approaches as the active or passive sensing and detection methods.This paper summarized the development of these two approaches and discussed their applications in the area of civil structural health monitoring,such as structural and concrete engineering,bridge engineering,pipeline engineering,protection engineering for geological hazards and earthquake disasters,and so on.In addition,the electrical mechanical impedance(EMI)technique,as one of the active identification methods,was also detailly presented.Finally,its great potential for the piezoelectric-based technique was presented based on the detail discussion,especially in the areas of civil structural health monitoring.

Intensive care environment: Perspective of relatives of critically ill patient sustained by health technology

The intensive care unit(ICU)is a complex setting by nature,and some have described it as bizarre due to its numerous sirens that sound when anything is dangerous,constant activity,equipment,bright lights,and high fatality rate.The demands placed on nurses to care for critically ill patients in this environment frequently prevent nurses and other health‑care professionals from acknowledging the feelings of patient’s relatives or family caregivers,resulting in a hostile environment from the patient’s relative’s perspective.When a patient’s family enters the ICU,they feel that hospital administrators do little to nothing to alleviate their discomfort and fear.Despite research demonstrating the importance of providing a homely environment for patients’families,In Nigeria ICU is still far behind how a conventional ICU environment should be structured to accommodate patient’s relations in the unit.The goal of this study was to look at the patient’s relative’s perspective on providing care for a critically ill patient in an ICU,with a focus on the unit’s complexity and overall experience.Based on the findings of this study,we recommend that hospital administrators ensure that the environment of the upcoming ICU is designed to meet the needs of patient’s relatives by addressing identified environmental concerns,like caring neglect,by providing a friendly and stress‑free environment.

Humanizing the Culture of Technology Teams: Strategies for Creating Healthier and More Productive Work Environments

With the advancement of technology, companies are increasingly dependent on technology teams to stay competitive. However, members of these teams often work in stressful and unhealthy environments, which can undermine their productivity and well-being. The humanization of the culture of technology teams is an approach that aims to create healthier and more productive work environments for team members, promoting balance between personal and professional life. Despite the importance of a healthy and productive work environment, many companies do not invest in strategies to humanize the culture of their technology teams. This can lead to high levels of stress, staff turnover and low productivity. The objective of this project is to identify effective strategies to humanize the culture of technology teams and create healthier and more productive work environments in digital companies. For this, factors such as management styles, psychological safety, human-centered development, individual beliefs and time and energy management will be analyzed. The project’s methodology will include a literature review on the subject and qualitative data analysis will be performed using a content analysis approach. This project will contribute to the advancement of knowledge about the humanization of the culture of technology teams in digital companies. The results can be applied to companies that want to create healthier and more productive work environments for their team members.

Mental health in the virtual world:Challenges and opportunities in the metaverse era

Current rates of mental illness are worrisome.Mental illness mainly affects females and younger age groups.The use of the internet to deliver mental health care has been growing since 2020 and includes the implementation of novel mental health treatments using virtual reality,augmented reality,and artificial intelligence.A new three dimensional digital environment,known as the metaverse,has emerged as the next version of the Internet.Artificial intelligence,augmented reality,and virtual reality will create fully immersive,experiential,and interactive online environments in the metaverse.People will use a unique avatar to do anything they do in their“real”lives,including seeking and receiving mental health care.In this opinion review,we reflect on how the metaverse could reshape how we deliver mental health treatment,its opportunities,and its challenges.

Routine Supportive Supervision and Management of Medicines and Other Health Products and Technologies in Vihiga County, Kenya

Health Products and Technologies (HPTs) are pivotal for an efficient health system. Availability and accessibility to affordable health products are critical indicators towards achieving universal health coverage. Routine supportive supervision, performance monitoring, recognition of efforts and client feedback are vital activities toward health supply chain system strengthening. This is a descriptive paper that describes a model of integrated commodity supportive supervision, and mentorship and its impact on various outcomes of health commodity management. Data were abstracted from the standardized scored checklists used during integrated commodity supportive supervision and supply chain audit in public health facilities in Vihiga County. Scores for the period 2020 to 2022 were analyzed on the eight key areas of interest. The analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 26). Results are interpreted at 95% Confidence interval. This paper also shares findings from both quantitative and qualitative data from client exit and facility managers’ interviews. Six complete rounds of supervisions, three clients and service providers’ interviews, and three annual award events have been conducted. We observed trends across six data collections points and compared the results at first point or baseline (January-June 2020) to the results at the last point or end line (April-June 2022). Findings show significant improvements on the eight parameters in terms of mean scores as follows: resolution of issues from previous visits by 35.06% (46.75% - 81.81%);storage of HPTs by 17.41% (68.72% - 86.13%);inventory management by 28.16% (42.67% - 70.83%);availability and use of commodity data management information systems (MIS) tools by 22.39% (74.40% - 96.79%);verification of commodity data by 25.61% (65.56% - 91.17%);availability of guidelines and job aids for commodity management by 46.28% (36.65% - 82.93%). There was an improvement on the mean score on accountability by 20.22% (58.58% - 83.51%). The composite (final) score improved by 28.33% (56.19% - 84.52%). There was progressive narrowing of the standard deviations on all the indicators across the study period. This demonstrates that there is standardization of practices and positive competition among all the public health facilities. There were significant improvements on all the eight indicators. Routine integrated commodity supportive supervision has proven to be an effective high impact intervention in improving management of health products and technologies in Vihiga County, Kenya.

Integration of Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and Wearable Technology for Chronic Disease Management: A New Paradigm in Smart Healthcare

Chronic diseases are a growing concern worldwide,with nearly 25% of adults suffering from one or more chronic health conditions,thus placing a heavy burden on individuals,families,and healthcare systems.With the advent of the“Smart Healthcare”era,a series of cutting-edge technologies has brought new experiences to the management of chronic diseases.Among them,smart wearable technology not only helps people pursue a healthier lifestyle but also provides a continuous flow of healthcare data for disease diagnosis and treatment by actively recording physiological parameters and tracking the metabolic state.However,how to organize and analyze the data to achieve the ultimate goal of improving chronic disease management,in terms of quality of life,patient outcomes,and privacy protection,is an urgent issue that needs to be addressed.Artificial intelligence(AI)can provide intelligent suggestions by analyzing a patient’s physiological data from wearable devices for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.In addition,blockchain can improve healthcare services by authorizing decentralized data sharing,protecting the privacy of users,providing data empowerment,and ensuring the reliability of data management.Integrating AI,blockchain,and wearable technology could optimize the existing chronic disease management models,with a shift from a hospital-centered model to a patient-centered one.In this paper,we conceptually demonstrate a patient-centric technical framework based on AI,blockchain,and wearable technology and further explore the application of these integrated technologies in chronic disease management.Finally,the shortcomings of this new paradigm and future research directions are also discussed.

Health technology assessment in traditional Chinese medicine in China: current status, opportunities, and challenges

Objectives:The widespread usage of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)and the government's emphasis on TCM in China have created a positive macro-environment and great opportunities to develop and strengthen health technology assessment(HTA)in TCM.Over the past ten years,a series of policies have been issued by the government to promote the application of HTA and the development of TCM in China.This study reviews the concepts and characteristics of TCM,summarizes the current status of HTA in TCM,and analyzes the opportunities and challenges faced by HTA development in TCM with respect to deepening of healthcare reforms.Methods:Literature review and website searches were used to acquire information regarding the basic theories of TCM and the current status,opportunities,and challenges for HTA in TCM.Results:The number of articles on HTA in TCM rose substantially,especially those published in China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI).With the optimistic policy environment and huge market demand for TCM,the development of HTA in TCM is expected to flourish in China.However,HTA in TCM also faces numerous challenges such as the absence of a clinical efficacy evaluation system for TCM and insufficient basic research evidence and qualified personnel.Conclusions:TCM has unique characteristic that distinguishes it from Western medicine.Currently,it is important to take all measures to address the existing main challenges and thereby take advantage of the present opportunities to develop and improve HTA in TCM.

Health technology assessment in China: challenges and opportunities

Objectives:Economic growth and rapid development of health technology in China have created opportunities to strengthen health technology assessment (HTA) capacity.Over the time,HTA institutions have been established to conduct HTA related work.This study reviewed the current status of HTA in China and analysed the challenges of HTA development in the context of health reform under'new normal'economy.Methods:Literature review and webpage searches were used to document the development of HTA in China.An institutional survey has also been conducted to collect information on the HTA research institutions in China.Results:The number of articles and research projects on HTA were rising and are continuing to rise.HTA development has made substantial progress in China in terms of growing number of research institutions and qualified HTA workforce.However,HTA has notable weaknesses such as low capacity for conducting HTA research,limited experience in HTA researchers,and lack of knowledge translation.Conclusion:Currently,the translation of HTA findings to policy-making is limited and the integration of HTA in the policy-making processes is still in its infancy.The HTA development in China has had opportunities due to demands of health care,health insurance,and health technology as a result of health reform.Capacity building and institutionalization of HTA are urgently needed for further development of HTA in China.

Hydraulic metal structure health diagnosis based on data mining technology

In conjunction with association rules for data mining, the connections between testing indices and strong and weak association rules were determined, and new derivative rules were obtained by further reasoning. Association rules were used to analyze correlation and check consistency between indices. This study shows that the judgment obtained by weak association rules or non-association rules is more accurate and more credible than that obtained by strong association rules. When the testing grades of two indices in the weak association rules are inconsistent, the testing grades of indices are more likely to be erroneous, and the mistakes are often caused by human factors. Clustering data mining technology was used to analyze the reliability of a diagnosis, or to perform health diagnosis directly. Analysis showed that the clustering results are related to the indices selected, and that if the indices selected are more significant, the characteristics of clustering results are also more significant, and the analysis or diagnosis is more credible. The indices and diagnosis analysis function produced by this study provide a necessary theoretical foundation and new ideas for the development of hydraulic metal structure health diagnosis technology.

Making the case for the evolving role of social media in health professions education and a literature review on the application of some in ophthalmology

Background and Objective:Social media(SoMe)has emerged as a tool in health professions education(HPE),particularly amidst the challenges posed by the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.Despite the academia’s initial skepticism SoMe has been gaining traction in supporting learning communities,and offering opportunities for innovation in HPE.Our study aims to explore the integration of SoMe in HPE.Four key components were outlined as necessary for a successful integration,and include designing learning experiences,defining educator roles,selecting appropriate platforms,and establishing educational objectives.Methods:This article stemmed from the online Teaching Skills Series module on SoMe in education from the Ophthalmology Foundation,and drew upon evidence supporting learning theories relevant to SoMe integration and models of education.Additionally,we conducted a literature review considering Englishlanguage articles on the application of SoMe in ophthalmology from PubMed over the past decade.Key Content and Findings:Early adopters of SoMe platforms in HPE have leveraged these tools to enhance learning experiences through interaction,dialogue,content sharing,and active learning strategies.By integrating SoMe into educational programs,both online and in-person,educators can overcome time and geographical constraints,fostering more diverse and inclusive learning communities.Careful consideration is,however,necessary to address potential limitations within HPE.Conclusions:This article lays groundwork for expanding SoMe integration in HPE design,emphasizing the supportive scaffold of various learning theories,and the need of furthering robust research on examining its advantages over traditional educational formats.Our literature review underscores an ongoing multifaceted,random application of SoMe platforms in ophthalmology education.We advocate for an effective incorporation of SoMe in HPE education,with the need to comply with good educational practice.

Wearable Healthcare and Continuous Vital Sign Monitoring with IoT Integration

Technical and accessibility issues in hospitals often prevent patients from receiving optimal mental and physical health care,which is essential for independent living,especially as societies age and chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease become more common.Recent advances in the Internet of Things(IoT)-enabled wearable devices offer potential solutions for remote health monitoring and everyday activity recognition,gaining significant attention in personalized healthcare.This paper comprehensively reviews wearable healthcare technology integrated with the IoT for continuous vital sign monitoring.Relevant papers were extracted and analyzed using a systematic numerical review method,covering various aspects such as sports monitoring,disease detection,patient monitoring,and medical diagnosis.The review highlights the transformative impact of IoTenabled wearable devices in healthcare,facilitating real-time monitoring of vital signs,including blood pressure,temperature,oxygen levels,and heart rate.Results from the reviewed papers demonstrate high accuracy and efficiency in predicting health conditions,improving sports performance,enhancing patient care,and diagnosing diseases.The integration of IoT in wearable healthcare devices enables remote patient monitoring,personalized care,and efficient data transmission,ultimately transcending traditional boundaries of healthcare and leading to better patient outcomes.

Using AI and Precision Nutrition to Support Brain Health during Aging

Artificial intelligence, often referred to as AI, is a branch of computer science focused on developing systems that exhibit intelligent behavior. Broadly speaking, AI researchers aim to develop technologies that can think and act in a way that mimics human cognition and decision-making [1]. The foundations of AI can be traced back to early philosophical inquiries into the nature of intelligence and thinking. However, AI is generally considered to have emerged as a formal field of study in the 1940s and 1950s. Pioneering computer scientists at the time theorized that it might be possible to extend basic computer programming concepts using logic and reasoning to develop machines capable of “thinking” like humans. Over time, the definition and goals of AI have evolved. Some theorists argued for a narrower focus on developing computing systems able to efficiently solve problems, while others aimed for a closer replication of human intelligence. Today, AI encompasses a diverse set of techniques used to enable intelligent behavior in machines. Core disciplines that contribute to modern AI research include computer science, mathematics, statistics, linguistics, psychology and cognitive science, and neuroscience. Significant AI approaches used today involve statistical classification models, machine learning, and natural language processing. Classification methods are widely applicable to problems in various domains like healthcare, such as informing diagnostic or treatment decisions based on patterns in data. Dean and Goldreich, 1998, define ML as an approach through which a computer has to learn a model by itself from the data provided but no specification on the sort of model is provided to the computer. They can then predict values for things that are different from the values used in training the models. NLP looks at two interrelated concerns, the task of training computers to understand human languages and the fact that since natural languages are so complex, they lend themselves very well to serving a number of very useful goals when used by computers.

Can health technology assessments assist the global campaign against poverty?

Although a key tenant of the Sustainable Development Goals is to achieve universal health coverage,the global drug gap persists-cver a third of the global population lack access to essential medicines.Without access to affordable drugs,people have worse health outcomes,higher medical expenses,and productivity loss,pushing them into poverty.Health technology assessments(HTAs)offer an opportunity to decrease the global drug gap and increase access to essential medicines by overcoming barriers to medicine access.These barriers include drug procurement,drug affordability for payers and patients,a patienfs ability to obtain essential medicines,and health system capacity.Using HTAs can therefore close the global drug gap by increasing access to affordable essential medicines.In turn,people have better health outcomes,spend less money on medical care,and can have better productivity.Ultimately,use of HTAs can lift the population out of poverty and force fewer people into poverty by creating better health outcomes at affordable prices.

Corporate Social Responsibility in Health Technology Industry Prior and during the Covid-19 Pandemic, in Greece

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities have been revealed as an emerging managerial tool and research field. The socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted several companies to take on CSR initiatives. The objective of this study was to investigate CSR initiatives implemented in companies specializing in pharmaceutical and biomedical products as well as medical equipment, prior and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted in companies of the Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Companies (SFEE), the Panhellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Industry (PEF) and the Association of Health-Research and Biotechnology Industry (SEIV). A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to a total of 112 companies. Descriptive and multivariate statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 25.0. Levels of significance were two-tailed and statistical significance was set at p = 0.05. The final sample consisted of 74 companies with a response rate of 77.7%. Among them 62.2% were multinational and 37.8% national companies. Some companies provided pharmaceuticals (40.5%), medical equipment and biotechnology products (32.4%) and others were specializing in both categories (27.1%). A percentage equal to 89.2% stated that they implemented CSR activities, out of which 75.7% carried out COVID-19 related initiatives, such as in public health (37.7%), societal issues (27.2%), environment (19.9%), etc. Approximately 50% increased their CSR activities during the pandemic. Moreover, the majority of companies devoted ≤30% of their total CSR budget against the pandemic. The higher a company’s turnover, the higher CSR activities performance. Pharmaceutical and biomedical companies in Greece implemented CSR actions, prior and during the pandemic. Companies contributed to handle the effects of health crisis through CSR Covid-19 related activities, which differentiated according to company’s culture and wealth. It is important that authorities should reward companies carrying out CSR initiatives, given that they positively contribute to the societal recovery by financially supporting the health care sector and the overall economy.

Technology for health: A qualitative study on barriers to using the iPad for diet change

Emergence of tablet computers has led to interest in their use to impact health-related behaviors of users. However, little is known regarding which devices are most effective for changing these behaviors, and whether or not these devices or accompanying applications (apps) are feasible or desired vehicles for behavior change. Four focus groups were conducted with students from a Western university who were given iPads to download diet-related apps. Participants were asked questions about preferences regarding iPad functionality, app functionality, and the likelihood of using apps and iPads for facilitating diet-related behavior change in the future. Two key themes emerged from focus group discussions on diet-related apps for iPads and their usefulness to facilitate behavior change. The first theme, lack of iPad practicality, contained three subthemes: inconvenient mid-way technology, internet access barriers, and smart-phone preference. The second theme that emerged was attitudes towards apps in general. Three subthemes were identified under the second theme: too intensive;positive functions not specific to iPads;and lack of reliable/trustworthy information. This paper is the first, to this author’s knowledge, to report the use of qualitative methods to study the practicality of using apps and iPads in changing dietrelated behaviors. Early generations of iPads may not be effective devices for facilitating behavior change among college students;and diet-related apps seem to have poor functionality that lead to cessation of use.