e-Health Technological Ecosystems: Advanced Solutions to Support Informal Caregivers and Vulnerable Populations During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Investigating drivers of telecare acceptance to improve healthcare quality for independently living older adults

Contemporary telecare systems facilitate the ability for older adults to age in place, keeping them out of residential care facilities and providing numerous quality-of-life advantages for both care receivers (CRs) and caregivers (CGs). However, despite the acceptance of digital health interventions among older adults and their CGs, telecare adoption has been slower than expected. This paper aimed to compare attitudes toward adopting telecare systems between CRs (aging adults) and their CGs (family/friends). Data were collected via an online survey. Respondents included aging adults concerned about their care (CRs) and older adults who cared for an aging loved one (CGs). Analysis of covariance and partial-least-squares techniques were used to examine the relationships between healthcare concerns for older adults, functional telecare benefits, and telecare acceptance. Concerns for healthcare status, mainly driven by CRs, positively impacted telecare acceptance. However, concerns for mental and physical stimulation had a negative relationship with telecare acceptance, while CGs showed a neutral relationship. Telecare's ability to improve healthcare quality and cognitive stimulation positively impacted its acceptance. CGs mainly drove the impact of healthcare quality on telecare acceptance, while the relationship was not significant for CRs. CRs' age reduced telecare acceptance, and higher educational levels of CGs increased telecare acceptance. We found significant differences in telecare acceptance and its drivers between CGs and CRs in the USA. In addition, we discerned that not all healthcare concerns or functional telecare characteristics influenced telecare acceptance equally between the two. Consequently, telecare providers must consider the different needs of constituencies interested in telecare to support the life quality of older adults.

Artificial Intelligence Support for Informal Patient Caregivers: A Systematic Review

This study aims to explore how artificial intelligence can help ease the burden on caregivers, filling a gap in current research and healthcare practices due to the growing challenge of an aging population and increased reliance on informal caregivers. We conducted a search with Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, and Web of Science, focusing on AI and caregiving. Our inclusion criteria were studies where AI supports informal caregivers, excluding those solely for data collection. Adhering to PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we eliminated duplicates and screened for relevance. From 947 initially identified articles, 10 met our criteria, focusing on AI's role in aiding informal caregivers. These studies, conducted between 2012 and 2023, were globally distributed, with 80% employing machine learning. Validation methods varied, with Hold-Out being the most frequent. Metrics across studies revealed accuracies ranging from 71.60% to 99.33%. Specific methods, like SCUT in conjunction with NNs and LibSVM, showcased accuracy between 93.42% and 95.36% as well as F-measures spanning 93.30% to 95.41%. AUC values indicated model performance variability, ranging from 0.50 to 0.85 in select models. Our review highlights AI's role in aiding informal caregivers, showing promising results despite different approaches. AI tools provide smart, adaptive support, improving caregivers' effectiveness and well-being.

Internet use by informal caregivers in Chile: An analysis including age and gender perspectives

OBJECTIVES

This study explored the relationship between Internet use and informal caregivers' characteristics.

METHODS

We used the Chilean Sociodemographic Characterization Survey. A total of 86,172 informal caregivers were identified. We conducted a weighted χ2 to test differences in 10 types of Internet use and weighted logistic regressions with caregivers' characteristics as predictors of Internet use.

RESULTS

Younger caregivers engaged in more types of use than the older ones. Education level was positively associated with all types of use, such as searching for information (OR = 3.52, CI 95% [2.34, 5.29]). Age was negatively related to Internet use. Women used the Internet more to communicate via social networks. Being single reduced the likelihood of performing certain types of use, such as information seeking. The number of people living in households has increased entertainment.

CONCLUSIONS

Older caregivers with lower education levels are at greater risk of digital exclusion. The same occurred in some types of use with single caregivers, where fewer people lived in the household.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The Internet can be a tool for coping with caregiving tasks and their negative consequences. Interventions should consider these characteristics when promoting online tools and performing online interventions to reach the broadest possible audience.

Human resource management (HRM) strategies of medical staff during the COVID-19 pandemic

Healthcare workers are at the forefront of fight against COVID-19 and the managers of medical centers should develop coping strategies for the challenges caused by COVID-19, especially for health human resources in order to improve the performance of healthcare organizations. Hence, the purpose of this study is to investigate the human resource management strategies of medical staff during the COVID-19 to help them cope with the new strains of COVID-19 or epidemics of viral diseases that may occur in the future. In this study, a search was performed in the international Web of Science electronic database, using keywords such as human resource management and COVID-19. As a result, a total of 1884 articles published between January 1st, 2020 and October 22nd, 2021 were extracted. After screening the articles based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 24 articles were selected to enter the study. Then, a scientometric analysis was performed on the content of selected articles and the results were presented in the form of tables and conceptual models. In total, 9 strategies were extracted from the selected articles including development of organizational culture, staff screening, policy-making, infection control training and monitoring the implementation of learned materials, patient management, human resource management, psychological and motivational support, communication and coordination, and digital health services. Employing comprehensive strategies to maintain the health of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 can play an effective role in reducing burnout, improving productivity and employee satisfaction, and in increasing the resilience of healthcare workers. It also has a positive effect on the patient's safety. Revision and reengineering of human resource management strategies in health and treatment organizations according to different cultures and contexts require research and investment in creative and innovative strategies.

International eHealth ecosystems and the quest for the winning value proposition: findings from a survey study

BACKGROUND

eHealth ecosystems are becoming increasingly important for national and international healthcare. In such ecosystems, different actors are connected and work together to create mutual value. However, it is important to be aware of the goals that each actor pursues within the ecosystem.

METHOD

This study describes the outcomes of a workshop (30 participants) and two surveys (completed by 54 and 100 participants), which investigated how different types of industry stakeholders, namely social services, healthcare, technology developers and researchers, rated potential value propositions for an eHealth ecosystem. Both the feasibility and the importance of each proposition was taken into account.

RESULTS

Interoperability between services was highly valued across industry types but there were also vast differences concerning other propositions.

CONCLUSION

Jointly reflecting on the different perceived values of an ehealth ecosystem can help actors working together to form an ecosystem.

Effects of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on follow-up and pharmacological treatment of chronic diseases in undocumented migrants

Background

All over the world, the COVID-19 pandemic, not unlikely other epidemics, has hit harder people in low socioeconomic conditions.

In Western countries, undocumented migrants are a growing component of this disadvantaged segment of the population.

Their health conditions are frequently burdened by a number of chronic conditions, and they experience many difficulties in accessing public health services. Frequently, the only medical assistance they can get is provided by non-governmental organisations.

Methods

We studied the medical records (including pharmacological treatments) of all patients attending the outpatient clinics of Opera San Francesco (OSF; a big charity in Milano, Italy), in the first 5 months of 2020. These comprise the outbreak of the pandemic and the lockdown period. The 1914 patients (1814 undocumented migrants and 100 Italians) seen during the lockdown were compared with those seen in the same period of 2019 and with those seen in the preceding months of 2020. We especially focused on three chronic conditions: cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and psychiatric disorders.

Results

The number of consultations during the first 5 months of 2020 was much smaller than that of the same period of 2019. During the lockdown, we found 4048 consultations for 1914 patients, while they were 8051 in the same period of 2019 and 5681 in the first 2 months of 2020.

The quantity of medicines dispensed by OSF showed a marked decrease in the period of the study and mainly during the lockdown.

The decrease in consultations and dispensation of medicines was most evident for psychiatric patients and almost not existent for patients with diabetes. Female patients suffered a more pronounced reduction.

Conclusions

Western countries need strategies to better assist the very poor during epidemics.

Differences among different groups of disadvantaged persons should be taken into account when designing recovery plans.