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Comer L, Donelle L, Hiebert B, Smith MJ, Kothari A, Stranges S, Gilliland J, Long J, Burkell J, Shelley JJ, Hall J, Shelley J, Cooke T, Ngole Dione M, Facca D. Short- and Long-Term Predicted and Witnessed Consequences of Digital Surveillance During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2024; 10:e47154. [PMID: 38788212 PMCID: PMC11129783 DOI: 10.2196/47154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the deployment of digital technologies for public health surveillance globally. The rapid development and use of these technologies have curtailed opportunities to fully consider their potential impacts (eg, for human rights, civil liberties, privacy, and marginalization of vulnerable groups). OBJECTIVE We conducted a scoping review of peer-reviewed and gray literature to identify the types and applications of digital technologies used for surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic and the predicted and witnessed consequences of digital surveillance. METHODS Our methodology was informed by the 5-stage methodological framework to guide scoping reviews: identifying the research question; identifying relevant studies; study selection; charting the data; and collating, summarizing, and reporting the findings. We conducted a search of peer-reviewed and gray literature published between December 1, 2019, and December 31, 2020. We focused on the first year of the pandemic to provide a snapshot of the questions, concerns, findings, and discussions emerging from peer-reviewed and gray literature during this pivotal first year of the pandemic. Our review followed the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) reporting guidelines. RESULTS We reviewed a total of 147 peer-reviewed and 79 gray literature publications. Based on our analysis of these publications, we identified a total of 90 countries and regions where digital technologies were used for public health surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the most frequently used technologies included mobile phone apps, location-tracking technologies, drones, temperature-scanning technologies, and wearable devices. We also found that the literature raised concerns regarding the implications of digital surveillance in relation to data security and privacy, function creep and mission creep, private sector involvement in surveillance, human rights, civil liberties, and impacts on marginalized groups. Finally, we identified recommendations for ethical digital technology design and use, including proportionality, transparency, purpose limitation, protecting privacy and security, and accountability. CONCLUSIONS A wide range of digital technologies was used worldwide to support public health surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings of our analysis highlight the importance of considering short- and long-term consequences of digital surveillance not only during the COVID-19 pandemic but also for future public health crises. These findings also demonstrate the ways in which digital surveillance has rendered visible the shifting and blurred boundaries between public health surveillance and other forms of surveillance, particularly given the ubiquitous nature of digital surveillance. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) RR2-https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053962.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigha Comer
- Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Lorie Donelle
- Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- School of Nursing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Bradley Hiebert
- Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Maxwell J Smith
- School of Health Studies, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Anita Kothari
- School of Health Studies, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Saverio Stranges
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Departments of Family Medicine and Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- The Africa Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Jason Gilliland
- Department of Geography and Environment, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Jed Long
- Department of Geography and Environment, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Jacquelyn Burkell
- Faculty of Information and Media Studies, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | | | - Jodi Hall
- Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - James Shelley
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Tommy Cooke
- Surveillance Studies Centre, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | | | - Danica Facca
- Faculty of Information and Media Studies, Western University, London, ON, Canada
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2
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Wenxiang Z. Participatory governance in public health emergencies: A case study of Quanzhou from a legal perspective. Int J Health Plann Manage 2024. [PMID: 38229221 DOI: 10.1002/hpm.3770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
During public health emergencies, the work of prevention and control must be normalised, and coordination between economic development and epidemic prevention is crucial. However, in China, there is a lack of research on participatory governance in public health emergencies, particularly from a legal perspective. Existing studies are insufficient in terms of using legal texts and exploring legal governance in a normative sense, and there is an inadequate in-depth exploration of issues such as the legitimacy, path, motivation, and other aspects of participation. This article addresses these gaps by analysing the issues of participatory governance in public health emergencies from a legal perspective, using practical cases as examples. The research has shown that there are significant differences among the three types of organisations regarding their internal motivation, external incentives, and legal basis, and therefore it is necessary to distinguish different participation paths. Finally, we propose several measures to promote the active and sustained participation of organisation in governance, including cultivating the ability of organisations, emphasising organizational demands, seeking consensus, strengthening the guiding role of legislation, and broadening the channels of engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhang Wenxiang
- International College, Krirk University, Bangkok, Thailand
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3
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Im C, Seo W, Park S, Kim K, Park S, Choo H. Design of a Deployable Broadband Mesh Reflector Antenna for a SIGINT Satellite System Considering Surface Shape Deformation. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:384. [PMID: 38257477 PMCID: PMC10819937 DOI: 10.3390/s24020384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
In this paper, we propose a deployable broadband mesh reflector antenna for use in signals intelligence (SIGINT) satellite systems, considering performance degradation due to shape deformation. To maximize gain by increasing the diameter of the reflector while reducing the weight of the antenna, the reflector of the antenna is designed using lightweight silver-coated Teflon mesh. The mesh reflectors are typically expanded by tension to maintain their parabolic structure; thus, shape deformation cannot be avoided. This shape deformation results in shape differences between the surface of the mesh reflector and the ideal parabolic reflector, thus resulting in the degradation of the performance of the mesh reflector antenna. To observe this degradation, we analyze antenna performance according to the number of arms, the number of joints, the feed distance, and the distance from the reflector center to each joint. The performance of the mesh reflector antenna is examined using an effective lossy conducting surface (ELCS) that has the same reflectivity as the silver-coated Teflon mesh to reduce simulation time and computing resources. The designed silver-coated Teflon mesh reflector and the double-ridged feed antenna are fabricated, and the bore-sight gain is measured using the three-antenna method. The measured bore-sight gain of the proposed antenna is 31.6 dBi at 10 GHz, and the measured and simulated results show an average difference of 3.28 dB from 2 GHz to 18 GHz. The proposed deployable mesh reflector antenna can be used in a variety of applications where small stowed volume is required for mobility, such as mobile high-gain antennas as well as satellite antenna systems. Through this study, we demonstrate that shape deformation of the mesh reflector surface significantly affects the performance of reflector antennas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changhyeon Im
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul 04066, Republic of Korea;
| | - Wongu Seo
- Hanwha Systems Company Ltd., Seongnam 04541, Republic of Korea; (W.S.); (S.P.); (K.K.); (S.P.)
| | - Seulgi Park
- Hanwha Systems Company Ltd., Seongnam 04541, Republic of Korea; (W.S.); (S.P.); (K.K.); (S.P.)
| | - Kihun Kim
- Hanwha Systems Company Ltd., Seongnam 04541, Republic of Korea; (W.S.); (S.P.); (K.K.); (S.P.)
| | - Sungkyun Park
- Hanwha Systems Company Ltd., Seongnam 04541, Republic of Korea; (W.S.); (S.P.); (K.K.); (S.P.)
| | - Hosung Choo
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul 04066, Republic of Korea;
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Donelle L, Comer L, Hiebert B, Hall J, Shelley JJ, Smith MJ, Kothari A, Burkell J, Stranges S, Cooke T, Shelley JM, Gilliland J, Ngole M, Facca D. Use of digital technologies for public health surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review. Digit Health 2023; 9:20552076231173220. [PMID: 37214658 PMCID: PMC10196539 DOI: 10.1177/20552076231173220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, a variety of digital technologies have been leveraged for public health surveillance worldwide. However, concerns remain around the rapid development and deployment of digital technologies, how these technologies have been used, and their efficacy in supporting public health goals. Following the five-stage scoping review framework, we conducted a scoping review of the peer-reviewed and grey literature to identify the types and nature of digital technologies used for surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic and the success of these measures. We conducted a search of the peer-reviewed and grey literature published between 1 December 2019 and 31 December 2020 to provide a snapshot of questions, concerns, discussions, and findings emerging at this pivotal time. A total of 147 peer-reviewed and 79 grey literature publications reporting on digital technology use for surveillance across 90 countries and regions were retained for analysis. The most frequently used technologies included mobile phone devices and applications, location tracking technologies, drones, temperature scanning technologies, and wearable devices. The utility of digital technologies for public health surveillance was impacted by factors including uptake of digital technologies across targeted populations, technological capacity and errors, scope, validity and accuracy of data, guiding legal frameworks, and infrastructure to support technology use. Our findings raise important questions around the value of digital surveillance for public health and how to ensure successful use of technologies while mitigating potential harms not only in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also during other infectious disease outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorie Donelle
- College of Nursing, University of South
Carolina, USA
- Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University, Canada
| | - Leigha Comer
- Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University, Canada
| | - Brad Hiebert
- Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University, Canada
| | - Jodi Hall
- Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University, Canada
| | | | | | - Anita Kothari
- School of Health Studies, Western University, Canada
| | - Jacquelyn Burkell
- Faculty of Information and Media
Studies, Western University, Canada
| | - Saverio Stranges
- Schulich School of Medicine &
Dentistry, Western University, Canada
| | - Tommy Cooke
- Surveillance Studies Centre, Queen's University, Canada
| | - James M. Shelley
- Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University, Canada
| | - Jason Gilliland
- Department of Geography and
Environment, Western University, Canada
| | - Marionette Ngole
- Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University, Canada
| | - Danica Facca
- Faculty of Information and Media
Studies, Western University, Canada
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5
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Afroogh S, Esmalian A, Mostafavi A, Akbari A, Rasoulkhani K, Esmaeili S, Hajiramezanali E. Tracing app technology: an ethical review in the COVID-19 era and directions for post-COVID-19. ETHICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 2022; 24:30. [PMID: 35915595 PMCID: PMC9330978 DOI: 10.1007/s10676-022-09659-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We conducted a systematic literature review on the ethical considerations of the use of contact tracing app technology, which was extensively implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapid and extensive use of this technology during the COVID-19 pandemic, while benefiting the public well-being by providing information about people's mobility and movements to control the spread of the virus, raised several ethical concerns for the post-COVID-19 era. To investigate these concerns for the post-pandemic situation and provide direction for future events, we analyzed the current ethical frameworks, research, and case studies about the ethical usage of tracing app technology. The results suggest there are seven essential ethical considerations-privacy, security, acceptability, government surveillance, transparency, justice, and voluntariness-in the ethical use of contact tracing technology. In this paper, we explain and discuss these considerations and how they are needed for the ethical usage of this technology. The findings also highlight the importance of developing integrated guidelines and frameworks for implementation of such technology in the post- COVID-19 world. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10676-022-09659-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saleh Afroogh
- Department of Philosophy, The State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY 12203 USA
| | - Amir Esmalian
- UrbanResilience.AI Lab, Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77840 USA
| | - Ali Mostafavi
- UrbanResilience.AI Lab, Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77840 USA
| | - Ali Akbari
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77840 USA
| | | | - Shahriar Esmaeili
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 USA
| | - Ehsan Hajiramezanali
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX USA
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Comfort with and willingness to participate in COVID-19 contact tracing: The role of risk perceptions, trust, and political ideology. Soc Sci Med 2022; 306:115174. [PMID: 35777171 PMCID: PMC9233989 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Contact tracing (CT) can limit the spread of infectious diseases, however its effectiveness hinges on public participation. We evaluated perceptions of the financial and health risk posed by COVID-19 and trust in information about COVID-19 provided by the state health department that manages CT as predictors of comfort and willingness to comply with CT. We further examined the moderating effect of political ideology on these relationships. METHODS We used structural equation modeling to test hypotheses in data from a cross-sectional survey completed by a representative sample of Michigan residents (N = 805) in 2020. RESULTS Perceptions of the risk of COVID-19 to one's health (but not finances) was negatively related to comfort and willingness to participate in CT. Trust in information about COVID-19 and liberalism were positively related to comfort and willingness. There was also a moderating effect of political ideology, such that conservatives were less comfortable and willing at greater perceptions of health risk. CONCLUSIONS Conservatives and those who perceive a greater health risk may require targeted messaging and more deliberate engagement strategies to increase CT participation.
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Saheb T, Sabour E, Qanbary F, Saheb T. Delineating privacy aspects of COVID tracing applications embedded with proximity measurement technologies & digital technologies. TECHNOLOGY IN SOCIETY 2022; 69:101968. [PMID: 35342210 PMCID: PMC8934188 DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2022.101968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
As the COVID-19 pandemic expanded over the globe, governments implemented a series of technological measures to prevent the disease's spread. The development of the COVID Tracing Application (CTA) was one of these measures. In this study, we employed bibliometric and topic-based content analysis to determine the most significant entities and research topics. Additionally, we identified significant privacy concerns posed by CTAs, which gather, store, and analyze data in partnership with large technology corporations using proximity measurement technologies, artificial intelligence, and blockchain. We examined a series of key privacy threats identified in our study. These privacy risks include anti-democratic and discriminatory behaviors, politicization of care, derogation of human rights, techno governance, citizen distrust and refusal to adopt, citizen surveillance, and mandatory legislation of the apps' installation. Finally, sixteen research gaps were identified. Then, based on the identified theoretical gaps, we recommended fourteen prospective study strands. Theoretically, this study contributes to the growing body of knowledge about the privacy of mobile health applications that are embedded with cutting-edge technologies and are employed during global pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahereh Saheb
- Tarbiat Modares University, Management Studies Center, Tarbiat Modares University, Jalal Al Ahmad, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elham Sabour
- Tarbiat Modares University, Information Technology Management- Business Intelligence, Iran
| | - Fatimah Qanbary
- Tarbiat Modares University, Information Technology Management- Business Intelligence, Iran
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Spreco A, Jöud A, Eriksson O, Soltesz K, Källström R, Dahlström Ö, Eriksson H, Ekberg J, Jonson CO, Fraenkel CJ, Lundh T, Gerlee P, Gustafsson F, Timpka T. Nowcasting (Short-Term Forecasting) of COVID-19 Hospitalizations Using Syndromic Healthcare Data, Sweden, 2020. Emerg Infect Dis 2022; 28:564-571. [PMID: 35201737 PMCID: PMC8888224 DOI: 10.3201/eid2803.210267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
We report on local nowcasting (short-term forecasting) of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) hospitalizations based on syndromic (symptom) data recorded in regular healthcare routines in Östergötland County (population ≈465,000), Sweden, early in the pandemic, when broad laboratory testing was unavailable. Daily nowcasts were supplied to the local healthcare management based on analyses of the time lag between telenursing calls with the chief complaints (cough by adult or fever by adult) and COVID-19 hospitalization. The complaint cough by adult showed satisfactory performance (Pearson correlation coefficient r>0.80; mean absolute percentage error <20%) in nowcasting the incidence of daily COVID-19 hospitalizations 14 days in advance until the incidence decreased to <1.5/100,000 population, whereas the corresponding performance for fever by adult was unsatisfactory. Our results support local nowcasting of hospitalizations on the basis of symptom data recorded in routine healthcare during the initial stage of a pandemic.
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Tan SB, Chiu-Shee C, Duarte F. From SARS to COVID-19: Digital infrastructures of surveillance and segregation in exceptional times. CITIES (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 120:103486. [PMID: 34642528 PMCID: PMC8498752 DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2021.103486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, an exceptional crisis, sparked the introduction of new digital infrastructure to halt the novel coronavirus's spread. This paper explores how such digital infrastructure's impact might reverberate over the long term, by comparing Singapore, Hong Kong, and mainland China's utilization of digital technology in response to the 2003 SARS outbreak, and their responses to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. We find that advancements in digital technology since 2003 have boosted governments' surveillance and segregation abilities substantially-most dramatically so in China. Even though some of these new digital interventions are ostensibly designed to be temporary ones to address the needs of the immediate crisis, we argue that the resultant extensions of state power experienced during COVID-19 are likely to have profound long-term effects because they fundamentally affect sociopolitical contexts, institutional capabilities, and digital cultures. We also find that the extent to which governments can extend digital surveillance and segregation abilities during the pandemic is contingent on their respective sociopolitical, institutional, and digital cultural contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin Bin Tan
- Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States of America
- Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, 469C Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 259772, Singapore
| | - Colleen Chiu-Shee
- Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States of America
| | - Fábio Duarte
- Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States of America
- Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Parana, Curitiba, Brazil
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Bowsher G, El Achi N, Augustin K, Meagher K, Ekzayez A, Roberts B, Patel P. eHealth for service delivery in conflict: a narrative review of the application of eHealth technologies in contemporary conflict settings. Health Policy Plan 2021; 36:974-981. [PMID: 33860797 PMCID: PMC8355470 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czab042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of eHealth in conflict settings is increasingly important to address geographic, epidemiologic and clinical disparities. This study categorizes various forms of eHealth usage in conflict and aims to identify gaps in evidence to make recommendations for further research and practice. The analysis was carried out via a narrative hermeneutic review methodology. Articles that fulfilled the following screening criteria were reviewed: (1) describing an eHealth intervention in active conflict or ongoing insurgency, (2) an eHealth intervention targeting a conflict-affected population, (3) an e-learning platform for delivery in conflict settings and (4) non-interventional descriptive reviews relating to eHealth in conflict. Of the 489 papers eligible for screening, 46 merited final inclusion. Conflict settings described include Somalia, Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Chechnya, Gaza and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Thirty-six studies described specific eHealth initiatives, while the remainder were more generic review papers exploring general principles. Analysis resulted in the elucidation of three final categories of current eHealth activity in conflict-affected settings: (1) eHealth for clinical management, (2) e-learning for healthcare in conflict and (3) eHealth for information management in conflict. Obvious disparities in the distribution of technological dividends from eHealth in conflict are demonstrated by this review. Conflict-affected populations are predominantly subject to ad hoc and voluntary initiatives delivered by diaspora and civil society organizations. While the deployment of eHealth technologies in conflict settings is increasingly normalized, there is a need for further clarification of global norms relating to practice in this context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Bowsher
- R4HC-MENA, R4HSSS & Conflict & Health Research Group, King's College London, Strand Ln, London WC2R 2LS, UK
| | - Nassim El Achi
- R4HC-MENA, Global Health Institute, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
| | - Katrin Augustin
- School of Population Health & Environmental Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Campus, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Kristen Meagher
- R4HC-MENA, R4HSSS & Conflict & Health Research Group, King's College London, Strand Ln, London WC2R 2LS, UK
| | - Abdulkarim Ekzayez
- R4HC-MENA, R4HSSS & Conflict & Health Research Group, King's College London, Strand Ln, London WC2R 2LS, UK
| | - Bayard Roberts
- RECAP, Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Preeti Patel
- R4HC-MENA & R4HSSS, Dept War Studies, King's College London, Strand Lane, LondonWC2R 2LS, UK
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Khorram-Manesh A, Dulebenets MA, Goniewicz K. Implementing Public Health Strategies-The Need for Educational Initiatives: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:5888. [PMID: 34070882 PMCID: PMC8198884 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18115888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In the absence of a specific treatment or vaccines, public health strategies are the main measures to use in the initial stages of a pandemic to allow surveillance of infectious diseases. During the ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), several countries initiated various public health strategies, such as contact tracing and quarantine. The present study aims to conduct a systematic literature review to identify the presence of educational initiatives that promote the implementation of public health strategies before public health emergencies, with a special focus on contact tracing applications. Using Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, and Gothenburg University search engines, all published scientific articles were included, while conference, reports, and non-scientific papers were excluded. The outcomes of the reviewed studies indicate that the effective implementation of public health strategies depends on the peoples' willingness to participate and collaborate with local authorities. Several factors may influence such willingness, of which ethical, psychological, and practical factors seem to be the most important and frequently discussed. Moreover, individual willingness and readiness of a community may also vary based on the acquired level of knowledge about the incident and its cause and available management options. Educational initiatives, proper communication, and timely information at the community level were found to be the necessary steps to counteract misinformation and to promote a successful implementation of public health strategies and attenuate the effects of a pandemic. The systematic review conducted as a part of this study would benefit the relevant stakeholders and policy makers and assist with effective designing and implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Khorram-Manesh
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, 413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Development and Research, Armed Forces Center for Defense Medicine, Gothenburg, 426 76 Västra Frölunda, Sweden
| | - Maxim A. Dulebenets
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Florida A&M University-Florida State University (FAMU-FSU), 2525 Pottsdamer Street, Building A, Suite A124, Tallahassee, FL 32310-6046, USA;
| | - Krzysztof Goniewicz
- Department of Aviation Security, Military University of Aviation, 08521 Deblin, Poland;
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12
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McGrail KM. Contact-Tracing Apps: Time to Confront Broader Societal Change. Am J Public Health 2021; 111:369-370. [PMID: 33566643 PMCID: PMC7893364 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2020.306084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kimberlyn Marie McGrail
- Kimberlyn Marie McGrail is with the Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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