scholarly journals Technology push without a patient pull

2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (9) ◽  
pp. 1701-1732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debbie Isobel Keeling ◽  
Ko de Ruyter ◽  
Sahar Mousavi ◽  
Angus Laing

PurposePolicymakers push online health services delivery, relying on consumers to independently engage with online services. Yet, a growing cluster of vulnerable patients do not engage with or disengage from these innovative services. There is a need to understand how to resolve the tension between the push of online health service provision and unengagement by a contingent of health-care consumers. Thus, this study aims to explore the issue of digital unengagement (DU) (i.e. the active or passive choice to engage or disengage) with online health services to better inform service design aligned to actual consumer need.Design/methodology/approachAdopting a survey methodology, a group of 486 health services consumers with a self-declared (acute or chronic) condition were identified. Of this group, 110 consumers were classified as digitally unengaged and invited to write open-ended narratives about their unengagement with online health services. As a robustness check, these drivers were contrasted with the drivers identified by a group of digitally engaged consumers with a self-declared condition (n= 376).FindingsDU is conceptualized, and four levels of DU drivers are identified. These levels represent families of interrelated drivers that in combination shape DU: subjective incompatibility (misalignment of online services with need, lifestyle and alternative services); enactment vulnerability (personal vulnerabilities around control, comprehension and emotional management of online services); sharing essentiality (centrality of face-to-face co-creation opportunities plus conflicting social dependencies); and strategic scepticism (scepticism of the strategic value of online services). Identified challenges at each level are the mechanisms through which drivers impact on DU. These DU drivers are distinct from those of the digitally engaged group.Research limitations/implicationsAdding to a nascent but growing literature on consumer unengagement, and complementing the engagement literature, the authors conceptualize DU, positioning it as distinct from, not simply a lack of, consumer engagement. The authors explore the drivers of DU to provide insight into how DU occurs. Encapsulating the dynamic nature of DU, these drivers map the building blocks that could help to address the issue of aligning the push of online service provision with the pull from consumers.Practical implicationsThis paper offers insights on how to encourage consumers to engage with online health services by uncovering the drivers of DU that, typically, are hidden from service designers and providers impacting provision and uptake.Social implicationsThere is a concern that there will be an unintentional disenfranchisement of vulnerable segments of society with a generic policy emphasis on pushing online services. The paper sheds light on the unforeseen personal and social issues that lead to disenfranchisement by giving voice to digitally unengaged consumers with online health services.Originality/valueOffering a novel view from a hard-to-reach digitally unengaged group, the conceptualization of DU, identified drivers and challenges inform policymakers and practitioners on how to facilitate online health service (re)engagement and prevent marginalization of segments of society.

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 353-358
Author(s):  
Behnam Farhoudi ◽  
SeyedAhmad SeyedAlinaghi ◽  
Omid Dadras ◽  
Mehrzad Tashakoriyan ◽  
Mohammad Nazari Pouya ◽  
...  

PurposeThe aim of present study was to integrate vital noncommunicable diseases (coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and mental health disorders) into Prison-Based Active Health Services Provision (PAHSP).Design/methodology/approachOn Jan 1, 2018, there were 230,000 prisoners in Iran. Timely and systematic detection and diagnosis of chronic health conditions among this population are imperative. The collaboration between healthcare providers in prison and members of the multidisciplinary team of the healthcare community outside prison initiated an active health service provision approach for HIV and tuberculosis (TB). Guidelines for the control of HIV and TB in prison were piloted, and the finalized version was named “Prison-based Active Health Services Provision” (PAHSP), which has been scaled up in 16 of 260 Iranian prisons.FindingThe PAHSP approach emphasizes the importance of early identification of key symptoms and risk factors. This approach provides an opportunity for improved prevention and treatment, enabling prisoners identified at risk or those who have been diagnosed with a target disease to be followed up and receive the appropriate health care.Originality/valueInitiatives such as screening for chronic health conditions coupled with treatment will reduce the burden of chronic illness among prisoners and the broader community, thereby saving on healthcare costs and lives.


Author(s):  
Melissa K. Holt ◽  
Jennifer Greif Green ◽  
Javier Guzman

Schools are a primary setting for mental health service provision to youth and are also main sources of referral to community mental health service providers. This chapter examines the school context and its key role in the child and adolescent mental health services system. The chapter first provides information about the association of emotional and behavioral disorders with school experiences, including academic performance. Next, the chapter presents a framework for mental health service provision and assessment in schools, including describing methods for identifying students who might need mental health services and tracking their progress. Further, several evidence-based interventions are highlighted as examples of effective practices in schools. The chapter concludes with recommendations for clinical practice in school settings.


2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 925-945 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mervi Vähätalo ◽  
Tomi Juhani Kallio

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the way in which the factors influencing a transformation towards or away from modularity, according to general modular systems theory, appear in the context of health services, and the extent to which the special characteristics of health services might support or prevent its application. Design/methodology/approach – The arguments constructed in the study are based on the theme of modularity, reflected against the special characteristics of health services identified in the context of health economics. Findings – The results include 11 proposition pairs that direct health services both towards and away from modularity. Research limitations/implications – Health services are highly heterogeneous in nature and the authors illustrate this with a wide range of examples from elderly care as the authors discuss the application of modularity in this context. Nevertheless, the authors recognise that modularity might suit some health services better than others. The findings provide potentially important information to health service managers and providers, enabling them to understand how modularity would benefit health service provision and where contradictions are to be expected. Originality/value – This study contributes to the discourse on service modularity in general, and complements the literature on modularity with reference to both public and private health services.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 203-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yolisha Singh ◽  
John Kasinathan ◽  
Andrew Kennedy

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe physical and mental health characteristics of incarcerated youth both internationally and in New South Wales (NSW) Australia. To outline current practices in the provision of mental and physical healthcare for incarcerated youth internationally and in NSW. Design/methodology/approach Population relevant literature will be outlined as applicable. Health service delivery will be discussed, with an emphasis on the experiences of NSW physical and mental health service provision for incarcerated youth. Findings This paper illustrates that in NSW there was a parity of provision between physical and mental healthcare, though there were deficits in what should ideally be provided. Internationally there was clear evidence that current minimum standards of healthcare in both physical and mental healthcare domains remain unmet. Practical implications Provision of physical and mental healthcare for incarcerated youth warrants global improvement. Further research into current provisions, across jurisdictions and subsequent standardisation of practice, will improve health outcomes for this vulnerable group. Originality/value This is the first paper to describe mental and physical healthcare provision in NSW for incarcerated youth framed within the broader context of international health service provision for similar populations.


GIS Business ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 138-154
Author(s):  
AHMED ABDIKADIR ORE ◽  
DR. EMMANUEL AWUOR ◽  
JUSTER GATUMI NYAGA

The study seeks to find out factors affecting health service provision in pastoral communities, it                   is focusing Wajir County. The County Government is mandated to provide services including the                     health services which have been enabled by devolution functions such as transfer of funds.              However, Counties especially within the patrol communities have been faced with myriad of                       challenges in obtaining the standard services from the County offices such as medical and                         education services. Some of the mentioned causes of poor  services to the community from the                literature has been leaders  who are not objective in practicing the best human resource practices, poor communication facilities in the County thus community are not able to access the needed services in timely manner and lot of corruptions in the County offices. In addition, there is lack of proper structures or systems put in place to account for the resources allocated. From the past studies in the related fielded also present a methodological gap where most analysis is based on County reports lacking quantitative analysis while others uses only descriptive statistics to analyze the data.  This study thus, fills the gap by looking at broad construct which give a broader picture of the health service provision. In addition, this study combines both descriptive and inferential statistics to determine the relationships between the study variables.  The study therefore hypothesizes that: There is no relationship between devolved resource allocation and quality of health services provision (H01) and there is no relationship between human resource practices and quality of health services provision (H02); Research study was anchored on institutional theory. Descriptive survey was used; The findings of the research will be used by other researcher’s  as a reference to what they will do in future not forgetting that it was used as a source of literature review to their studies. 65 respondents were chosen through random sampling that was stratified. The research questionnaires were administered by the researcher himself to the respondents. Focus group discussion was also done to the community members. Data was analyzed through f(n) and descriptive statistics and presented using tables and graphs. The research study established that resource allocation and human resource practices have a great influence in the provision of health services. The study recommends that Governor   of Wajir County should develop and formulate guidelines, governing structure and strategic plans for effective implementation of county resources and revenue that will enable provision of quality healthcare.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-24
Author(s):  
Robert Ngelela Shole

A study on the impact of cost sharing in health services was carried out in Geita District focussing on health service provision. A sample size of 96 respondents includes 24 health workers and 72 households’ heads. Household heads were chosen to represent the community receiving health services. Health workers were chosen to represent health service providers who are providing health services in the study area. A cross sectional research design was adopted involving administration of structured questionnaires to both primary and secondary partners, complemented by relevant documentation. Statistical Package for Social services (SPSS) software was employed in data coding and analysis. The study revealed that the aim of cost sharing on health service is good. But the nature of the Tanzanians of being poor among the poorer and poor government procedure for sensitizing its policies before implementation impend the target and objectives of cost sharing on health service. More than 67% people earn less than 50,000 per month and more than 10% do not attend hospital services if they become sick. Also, more than 58% of people are not aware about cost sharing on health service. The study makes the following recommendations to improve health service provision under cost sharing policy. The spirit of working very hard in production activities should be done by all Tanzanians to reduce poverty. The government should educate its people at all levels such as villages, wards, division, district, region and national to make them aware on any policy like cost sharing on health service. Capacity building should be done to health workers to follow all the guidelines and conditions of cost sharing on health service provision.


2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 463-473
Author(s):  
SeyedAhmad SeyedAlinaghi ◽  
Behnam Farhoudi ◽  
Bahar Ataeinia ◽  
Omid Dadras ◽  
Mostafa Hosseini ◽  
...  

PurposeThe aim of this study was to compare the defined indicators of tuberculosis (TB) control program in the intervention and control prisons, after implementation of the national clinical protocol for TB and HIV management in Iranian prisons, suggesting active health service provision in all steps of service provision.Design/methodology/approachThis was quasi-experimental study conducted among inmates of two prisons in Iran. Great Tehran prison was purposively chosen as the intervention prison and Karaj prison was purposively chosen as control prison as well. Intervention and control prisons were compared in terms of the TB indicators within three periods (before intervention, during implementation and follow-up period) from October 2013 to June 2014.FindingsNumber of inmates with TB symptoms who underwent TB workup was four times more in intervention prison compared to control prison (9.3 vs 2.5 cases out of 1,000 inmates per month in the case prison compared to the control prison). Such difference was also significant in the intervention prison, comparing before and during the intervention period. The patient finding in case prison increased significantly after the intervention (223.6 vs 81.8 cases out of 100,000 inmates per year). The number of TB cases who received HIV testing increased from 50 to 100%.Originality/valueActive health service provision has significantly improved indicators in the intervention prison. The authors recommend implementation of this guideline in all prisons of Iran. Integration of other diseases with high burden among prisoners is also recommended in the active health services provision.


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