Digital Health Innovation Ecosystems

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gloria Ejehiohen Iyawa ◽  
Marlien Herselman ◽  
Adele Botha
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Innovation Ecosystem ◽  
Health Innovation ◽  
Innovation Ecosystems ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Key Participants

The purpose of this paper was to identify key participants, benefits, and challenges of a digital health innovation ecosystem in Namibia. The paper also aimed to identify strategies for implementing digital health innovation ecosystems in Namibia. This is a qualitative study that adopted semi-structured interviews in meeting the objectives of the study. The findings suggest that implementing digital health innovation ecosystems within the Namibian context will result in better processes of delivering healthcare services to patients. However, implementing such an ecosystem would require resources from both academic and governmental organizations. The need for skilled experts for managing the ecosystem would also be required. Hence, adopting the guidelines for implementing a digital health innovation ecosystem in developing countries, the study proposed guidelines which would make a digital health innovation ecosystem work for the Namibian context. The findings of this study can be used by healthcare managers within the Namibian context.

Partnerships with the police – logics and strategies of justification

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bertil Rolandsson
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Organizational Legitimacy ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
Empirical Material

Purpose – Political reforms call for new types of public-private or community partnerships, in which public services are shaped in collaboration with networks of public, business or non-governmental organizations. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how municipal partners justify and thereby maintain partnerships with the police. Design/methodology/approach – The empirical material comprises documents and 26 semi-structured interviews with civil servants, politicians, and police staff. This qualitative study investigates three Swedish municipalities engaged in partnerships with the same police authority. Findings – Based on Boltanski and Thévenot’s order of worth, the paper describes how municipal partners manage two partly contradictory arrangements; one constituted by industrial and civic logics, and one constituted by domestic and industrial logics. Guided by these two different arrangements, they justify and thereby maintain their partnership with the police by alternating between a compromising strategy promoting adaptation to the police and a compensating strategy stating that they are independent partners with demands on the police. Research limitations/implications – This is a qualitative study that needs further confirmation before general conclusions can be drawn. Still, it suggests that partners justify themselves by making claims on being both collaborative and independent within these partnerships. Originality/value – Unlike research investigating how authorities initiate partnerships to organize integrated and cost-efficient public services, the paper highlights how partners justify their participation by alternating between two rather different but linked justifying strategies. The study applies a justificatory logic perspective that helps us understand that complex and sometimes contradictory arrangements of logics, which could threaten partner participation, also enable them to justify and thereby maintain their partnership with the police. Unlike institutional studies describing how tensions challenge organizational legitimacy this study describes how justificatory strains remain even when partners are able to justify their participation.

scholarly journals Understanding men’s psychological reactions and experience following a cardiac event: a qualitative study from the MindTheHeart project

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. e029560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jalila Jbilou ◽  
Jean Grenier ◽  
Marie-Helene Chomienne ◽  
France Talbot ◽  
Heather Tulloch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Psychosocial Adjustment ◽  
Cardiac Event ◽  
Clinical Training ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Clinical Practices ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme

ObjectivesEmotional issues such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder are common following a cardiac event. Despite their high prevalence, they often go undiagnosed and research suggests that men in particular are at higher risk. Therefore, a better understanding of men’s experiences with a cardiac event and ensuing health services is key for adapting approaches that meet their needs. The aim of this study was to describe the self-reported emotional challenges that men face following a cardiac event and to understand their patterns of psychosocial adjustment.DesignQualitative study (focus groups and one-on-one interviews) using an interpretive phenomenal analysis.SettingClinical settings (cardiac departments in hospitals, cardiac rehabilitation programme and family medicine clinics) and in the community in three Canadian provinces.ParticipantsA total of 93 men participated in the study through 22 focus groups and 5 semi-structured interviews, none has been excluded based on comorbidities.ResultsFour major themes emerged: (1) managing uncertainty and adversity; (2) distancing, normalising and accepting; (3) conformity to traditional masculine norms and (4) social, literacy and communication challenges.ConclusionsHealthcare professionals caring for men following a cardiac event must be aware of the psychological and social adjustments that accompany the physical challenges. However, there is a lack of explicit guidelines, tools and clinical training in men-sensitive approaches. Further research is required to better inform clinical practices and healthcare services.

Collaboration Challenges of Non-Governmental Organizations in Healthcare System in Iran

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
elahe Hooshmand ◽  
Esmat Pardasi ◽  
Jamshid jamali ◽  
Javad Javan-Noughabi ◽  
Ali vafaee-Najar
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
National Level ◽  
Issues Management ◽  
Cultural Issues ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Data Framework ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations

Abstract Background: Despite the strong emphasize of government on collaboration and application of non-governmental organizations in healthcare, there can be seen a research gap in this area in developing countries. The present study aims to investigate collaboration challenges of non-governmental organizations in healthcare from the viewpoint of healthcare managers and active managers of non-governmental organizations of Iran as an example of low-middle income country. Methods: This study is carried out via 54 semi-structured interviews with the managers of governmental sector and the active managers of non-governmental organizations at the national level from 2019 to 2020. Data framework analysis method in Atlas.T software is used for analysis of the interviews. Results: The results of this study highlight five major concepts in collaboration challenges of non-governmental organizations in healthcare: political issues, operational issues, cultural issues, management issues, and communication issues. Conclusions: This study presents a clear framework for identification of collaboration challenges of non-governmental organizations in healthcare Especially for developing countries. This framework should be taken into consideration by authorities of Ministry of health in their policy makings.

scholarly journals Perceptions about the accessibility of healthcare services among ethnic minority women: a qualitative study among Arab Bedouins in Israel

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haneen Shibli ◽  
Limor Aharonson-Daniel ◽  
Paula Feder-Bubis
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Access To Healthcare ◽  
Minority Women ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Gender Barriers ◽  
Values And Beliefs ◽  
Accessibility Issues ◽  
And Gender

Abstract Background Access to healthcare services has major implications for vulnerable populations’ health. Socio-cultural and gender characteristics shape the utilization and access of healthcare services among ethnic minorities worldwide. One such vulnerable ethnic minority is the Arab Bedouin women in Israel. As women, they are marginalized in their community, where women do not have full equity and they experience multiple barriers to healthcare services The main objective of this study is to provide a nuanced, experiential, emic description of healthcare accessibility issues among Bedouin women in Israel. Identifying the barriers, they face in accessing healthcare may help healthcare policymakers make changes based on and tailored to Bedouin women’s needs. Methods A qualitative study included in-depth semi-structured interviews with 21 Arab Bedouin village residents, consisting of 14 women and 7 men. Eligible participants were Arab Bedouins over 18 years of age and who used healthcare services at least once in the last 5 years. The interviews were carried out in Arabic-Bedouin dialect and included demographic questions, open-ended questions that asked about participants’ perceptions regarding their experiences with healthcare services, including the factors that helped and hindered them in accessing these services and questions regarding suggestions for improving the accessibility of healthcare services based on the identified needs. Data collected were analyzed using thematic analysis. Study trustworthiness was ensured using audit, reflexivity, and peer debriefing. Results Arab Bedouin women experienced varied barriers while accessing healthcare services. This study uncovered how language, cultural and gender barriers intersect with other disadvantages ingrained in social norms, values and beliefs and affect the access of a minority women subgroup to healthcare services. The participants identified subgroups of Bedouin women (e.g. elderly Bedouin women) affected differently by these barriers. Conclusion Taking into consideration the identified needs and the Arab Bedouin women’s unique characteristics, along with adopting the intersectional approach should help improve access to healthcare services among such a vulnerable subgroup and other subgroups within minorities worldwide.

scholarly journals Healthcare inequities and barriers to access for homeless individuals: a qualitative study in Barcelona (Spain)

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrés Cernadas ◽  
Ángela Fernández
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Medical Professional ◽  
Homeless Population ◽  
Public Health Services ◽  
Structured Interviews

Abstract Background In Spain, homeless individuals have lower perceived quality of health than the rest of the population and their life expectancy is 30 years lower than the national average. While the Spanish health system provides universal access and coverage, homeless individuals do not access or use public care enough to maintain their health. The objective of this study is to determine if homeless individuals can access public health services in conditions of equality with the rest of the population, as established in healthcare legislation, and to better understand the causes of observed inequalities or inequities of access. Methods A detailed qualitative study was carried out in the city of Barcelona (Spain) from October 2019 to February 2020. A total of nine open and in-depth interviews were done with homeless individuals along with seven semi-structured interviews with key informants and two focus groups. One group was composed of eight individuals who were living on the street at the time and the other consisted of eight individuals working in healthcare and social assistance. Results The participants indicated that homeless individuals tend to only access healthcare services when they are seriously ill or have suffered some kind of injury. Once there, they tend to encounter significant barriers that might be 1) administrative; 2) personal, based on belief that that will be poorly attended, discriminated against, or unable to afford treatment; or 3) medical-professional, when health professionals, who understand the lifestyle of this population and their low follow-through with treatments, tend towards minimalist interventions that lack the dedication they would apply to other groups of patients. Conclusions The conclusions derived from this study convey the infrequent use of health services by homeless individuals for reasons attributable to the population itself, to healthcare workers and to the entire healthcare system. Accordingly, to reduce inequities of access to these services, recommendations to healthcare service providers include adapting facilities to provide more adequate care for this population; increasing sensitivity/awareness among healthcare workers; developing in situ care systems in places where the homeless population is most concentrated; and establishing healthcare collaboration agreements with entities that work with this population.

scholarly journals Qualitative study on mental health and well-being of Syrian refugees and their coping mechanisms towards integration in the UK

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. e046065
Author(s):  
Priyamvada Paudyal ◽  
Mais Tattan ◽  
Maxwell J F Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Cultural Difference ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Coping Mechanisms ◽  
Syrian Refugees ◽  
Structured Interviews

ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the mental well-being of Syrian refugees and identify their coping mechanisms and pathways towards integration into new communities.DesignQualitative study using in-depth semi-structured interviews.Setting and participantsAdult Syrian refugees (>18 years old) currently residing in South East of England.Results12 participants (3 women and 9 men) took part in the study, all were born in Syria and the majority (n=9) were over 45 years of age. Our findings show that Syrian refugees face constant challenges as they try to integrate into a new society. Loss of and separation from loved ones as well as the nostalgia for the homeland were often cited as a source of psychological distress that created an overwhelming sense of sadness. Participants reported that they struggled for connectedness due to cultural difference and the problematic nature of rapidly formed migrant communities in their new setting. They believed in ‘being their own doctor’ and turning to faith, ritual and nature for healing and comfort. Taboo and stigma around mental health and language barriers were cited as barriers to accessing mental healthcare services.ConclusionPast experiences and present challenges frame Syrian refugees’ sense of well-being, impact use of healthcare and risk future mental health problems. It is hoped that this study will act as a catalyst for further research on this vulnerable group to promote integration, community support and culturally sensitive mental health services.

scholarly journals Key components and critical factors for developing a telehealth business framework: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Farnia Velayati ◽  
Haleh Ayatollahi ◽  
Morteza Hemmat ◽  
Reza Dehghan
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Critical Factors ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Equal Distribution ◽  
Business Framework

Abstract Background Telehealth technology and related products can help to solve the problems associated with providing health care services and equal distribution of resources. However, in order to run a telehealth business successfully, key components and critical factors need to be taken into account. A telehealth business framework can provide a rich understanding of these components and factors. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify the key components and critical factors for developing a telehealth business framework from the experts’ perspectives. Methods The present qualitative study was conducted in 2020. The participants were 22 experts in the fields of medical informatics, health information management, telemedicine, telehealth, health entrepreneurship, health insurance, and digital health start-ups. In depth semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data, and the data were analyzed using framework analysis. Results Four main themes derived from data analysis. The themes included key components for developing a telehealth business framework, success factors, challenges, and barriers of a telehealth business. Overall, the results indicated that the key components in a telehealth business framework included created value, key resources, key activities, key partners, licenses and permissions, product pricing, revenue, marketing, supporting services, and getting feedback from customers. Although receiving support from different individuals and organizations as well as economic benefits of telehealth services may consider as success factors, there are a number of challenges and barriers which should be taken into account. Otherwise, these factors may hinder the success of a telehealth business. Conclusions The development of a telehealth business framework might be an important step towards developing a more complete business plan, facilitating the commercialization of telehealth products, and providing a solution for product sustainability in a competitive market. In the current study, the key components and critical factors for developing a telehealth business framework were identified; however, further research is needed to explore how these components and factors can be helpful in developing business plans and running a successful telehealth business.

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