Mobile computing is a general term used to describe all the technological advances that often have directly or indirectly influenced society. They include simple devices like mobile or cell phones, laptops, MRI machines and other diagnostic equipment, GPS readers, and others. Many of these inventions have revolutionized the healthcare industry. Quick diagnosis and accurate treatment have led to the saving of many lives. The quality of healthcare has increased exponentially, and immense improvements has been noted in life expectancy rates.“Though, these advancements have come at a costly price, their benefits cannot be understated” (Arnrich, 2017).One example is the use of mobile app to scan refills on the go. You simply scan your prescription barcode using your smartphone camera and confirm prescription and store numbers.
While the transition of these advances has not been smooth, it has started to take shape. However, grave errors have had life-threatening effects at the hands of technology. Examples are an overdose of insulin because of a faulty glucometer. Others include incorrect treatment after a wrong diagnosis. Someone needs to be held accountable for these tragedies. Apart from the mistakes of technology, we need to strike a balance between improving our world and maintaining our humanity. Society is a place where technology is eroding some of the gains we have made. Existing systems are being lost as a result of too much technology. This paper will take a look at different opinions on the effect of computing on health care. These five studies will help us understand how broad technology is and appreciate the extent of its influence (Kumar et al., 2013).
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Understanding Monitoring Technologies for Adults with Pain: Systematic Literature Review
In this study, Rodríguez (2017) used a systematic analysis to assess the kinds of existing technology in use to monitor pain in adults. It was aimed at developing a model based on the context information which would then be used to create an app to track is in adults.
Methodology
Electronic databases with medical and scientific literature were searched between 2005 and 2015 using a defined search string. Selected articles had their duplicates removed, and their title and abstract analyzed before the full, text was used (Rodríguez, 2017).
Conclusion
61% of the articles identified used technology to facilitate in the collect of the required information. A five-dimension model was proposed in regard of the 49 types of contextual information that was retrieved. The model that would use environment, wellness, physiological, activity and identity dimensions would be building on an earlier model. Models which collect specific contextual information that is relevant to the patient may be used by researchers to monitor pain in adults. The information could be essential in enhancing the quality of life for patients who suffer from conditions that cause chronic pain.
Smart Devices for Older Adults Managing Chronic Disease: A Scoping Review
The review was aimed at understanding the extent, nature and range of research activities based on smart devices. It also sought to recommend future directions to fill the knowledge gap identified as well narrowing down the limitations of the current research (Kim et al., 2017).
Methodology
Kim et al., (2017) ensured that a Scoping Review was done using the Arksey and O'Malley framework. Selected subjects used smart phones. Quantitative data was charted and qualitative studies analyzed using thematic synthesis. This was based on validation of an electronic copy of a questionnaire and also evaluation of usability. The chronic care model was used to collate and summarize data.
Conclusion
Eight self-management supporting strategies were identified. They included automated feedback and patient education. Also recognized was support for decision making. Heart failure and asthma patients experienced a higher quality of life when they implemented solutions based on smart devices. A narrow research scope and inadequate support of the patients as well as lack of gerontological factors have limited evidence for clinical outcome. It is therefore important to ensure use of new technologies to collect evidence and advance health advancements in future.
A Semantic-Based Model for Triage Patients in Emergency Departments
The studies were intended to help create a computer-based model to help boost the efficiency of the Triage process. This is supposed to boost patients’ chances of survival especially if they are critical and being attended to in the emergency room.
Methodology
The UbiTriagem was designed and built using Web semantics and ubiquitous computing. The proposal was evaluated by using performed analysis of previously determined ratings. A usability evaluation was also conducted in the emergency department. Two user groups of patients and nurses tested the developed prototype. The automatic Triage assessment was based on data gathered from mobile devices and processed through a reasoning technique in the ontology (Wunsch, 2017).
Conclusion
The automatic Triage assessment was positive in more than 90 % of the cases studied. After the model was adjusted to address shortcomings, the result of the study raised to 100%. This study was shown to support and improves the efficiency and speed of the Triage process. Ease of use of the UbiTriagem and perception of utility was thought to be responsible for the customer satisfaction.
Wearable Therapy - Detecting Information from Wearable and Mobiles that are Relevant to Clinical and Self-directed Therapy .
The study seeks to incorporate wearable therapy tools that combine mobile solutions that can support self-directed and clinical therapies.
Methodology
Arnrich et al., (2017) carried out this study by first inviting all the identified participants to take part in the "9th International Conference on Pervasive Computing Technologies for Healthcare" . All the issues discussed in this Conference was later published and shared. A selection of the papers was then conducted through reviewing of all papers. Six papers were later identified to be used for this focus theme.
Conclusion
According to Arnrich et al., (2017) more systematic reviews will improve on the benefits observed so far. Some of the chosen topics covered included smart shoes to help facilitate the individual-directed therapy for those identified as alcohol addicts. Self-directed therapy of alcohol addicts and methods for efficient state detection of informal caregivers and an advance to establishing a health informatics research program. These and other interventions will benefit from an efficient gathering of empirical evidence. This is the only way to determine the sustainability of wearable therapy tools. High Touch and High Tech (HT2) Proposal: Transforming Patient Engagement throughout the Continuum of Care by Engaging Patients with Portal Technology at the Bedside
This study is interested in the effects of high touch and high tech interventions that are observed in patients. This is also critical for self-management of chronic illness. A mixed method research (MMR) approach was applied to incorporate a patient portal into inpatient care and to facilitate the extended use after discharge and while convalescing at home. Access to the portal to outpatients was also considered (McAlearney, et al., 2016).
Methodology
The portal is tailored to collect data from the patient by initiating engagement. This includes improving the patient's perception of the care process while in hospital. Patient’s self-efficacy in maintaining chronic conditions is also increased.
Conclusion
According McAlearney, et al., (2016) access to healthcare information to patients proved to be the most beneficial tool for enhancing therapy. In addition to this, health care providers were able to collect beneficial feedback that was used to enhance services provided. An extension of this service to the ambulatory arm of health care was thought to be of further assistance. This system was thought to be beneficial in the advancements of self-efficacy. Efforts are currently underway to extend this service to other hospitals.
Ethical and social practices surrounding ICTs
While it is clear from the above findings that healthcare is a significant beneficiary of ICT systems, it can also be concluded that more can be done. Because dependence on computer-based systems and models is increasing, then some ethical issues need to be resolved. Hanson (2009) seeks to explore the essence of moral obligation in activities that are performed through a computerized system. He points out some uses of a computer system such as when selecting and prioritizing organ recipients. If a carpenter using a hammer can take responsibility for any job he did with his hammer, then will he also share responsibility with the hammer.
For example, if a UbiTriagem were to malfunction and give results that were detrimental to the patient's health, then who takes responsibility for the patient's death? Is the Triage nurse just as responsible as the UbiTriagem? And if the UbiTriagem bears some responsibility, then how will it be held accountable? Majority of the computing systems highlighted in this paper do not demonstrate the measures they have put in place to account for technological errors. This is unlike the responsibility that is placed on medical staff through the oaths they take. This makes the concept of moral obligation vague and open to misconduct.
This is the same argument used to explore the moral responsibility held by a human programmer, a user, databases in use and hardware and software used. It can then be argued that human and non-human entities have different types of responsibility. This is an ethically divisive topic that still needs further discussion.
Another tool that is used to improve the quality of life for deaf people is the Homo Prosthetics. Homo Prosthetics has mainly been accepted as a tool of communication for the deaf people especially in developed nations (Keating, 2005). These developments have led to the alteration of sign language. This has raised its issues including that the prostheses sometimes shifts focus to itself and away from the conversation. It, however, broadens the scope of interaction. Keating (2005) further uses the Activity Theory to explore how humans interactions with tools are shaping organizations. Opinion is still divided on his findings.
The activity theory encourages human interactions for successful aging. But technology reduces the frequency of interaction and activity. If computing devices can carry out functions such as monitoring pain and patient interactions on portals, then this significantly reduces the opportunity for person to person interaction. The positive effect of technology on health may then be eroded by its negative effect on social interaction. It is yet to be seen whether this will significantly affect successful aging.
The advent of information technology that can directly influence day to day life has come at a rapid pace. The use of such technologies in the workplace has not been appreciated by all. The result has been a conflict of sorts in incorporating these technologies to members of staff. This has met with resistance mainly from members of staff of advanced age. This has led to further research on the impact of social informatics (Kling et al., 2005). Issues raised include establishing policies to bridge the digital divide, the role of ICT in conflict resolution, benefits of a paperless organization, profits in the dissemination of information, and the pros and cons of replacing traditional media.
Computing devices require some level of knowledge to operate. There is a section of the society that are not willing to embrace technology, thus causing the digital divide. The process of bridging this divide , as well as replacing traditional media will mean reduction in staff employment and an increase in initial costs of transition. These solutions as well as a paperless organization will eventually be more cost effective and the profits from the savings can be invested into dissemination of information.
ICT's improve the ease of socialization by increasing access to data and communication tools. For instance, digital libraries can be accessed from anywhere without the constraints of time and travel. Furthermore, social media platforms have eased communication among teams. In a nutshell, research shows that computing systems are indeed a welcome part of the healthcare industry. However, every case demonstrated above shows that further research is needed to gain maximum benefits from this systems.
References
Bert, Arnrich, et al. “Wearable Therapy - Detecting Information from Wearables and Mobiles That Are Relevant to Clinical and Self-Directed Therapy.” METHODS OF INFORMATION IN MEDICINE , vol. 56, no. 1, pp. 37–39.
Coleman, E. G. (2013). Coding freedom: The ethics and aesthetics of hacking. Princeton University Press.
Hanson, F. A. (2009). Beyond the skin bag: on the moral responsibility of extended agencies. Ethics and information technology, 11 (1), 91-99.
Keating, E. (2005). Homo prosthetics: problematizing the notions of activity and computer-mediated interaction. Discourse Studies, 7 (4-5), 527-545.
Ben Y. B., Kim, and Lee Joon. “Smart Devices for Older Adults Managing Chronic Disease: A Scoping Review.” JMIR MHEALTH AND UHEALTH , vol. 5, no. 5, May 2017.
Kling, R., Rosenbaum, H., " Sawyer, S. (2005). Understanding and communicating social informatics: A framework for studying and teaching the human contexts of information and communication technologies. Information Today, Inc.
Ann Scheck, McAlearney, et al. High Touch and High Tech (HT2) Proposal: Transforming Patient Engagement throughout the Continuum of Care by Engaging Patients with Portal Technology at the Bedside. Vol. 5, no. 4, Dec. 2016.
