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How Can We Develop an Efficient eHealth Service for Provision of Care for Elderly People with Balance Disorders and Risk of Falling? A Mixed Methods Study

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  • Andréa Gomes Martins Gaspar

    (Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal
    Hospital Beatriz Ângelo, 2674-514 Lisbon, Portugal
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Pedro Escada

    (Hospital Egas Moniz, 1349-019 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Luís Velez Lapão

    (Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

This study aimed to identify relevant topics for the development of an efficient eHealth service for elderly people with balance disorders and risk of falling, based on input from physicians providing healthcare to this patient group. In the quantitative part of the study, an open multiple-choice questionnaire was made available on the website of the Portuguese General Medical Council to assess the satisfaction with electronic medical records regarding clinical data available, the time needed to retrieve data and the usefulness of the data. Of the 118 participants, 55% were dissatisfied/very dissatisfied with data availability and 61% with the time spent to access and update data related to the focused patient group. Despite this negative experience, 76% considered future e-Health solutions as pertinent/very pertinent. Subsequently, these findings were further explored with eight semi-structured interviews. The physicians confirmed the reported dissatisfactions and pointed out the lack of comprehensive data and system interoperability as serious problems, causing inefficient health services with an overlap of emergency visits and uncoordinated diagnostics and treatment. In addition, they discussed the importance of camera and audio monitoring to add significant value. Our results indicate considerable potential for e-Health solutions, but substantial improvements are crucial to achieving such future solutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Andréa Gomes Martins Gaspar & Pedro Escada & Luís Velez Lapão, 2021. "How Can We Develop an Efficient eHealth Service for Provision of Care for Elderly People with Balance Disorders and Risk of Falling? A Mixed Methods Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-18, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:14:p:7410-:d:592354
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shu-Lin Uei & Yu-Ming Kuo & Chung-Hung Tsai & Yu-Lun Kuo, 2017. "An Exploration of Intent to Use Telehealth at Home for Patients with Chronic Diseases," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Rolf Wynn & Elia Gabarron & Jan-Are K. Johnsen & Vicente Traver, 2020. "Special Issue on E-Health Services," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-6, April.
    3. Van-Anh Thi Ha & Tam Ngoc Nguyen & Thanh Xuan Nguyen & Huong Thi Thu Nguyen & Thu Thi Hoai Nguyen & Anh Trung Nguyen & Thang Pham & Huyen Thi Thanh Vu, 2021. "Prevalence and Factors Associated with Falls among Older Outpatients," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-11, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Andréa Gomes Martins Gaspar & Luís Velez Lapão, 2022. "A Digital Health Service for Elderly People with Balance Disorders and Risk of Falling: A Design Science Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-17, February.

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