IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i3p1855-d743602.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Digital Health Service for Elderly People with Balance Disorders and Risk of Falling: A Design Science Approach

Author

Listed:
  • 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.)

  • 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

In this study, a design science research methodology was used aiming at designing, implementing and evaluating a digital health service to complement the provision of healthcare for elderly people with balance disorders and risk of falling. An explanatory sequential mixed methods study allowed to identify and explore the dissatisfaction with electronic medical records and the opportunity for using digital health solutions. The suggested recommendations helped to elaborate and develop “BALANCE”, a digital service implemented on the METHIS platform, which was recently validated for remote monitoring of chronic patients in primary healthcare. “BALANCE” provides clinical and interactive data, questionnaire pre and post-balance rehabilitation, tutorial videos with balance exercises and patient-recorded videos of the exercises. This digital service was demonstrated, including five elderly patients with clinical recommendations for balance rehabilitation at home. Finally, the authors conducted two focus groups with the participants and their caregivers as well as with physicians. The focus groups aimed at exploring their satisfaction level, needs of adjustment in the “BALANCE” service and strategies for applicability. The digital healthcare service evaluation revealed a significant potential for clinical applicability of this digital solution for elderly people with balance disorders and risk of falling.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1855-:d:743602
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/3/1855/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/3/1855/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Eva Kovacs & Xiaoting Wang & Eva Grill, 2019. "Economic burden of vertigo: a systematic review," Health Economics Review, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Ulrike Bechtold & Natalie Stauder & Martin Fieder, 2021. "Let’s Walk It: Mobility and the Perceived Quality of Life in Older Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-14, November.
    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.
    4. Lorenzo Mucchi & Sara Jayousi & Antonio Gant & Elisabetta Paoletti & Paolo Zoppi, 2021. "Tele-Monitoring System for Chronic Diseases Management: Requirements and Architecture," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-19, July.
    5. Woochun Jun, 2020. "A Study on the Current Status and Improvement of the Digital Divide among Older People in Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-13, June.
    6. 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.
    7. 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.
    8. 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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. 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.
    2. Kun Wang & Meijun Chen & Xiaoyue Zhang & Lanchao Zhang & Chun Chang & Yu Tian & Xiaofeng Wang & Zhijing Li & Ying Ji, 2022. "The Incidence of Falls and Related Factors among Chinese Elderly Community Residents in Six Provinces," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-15, November.
    3. Filipe Rodrigues & António M. Monteiro & Pedro Forte & Pedro Morouço, 2023. "Effects of Muscle Strength, Agility, and Fear of Falling on Risk of Falling in Older Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-8, March.
    4. Andjar Prasetyo & Nana Noviana & Weni Rosdiana & M. Arief Anwar & Hartiningsih & Hendrixon & Bekti Putri Harwijayanti & Mochammad Fahlevi, 2023. "Stunting Convergence Management Framework through System Integration Based on Regional Service Governance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-23, January.
    5. Yu Song & Chenfei Qian & Susan Pickard, 2021. "Age-Related Digital Divide during the COVID-19 Pandemic in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-13, October.
    6. Lina Stangvaltaite-Mouhat & Indre Stankeviciene & Sigrid Sofia Sanchez Martinussen & Vytautas Sabataitis & Camilla Sandjord & Ingrid Toresen & Marianne Stoltenberg Tryggestad & Alina Puriene & Jan-Are, 2023. "Web-Based Interventions Reduced Dental Anxiety among Adults in Lithuania and Norway: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-14, February.
    7. Woochun Jun, 2021. "A Study on Cause Analysis of Digital Divide among Older People in Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-13, August.
    8. Chen Li & Jiaji Wu & Yi Huang, 2023. "Spatial–Temporal Patterns and Coupling Characteristics of Rural Elderly Care Institutions in China: Sustainable Human Settlements Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-27, February.
    9. Seong Kyu Ha & Hey Sig Lee & Hae Yean Park, 2021. "Twelve Smartphone Applications for Health Management of Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-13, September.
    10. Simona Hvalič-Touzery & Mojca Šetinc & Vesna Dolničar, 2022. "Benefits of a Wearable Activity Tracker with Safety Features for Older Adults: An Intervention Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-26, November.
    11. Ying Wang & Peiwen Luo, 2022. "Exploring the Needs of Elderly Care in China from Family Caregivers’ Perspective via Machine Learning Approaches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-14, September.
    12. Niruwan Turnbull & Pichayasuda Cherdsakul & Sutin Chanaboon & David Hughes & Kukiat Tudpor, 2022. "Tooth Loss, Cognitive Impairment and Fall Risk: A Cross-Sectional Study of Older Adults in Rural Thailand," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-9, November.
    13. Wenjia Li & Shengwei Shen & Jidong Yang & Qinghe Tang, 2021. "Internet-Based Medical Service Use and Eudaimonic Well-Being of Urban Older Adults: A Peer Support and Technology Acceptance Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-16, November.
    14. Hao Cheng & Keyi Lyu & Jiacheng Li & Hoiyan Shiu, 2021. "Bridging the Digital Divide for Rural Older Adults by Family Intergenerational Learning: A Classroom Case in a Rural Primary School in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-16, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1855-:d:743602. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.