https://journal.fi/finjehew/issue/feedFinnish Journal of eHealth and eWelfare2023-12-29T08:00:05+02:00Pia LiljamoLiljampi@gmail.comOpen Journal Systems<p><em>Finnish Journal of eHealth and eWelfare (FinJeHeW)</em> is a scientific journal maintained by the Finnish Social and Health Informatics Association (FinnSHIA) and the Finnish Society of Telemedicine and eHealth (FSTeH).<strong><br /></strong>ISSN 1798-0798</p> <p><strong><img src="https://journal.fi/public/site/images/riaittam/VA_tunnus_tekstein_pieni_netti23.jpg" alt="" /></strong></p>https://journal.fi/finjehew/article/view/142275Lectio praecursoria, Digitoimijuus terveydenhuollon ammattilaisen työssä2023-12-22T10:08:07+02:00Tiina Annamari Koivisto2023-12-29T00:00:00+02:00Copyright (c) 2023 Finnish Journal of eHealth and eWelfarehttps://journal.fi/finjehew/article/view/137963Massadata-arkkitehtuuri sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollossa: Tiedonhallinnan yleislainsäädännöstä seuraavat vaatimukset henkilötietojen käsittelylle2023-11-22T17:17:19+02:00Mikko Huovila<p>There are big expectations for the utilisation of data masses in health and social care. By processing data, there is an aim to create a new understanding of service development through research, innovation activities and knowledge management. When processing personal data, there are requirements to take into account citizens' rights and norms related to personal data processing. That is highlighted when processing is related to sensitive data, like health and social care data.</p> <p>When designing and implementing Big Data architectures, there is a need to consider the general law of information management in addition to social and healthcare legislation (General Data Protection Regulation, Information Management Act, Act on the Openness of Government Activities, Data Protection Act and Archives Act). There has yet to be any earlier research on the overall effect of this legislation on big data implementations.</p> <p>This article aims to recognise requirements from the general law of information management to big data architectures, especially from the personal data processing point of view. In this article, the main research results are five categories originating from the legislation: 1) Administrative requirements, 2) Personal data protection, 3) Information management and security, 4) Data subject's rights and transparency and 5) Data transfers. In addition, requirements from legislation are connected to big data architecture roles.</p> <p>Integrating typical Big Data architectures and legislative requirements is not problem-free. There is tension, especially in purpose limitation, data minimisation, data accuracy and storage limitation and data processing transparency. When applying these requirements, there is a need for caution.</p> <p>GDPR and Information Management Act emphasise management's last-hand responsibility for protecting data subjects' rights and good governance requirements in authorities' information management. Data protection impact assessments and information management change assessments are essential tools for risk management and data protection by default and design. Also, information management entities' instructions, education and internal auditing are important. Because applicable legislation is complex as a whole, official guidelines or mass data reference architecture could be helpful to authorities. More empirical and legal dogmatic research related to mass data use in health and social care is needed.</p>2023-12-29T00:00:00+02:00Copyright (c) 2023 Finnish Journal of eHealth and eWelfarehttps://journal.fi/finjehew/article/view/126953Information access and needs of patients in palliative care and their family members during hospital discharge2023-08-04T11:40:46+03:00Marjo MäkeläMaija HupliAnne Kuusisto<p>Responding to information needs is a significant way to improve the successful discharge of the patient and his family member and the best possible end-of-life care. As the number of patients in palliative care increases, the development of guidance is essential to ensure the quality of care.</p> <p>The purpose of this study was to describe patients in palliative care and their family member’s access to information and needs during and after discharge from the hospital. The method was a scoping review. A systematic data search was done to two databases (PubMed and CINAHL) in September 2021 and the searches were was updated in August 2022 and September 2023. The search was completed manually.</p> <p>There was a total of 1,132 search results, of which 14 articles were selected for the literature review after inclusion and exclusion criteria. Most of the studies were qualitative studies (12), one mixed-method study and one quantitative study. Patients in palliative care and their family members felt that they had received information about the disease and guidance for survival at home. Information needs were related to disease prognosis, symptoms and treatment, health care services, support for survival at home and the flow of information. The information needs of patients and family members were different.</p> <p>Patients and family members have stressed the individuality, repeatability and comprehensibility of information needs at the time of discharge and after. The separate information needs of family members and patients should be recognized and considered in guidance. Continuity of care should be secured by cooperation between professionals and by utilizing different data transfer methods.</p>2023-12-29T00:00:00+02:00Copyright (c) 2023 Finnish Journal of eHealth and eWelfarehttps://journal.fi/finjehew/article/view/131044Information systems in support of planned social work2023-08-09T15:13:50+03:00Jenni ToikkanenSamuel SalovaaraJari Lindh<p>A systematic and plan-based approach, grounded on the laws governing social work in Finland, frames professional social work, guides the handling of a client’s case and covers several stages from an initial needs assessment to structuring the interventions with present objectives and implementing them in the working phase to the final conclusion of the process. Documentation as a tool for planned social work supports the understanding of the client’s situation, quality work and multidisciplinary cooperation to achieve the objectives set. This article approaches planned social work from the perspective of the information systems and examines their effectiveness in supporting planned social work.</p> <p>The study asked how well the client information systems supported planned social work. Data were collected in the national STePS 3.0 project in autumn 2020, and the responses of licensed social workers (N=429) were selected for the study. The data were analysed using descriptive methods and by constructing summary variables to summarize the data. The quantitative analysis was complemented by a qualitative analysis of data (3,706 words) obtained from the open-ended responses of the participants.</p> <p>According to the findings, social workers rated the quality of information in the information system as mostly good but that it was challenging for most of them to identify the relevant and necessary information. The majority of social workers felt that the information system does not sufficiently support quality work and documentation. Almost half of them also rated support for managing work and understanding the client’s situation as poor. Social workers were most dissatisfied with the ability of the information system to support cooperation and information flow, both between client and professional and at the multidisciplinary and organisational levels.</p> <p>To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that puts planned social work at the centre of research on information systems. The results can be utilised in the development of information systems and in wellbeing services counties where multidisciplinary cooperation and smooth information flow are emphasised. Social workers’ confidence in the quality of information in the information systems creates a good basis for the utilisation of information; however, further development is needed to ensure that this utilisation takes place in the practice of planned social work.</p>2023-12-29T00:00:00+02:00Copyright (c) 2023 Finnish Journal of eHealth and eWelfarehttps://journal.fi/finjehew/article/view/131382Opportunities of digitalization in promoting work well-being at a university hospital: an interview study of managers and professionals2023-08-09T15:40:51+03:00Heidi HänninenMira HammarénOuti Kanste<p>Digitalization endeavors to address healthcare challenges, including resource sufficiency and rising costs. Digitalization requires innovative and systematic changes within the organization, and attention particularly to promoting work well-being, so that potentially increasing factors of workload can be identified and prevented during the transition.</p> <p>The purpose of this study was to describe the views of leaders and professionals on the possibilities of digitalization in promoting work well-being in a university hospital. The data was collected through semi-structured focus group and individual interviews from leaders (n=20) and professionals (n=22) from one university hospital remotely between June 2021 and May 2022. The data was analyzed using inductive content analysis.</p> <p>According to results, the opportunities of digitalization in promoting work well-being at a university hospital were described by: increasing the meaningfulness of work, improving the efficiency of work, digital solutions and services that promote work well-being, promoting competence and creating an enabling work environment. Digital solutions can enhance work performance by making it smoother and enabling more individualized job descriptions.</p> <p>Work well-being can be promoted through digital solutions that support and monitor recovery from work and well-being. Utilizing digitalization to promote work well-being requires ensuring competence, fostering a supportive work atmosphere and environment for digitalization, and change management.</p> <p>Digitalization offers opportunities to promote work well-being by influencing the meaningfulness and efficiency of work, digital solutions and services that promote work well-being, and promoting of competence and the creation of an enabling work environment. It is important to consider the perspective of health promotion in the design and implementation of digital solutions. It is crucial to prioritize participatory development, with supervisors playing a key role in facilitating transformative change. By paying attention to work well-being in the digitizing healthcare, factors that contribute to the retention and attractiveness of the field can be increased.</p>2023-12-29T00:00:00+02:00Copyright (c) 2023 Finnish Journal of eHealth and eWelfarehttps://journal.fi/finjehew/article/view/131314Co-design of a digital solution for total hip and knee arthroplasty journey: A case study2023-11-07T16:13:16+02:00Miia JanssonHeidi SimiläMarja HarjumaaJonna KoivistoKadri HaljasMarkus LindRiitta LaitalaAri-Pekka PuhtoMinna Pikkarainen<p>End-users’ involvement is crucial to develop human-centered solutions; patient acceptance and endorsement by clinicians will be achieved when the features of digital solutions align with their needs and expectations.</p> <p>The aim of the study was to develop the overall concept of digital solution to increase transparency, foster patient adherence, and improve patient-provider communication across the entire total hip and knee arthroplasty journey from admission to discharge, and beyond.</p> <p>Two-stage iterative co-design process was used. Systematic literature reviews and qualitative interviews were conducted to understand the problem. In addition, co-creation sessions were used develop the solution for a reference implementation.</p> <p>As a result, a total of 19 technical and functional requirements were identified. In addition, ten additional functional requirements were identified for future design. The results demonstrate the overall concept of a digital solution for the reference implementation. The uniqueness of the solution lies in the vision of wider integrated systems, which could offer a clinical platform for clinicians to provide patient-focused care remotely, while monitoring patients’ progress closely.</p>2023-12-29T00:00:00+02:00Copyright (c) 2023 Finnish Journal of eHealth and eWelfarehttps://journal.fi/finjehew/article/view/135932Development and pilot testing of a maturity assessment instrument for testbeds in health care2023-10-13T11:40:08+03:00Eva CollanusEmilia Kielo-ViljamaaJanne LahtirantaAntti Tuomisto<p>High-quality testbed services play a key role in the development and testing of new innovations for health care. To ensure that the development and testing process is valid and reliable, the testbed itself should fulfil a certain maturity level. The objectives of this study were to develop and pilot a new maturity assessment instrument for health care testbeds and to assess the maturity level of participating testbeds using self-assessment auditing. The data were collected in 2022 from 11 health care testbeds in Finland using the developed Health Care Testbed Maturity Assessment (HCTM) instrument in the form of auditing. The data were analysed using descriptive statistical analysis. According to the study results, the average maturity level of the participating testbeds was 51%. The developed instrument indicated preliminary feasibility for assessing the maturity of health care testbeds. Further development and validation of the instrument are warranted.</p>2023-12-29T00:00:00+02:00Copyright (c) 2023 Finnish Journal of eHealth and eWelfarehttps://journal.fi/finjehew/article/view/130584Current challenges of healthcare co-creation and testbeds2023-08-23T13:13:07+03:00Janne LahtirantaEva CollanusEmilia Kielo-ViljamaaAntti Tuomisto<p>In the recent years, co-creation – especially in the form of testbeds – has been more and more utilized in healthcare sector. As is common in the Northern Europe, most of the testbed services are offered by public sector organizations, such as higher education institutes. These kinds of organizations have core functions, that are often defined in the law, and co-creation in one form or another, may not be included in the functions. It follows from this that the operational maturity may differ significantly from one testbed to another. This paper investigates the current state of the Finnish healthcare testbeds, their “good” and the “bad”. The data used in this review was collected during the development of Health Care Testbed Maturity Assessment instrument (HCTM). During the development, a series of so-called friendly audits were performed on Finnish testbeds, during which the testbed operators’ insider views were collected for later use alongside data used for instrument development. This article will summarize these views, provide a current view to the Finnish healthcare testbeds, and conclude with practical remarks on how to develop the maturity of Finnish healthcare testbeds.</p>2023-12-29T00:00:00+02:00Copyright (c) 2023 Finnish Journal of eHealth and eWelfarehttps://journal.fi/finjehew/article/view/121481Smart shirt and carpet for annotating child behaviour in autism research2022-12-08T18:34:52+02:00Ali NadeemKarri PalovuoriAnneli KylliäinenTerhi HelminenJohanna Virkki<p>This study presents a developmental solution for annotating events, eye-contact, in live interaction scenarios, such as autism research. The approach involves prototyping infrared light emitting diodes (IR LEDs) integrated into both a smart shirt and smart carpets. Leveraging the imperceptibility of IR LEDs to the human eye ensures minimal disturbance to the individuals under surveillance. During video analysis, researchers can identify instances of eye-contact through the activation of IR LEDs, aiding in the recognition of corresponding events. The prototyped smart shirt features a necklace-type design with embedded IR LEDs, while two distinct designs of smart carpets incorporate IR LEDs at varying vision angles and positions.</p> <p>Validation of the prototypes includes laboratory testing and real-world evaluations with the researchers. The assessment encompasses the observation of IR LEDs on the smart shirt and carpets from diverse perspectives, evaluating their light intensity, and assessing their operational synchronization. The findings contribute to the advancement of technology-assisted methodologies in capturing and analyzing interpersonal interactions, particularly in the context of autism research.</p>2023-12-29T00:00:00+02:00Copyright (c) 2023 Finnish Journal of eHealth and eWelfarehttps://journal.fi/finjehew/article/view/127314The challenges of developing a textile-based device for recognizing swallowing movements during different swallowing tasks 2023-11-05T10:24:47+02:00Tiina IhalainenSaara TörmäErja SipiläKarri PalovuoriTiina VuohijokiJohanna Virkki<p>Swallowing difficulty, also known as dysphagia, is a fairly common symptom that may lead to malnutrition, dehydration, pulmonary complications, and a reduced quality of life. Currently, a swallowing evaluation requires a hospital environment, skilled personnel, and expensive devices. Thus, it is important to develop a successful method for evaluating swallowing in an everyday environment. This study developed a textile-based solution that resembles a neck gaiter. Wireless accelerometer and gyroscope sensors embedded inside the gaiter were used to detect swallowing movements. The recognition of swallows was achieved through cervical auscultation and video footage, and this data was subsequently compared with the information obtained from wireless accelerometer and gyroscope sensors. Based on the measurement results for 17 adults without dysphagia, the developed neck gaiter can identify individual swallows of 5 sips of water (with a 97 % identification success rate) and consecutive swallows of 100 ml of water (98 % identification success rate). However, we were not able to recognize swallowing movements from speaking, chewing and head movements. Future research is now needed to develop a prototype to differentiate swallowing movements from other movements, such as chewing and speaking.</p>2023-12-29T00:00:00+02:00Copyright (c) 2023 Finnish Journal of eHealth and eWelfarehttps://journal.fi/finjehew/article/view/127704Navigating health information chaos: Perspectives from Persian-speaking immigrants in Finland 2023-04-25T08:00:53+03:00Sara ArzidehHamed Ahmadinia<p>The purpose of this study is to explore health information environment and behaviours of Persian-speaking immigrants in Finland during the COVID-19 pandemic, utilising information chaos framework. Between January to March 2022, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 18 participants, using an adapted framework of information chaos and previous research as a guide for the interview questions.</p> <p>The study found that participants relied on interpersonal connections, news outlets, and social media to stay informed on current news and health-related information, with messaging apps being particularly popular due to their convenience and ability to connect with friends and family in their home countries. While most participants were satisfied with the amount of information they received, some encountered inaccurate pandemic information. The study also identified significant obstacles related to information scatter and conflict. Participants employed various methods, including verifying with official sources and interpersonal networks, to assess the reliability of their information. Credible health information led to changes in behaviour and lifestyle.</p> <p>The study's findings offer practical implications for health authorities and policymakers to address the health information needs of Persian-speaking immigrants during public health crises. The use of an information-chaos framework could be beneficial in identifying challenges related to channelling accurate and reliable health information among minorities through different information sources. Such initiatives can bridge the gap between the health information needs of immigrants and the available health information, ultimately reducing health disparities and improving health outcomes.</p> <p>This study represents one of the pioneering works exploring the information environment during a pandemic and the strategies adopted by the Persian-speaking minority to address the dissemination of false information during a health crisis. These findings shed light on the complex interplay of individual and health information environments that influence adhering to safety protocols and adopting healthy behaviours in this population.</p>2023-12-29T00:00:00+02:00Copyright (c) 2023 Finnish Journal of eHealth and eWelfarehttps://journal.fi/finjehew/article/view/142302Arkkitehtuurista uusien innovaatioiden kehittämiseen ja testaukseen – käyttäjäkokemukset keskiössä 2023-12-23T11:35:10+02:00Pia LiljamoMiia Jansson2023-12-29T00:00:00+02:00Copyright (c) 2023 Finnish Journal of eHealth and eWelfarehttps://journal.fi/finjehew/article/view/142303Conferences2023-12-23T11:38:24+02:00Pia LiljamoMiia Jansson2023-12-29T00:00:00+02:00Copyright (c) 2023 Finnish Journal of eHealth and eWelfare