E-health in Rural Areas: Case of Developing Countries
The Application of e-health solutions has brought superb advancements in the health care industry. E-health solutions have already been embraced in the industrialized countries. In an effort to catch up with the growth, the developing countries have strived to revolutionize the healthcare industry by use of Information technology in different ways. Based on a technology assessment carried out in Kenya – one of the developing countries – and using multiple case studies in Nyanza Province, this work focuses on an investigation on how five rural hospitals are adapting to the technology shift. The issues examined include the ICT infrastructure and e-health technologies in place, the knowledge of participants in terms of benefits gained through the use of ICT and the challenges posing barriers to the use of ICT technologies in these hospitals. The results reveal that the ICT infrastructure in place is inadequate for e-health implementations as a result to various challenges that exist. Consequently, suggestions on how to tackle the various challenges have been addressed in this paper.
[1] T. Clark, "Adopting health care informatics and technologies", Am J
Health-Syst Pharm, vol. 64, Jan. 2007.
[2] M. L. Bernstein,T. Mccreless, and M. J. C├┤té, "Five Constants of
Information Technology Adoption in Healthcare," Winter Journal, vol.
85, no. 1. 2007.
[3] C. R. Alvarez, "The promise of e-Health- a Canadian perspective".
Journal of e-health Int., vol.1, no. 4, 2002.
[4] S. Denise, "The case for e-health,"2003, [online] Available at:
http://www.eipa.nl/Publications/Summaries/03/2003_E_01.pdf,
Accessed on: 23/02/7
[5] S. Y. Kwankam, "What E- Health can offer," Bulletin of World Health
Organ, vol. 82, no.10, Genebra Oct. 2004.
[6] P. L. Reichertz, "Hospital information systems, Past, Present, Future,"
International Journal of Informatics, vol.75, pp 282-299, 2006.
[7] J. K. H. Tan, Health Management information Systems; Methods and
practical Applications. 2001.
[8] N. Mbananga, Introduction to health informatics. Notoro publishers, SA.
2006.
[9] C. W. Hanson, Healthcare Informatics. Mc Graw Hill. 2006.
[10] G. Riva," From Tele-health to E-Health: Internet and Distributed Virtual
Reality in Health Care", Cyber psychology & Behaviour, vol.3, no.6,
2000. Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
[11] IOM ANNUAL MEETING, "Information Technology: It-s Strategic
Role in Biology, Medicine, and Health", 2001.
[12] S. C. Anthony, M. Bensik, N. Armfield, J. Stillman and L.Caffery,
"Telemedicine and rural health care applications," Journal of
Postgraduate Medicine, vol. 5,no. 4,Oct. - Dec. 2005.
[13] M. M. Maheu, P. Whitten & A. Allen, E-Health, telehealth and
telemedicine: A guide to start up and success, Jossey-Base, 2001.
[14] K. Novak," Reducing costs through Electronic Health Records and
Services ", Benefits and Compensation Digest, 2005, [online] Available
at: www.ifebp.org
[15] R. Blair "Disaster-Proof Patients", Health Management Technology,
vol. 28, no. 2, Feb 2007.
[16] A. I. Veletsos, "Reliable Mobile Computing," Health Management
Technology; vol. 28, no. 2; Feb 2007.
[17] C. B. Thielst. "The New Frontier of Electronic, Personal, and Virtual
Health Records," Journal of Healthcare Management, vol. 52, no. 2,
Mar. /Apr. 2007.
[18] M. Thakkar and D. C. Davis," Risks, Barriers, and Benefits of EHR
Systems:A Comparative Study Based on Size of Hospital", Perspectives
in Health Information Management 2006, [online]. Available at:
http://library.ahima.org/xpedio/groups/public/documents/ahima/bok1_03
1769.pdf, Accessed on: 20/05/07.
[19] G. Eysenbach and T. L. Diepgen. "The role of e-health and consumer
health informatics for evidence-based patient choice in the 21st century".
Clinics in Dermatology, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 11-17, 2001.
[20] M. McMullan." Patients using the Internet to obtain health information:
How this affects the patient-health professional relationship". Patient
Education and Counselling, vol. 63, no. 1-2, pp. 24-28, Oct. 2006.
[21] T. R. Welch."Who provides physicians with advice over the internet? A
study of a paediatric subspecialty discussion group". Journal of
Paediatrics, vol. 151, no.1, pp. 96-97, 2007.
[22] J. Tan. E-Healthcare information systems; an introduction for students
and professionals. Jossey bass. 2005.
[23] E. Tomasi, L. A. Facchini, and M. de F. S. Maia," Health information
technology in primary health care in developing countries," Bulletin of
the World Health Organization, vol. 82, no. 11, Nov. 2004.
[24] World Health Organisation,"Global observatory for e-health,"2006,
[online] Available at: http://www.who.int/GOe., Accessed on: 15/06/07.
[25] S.O OJO,University of Botsana, "Rural e-Healthcare Services Open
source System (ReHSOS):Research Project Overview". Postgraduate
seminar, Tshwane University of Technonology. Pretoria. 2007.
[26] J. B. Coombs,"Quality of care in rural settings: Bringing the New
Quality to rural practice," in Text book of rural medicine, Geyman, T. E.
Noris, and L. G. Hart Ed., 2001.
[27] T. C. Rickets, "The rural patient," in Textbook of rural medicine,
Geyman, T. E. Noris, and L. G. Hart Ed., 2001.
[28] D. Rowland and B. Lyons,"Tripple jeopardy; rural, poor and uninsured,"
Health services Res, vol. 23, no.6, 1989.
[29] Institute of Medicine (IOM), 2001. Crossing the quality chasm: A new
health system for the 21st century. [Online]. Available at:
http://www.iom.edu, Accessed on: 08/07/07.
[30] ABARD News. "Why E-Health?" e4, Nov, 2005. Available at:
http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:6_JXgS2sGMMJ:www.abard.
org/Repository/ABARD%2520Newsletter%25204%2520%2520No
vember05.pdf+ABARD+News&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3, Accessed on:
17/05/07.
[31] ASEM, "ICT and Empowerment for Elderly Care," 2006, [online]
Available at: http://www.asemictmin.vnn.vn/UserFiles/
Document/0ASEM%20ICT%20MIN%20project%20proposal%20-
%20%20%20Healthcare.pdf
[1] T. Clark, "Adopting health care informatics and technologies", Am J
Health-Syst Pharm, vol. 64, Jan. 2007.
[2] M. L. Bernstein,T. Mccreless, and M. J. C├┤té, "Five Constants of
Information Technology Adoption in Healthcare," Winter Journal, vol.
85, no. 1. 2007.
[3] C. R. Alvarez, "The promise of e-Health- a Canadian perspective".
Journal of e-health Int., vol.1, no. 4, 2002.
[4] S. Denise, "The case for e-health,"2003, [online] Available at:
http://www.eipa.nl/Publications/Summaries/03/2003_E_01.pdf,
Accessed on: 23/02/7
[5] S. Y. Kwankam, "What E- Health can offer," Bulletin of World Health
Organ, vol. 82, no.10, Genebra Oct. 2004.
[6] P. L. Reichertz, "Hospital information systems, Past, Present, Future,"
International Journal of Informatics, vol.75, pp 282-299, 2006.
[7] J. K. H. Tan, Health Management information Systems; Methods and
practical Applications. 2001.
[8] N. Mbananga, Introduction to health informatics. Notoro publishers, SA.
2006.
[9] C. W. Hanson, Healthcare Informatics. Mc Graw Hill. 2006.
[10] G. Riva," From Tele-health to E-Health: Internet and Distributed Virtual
Reality in Health Care", Cyber psychology & Behaviour, vol.3, no.6,
2000. Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
[11] IOM ANNUAL MEETING, "Information Technology: It-s Strategic
Role in Biology, Medicine, and Health", 2001.
[12] S. C. Anthony, M. Bensik, N. Armfield, J. Stillman and L.Caffery,
"Telemedicine and rural health care applications," Journal of
Postgraduate Medicine, vol. 5,no. 4,Oct. - Dec. 2005.
[13] M. M. Maheu, P. Whitten & A. Allen, E-Health, telehealth and
telemedicine: A guide to start up and success, Jossey-Base, 2001.
[14] K. Novak," Reducing costs through Electronic Health Records and
Services ", Benefits and Compensation Digest, 2005, [online] Available
at: www.ifebp.org
[15] R. Blair "Disaster-Proof Patients", Health Management Technology,
vol. 28, no. 2, Feb 2007.
[16] A. I. Veletsos, "Reliable Mobile Computing," Health Management
Technology; vol. 28, no. 2; Feb 2007.
[17] C. B. Thielst. "The New Frontier of Electronic, Personal, and Virtual
Health Records," Journal of Healthcare Management, vol. 52, no. 2,
Mar. /Apr. 2007.
[18] M. Thakkar and D. C. Davis," Risks, Barriers, and Benefits of EHR
Systems:A Comparative Study Based on Size of Hospital", Perspectives
in Health Information Management 2006, [online]. Available at:
http://library.ahima.org/xpedio/groups/public/documents/ahima/bok1_03
1769.pdf, Accessed on: 20/05/07.
[19] G. Eysenbach and T. L. Diepgen. "The role of e-health and consumer
health informatics for evidence-based patient choice in the 21st century".
Clinics in Dermatology, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 11-17, 2001.
[20] M. McMullan." Patients using the Internet to obtain health information:
How this affects the patient-health professional relationship". Patient
Education and Counselling, vol. 63, no. 1-2, pp. 24-28, Oct. 2006.
[21] T. R. Welch."Who provides physicians with advice over the internet? A
study of a paediatric subspecialty discussion group". Journal of
Paediatrics, vol. 151, no.1, pp. 96-97, 2007.
[22] J. Tan. E-Healthcare information systems; an introduction for students
and professionals. Jossey bass. 2005.
[23] E. Tomasi, L. A. Facchini, and M. de F. S. Maia," Health information
technology in primary health care in developing countries," Bulletin of
the World Health Organization, vol. 82, no. 11, Nov. 2004.
[24] World Health Organisation,"Global observatory for e-health,"2006,
[online] Available at: http://www.who.int/GOe., Accessed on: 15/06/07.
[25] S.O OJO,University of Botsana, "Rural e-Healthcare Services Open
source System (ReHSOS):Research Project Overview". Postgraduate
seminar, Tshwane University of Technonology. Pretoria. 2007.
[26] J. B. Coombs,"Quality of care in rural settings: Bringing the New
Quality to rural practice," in Text book of rural medicine, Geyman, T. E.
Noris, and L. G. Hart Ed., 2001.
[27] T. C. Rickets, "The rural patient," in Textbook of rural medicine,
Geyman, T. E. Noris, and L. G. Hart Ed., 2001.
[28] D. Rowland and B. Lyons,"Tripple jeopardy; rural, poor and uninsured,"
Health services Res, vol. 23, no.6, 1989.
[29] Institute of Medicine (IOM), 2001. Crossing the quality chasm: A new
health system for the 21st century. [Online]. Available at:
http://www.iom.edu, Accessed on: 08/07/07.
[30] ABARD News. "Why E-Health?" e4, Nov, 2005. Available at:
http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:6_JXgS2sGMMJ:www.abard.
org/Repository/ABARD%2520Newsletter%25204%2520%2520No
vember05.pdf+ABARD+News&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3, Accessed on:
17/05/07.
[31] ASEM, "ICT and Empowerment for Elderly Care," 2006, [online]
Available at: http://www.asemictmin.vnn.vn/UserFiles/
Document/0ASEM%20ICT%20MIN%20project%20proposal%20-
%20%20%20Healthcare.pdf
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:63872", author = "Stella Ouma and M. E. Herselman", title = "E-health in Rural Areas: Case of Developing Countries", abstract = "The Application of e-health solutions has brought superb advancements in the health care industry. E-health solutions have already been embraced in the industrialized countries. In an effort to catch up with the growth, the developing countries have strived to revolutionize the healthcare industry by use of Information technology in different ways. Based on a technology assessment carried out in Kenya – one of the developing countries – and using multiple case studies in Nyanza Province, this work focuses on an investigation on how five rural hospitals are adapting to the technology shift. The issues examined include the ICT infrastructure and e-health technologies in place, the knowledge of participants in terms of benefits gained through the use of ICT and the challenges posing barriers to the use of ICT technologies in these hospitals. The results reveal that the ICT infrastructure in place is inadequate for e-health implementations as a result to various challenges that exist. Consequently, suggestions on how to tackle the various challenges have been addressed in this paper.
", keywords = "Challenges, e-health, healthcare, information communication technology, rural areas.", volume = "2", number = "4", pages = "404-7", }
