Volume 1 Issue 2
Authors: Wen-Tzeng Huang; Yuan-Jen Chang; Li-Feng Lin; Chin-Hsing Chen
Abstract: Objective of this study is to investigate the acceptance of proposed Integrated Service Model for community care. In this study, we implemented an actual community healthcare system, which integrates resources of district hospital and community development associations (CDAs), and applied this system with the integrated service model to the elderly in a community for almost a year. Results showed that community elderly were encouraged to attend regular activities at the Neighbourhood Activity Centre, which were hosted by two major units, i.e., the CDA and the district hospital. During these activities, volunteers for community service regularly checked the vital signs of the community residents, including blood pressure, oxygen saturation of blood, heartbeat, and body temperature. The system served as a mediated tool for storage of vital signs and help the elderly communicate with medical staff easily. The statistic results showed that the behavioural intention of the community elderly in using this integrated service model is extremely related with such critical dimensions as “system accessibility” and “perceived usefulness” (p < 0.01). In addition, the novel concept of integrated service model integrating local CDA, the district hospital and volunteers for community healthcare service has a high degree of acceptance. Hence, constructing such an integrated service model can help the elderly in Taiwan achieve the ultimate targets of “aging in place” and “successful aging.”
Keywords: Health Services for the Aged; Information Management System; Service Mode;, Community Care
Authors: Belal Chowdhury; Savitri Bevinakoppa
Abstract: Cancer diseases are controllable, if detected, diagnosed and treated properly at an early stage. The early symptoms are often vague and are common to other illnesses. Annual health examination by specialists (e.g., Urologist, Gastroenterologist, and Gynaecologists) helps detect and diagnose cancer at an early stage. Following the diagnosis of cancer, patients are referred to Oncologists for treatment. It is known that early detection of the disease is one of the most important tools for successful treatments. This paper outlines an early cancer detection tool and provides an analysis of its performance using emerging technologies (such as RFID - Radio Frequency Identification and Sensor) and prognostic tool with a multi-layer architecture for intelligent real-time early cancer detection and prognostic systems (RECDPS). This paper gives network analysis of RECDPS system. Performance analysis of a network shows that database entry and response times are acceptable.
Keywords: RFID; Security; OPNET; Prognostic Tool and RECDPS
Authors: Luciula L. L. Morelli; Adriana T. Godoy; Juliana A. Lima-Pallone
Abstract: Soybean based fruit juices and soymilk has been constantly increasing their market share among non-alcoholic beverages in the Brazilian market. Besides, companies adding some essential minerals like iron and zinc to these products, aiming to produce healthier beverages, are more appealing to their consumers. Although according to the Brazilian regulation, the mineral content must be informed at the labels, some companies do not show such values or show information of just some of them. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to evaluate the iron and zinc content in samples of soymilk and soybean based fruit juices commercialized in Brazil, also establishing the Fe: Zn molar ratio for these types of products. In soybean based fruit juices the iron levels ranged from 0.08 to 1.38 mg 100mL-1 (average of 0.96 mg 100mL-1± 0.29), and the zinc ones from 0.04 to 0.68 mg 100mL-1 (average of 0.43 mg 100mL-1 ± 0.12. In soymilk the same minerals content ranged from 0.38 to 1.738 mg 100mL-1 (average of 1.08 mg 100mL-1± 0.71), 0.25 to 0.38 mg 100mL-1 (average of 0.29 mg 100mL-1 ± 0.04), respectively. These results indicated that samples of soymilk contained, in average, more iron, when compared to soybean based fruit juices. For zinc levels, it was observed an inverse. The iron: zinc (Fe: Zn) molar ratio was in average 2.6:1.0 and 4.4:1 for soybean based fruit juices and soymilk, respectively. For all samples the Fe: Zn molar ratio indicated that iron and zinc absorption could be successful.
Keywords: Iron; Zinc; Soybean Beverages; Mineral Fortification; Atomic Absorption Spectrometer
Authors: Geir Thue; Siri Fauli Munkerud
Abstract: There is a lack of studies on the impact of near patient test results in primary care, which should be an important prerequisite for reimbursing such tests. Our main purpose is therefore to develop a model to study what effect the results of a near patient test may have on medical actions in primary care. A clinical vignette, describing a young woman with dyspepsia was sent to GPs in Norway, who were asked to suggest actions in response to either a negative or a positive result of the Helicobacter pylori rapid test (HPRT). Discrete choice analysis with multinomial logit models was used to analyse the choice of medical actions. We find that the result of the rapid test has a major influence on actions suggested, and an important prerequisite for reimbursing such tests is fulfilled. Therefore the analytical quality of test results is likely to affect patients’ health and social costs.
Keywords: Discrete Choice models; Decision-making; Primary Health Care