International Journal of Telemedicine and Clinical Practices (4 papers in press)

Special Issue on: IJTMCP WIS 2018 Fighting Inequalities

• The Use Of Games For Controlling Diabetes And Obesity In Chicagos South Side  
  by Nilmini Wickramasinghe 
  Abstract: Lower socio-economic groups of populations are sadly over represented with respect to diabetes and obesity. Moreover, current attempts to stem such increases have not proved to be successful which leads to the onset of a further set of co-morbidities, poor health and often early death. This paper proffers the potential of serious games that invoke social influence dynamics and are developed around culturally and socially relevant contexts as a way to address this growing problem. This paper begins with a brief review of how serious games can be used as an effective learning and communication medium as well as outlining the benefits of social influence before applying the constructs to an Urban Health (Chicago) context. The paper demonstrates how, in this context, games can be used as a pedagogical tool to foster superior learning and understanding. Playing games or using other simulation-oriented applications can offer a visual portrayal of situations, from which this population can garner understanding and applicability to clinical constructs and knowledge.
  Keywords: Diabetes; obesity; serious games; health inequality; urban health; gaming.
  
  
• Health information-seeking styles and health information literacy in relation to anticipated health-promoting behaviour - results from an online diabetes risk test survey  
  by Kristina Eriksson-Backa, Hai Nguyen 
  Abstract: The paper presents results from a survey of users of an online diabetes risk test. We studied relationships between information-seeking styles and everyday health information literacy, as well as anticipated behaviours in case of risk for type 2 diabetes for 184 respondents who had taken the risk test prior to responding to the survey. We assessed active, moderate and passive health information-seeking styles, as well as low, basic and high everyday health information literacy and tested them against health-promoting information-related activities and health behaviour. Significant relationships occurred between information-seeking styles and four activities: check further information, make an appointment, increase the amount of physical activities and do nothing. Education level was significantly related to two health-promoting behaviours, whereas level of everyday health information literacy was related to only one. Despite limitations, the results of this exploratory study open up for further research about the role of information-seeking styles and health-promoting behaviour.
  Keywords: diabetes risk test; e-health services; Finland; health information literacy; health-promoting behaviour; information-seeking styles; online self-assessments.
  
  
• Active DigiAge Technology Acceptance by Ageing People  
  by Marina Weck, Nina Helander 
  Abstract: The ageing of society is a worldwide phenomenon, particularly in industrialised countries, like Finland. To tackle the challenges of swiftly rising healthcare and social welfare costs and a new type of demand for related services, digital assistive technology solutions have emerged in recent years. Through qualitative semi-structured interviews conducted in South Finland, this empirically driven study contributes to the understanding of the attitudes of ageing people toward digital assistive technology that maintains their daily life activities. Empirical investigations demonstrated that ageing people cannot be treated as one homogeneous group when developing technology for them. The findings have revealed that the major moderating factors that may significantly influence older adults acceptance and willingness to use the digital assistive technology include functional capacity, sociodemographic characteristics, digital literacy and educational background as well as the social environment supporting their ability to maintain an independent life in their own homes.
  Keywords: digital assistive technology; ageing people; technology acceptance; functional capacity; sociodemographic factors; digital literacy.
  
  
• Incident data in enhancing school safety: An example from Finland  
  by Eila Lindfors 
  Abstract: Safety is an obvious element of a good learning environment. However several changes in society challenge a holistic safety culture of schools that is seen according to the EduSafe-model as a combination of preparedness and prevention, incident management and recovery and considered from physical, social, psychological and pedagogical perspectives. The study presents a pilot example how to manage incidents how to recognise, report and monitor safety incidents in schools. On the basis of the content analysis it was found incidents that happen either to students or teachers during lessons. rnIncident management was a new procedure in schools and it needs to be facilitated since it is the only way to identify risks and prevent injuries and accidents. However facilitating incident management is not easy since all the teachers are not committed to report incidents systemically, digital applications should have a high-level usability and also students should have an opportunity to participate in reporting and incident management. rn
  Keywords: Incident reporting; incident management; learning environment; school safety; safety culture.