Gopinath N, Raguvaran S, Nyagong Santino David Ladu, Vishnu Kumar Kaliappan, Ravi Samikannu
{"title":"Protecting the integrity and confidentiality of healthcare data with blockchain-enabled secure and scalable access control systems.","authors":"Gopinath N, Raguvaran S, Nyagong Santino David Ladu, Vishnu Kumar Kaliappan, Ravi Samikannu","doi":"10.1177/14604582261458672","DOIUrl":"10.1177/14604582261458672","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>ObjectiveThis research work is designed to solve the problem of patient-centric control, security, and transparency of the healthcare data management. The suggested framework will not only improve patient privacy but also guarantee the data sharing process is in accordance with the regulatory standards.MethodsThe access controls are implemented in the form of programmable smart contracts. Real-life healthcare datasets are evaluated empirically, under varying load conditions, in order to evaluate the system performance characteristics.ResultsBased on the encryption benchmark findings, AES-128 exhibited the least overhead (encryption: 1.3 ms, decryption: 1.1 ms, key generation: 2.1 ms), followed by AES-256 (1.9 ms/1.6 ms/2.9 ms), with RSA-1024 trailing behind as the highest overhead at 2.6 ms, 2.3 ms, and 4.1 ms respectively. Additionally, private and consortium blockchains surpassed public ones in terms of throughput (1,000 TPS and 800 TPS) and latency. In terms of integrity validation, the findings indicated that the Merkle Tree approach was the most efficient (hashing: 0.4 ms, verification: 0.9 ms, energy: 8 mJ).ConclusionThe results show that the combination of cryptographic protection, scalable storage, and blockchain-based access control is a viable and secure solution to healthcare data management.</p>","PeriodicalId":55069,"journal":{"name":"Health Informatics Journal","volume":"32 2","pages":"14604582261458672"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148159177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
W Moraa Onsando, Paul J Barr, Reed W Bratches, Kerri L Cavanaugh, Jesse A Schoonmaker, Noah Freundlich, Yasir Salih, Gregory Makoul, Meredith C Masel
{"title":"The impact of telehealth on patient-centered communication during the COVID-19 pandemic.","authors":"W Moraa Onsando, Paul J Barr, Reed W Bratches, Kerri L Cavanaugh, Jesse A Schoonmaker, Noah Freundlich, Yasir Salih, Gregory Makoul, Meredith C Masel","doi":"10.1177/14604582261464219","DOIUrl":"10.1177/14604582261464219","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>PurposePatient-centered communication (PCC) is essential for quality healthcare. This study examined how PCC was affected by the shift to telehealth and COVID-19 safety measures.MethodsAn online survey was conducted (Sept-Oct 2020) among U.S. adults who had both in-person and telehealth visits after March 2020. PCC was assessed using the Communication Assessment Tool and analyzed with repeated measures ANOVA and multiple regression.ResultsAmong 522 respondents (58.2% female; mean age 46.1), PCC scores were higher for in-person visits than telehealth (45% vs. 42%, P = .003). Lower PCC during telehealth was associated with younger age and caregiver presence. For in-person visits, mask use was linked to lower PCC among older adults. More frequent visits (≥3) correlated with higher PCC in both settings.ConclusionsPCC was generally stronger during in-person visits. Pandemic-related changes may have negatively impacted communication, particularly among certain groups, highlighting areas for future improvement.</p>","PeriodicalId":55069,"journal":{"name":"Health Informatics Journal","volume":"32 2","pages":"14604582261464219"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148320668","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Deploying AI for global health equity: A readiness matrix and case studies from low- and middle-income countries.","authors":"Rasit Dinc, Nurittin Ardic","doi":"10.1177/14604582261455105","DOIUrl":"10.1177/14604582261455105","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare and can reduce inequalities through optimized resource allocation, timely diagnosis, and personalized care. However, over 3.5 billion people still lack access to basic health services, primarily in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to infrastructural, socioeconomic, and cultural barriers. This article examines the opportunities and limitations of AI in advancing global health equity, focusing on region-specific challenges. It presents a narrative review and case-based synthesis of AI deployment in LMICs, using examples from India, Peru, Senegal, Kenya and Cambodia. Key implementation factors include infrastructure, workforce capacity, digital literacy, data availability, resource constraints, and cultural fit. A tiered AI readiness matrix is introduced to compare preparedness and support policymakers in prioritizing AI applications. Ethical risks such as algorithmic bias, data sovereignty and transparency are also emphasized. Successful AI deployment requires localized adaptation, participatory design, and supportive governance. This study provides a strategic framework for policymakers, developers, and global health actors who aim to implement AI equitably and effectively.</p>","PeriodicalId":55069,"journal":{"name":"Health Informatics Journal","volume":"32 2","pages":"14604582261455105"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148254627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A double-edged sword: How social support and loneliness mediate the impact of digital health literacy on well-being among Chinese older adults.","authors":"Dongdong Wang, Chen Jiang, Furong Gao, Sheng Sun","doi":"10.1177/14604582261447082","DOIUrl":"10.1177/14604582261447082","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>ObjectiveAs digitalization accelerates, understanding the relationship between digital health literacy (DHL) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among older adults is critical. This study investigated the complex, double-edged impact of DHL on HRQoL, specifically examining the serial mediating roles of social support and loneliness among Chinese older adults.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted using questionnaire data from 469 older adults in China. A serial mediation model was constructed and tested using structural equation modeling (SEN) to analyze the pathways from DHL to HRQoL.ResultsThe model revealed a surprising and significant negative total effect of DHL on HRQoL. However, DHL was positively associated with both social support (β = 0.45, p < .001) and, unexpectedly, also with loneliness (β = 0.57, p < .001). The analysis confirmed a significant positive serial mediating pathway, where higher DHL increased social support, which in turn reduced loneliness, ultimately leading to better HRQoL. Despite this positive indirect effect, the strong positive association between DHL and loneliness contributed to the overall negative effect on HRQoL.ConclusionThese findings provide theoretical insights for developing health promotion policies for the elderly that emphasize integrated interventions that combine digital empowerment with psychosocial support.</p>","PeriodicalId":55069,"journal":{"name":"Health Informatics Journal","volume":"32 2","pages":"14604582261447082"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147789802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Evaluating the quality and reliability of short videos about tongue cancer on TikTok: A cross-sectional study.","authors":"Yixin Sun, Yunyan Lin, Shuai Wang, Yuchen Li, Hongjian Zhang","doi":"10.1177/14604582261464445","DOIUrl":"10.1177/14604582261464445","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>ObjectivesShort video platforms have become the main channel for the public to obtain information about cancer. In recent years, TikTok has gradually become an important source of health information for Chinese patients. This study aims to assess the content, quality and reliability of videos related to tongue cancer on the Tiktok platform.MethodsFrom November 11 to 12, 2025, we searched for \"tongue cancer\" on TikTok platform. Based on the filtering criteria, collect information for the videos that meet the requirements. The global quality score (GQS) and the modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) were used to evaluate the quality and reliability of the videos. Finally, a spearman correlation analysis was conducted on all the indicators of the videos.ResultsThis analysis included 79 videos. The duration of the videos is relatively short, with a median of 85.00 (IQR: 45.00, 127.50), but the interaction indicators are relatively high. The symptoms and treatment were mentioned more frequently, while the topics of epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis and prevention were mentioned less. The GQS score of the videos uploaded by the doctors was significantly higher, with a median of 4.00 (IQR: 3.00, 4.00), compared to videos uploaded by individual users 1.50 (IQR: 1.00, 2.00). The trend of the mDISCERN score was similar. The GQS and mDISCERN scores of videos uploaded by doctors are higher than those of individual uploaders.ConclusionTikTok videos on tongue cancer are short but highly engaging. Videos uploaded by doctors have higher quality and reliability than those by individual users. Symptoms and treatment are covered more than epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, and prevention. Therefore, increasing the number of videos uploaded by doctors is crucial for improving the quality and reliability of videos on the TikTok platform.</p>","PeriodicalId":55069,"journal":{"name":"Health Informatics Journal","volume":"32 2","pages":"14604582261464445"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148310388","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sojung Park, Jeongseok Kang, Namhun Kim, Yaelim Lee
{"title":"Needs assessment and development of an EMR-integrated AI system to enhance nursing handover: NurSync.","authors":"Sojung Park, Jeongseok Kang, Namhun Kim, Yaelim Lee","doi":"10.1177/14604582261463639","DOIUrl":"10.1177/14604582261463639","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop an EMR-integrated, AI-based nursing handover system (NurSync) through a needs assessment and system development process, as a first step toward improving handover efficiency, reducing documentation burden, and enhancing communication accuracy.MethodsA mixed-methods design was used. Surveys and focus group interviews with nine shift-working nurses identified challenges in handovers and EMR use. These findings guided the development of <i>NurSync</i>, a dual web-mobile system based on the PASS-BAR protocol and a large language model trained on 17 nursing record types.ResultsParticipants reported fragmented EMR structures, repetitive manual documentation, and ambiguity in handover scope. NurSync addressed these by automatically classifying nursing data into four structured categories, enabling real-time access and reducing redundancy.ConclusionNurSync was developed as a development and feasibility study integrating AI summarization with EMR data to support handover accuracy, efficiency, and consistency. Its structured design and dual-platform interface show promise for supporting clinical decision-making and communication, pending empirical validation in future studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":55069,"journal":{"name":"Health Informatics Journal","volume":"32 2","pages":"14604582261463639"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148310422","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Statical: Evaluation of an open access biostatistics tool.","authors":"Tanguy Pace-Loscos, Jocelyn Gal, Sara Contu, Renaud Schiappa, Emmanuel Chamorey, Dorian Culié","doi":"10.1177/14604582261450831","DOIUrl":"10.1177/14604582261450831","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BackgroundStatistical analysis is crucial in clinical research, but many clinicians lack training or support. StatiCAL, a free and intuitive tool, was created to address this gap without needing coding skills. This study evaluates its effectiveness and usability by analyzing physicians' performance and perceptions during real-world statistical tasks.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study evaluating StatiCAL's usability and effectiveness. Surgical physicians analyzed a clinical dataset using StatiCAL after completing a background questionnaire. Usability was measured with the French SUS, and all analyses were independently verified in R.ResultsFourteen physicians with limited prior experience in statistical analysis participated. All successfully completed the assigned tasks using StatiCAL, with an average completion time of 28 minutes. Interestingly, participants without prior experience completed tasks significantly faster than those with experience (p = 0.044). The average F-SUS score was 85.33, indicating high usability above the standard threshold.ConclusionsStatiCAL showed high usability and effectiveness, allowing clinicians, regardless of prior experience, to perform accurate statistical analyses efficiently. Its intuitive interface supports broader access to biostatistics, encourages collaboration with specialists, and simplifies research workflows. Further studies with larger, more diverse populations are needed to confirm and expand these findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":55069,"journal":{"name":"Health Informatics Journal","volume":"32 2","pages":"14604582261450831"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148201323","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Applications of digital technologies in environmental health information systems.","authors":"Siphesihle Siyamukela Masimula, Mpinane Flory Senekane, Nisha Naicker","doi":"10.1177/14604582251389857","DOIUrl":"10.1177/14604582251389857","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> The world is facing complex environmental health challenges, which require a data science approach for holistic solutions. This indicates a greater need for environmental health information systems (EHISs) to be digitally transformed to facilitate rapid data flow for agile public health interventions. <b>Objective:</b> To consolidate and characterise the body of literature on the application of EHISs in the digital era to inform decision-making and action. <b>Methodology:</b> This review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Literature was searched from PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar between January and March 2025. <b>Results</b>: The study analysed 74 articles, with 26% focusing on existing EHISs, 24% on environmental health indicators, 14% on geographic information system tools, and 36% on digital technologies in environmental health data management. Researchers and practitioners, mainly in high-income countries, continue to explore predictive analytics, modelling and machine learning, the Internet of Things, smart devices, and infographics in environmental health. <b>Conclusion:</b> Digital technologies are revolutionizing environmental health by providing actionable insights, enhancing decision-making, and promoting proactiveness. This integration is crucial for improving public health outcomes and must be embraced by low-and-middle-income countries as well, even amid resource-related and interoperability challenges.</p>","PeriodicalId":55069,"journal":{"name":"Health Informatics Journal","volume":"32 2","pages":"14604582251389857"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147846399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chunyang Li, Julia Bohman, Vikas Patil, Richard McShinsky, Christina Yong, Zach Burningham, Ahmad Halwani
{"title":"Deep survival learning for prognosis prediction in non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.","authors":"Chunyang Li, Julia Bohman, Vikas Patil, Richard McShinsky, Christina Yong, Zach Burningham, Ahmad Halwani","doi":"10.1177/14604582261456059","DOIUrl":"10.1177/14604582261456059","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BackgroundNon-metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) is an advanced state of prostate cancer with variable prognosis; early identification of patient risk is crucial, so that clinicians can recommend optimal treatment.ObjectiveCompare predictive models in identifying patient risk; evaluate the value of electronic healthcare record (EHR) time-series (TS) information in prediction.MethodsWe evaluated SurvTRACE, Weibull Time to Event Recurrent Neural Network (WTTE-RNN), and traditional Cox proportional hazards (CPH) models' performance on EHR data from 12,819 nmCRPC patients in the Veterans Health Administration, using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and Brier score.ResultsWTTE-RNN, which intrinsically uses EHR TS information, outperformed the other models without TS information. Feature-engineered TS information improved performances of CPH and especially SurvTRACE; with TS information, SurvTRACE outperformed WTTE-RNN.ConclusionDeep learning methods, whether intrinsically able to handle TS data or enhanced with TS information, can outperform traditional survival analysis in predicting risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":55069,"journal":{"name":"Health Informatics Journal","volume":"32 2","pages":"14604582261456059"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148044720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dorothée Morand-Grondin, Jeanne Berthod, Jennifer Sigouin, Simon Beaulieu-Bonneau, Dahlia Kairy
{"title":"Paving the road for more ethical and equitable policies and practices in telerehabilitation in psychology and neuropsychology: A rapid review.","authors":"Dorothée Morand-Grondin, Jeanne Berthod, Jennifer Sigouin, Simon Beaulieu-Bonneau, Dahlia Kairy","doi":"10.1177/14604582261431026","DOIUrl":"10.1177/14604582261431026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BackgroundTelerehabilitation (TR) has been increasingly used to deliver psychological and neuropsychological care remotely, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. As health services continue to shift toward telehealth, ensuring ethical and equitable TR delivery is essential to establish sustainable TR models.ObjectiveThe objective of this review is to synthesize existing evidence on the ethical and equity-related benefits and pitfalls associated with the use of TR in a psychological and neuropsychological context for individuals with physical disabilities.MethodsThis rapid review included reviews (2010-2020) and original studies (2020-2023) that focused on TR interventions for people with physical disabilities in the context of psychology and neuropsychology rehabilitation.ResultsA total of 16 reviews and 82 original articles were included. Key ethical concerns centered around privacy, confidentiality, caregiver burden, and clinician-patient relationship quality. Equity concerns centered around access disparities (e.g., geographic location, income), digital literacy, and demographic underrepresentation.ConclusionThis review is part of a pan-Canadian initiative aimed at informing policy development and clinical practice in TR. Findings highlight the need for clear guidelines and targeted interventions to ensure that TR in psychology and neuropsychology is both ethically sound and equitable.</p>","PeriodicalId":55069,"journal":{"name":"Health Informatics Journal","volume":"32 1","pages":"14604582261431026"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147319163","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}