bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Induction Algorithms in Routine Laboratory Diagnostics of Thyroid Dysfunction
Authors: Sonicki Zdenko  , Mašić Nikola  , Kern Josipa  , Lukinac Ljerka  , Kusić Zvonko
Published: February 2025

The aim of this paper is to compare results of Assistant-algorithm and C4.5 induction algorithms in the field of thyroid function laboratory diagnostics. Data base comprised results of the routine assays performed at Clinical Hospital “Sestre Milosrdnice”, Zagreb. Considering overall accuracies and all specific accuracies in both algorithms it can be seen that C4.5 algorithm gives better results.
On extracting relevant information from medical data
Authors: Zvárová Jana  , Studený Milan  , Preiss Jan
Published: February 2025

In medical decision problems it is very necessary to use the most relevant information for decision making. We focus in more details on two approaches how to extract the most relevant information from medical data. The first approach is based on information theory methods and for its practical application the program CORE (COnstitution and REduction) was developed. The second approach is based on the GUHA (General Unary Hypotheses Automaton) method that automatically searches for hypotheses relevant to empirical data. Finally, the example of the automatic search for hypotheses on medical data is given.
A New Version of the Programme ALGO for Clinical Algorithms
Authors: Sitter H.  , Prünte H.  , Lorenz W.
Published: February 2025

A clinical algorithm is a step by step procedure with a finite series of instructions which, when followed, result in the solution of a clinical problem. We have developed the software ALGO for generating and using clinical algorithms. ALGO is an object oriented programme written in Borland Pascal 7.0 for Windows. The programme has a presentation tool and a writing tool. In the presentation tool you can browse through an algorithm, look at annotations, and save the pathway of a patient together with the patient characteristics. The writing tools enables you to create a new algorithm in a comfortable and standardised way. After input of text, the boxes and corresponding arrows are generated automatically and presented on the screen. The user can change the graphic design or rearrange the boxes, this is supported by automatic calculation of the distance between graphic elements. ALGO determines also the complexity score CASA of an algorithm and makes CAPA (Clinical Algorithm Patient Abstraction) scoring easy. There is a choice of printing out an algorithm either on one page or on several pages. An extensive help function is available.
Conceptual modelling of breast cancer prognosis using CommonKADS
Authors: Sacile Roberto  , Ruggiero Carmelina  , Dieng Rose
Published: February 2025

The work described here focuses on the definition of a conceptual knowledge model of the prognosis of breast cancer. Our approach to the conceptualisation of the problem follows the CommonKADS (Knowledge Acquisition and Design Structuring) Library for Expertise Modelling. The aim of this work is to provide a first conceptualisation of breast cancer prognosis while evaluating the efficacy of the CommonKADS methodology in facing the problem.
The Virtual Hospitalization: towards an Information-Organisation System Architecture
Authors: Luzi Daniela  , Ricci Fabrizio L.  , Maceratini Riccardo  , Serbanati Luca Dan
Published: February 2025

In this paper we describe how virtual hospitalization supports services and healthcare units and facilitates their integration. In order to implement the virtual hospitalization, we need to define, as first steps: the architectural approach to model health information systems; a replica of the real world in the computer.The first application of a virtual hospitalization is in the laparoscopic colicistectomy sector.
The development of learning materials for medical informatics education in Dutch professional schools of health care
Authors: Oostendorp Anne  , Buijnsters Piet  , Peeters Vic  , van Lieshout Herman  , Aarts Jos
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a philosophy for developing learning materials for medical informatics education. This philosophy addresses the issues: ‘semimanufactured’ products, case orientation and an accompanying implementation strategy. Materials developed this way consist of an organisation model in which a health care organisation with a high level of ‘reality value’ is described; within this model cases are defined of a real practice situation. The solving of a case can be supported by a software-application. Additionally a student-instruction for the software-application and a teachers guide are included. In this paper this philosophy is illustrated by a module called ‘Organisation and Information Provision of a Health Care Institution’.
Nursing Schedule Quality in Theory and Practice
Authors: Oldenkamp Johan H.  , Lettenga Martha S.  , Simons John L.
Published: February 2025

Nurse scheduling is an important management task. Performing this task results in a nursing schedule. These nursing schedules strongly influence the performance of a nursing ward. Because of the importance of good nursing schedules, the research project QUINS has been started to investigate the quality of nursing schedules. This investigation resulted in a conceptual model of nursing schedule quality. Next, an experiment was designed to operationalize this model. This paper describes the results of this experiment and compares these results with nursing schedules in practice. This comparison showed that nursing schedule quality in practice is lower than it should have been according to theory. These results support an important assumption of the QUINS project, which is that nursing schedules in practice can be improved. In the following and final stage, the QUINS project will investigate if this can be done by informing schedulers about the theoretical model of nursing schedule quality.
Doctoral Level In Medical Informatics In Romania
Authors: Mihalas George I.
Published: February 2025

The preparation of profesionals in medical informatics in Romania is still limited to the doctoral level. The paper tries to present the actual state of this type of’ education with its real problems and prospectives.
An Actual Point of View of the Security of Medical Data: Slovenian Perspective
Authors: Cerkvenik Gregor  , Markota Mladen  , Slavec Smiljana  , Rems Miran  , Ažman Tristan  , Podboy Igor
Published: February 2025

Data security has been increasingly dealt with at various professional meetings and congress on medical informatics in Slovenia and worldwide. Recently. a number of specialization workshops have been held with the aim of setting up an effective system of data security. In the field of data security the following points need to be emphasized: (1) Data security is an integral part of planning. creating and managing the health care information systems at all levels: both in public health institutions and in private practice. (2) In addition to strictly medical information, a broad spectrum of personal, business and other data bases, which in the modern information society are closely interlinked. also need special protection. (3) Current information systems make use of various media, including classical as well as computer-assisted ones. Since in Slovenia, medical information systems are still in the phase of development. a comprehensive and legally regulated system of security should be established in order to prevent possible errors, abuse and organisation inconsistencies. (4) All those concerned with the aquisition and protection of medical data, i.e. both clerical, nursing and doctor staff should be given adequate education, either through regular or periodical training courses, but first of all, they should be encouraged to apply the principles of data security to their everyday work. Finaly this paper presented framework of data security in health care. as well as the management. processing and exchange of medical data with to introduce a new step of the computer technology, constructed by principle of the Electronic Document Management.
On the Irrelevant Feature Discarding in Neural Networks and its Applications in Medicine
Authors: Ciuca I.  , Hord E.D.
Published: February 2025

Various applications of neural networks in several areas sometimes involve expensive expertises as for example in medicine etc, while some features seem to have no relevance to outputs. This paper makes some considerations on the possibility of reducing the input space size by discarding the irrelevant features in input vectors based on the input sensitivity. To remove the influence of outputs in computing the respective sensitivities, this paper introduces the normalised input sensitivities and presents a detailed algorithm for discarding the irrelevant features in case of feedforward neural networks.
Spontaneous Cardiac Baroreflex Activity: Comparison with Drug-Induced Responses
Authors: Parlow J.  , Viale J-P.  , Annat G.  , Hughson R.  , Quintin L.
Published: February 2025

Two methods of assessment of baroreflex sensitivity were compared in eight supine healthy volunteers during repeated baseline measurements and various conditions of cardiac autonomic blockade. The spontaneous baroreflex method involved computer scanning of recordings of continuous finger arterial pressure and electrocardiogram to locate sequences of three or more beats in which pressure spontaneously increased or decreased, with parallel changes in pulse intervals. The mean regression slope of all these sequences during each study condition was considered to represent the mean spontaneous baroreflex slope. In the drug-induced method, sigmoidal curves were constructed from data obtained by bolus injections of phenylephrine and nitroprusside; the tangent taken at the resting pressure of each these curves were compared with the mean spontaneous baroreflex slopes. The two methods yielded slopes that were highly correlated (r=0.96, P<0.001), and significant but similar intra-individual baseline variability. Atropine virtually eliminated the baroreflex slope; subsequent addition of propranolol did not alter it further. Propranolol or clonidine alone increased average baroreflex slope to the extent that they increased resting pulse interval (r=0.69-0.83). The spontaneous baroreflex method provides a reliable, non-invasive assessment of human vagal cardiac baroreflex sensitivity within its physiological operating range.
Networked Integrated Environment to Support Pediatrics Care
Authors: Valero Miguel A.  , Arredondo Maria Teresa  , Del Pozo Francisco
Published: February 2025

This chapter describes a networked integrated environment specially designed for patients follow-up in neonathology and pediatrics. The system allows professionals to manage children clinical information from birth, at hospital, to the age of seven years old. Along these stages, follow-up is performed at health centres and requires high interaction among involved specialists, specially in case of children with congenital problems or high risk of suffering impairments. The network features provide easy access to information resources from a variety of locations: hospitals or health centres. It is based on a “database driver” model, which results transparent to users avoiding them the need of data search. The results showed that users accept the system in their work environment, and concluded that the proposed new system features and capabilities improve health care quality.
Variants of the Neuro-Dysplastic Disturbances and their Anatomical and Functional Correlations in Children with Initial Stages of Dysplastic Scoliosis
Authors: Komarova L.  , Nenasheva T.  , Sadofieva V.  , Filippov Y.  , Ovechkina A.
Published: February 2025

138 children with initial stages of dysplastic scoliosis were examined by clinical, X-ray, neuro-physiological investigations. The Minor iodine-starch test we use to visualize the areas with neurological deficit and strictly correlates with the results of electro-excitability of muscles (EMG) and thermography. Using this test we checked children age from 8 to 15 years with initial forms of scoliosis. The analysis of the obtained results allows to reveal several variants of neurological deficiencies. The comparative analysis of the Minor test results with roentgenological studies revealed: high degree of correlation between the zones with impaired vegetative innervation, level of deformation and bone tissue changes.
Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of Vertebral Endplates for the Study of Scoliotic Spine Wedging
Authors: Aubin C.-É.  , Dansereau J.  , Petit Y.  , Parent F.  , de Guise J.A.  , Labelle H.
Published: February 2025

A method was developed and validated in order to reconstruct in 3-D the vertebral body endplates of scoliotic spines using 2 calibrated x-rays and an iterative computer projection procedure which fits 3-D oriented ellipses of adequate diameters on the real 3-D endplate contours. The maximum 3-D wedging was computed by finding the positions of the smallest and the longest distances between adjacent endplates along their contours. The accuracy of this approach is about 0.5 mm for vertebral body thickness and 2° for endplate orientation. Clinical wedging measurements were made at the thoracic apex of 26 adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. The mean 3-D wedging angles were 4.9°±1.9° for the vertebral bodies and 6.0°±1.7° for the intervertebral disks. Linear relations were found between the 2-D angles measured on x-rays and the maximum 3-D wedging angles, but the latter were statistically greater than the 2-D angles and were located on diagonal planes statistically different than the intrinsic frontal and sagittal planes of the vertebrae. Spinal wedging in thoracic scoliosis is not a 2-D deformation but a 3- D phenomenon.
In Vivo Experimental Evaluation on the Pre and Post Operative Behaviour of Scoliotic Spine
Authors: Ployon A.  , Lavaste F.  , Maurel N.  , Skalli W.  , Roland-Gosselin A.  , Dubousset J.  , Zeller R.
Published: February 2025

The aim of this study was to establish a non invasive experimental protocol in order to objectively identify global posture and kinematic characteristics of scoliotic spines, and compare the pre and post-operative results of the treatment. The optical motion capture system Vicon was used to track reflective markers fixed on the body. Three dimensional record of the posture and motion of 15 normal volunteers were analysed as well as 5 scoliotic subjects in pre and post operative situation.
Assessment of the Impact of the Educational Measure on the Willingness of Scoliosis-Striken Adolescents to Wear an Orthopaedic Brace
Authors: Vandal S.  , Rivard C.-H.  , Alarcon S.  , Duhaime M.
Published: February 2025

The goal of this study is to determine whether an educational measure on adolescents stricken with scoliosis has any impact on their compliance with wearing the orthopaedic brace. Using a quasi- experimental design, this study measures through the compliancemeter the actual compliance behaviour of 40 adolescents wearing an orthopaedic brace before and after a teaching session. The results show a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the compliance reported by the adolescents and recorded by the compliancemeter for both groups before and after the teaching session.
Foreword
Authors: Morgan Karen S.  , Wagoner Robert C.
Published: February 2025

Eighteen years ago we stated our business purpose: the transformation of medicine through communication. We hoped that could happen through conferences, presented papers, and the intellectual camaraderie of such symposia. The transformation is far from complete and has much more to do with what transpires outside of conferences than at the meetings themselves, but we have been privileged to witness significant stages of the metamorphosis.
Virtual Reality in the Operating Room of the Future
Authors: Müller Wolfgang  , Grosskopf Stefan  , Hildebrand Axel  , Malkewitz Rainer  , Ziegler Rolf
Published: February 2025

In cooperation with the Max-Delbrück-Centrum/Robert-Rössle-Klinik (MDC/RRK) in Berlin, the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics is currently designing and developing a scenario for the operating room of the future. The goal of this project is to integrate new analysis, visualization and interaction tools in order to optimize and refine tumor diagnostics and therapy in combination with laser technology and remote stereoscopic video transfer.
An “Augmented-Reality” Aid for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
Authors: Raposio Edoardo  , DiSomma Carmine  , Fato Marco  , Schenone Andrea  , Andreucci Luciano  , Beltrame Francesco  , Santi PierLuigi
Published: February 2025

Starting from MR and CT images for a given patient, a new single image representation of all parameters has been generated by using false-color techniques in a standard UNIX and X-11 enviroment. A transformation linking together the MR, CT parameters and the RGB (red, green, blue) color components has been used. Moreover an unsupervised segmentation method based on a number of neural and fuzzy models may directly produce segmented image volumes. Each image of the various sequences has been interactively displayed by using a specifically designed application. The resulting images have been displayed on a stereo monitor allowing the three-dimensional rendering of visual data through LCD shuttered glasses. Moreover, a 3-D control system based on low frequency magnetic fields has been used, while a handheld Polhemus stylus could be used as an electronic knife for dissecting the 3-D data set and for defining flaps and grafts. Bone or soft-tissue contour can be analyzed, and sections can be removed from the model to allow a view of the underlying structures. Flaps and grafts obtained utilizing the above-reported techniques can be fitted exactly, without repeated removal and recarving. Nuances of depth, tapering, and arc are carved directly into the bone, while chances of asymmetry are markedly diminished. In this way, moreover, anesthetic times are reduced by more efficient utilization of operative time, which usually offsets the increased cost of imaging.
MERMAID 1996 - Report on the Implementation of a European Project on “Medical Emergency Aid through Telematics”
Authors: Anogianakis George  , Maglavera Stavroula
Published: February 2025

MERMAID is a project that intends to provide multilingual medical emergency services to seaborne vessels around the world. MERMAID uses two-way transmission of live images in marine medical teleconsultation, greatly improving services that up to now depended on short-wave and VHF radio alone. Transmission of high resolution still pictures is also possible, so that the teleconsulting physician may closely (visually) examine his patient, along with transmission of biological signals and patient anamnesis details. Telemedical interventions are critically dependent on local paramedics. Merchant marine officers are trained in first-aid procedures and basic medical transactions. In practice, however, this training is often inadequate. For this reason MERMAID uses a multimedia medical guide that covers the absolutely necessary basics to handle medical emergencies and common medical problems on board. This application is based on the WHO “Medical guide for ships” and EU Council Directive 92/29. The delivery of medical and mental health care to distant populations has never been easy. In addition, the progress of technology has widened the disparity between the quality of care available to the urban citizen and that available to the rural or remote location resident. The only viable solution to the problem seems to come from telecommunications technologies. Indeed, ISDN is the first widely available public network that supports integrated services and can serve as a reliable backbone for telemedical services. Communications satellites provide a means of expanding ISDN network to geographically remote locations. Against this background, MERMAID combines mobile satellite technologies, VSAT technologies and ISDN protocols in order to realise a Global Telemedicine System that is reliable, exhibits, continuity, is seamlessly connected, has low cost and is downward compatible.
Virtual Reality Environments for Psycho-Neuro-Physiological Assessment and Rehabilitation
Authors: Riva G.  , Bolzoni M.  , Carella F.  , Galimberti C.  , Griffin M.J.  , Lewis C.H.  , Luongo R.  , Mardegan P.  , Melis L.  , Molinari-Tosatti L.  , Poerschmann C.  , Rovetta A.  , Rushton S.  , Selis C.  , Wann J.
Published: February 2025

Virtual Reality Environments for Psychoneurophysiological Assessment and Rehabilitation - is an European Community funded project (Telematics for health - HC 1053 http://www.etho.be/ht_projects/vrepar/) whose aim is:
Virtual Reality Support System in Palliative Medicine
Authors: Oyama Hiroshi  , Wakao Fumihiko  , Okamura Hitoshi
Published: February 2025

We have been examining the potential value of a VR system for the palliative care of cancer. We recently developed palliative care system which consists of a 100-inch-wide screen, HMD (Head-mounted display) and 8-mm video or a PC. Our goal is to use VR techniques to help alleviate a patient's stress and concern regarding their cancer during hospitalization. We can use this system to present (1) personal video movies, (2) video letters from friends and family, (3) personal video instruction about medical examinations, and (4) interactive information about their cancer using a PC-based VR system. Our preliminary results indicate that interesting VR presentations are useful for reducing stress.
The Electronic Nursing Process. The Link between Nursing Care and Information Technology
Authors: Goossen William T.F.
Published: February 2025

This paper focuses on the need to electronically document nursing care according to the nursing process in order to be able to communicate nursing care. The nursing care documentation serves different purposes: both clinical and non clinical. Problems in the current documentation prohibit the comparison of nursing care data from different agencies, organizations and nations. Insight in problems with the current documentation is necessary to appreciate electronic nursing information systems. Such understanding of the need for, the usefulness, current limitations, and future benefits of nursing information systems is important for nursing education.
The NIGHTINGALE Project: An Outline
Authors: Mantas John
Published: February 2025

The NIGHTINGALE Project which started on the 1st of January, 1996, after the approval of the European Commission, and has a 36 month duration is essential in planning and implementation of strategy in Training the Nursing Profession in using and applying healthcare information systems.
Emergency Health Care Information System For Bucharest-Romania
Authors: Lazaroiu Laura  , Horhoianu Dan  , Alexandrescu Petre  , Birghilescu Bogdan  , Avram Calin  , Dan George  , Pascu Marian  , Ripanu A.  , Oprisan M.  , Nemtisor E.  , Chiriacescu M.
Published: February 2025

The Emergency Health Care Information System (EHCIS) in Bucharest provides information about the whole activity of Dispatch Emergency Ambulance Service and Emergency Receiving Room of the 7 Hospitals, providing emergency health care in Bucharest over a MAN (Metropolitan Area Network). In each of these places a local network is located, containing a database server ORACLE. The link among LANs is made via switched lines. The Hospitals collect information only about emergency cases. The microstation represents station for emergency teams of Emergency Ambulance Service of Bucharest (EASB), distributed in all 6 districts of Bucharest. The system is structured accordingly with the working-groups existing in Dispatch, microstations and hospitals:
Development of a standardized format for archiving and exchange of electronic patient records in Sweden
Authors: Wigefeldt Ted  , Larnholt Sten  , Peterson Hans
Published: February 2025

This paper describes an effort to standardize the long term archiving format of the electronic patient record. A format is given in SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language) and also tested as a prototype in a production system.
A Consultation System Integrating Chinese Medical Practice in Herbaltherapy, Acupuncture and Acupressure
Authors: Raclariu Adina  , Alecu Simona  , Loghin Maria  , Serbu Lavinia
Published: February 2025

The paper presents an informatie system offering the acupuncturist, herbalist and acupressurist a rich source of clinical information. It adapts the theory of Chinese Medicine to Western medical practice and is solidly based on the ancient Chinese classics.
The Place of SGML and HTML in Building Electronic Patient Records
Authors: Pitty David  , Gordon Colin  , Reeves Philip  , Capey Andrew  , Vieyra Pedro  , Rickards Tony
Published: February 2025

The authors are concerned that, although popular, SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language) is only one approach to capturing, storing, viewing and exchanging healthcare information and does not provide a suitable paradigm for solving most of the problems associated with paper based patient record systems. Although a discussion of the relative merits of SGML, HTML (HyperText Markup Language) may be interesting, we feel such a discussion is avoiding the real issues associated with the most appropriate way to model, represent, and store electronic patient information in order to solve healthcare problems, and therefore the medical informatics community should firstly concern itself with these issues. The paper substantiates this viewpoint and concludes with some suggestions of how progress can be made.
A computerized record hash coding and linkage procedure to warrant epidemiological follow-up data security
Authors: Quantin Catherine  , Bouzelat Hocine  , Dusserre Liliane
Published: February 2025

A computerized record hash coding and linkage procedure is proposed to allow the chaining of medical information within the framework of epidemiological follow-up. Before their extraction, files are rendered anonymous using a one-way hash coding based on the SHA function, in order to respect the legislation on data privacy and security. To avoid dictionary attacks, two keys have been added to SHA coding. Once rendered anonymous, the linkage of patient information can be accomplished by the means of a statistical model, taking into account several identification variables.
Application of Neural Networks to the Follow-Up of AIDS Patients
Authors: Giacomini Mauro  , Ruggiero Carmelina  , Maillard M.  , Lillo Flavia B.  , Varnier Oliviero E.
Published: February 2025

The present work aims to obtain groups of patients with similar profiles of p24 antigen concentration and of CD4+ cell counts. These two markers were chosen because their evaluation represents a significant step in the clinical follow up of HIV-1 infected subjects. The classifications were obtained by a Kohonen neural net trained in three ways: with p24 antigen profiles only, with CD4+ cell count profiles only and with both sets of profiles. The results show that the clustering fashion of the two parameters closely resembles the clustering fashion of CD4+ only rather than the one of p24Ag, both with reference to cluster formation and with reference to distance among clusters.
Removing Irrelevant Features in Neural Network Classification using Evolutionary Computations
Authors: Ciuca I.  , Ware J.A.  , Cristea A.
Published: February 2025

Evolutionary artificial neural networks (EANN) are a new paradigm that refers to a special class of artificial neural networks (ANN) in which evolution is another fundamental form of adaptation in addition to learning. Evolution can be introduced at various levels of ANN. It can be used to evolve weights, architectures and learning parameters. Evolutionary computations are population-based search methods that have shown promise in many similarly complex tasks. This paper presents an application of evolutionary programming for simultaneously inducing the input structure and weights evolving for multilayer feed-forward perceptrons (MLP) with standard sigmoidal activation function.
Strategy for the pursuit of spiral waves in excitable media
Authors: Kremmydas George P.  , Bezerianos Anastasios  , Bountis Tassos
Published: February 2025

Spiral waves are though to be the underlying mechanism of re-entrant ventricular and atrial tachycardias. In such cases, one is generally interested in eliminating spiral wave activity from the medium. In this paper, solve a cubic FitzHugh-Nagumo system of PDEs is solved in two dimensions with initial conditions such that a spiral wave is formed at the center of a rectangular grid. Then the effect of a spatially-localized step-like periodic forcing placed at different positions around the spiral tip is studied. Due to this forcing, the tip begins to drift away from the perturbation in a direction that depends on their relative location. By shifting successively the location of the perturbation relative to that of the tip strategy is developed which it is possible to pursuit the spiral wave away from the center of the grid accelerating its drift with every shift of the perturbation.
The Knowledge Model of MedFrame/CADIAG-IV
Authors: Sageder Barbara  , Boegl Karl  , Adlassnig Klaus-Peter  , Kolousek Günter  , Trummer Bernhard
Published: February 2025

The medical consultation system MedFrame/CADIAG-IV is a successor of the prior CADIAG projects. It is the result of a complete redesign to account for today's demands on state-of-the-art software.
Health Informatics Education for Pharmacy Students in Romania
Authors: Mihalas George I.
Published: February 2025

The objectives and the curriculum of the health informatics course for pharmacy students at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Timisoara is presented. The relations with other disciplines and the integration into the overall educational program are discussed within the frame of the specific requirements of a pharmacy school. A description of our specific programs for pharmacy students devoted to laboratory works is also presented.
Evaluating the MACRO solution
Authors: Vissers MC  , Talmon JL
Published: February 2025

This paper describes the evaluation approach of the MACRO project. This approach is based on earlier work in the European 3rdFramework Programme (AIM). We describe how user requirements and expectations play a role in the design of the various assessment studies in MACRO.
Computer Programs and Clinical Contexts: Two computer based exercises for cognitive rehabilitation
Authors: Lauritsen Peter  , Kaasgaard Klaus
Published: February 2025

Two examples taken from computer programs for cognitive rehabilitation of patients with schizophrenia show how different groups of clinicians attribute different meanings to the same exercise. This illustrates that the meaning of an artefact or a technology is socially constructed and thereby intimately bound to the context of use. This perspective has implications on issues such as the design process, the assessment of technology and the issue of standardization.
Quality of Healthcare related Software Applications - setting up an accreditation system in Hungary
Authors: Lakner Géza  , Balkányi László  , Surján György  , Kovács Judit
Published: February 2025

Meeting expectations of high quality health care, the safe and secure operation of medical information systems is a “must”. However for healthcare software nationwide quality control systems are not widely used. A quality control project of health care applications in Hungary has been launched in 1996 by the Hungarian Society of Healthcare Informatics (MEIT) and Medico-Biological Section of Johann Neumann Society of Computing (NJSZT) by establishing a joint Healthcare Informatics Applications Accreditation Board (Board ESAB). The Board developed an evaluation methodology and a legal procedure to test health care software application modules. The evaluation method is based on international standards as ISO-9126 and on emerging European standards of CEN/TC 251. First rounds of accreditation already proved that there is a need among providers and users for the accreditation process. The authors hope that establishing an accreditation system will lead to a more balanced health care software market where users have an opportunity to inform themselves by the opinion of independent experts on the product they intend to purchase.
Experiences with an Electronic Patient Record in a Clinical Context: Considerations for Design
Authors: Berg Marc  , Langenberg Chris  , v.d. Berg Ignas  , Kwakkernaat Jan
Published: February 2025

This paper argues that we should see medical work practices as natural systems, and that we should understand the process of IT design as the development of sociotechnical configurations. Drawing upon our experiences with an electronic patient record (EPR) on an Intensive Care Unit, several considerations for design are developed. First, the EPR should not be overly structured with rationalistic and pre-fixed notions of the organization and content of medical work. Second, it is crucial to ensure that the usage of the system will yield immediate benefits for primary users: the systems should support work; not generate it. Third, designing IT should include being aware of the socio-political nature of seemingly ‘neutral’ tools as EPRs.
Comparison, Evaluation, and Possible Harmonisation of the HL7, DHE, and CORBA Middleware
Authors: Blobel Bernd  , Holena Martin
Published: February 2025

Regarding the need of change of both healthcare systems' structure and supporting information systems' architecture to the “Shared Care” paradigm, appropriate health information systems have to be distributed and interoperable, and will usually be based on middleware concepts. Structure and function of information systems meeting such requirements have been analysed in general. To describe, evaluate and combine distributed systems, a generic component model has been used. As a result, CORBA, DHE, and HL7 have been assessed systematically. A way to a common and harmonised middleware approach has been proposed.
Component Architecture in HIS: A Drug Order Entry Case Study
Authors: Schlesinger Joseph M.  , Blumenfeld Barry  , Broverman Carol
Published: February 2025

Historically, many healthcare information systems (HIS) have been designed around monolithic architectures that rely upon a single organization to provide most, if not all, of the system's business logic. Recent advances in distributed systems technology and healthcare standards make a component-based architecture feasible in building today's HIS. The First DataBank Drug Toolkit is used as a case study for the role of components in the design of a HIS. Several technical challenges associated with building truly plug and play components are discussed.
Extending the Standard Architecture for Healthcare Units: The Guideline Server
Authors: Luzi Daniela  , Ricci Fabrizio L.  , Serbanati Luca Dan
Published: February 2025

The main topic of our research is health care unit (HCU) reengineering. To this aim, a guideline oriented conceptual model of HCUs was developed. In order to map this conceptual model into an information system with a client-server architecture, a guideline server is needed. The guideline concept and its life cycle are introduced and the main functions of the guideline server are presented.
Education of Clinical Nurses in Nursing Documentation in Accordance with the VIPS-model
Authors: Björvell C.  , Thorell-Ekstrand I.
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this study is to describe some effects on the clinical nursing documentation after registered nurses (RN) had participated in a three-day course in nursing documentation in accordance with the VIPS-model. Between November 1993 and December 1996, 4594 registered nurses participated in the course. In order to evaluate the effects of the course two questionnaires were sent out to 900 participants, one concerning the degree of development in their nursing documentation and another concerning what they perceived as inhibitors and facilitators to the development of nursing documentation. The result will be presented at the conference.
The Role of Nurse Education in the Integration of Information in the Health Care Environment
Authors: Procter P.M.
Published: February 2025

The central theme of the paper is to explore the issues surrounding the development of European-wide knowledgeable nurse practitioners for effective and efficient patient care in an information intensive health care environment. Examination will be made of the role education needs to play to complement the new paradigm of health care. Where practicable, comparisons will be made between nurses' and other health care disciplines' approach to the introduction of information systems and how ‘shared’ approaches could be beneficial to all professions and the patients in care. The paper will conclude with a vision for the future and consideration will be given to where European nurses should position themselves to remain accountable and autonomous practitioners in health care.
Developing a Generic Health Status Measure for Use in a Computer-Based Outcomes Infrastructure
Authors: Lush M.T.  , Henry S.B.  , Foote K.  , Jones D.L.
Published: February 2025

This descriptive, correlational study was designed to determine the sensitivity of a generic health status instrument to patient population and to time. The study sample included adult patients undergoing total joint replacement (TJR), adult patients in acute congestive heart failure (CHF), and pediatric patients receiving chemotherapy (PediOnc). A 2 X 3 (population X time) ANOVA for TJR and CHF demonstrated a significant main effect of time (F = 8.0, $\underbar{p}$ = .0006) and a significant interaction effect between time and population (F = 14.4, $\underbar{p}$ < .0001) for functional status. In the PediOnc subsample (HSOD child version), the highest scores for all HSOD factors with the exception of functional status were at Time 3. There was also a significant main effect of time on health care involvement, on the caregiver factor, and the family factor. These results support the sensitivity of the HSOD to patient population and to time.
A Collaborative International Nursing Informatics Research Project: Predicting ARDS Risk in Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Goodwin L.  , Saville J.  , Jasion B.  , Turner B.  , Prather J.  , Dobousek T.  , Egger S.
Published: February 2025

An international nursing informatics research collaboration between Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, USA and Allgemeine Krankenhaus Hospital in Vienna, Austria used data mining techniques called Knowledge Discovery in Databases (KDD) to explore the relationship between clinical data variables and adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in critically ill patients. Results of the study and logistics of international research collaboration will be presented at NI '97. The conceptual model, data mining methodology, and objectives for the collaboration are described here.
Collection of Nursing Minimum Data Set (NMDS) Could Benefit from Medical Encoding Experiences
Authors: Weber P.  , Lovis C. Christian  , Michel P.-A.  , Baud R.
Published: February 2025

This paper describes the use by nurses of a semi-automatic, natural language oriented, encoder help tool currently in use in the medical sector. The use of a standard language in the daily activities of nurses is not acceptable therefore the use of an encoder will link nursing data collection with a classification system.
The Danish National Health Classification System - Nursing Interventions Classification - a Part of Comon Danish Health Care Classification
Authors: Madsen I.  , Jytte Burgaard S.A.
Published: February 2025

The Danish Nursing Intervention Classification is the first national nursing intervention classification. Because of the official status of the project it is to be a national standard. It will thus be possible for the system to be in general use nation-wide, which is a necessary condition for an efficient communication in the health care sector in Denmark.
The VIPS Model - Implementation and Validity in Different Areas of Nursing Care
Authors: Ehrenberg A.  , Ehnfors M.  , Thorell-Ekstrand I.
Published: February 2025

The development of common concepts and terms for nursing practice is crucial for the effective use of nursing-information systems. In Sweden, the VIPS model has been developed to support the systematic and common documentation of nursing care in patient records. The model has been widely used in different areas of nursing practice. This literature review was conducted as a part of a larger project to study the validity and reliability of the VIPS model, as well as its dissemination into the Swedish health-care system. The findings showed in general good reliability and content validity for the keywords in the VIPS model. The implications for the further development of the model are discussed.
Nurses' Perceptions of the Impact of a Computerized Information System on a Critical Care Unit
Authors: Lyness A.L.  , Hravnak M.  , Martich D.
Published: February 2025

Critical care nurses work in complex environments and encounter a vast amount of information daily. To learn how a computerized information system (CIS) impacted nursing practice on a critical care unit, this foundational research was conducted before and after implementation of a CIS. Qualitative methods using interviews and open ended questions were employed. Results showed that nurses felt positive overall about the implementation of a bedside CIS. Nurses liked the readability of the information and having the CIS near the bedside. They disliked the periodic slowness or downtime. Broad themes of reflection, questioning and action emerged from the content analysis. The themes were in accord with the theoretical framework that guided the study. Recommendations for future research included exploring nursing medication documentation, use of hand held devices, and having resource databases within the CIS.
The Development of a Practice Based Nursing Home Page
Authors: Goldsmith D.M.  , Chapman R.H.  , Wandel J.  , Reiley P.J.  , Safran C.
Published: February 2025

At the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, we are developing a Division of Nursing home page that reflects the philosophy and values inherent in our professional practice model. Our goal is to utilize available Internet technology to provide interactive electronic access to our patients and to nurse professionals world wide. To date, most home pages related to nursing have been developed by individual nurses or have originated from within the university setting. The Beth Israel Deaconess nursing service home page is intended to add a new dimension to the rich nursing resources now available on the web by establishing a unique, interactive home page that is grounded in a clinical practice setting.
The SIP Project - A Push for Technological Innovation in Nursing Education in Denmark
Authors: Kolbæk R.
Published: February 2025

The SIP-project is a development project on the use of NI in Danish nursing education. SIP is the acronym for SYGEPLEJE (Nursing) INFORMATIK (Informatics) and PEDAGOGIC (Learning)
Internet Based Data Collection and Analysis
Authors: Workman Robert  , Beatty Ellen  , Workman David
Published: February 2025

This paper will discuss Internet based data collection and analysis utilizing a Windows 95 and a UNIX hosted system. Forms on the World Wide Web (WWW) that illustrate the use of this technology in medical research, conference registration, and. patient care will be highlighted. Some of the details involved with creating data collection forms will be presented. The paper concludes with the recommendation that the Health Telematics curricula should include a unit on creating Internet based data collection forms.
Design of a Virtual Reality Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Medical Application
Authors: Mehlitz Marcus  , Kleinoeder Thomas  , Weniger Godehard  , Rienhoff Otto
Published: February 2025

The Department of Medical Informatics of the University of Goettingen sets up a medical interdisciplinary Virtual Reality (VR) laboratory. The interdisciplinary approach for the design of the laboratory is based on a systematic, technical and application-orientated analysis. Its result led to the decision for a CAVE-like multi wall stereo projection (MWSP) system with networked workstation hardware. Within the boundary of an exemplary evaluation of the laboratory, its technical specifications and the validity in neuropsychological tests are supposed to be improved.
The Health On the Net Code of Conduct for medical and health Web sites
Authors: Boyer Celia  , Selby Mark  , Appel Ron D.
Published: February 2025

The growth in the number of medical and health web sites and the varying quality of medical and health information currently available on the World-Wide Web has created the need for guidelines to help homogenise this quality. Health On the Net Foundation (HON) has initiated the Code of Conduct (HON-code) in response to concerns expressed to the Foundation, by members of the Net community. This article presents the HON-code's principles since its launch in 1996 and its status in 1997. This initiative offers information providers good practice guidelines and offers users an indication of commitment to quality by those providers.
A Support System To Make Care Plan of Elders
Authors: Tsutomu Matsumoto  , Tomita Kouichi  , Mike Nga
Published: February 2025

The population of persons over the age of 65 is rapidly growing. In order to provide care to residents of long term care facilities and care to senior citizens in home, Minimum Data Set (MDS), the Clients Assessment Protocols (CAPs) and MDS-Home Care CAPs (MDS-HC CAPs) have been are offered by the HCFA and interRAI Overview Committee. According to offered guidelines, nursing staff spend much time to process measuring ADL (Activities Daily of Livings) of clients and to find problem areas. We have developed the information system to assist nursing staff to reduce this paper work. This system consists of generating problem areas; providing shared files to nursing staff, simple MDS input methods and mobile handy terminal which includes a video camera tool. In this paper we describe the design and implementation of Integrated Information System To Help Nursing Senior Citizens.
Healthcare Systems Process Reengineering for Developing Countries: A Report to IMIA Working Group 9
Authors: Coleman William P.  , Gaynicotche Alvaro  , Mendoza Sandra Mejía
Published: February 2025

To discover what kinds of health informatics the developing countries need, we look first to the underlying social structures that informatics is to support.
Medical Affective Computing: Medical Informatics Meets Affective Computing
Authors: Webster Charles
Published: February 2025

From advisory systems that understand emotional attitudes toward medical outcomes, to wearable computers that compensate for communication disability, to computer simulations of emotions and their disorders, the research agendas of medical informatics and affective computing-how and why to create computers that detect, convey, and even have emotions increasingly overlap. Some psychiatric and neurological researchers state their theories in terms of actual or hypothetical computer programs. Adaptive intelligent systems will increasingly rely on emotions to compensate for their own conflicting goals and limited resources-emotional reactions about which psychiatrists and neurologists have special insights. DEP2 (Depression Emulation Program 2) is a computer simulation of adaptive depression-learning from explainable patterns of failure in autobiographical memory-that simulates many depressive behaviors. In the terminology of fault-tolerant computing, adaptive depression involves fault detection (triggered by failure), fault location (strategic retreat and failure diagnosis), and fault recovery (return to on-line operation). DEP2 relies on subsystems whose structures and behaviors are based on popular hypotheses about left and right brain hemispheric function during depression and emotion. DEP2 and its predecessors, DEP and DEPlanner, are relevant to psychiatric and neurological informatics, and to the design of adaptive autonomous robots and software agents.