E-Health

Dalton JacobsBrian Sebastian

Nidheesh Sharma

26 May 2011

An Investigation into Diabetes Management Software with Social Networking Support

Introduction◦ Related Work

Problem Statement Proposal

◦ High Level Overview Work Allocation Methodology Ethical Issues Risks Anticipated Outcomes Timeline Conclusion References

Presentation Outline

Nidheesh

Dalton

Brian

What is Diabetes? A medical disorder that is characterized by

raised glucose levels due to insufficient insulin secretion or reduced insulin action, or both

Introduction

In 2004, about 3.4 million people worldwide died from diabetes [WHO 2011]

2 people every 10 seconds!

In 2006, approx. 6.5 million diabetics in South Africa [Health 24 2006] ◦ Out of an estimated population of 47 million South

Africans at that time period [Statistics South Africa 2006]

◦ Only 8000 were registered with the Diabetes South Africa network [Health 24 2006]

Introduction

How to manage Diabetes Self Management

◦ Self monitoring of blood glucose levels◦ Diet control

Social Support◦ Family and Friends◦ Communicating with other patients◦ Seeking quick professional advice

Introduction

Diabetes Pilot software [Digital Altitudes 2010] + Compatible with mobile devices and computers - Costly and not affordable by an average user

thus limiting the products recognition in a society

Related Work

CureTogether Social Network [Swan 2009] + Allows patients to anonymously compare and

track conditions with one another - Focuses more on information sharing and not so

much on emotional support

PatientsLikeMe Social Network [Swan 2009] + Offers patient-to-patient support based on

their own experience - Not easily accessible from any other device

other than a computer thus restricting communication

Related Work

In South Africa, there is a lack of publicly available E-Health systems for diabetes self-management

Lack of publicly available online social support structures for diabetics in South Africa

Patients prefer remaining anonymous when interacting with other patients

An Investigation into the Accessibility and Affordability of E-Health Systems in South Africa is required

Problem Statement

Investigate what type of E-Health system that diabetic patients really need◦ Questionnaires, Interviews, Online Surveys

Design a System based on User Requirements◦ User Centred Design◦ Affordable and Easily Accessible

Through the possible use of location based service

Pilot the Final Working System

Proposal

High Level Overview

Workload will be divided into 3 different sections as follows:

Team Member 1: Diabetes Self-Management System

Team Member 2: Social Support and Social Networking

Team Member 3: Applicability of E-health to Mobile Technology

Work Allocation

Work Allocation

Methodology

Piloting

1

2

4

3

Analysis Stage Consists of obtaining information from

diabetic patients in order to define the requirements of the new system

◦ Project Test Users◦ Questionnaires and Online Surveys

Methodology (1)

Analysis Stage Consists of obtaining information from

diabetic patients in order to define the requirements of the new system

◦ Localization Location-based Service

Each team member is responsible for investigating the integration of localization with our final system

Methodology (1)

Design and Development Stage Involves developing prototypes by utilizing

the information from the initial stage

◦ Low Fidelity Prototype◦ High Fidelity Prototype

Methodology (2)

Implementation Stage Pilot Final System

◦ Evaluation of system will be targeted at user group derived in analysis stage

Methodology (3)

Final System Evaluation Stage A quantitative evaluation of the final system

◦ Questionnaires◦ Log files of Final System

Whether the speed of using the system improves over time

Illustrate if our system is utilized on a regular basis (Time Permitting)

Methodology (4)

Ensure Anonymity of Participants if required

Obtain ethical clearance from the university to conduct these user experiments

Inform participants to continue their usual diabetes management as well as use our new system

Ethical Issues

Hardware Issues

Failure to attract users

Ethical clearance delay

Data collection delay

Unfamiliarity with Certain Technologies

Risks

A functioning system developed from user defined design

Positive evaluation of system◦ An affordable system◦ Easily accessible system by potential users

Anticipated Outcomes

TimelineDeliverable Due Due DateInitial Questionnaire Design 15/06/2011Initial Survey Using Questionnaires 20/07/2011Compilation of Questionnaires Data 29/07/2011Low Fidelity Paper Prototype 07/08/2011Evaluation of Prototype 13/08/2011High Fidelity Prototype 21/08/2011Evaluation of Prototype 29/08/2011Final Working System 19/09/2011Evaluation of System 02/10/2011

Develop a system that focuses more on the user’s needs that possibly revolutionises the healthcare system◦ Affordable and Easily Accessible◦ Based on User Centred Design

A system to provide a better way to self-manage an individual’s health and allow them to assist each other by means of social networking

Conclusion

Gantt Chart

Gantt Chart

DIGITAL ALTITUDES. 2010. Diabetes Pilot: Software for Diabetes. http://www.diabetespilot.com/.

HEALTH 24. 2006. Diabetes South Africa. http://www.health24.com/medical/Condition_centres/777-792-808-1662,35771.asp.

STATISTICS SOUTH AFRICA. 2006. Mid Year Population Estimates, South Africa 2006. Statistical Release P0302. 1-13.

SWAN, M. 2009. Emerging patient-driven health care models: an examination of health social networks, consumer personalized medicine and quantified self-tracking. International journal of environmental research and public health. 6. 492-525.

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. 2011. Diabetes. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs312/en/.

References

Thank You for Listening

Questions