The adoption of digital health technologies has dramatically changed the healthcare sector landscape and thus generates new opportunities to collect, capture, store, access and retrieve electronic personal health information (ePHI). With the introduction of digital health technologies and the digitisation of health data, an increasing number of hospitals and peripheral health facilities across the globe are transitioning from a paper-based environment to an electronic or paper-light environment. However, the growing use of digital health technologies within healthcare facilities has caused ePHI to be exposed to a variety of threats such as cyber security threats, human-related threats, technological threats and environmental threats. These threats have the potential to cause harm to hospital systems and severely compromise the integrity and confidentiality of ePHI. Because of the growing number of security threats, many hospitals, both private and public, are struggling to secure ePHI due to a lack of robust data security plans, systems and security control measures. The purpose of this study was to explore the security of electronic personal health information in a public hospital in South Africa. The study was underpinned by the interpretivism paradigm with qualitative data collected through semi-structured interviews with purposively selected IT technicians, network controllers’, administrative clerks and records management clerks, and triangulated with document and system analysis. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim. Data was coded and analysed using ATLAS.ti, version 8 software, to generate themes and codes within the data, from which findings were derived. The key results revealed that the public hospital is witnessing a deluge of sophisticated cyber threats such as worm viruses, Trojan horses and shortcut viruses. This is compounded by technological threats such as power and system failure, network connection failure, obsolete computers and operating systems, and outdated hospital systems. However, defensive security measures such as data encryption, windows firewall, antivirus software and security audit log system exist in the public hospital for securing and protecting ePHI against threats and breaches. The study recommended the need to implement Intrusion Protection System (IPS), and constantly update the Windows firewall and antivirus program to protect hospital computers and networks against newly released viruses and other malicious codes. In addition to the use of password and username to control access to ePHI in the public hospital, the study recommends that the hospital should put in place authentication mechanisms such as biometric system and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system restrict access to ePHI, as well as to upgrade hospital computers and the Patient Administration and Billing (PAAB) System. In the absence of security policy, there is a need for the hospital to put in place a clear written security policy aimed at protecting ePHI. The study concluded that healthcare organisations should upgrade the security of their information systems to protect ePHI stored in databases against unauthorised access, malicious codes and other cyber-attacks. / Information Science / M. Inf. (Information Security)

Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide, and access to rehabilitation is crucial for recovery. This study examines the potential of digital technologies to improve the rehabilitation experience of stroke survivors in Scania, Sweden. The use of digital tools and telerehabilitation in stroke rehabilitation in Scania remains largely unexplored. Through qualitative interviews with 12 stroke survivors, 1 stroke survivor relative, and 6 healthcare professionals, this study identifies four key themes that play a significant role in the rehabilitation process: Access to care and rehabilitation, Motivation, Psychological and emotional needs, and Social support net. Based on these findings, the study proposes several "digital suggestions" to improve the rehabilitation process, including utilizing digital physio- and occupational therapy and improving alignment between various digital systems within the region. The study emphasizes the importance of individual adaptation in stroke rehabilitation, which aligns with the overarching goal of Swedish healthcare to provide patientcentered care. The findings of this study can inform future work with digital opportunities in Scania's stroke care and rehabilitation, potentially leading to better outcomes for stroke survivors.

Introduktion: Den äldre befolkningen ökar och många känner sig ensamma och isolerade. Det är en folkhälsoutmaning att hitta lösningar till detta problem då ofrivillig ensamhet kan leda till psykisk ohälsa. Ett av de globala målen är att bekämpa ojämlikhet i hälsa, så genom att samhället arbetar med preventiva insatser i gruppen äldre kan det bidra till ökad jämlikhet i samhället. Syfte: Att beskriva de samhälleliga insatserna som kan göras för att motverka ofrivillig ensamhet hos äldre. Metod: En litteraturstudie baserad på 20 vetenskapliga originalartiklar som inhämtats från databaserna PubMed, Medline Ebsco och CINAHL. Artiklarna analyserades med en tematisk analys. De mest använda sökorden var elderly people, loneliness, prevention, intervention och effective. Resultat: Åtta teman på vad som motverkar ofrivillig ensamhet återfanns och som grupperades i tre kategorier, samtliga teman var socialt stöd, digital teknik, kontaktskapande sällskap, fysisk aktivitet, primärvård, sociala interaktioner, psykiskt välbefinnande och digitala sociala interventioner. Slutsats: Studiens resultat visar att samhällets insatser bidrar till att minska ofrivillig ensamhet och isolering bland äldre. Samhället behöver också utveckla arbetet och vara mer lyhörd enligt de äldres önskemål. Fler studier behövs, speciellt hur digitaliseringen kan utvecklas och användes till de äldres fördel. / Introduction: The elderly population is increasing and many feel lonely and isolated. It is a public health challenge to find solutions to this problem as involuntary loneliness can lead to mental illness. One of the global goals is to fight inequality in health, so by society working with preventive measures in the group of older people, it can contribute to increased equality in society. Aim: To describe the social efforts that can be made to counteract involuntary loneliness in the elderly. Method: A literature study based on 20 original scientific articles obtained from the databases PubMed, Medline Ebsco and CINAHL. The articles were analyzed with a thematic analysis. The most used keywords were elderly people, loneliness, prevention, intervention and effective. Results: Eight themes of counteracting involuntary loneliness were found and grouped into three categories, all themes were social support, digital technology, contact-creating societies, physical activity, primary care, social interactions, mental well-being and digital social interventions. Conclusion: The results of the study show that society's efforts contribute to reducing involuntary loneliness and isolation among the elderly. Society also needs to develop its work and be more responsive to the wishes of the elderly. More studies are needed, especially how digitization can be developed and used to the benefit of the elderly.

<p>The rapid expansion of consumer Internet-of-Things (IoT) technology across various application domains has made it one of the most sought-after and swiftly evolving technologies. IoT devices offer numerous benefits, such as enhanced security, convenience, and cost reduction. However, as these devices need access to sensitive aspects of human life to function effectively, their abuse can lead to significant financial, psychological, and physical harm. While previous studies have examined the vulnerabilities of IoT devices, insufficient research has delved into the impact and mitigation of threats to users' privacy and safety. This dissertation addresses the challenge of protecting user safety and privacy against threats posed by IoT device vulnerabilities. We first introduce a novel IWMD architecture, which serves as the last line of defense against unsafe operations of Implantable and Wearable Medical Devices (IWMDs). We demonstrate the architecture's effectiveness through a prototype artificial pancreas. Subsequent chapters emphasize the safety and privacy of smart home device users. First, we propose a unique device activity-based categorization and learning approach for network traffic analysis. Utilizing this technology, we present a new smart home security framework and a device type identification mechanism to enhance transparency and access control in smart home device communication. Lastly, we propose a novel traffic shaping technique that hinders adversaries from discerning user activities through traffic analysis. Experiments conducted on commercially available IoT devices confirm that our solutions effectively address these issues with minimal overhead.</p>

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This thesis investigates the application of TrueBalance, a conversational agent designed to support young adults vulnerable to eating disorders (EDs). TrueBalance integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques with biomedical insights, including genetic and neurobiological factors, to provide a more personalized and scientifically grounded support system. It addresses limitations in existing dietary monitoring tools that usually focus on calorie tracking and food intake, often neglecting the nuanced needs of specific groups like young females and elite athletes, who are particularly vulnerable to EDs and disordered eating behaviors.  The study addresses how biomedical determinants can be integrated into a conversational agent, how these agents can utilize CBT principles to support individuals vulnerable to EDs, and what challenges and opportunities arise from the user’s perspective when using such a dialogue model. The research strives to bridge the gap in current dietary self-monitoring tools by offering a more robust and empathetic support system for individuals struggling with EDs. Through iterative development and user testing, TrueBalance has demonstrated its potential as an engaging educational tool. Feedback from both therapists and users has highlighted the tool’s utility in real-world settings. It has led to suggestions for enhancements in personalizing interactions and making response systems more adaptive. The findings suggest conversational agents like TrueBalance have potential in non-clinical support environments for individuals with EDs and function as a potential informative, supportive tool for therapists’ education. / Denna masteruppsats undersöker användningen av TrueBalance, en konversationsagent designad för att stödja unga vuxna som är sårbara för ätstörningar. TrueBalance integrerar tekniker från Kognitiv beteendeterapi (KBT) med biomedicinska insikter, inklusive genetiska och neurobiologiska faktorer, för att tillhandahålla ett mer personligt och vetenskapligt förankrat stödsystem. Den tar itu med begränsningarna i befintliga verktyg för kostövervakning, som vanligtvis fokuserar på kalorispårning och matintag men ofta förbiser de nyanserade behoven hos specifika grupper, såsom unga kvinnor och elitidrottare, som är särskilt sårbara för ätstörningar och ätstörda beteenden. Studien behandlar hur biomedicinska determinanter kan integreras i en konversationsagent, hur dessa agenter kan använda KBT-principer för att stödja individer sårbara för ätstörningar, samt vilka utmaningar och möjligheter som uppstår från användarens perspektiv när de använder en sådan dialogmodell. Forskningen strävar efter att överbrygga klyftan i nuvarande verktyg för kostövervakning genom att erbjuda ett robustare och mer empatiskt stödsystem för individer som kämpar med ätstörningar. Genom iterativ utveckling och användartester har TrueBalance visat sin potential som ett engagerande pedagogiskt verktyg. Återkoppling från både terapeuter och användare har belyst verktygets nytta i verkliga sammanhang. Det har lett till förslag på förbättringar för att personalisera interaktioner och göra responssystemen mer adaptiva. Resultaten tyder på att konversationsagenter som TrueBalance har potential i icke-kliniska stödmiljöer för individer med ätstörningar och kan fungera som ett potentiellt informativt, stödjande verktyg för terapeuters utbildning.