The thesis investigated the use of combination of sections using learning steps in the development of courseware presentation in the 3D Virtual Worlds platform. The technical objective of the study is to present the design of multisection strategy in developing healthcare course in 3D Virtual World online environment. The main aim of this study is to know the effects of multisection [objective, tutorial (with or without video), quiz and test] sections incorporation in an online 3D Virtual World towards the usability. The empirical research described in this thesis comprised three experimental phases. In the first phase, an initial experiment was carried out with 21 users to explore the usability and learning performance of courseware created using 3D the Virtual World platform of Second Life. The second experiment phase involved an experiment conducted with 30 users to investigate their perception, satisfaction and performance of the role of each main section involved in Virtual World courseware. In the third phase, a total of 30 users experimentally examined a unique approach to the use of video segment added in the Tutorial section of the OTQT framework. The overall obtained results demonstrated the usefulness of the tested multisection to enhance the development of healthcare course in an online learning of 3D Virtual World program. These results in three experiments provided a set of unique and empirically derived guidelines for the design and the use of three multisection frameworks to generate more usable courseware in the 3D Virtual Worlds of an online learning interface. For example, when designing avatars as animated virtual lecturers in e-learning interfaces, specific facial expression and body gestures should be incorporated due to its positive influence in enhancing learners' attitude towards the learning process.

Healthcare utilizations are typically measured independently of each other; neglecting the interdependencies between services. An episode of care is suitable for measuring healthcare utilizations of patients with complex health conditions because it tracks all contacts throughout the healthcare system. The overall goal of this research was to construct an episode of care data system to study healthcare utilizations and costs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations. To achieve this goal, four related studies were undertaken. The first study (Chapter 2) evaluated the agreement between emergency department (ED) data and hospital records for capturing transitions between the two care settings. Using the κ statistic as a measure of concordance, we found good agreement between the two data sources for intra-facility transfers; but only fair agreement for inter-facility transfers. The results show that linking multiple data sources would be important to identify all related healthcare utilization across care settings. The second study (Chapter 3) linked hospital data, ED data, physician billing claims, and outpatient drug records to construct an episode of care data system for COPD patients. Latent class analysis was used to identify COPD patient groups with distinct healthcare pathways. Pathways were associated with outcomes such as mortality and costs. A few individuals followed complex pathways and incurred high costs. Building on the previous study, the next one (Chapter 4) predicted whether high-cost patients in one episode also incurred high costs in subsequent episodes. Using logistic regression models, we found that patient information routinely collected in administrative health data could satisfactorily predict those who become persistent high users. The final study (Chapter 5) used a cross-validation approach to compare the performance of eight alternative linear regression models for predicting costs of episodes of COPD exacerbations. The results indicate that the robust regression model, a model not often considered for cost prediction, was among the best models for predicting episode-based costs. Overall, this research demonstrated how population-based administrative health databases could be linked to construct an episode of care data system for a chronic health condition. The resulting data system supported novel investigations of healthcare system-wide utilizations and costs. / May 2016

ABSTRAKT   BAKGRUND Att inte se patienten men samtidigt ge säkra, goda och evidensbaserade råd och bedöma rätt vårdnivå är en stor utmaning för distriktssköterskan i telefonrådgivning. Att arbeta med telefonrådgivning är en stor del av distriktssköterskans arbete på en vårdcentral. SYFTE Syftet med studien var att beskriva distriktssköterskans upplevelser av att arbeta med telefonrådgivning. METOD Kvalitativ induktiv ansats har använts med semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med tio distriktssköterskor och en kvalitativ latent innehållsanalys användes för att analysera textmassa. RESULTAT Resultatet bygger på ett tema och fem kategorier. Temat är; Svårt att möta allas behov med begränsade möjligheter men också utmanande och Kategorierna är; Det svåra arbetet med telefonrådgivning, När resurser saknas är det svårt att arbeta med telefonrådgivning, Att känna sig utsatt tar energi, Olika faktorer för ett bra arbete i telefonrådgivning och Ett arbete som är en utmaning. Resultatet visar att arbeta med telefonrådgivning på en vårdcentral upplevs som svårt när distriktssköterskan och patienten inte förstår varandra och det är svårt att alltid känna att de fattat rätt beslut. Det upplevs svårt att arbeta med telefonrådgivning och endast ha fyra till fem min/samtal och det är svårt att bedöma vård när läkartider inte finns. Distriktssköterskorna upplever att arbeta med telefonrådgivning är en stor utmaning KONKLUSION Att arbeta som distriktssköterska i telefonrådgivning mot primärvården är en utmaning. Att inte se patienten kan göra det svårt att fatta beslut. Att inte patienten kommer fram till sin vårdcentral skapar ett vårdlidande för patienten.

Low hand hygiene compliance among health staff is a problem globally in health care settings. Improving hand hygiene could prevent many of the health care associated infections that affects hundreds of millions of patients every year around the globe. The aim of this literature study was to describe obstacles to maintain proper hand hygiene in hospitals, seen from a global perspective. Eight articles from seven countries, all based on qualitative research have been analysed according to Friberg's five-step method that contributes to evidence-based nursing. The challenges to sustain hand hygiene found in the results were split into two main categories: Organizational factors and Individual factors. Organizational factors included five subcategories: Work environment, Inadequate education, Infrastructure, Insufficient management and Power structures. The results showed that when these factors were negatively affected so was compliance regarding proper hand hygiene. These were often issuesthat the health staff felt powerless to change and affect. Individual factors included two subcategories: Attitudes and social factors. Example of this could be healthcare workers neglected hygiene guidelines out of personal reasons or healthcare workers giving care to patients that didn’t accept how it was carried out because of social and cultural differences. The complex issues revolving these matters need to be addressed on an overall perspective. Cooperation between management and health staff is fundamental to obtain changes within healthcare organizations. Both parties need to work together to be able to improve hand hygiene compliance and to reduce healthcare associated infections.

The republic of South Africa has a “health for all” policy, regardless of nationality and residence status. However, challenges still exist for non-nationals and little is known regarding migrants’ maternal healthcare experiences. This study explores the maternal healthcare experiences of migrant Zimbabwean women living in Johannesburg, South Africa. It focuses on the lived experiences of women aged 18years and above, who engaged with the public healthcare system in Johannesburg during pregnancy and childbirth. A desk review of the literature was undertaken. The theoretical framework in this study draws from three concepts (1) the Social determinants of health framework (WHO 2010), (2) the Access to healthcare framework (McIntyre, Thiede and Brich 2009) and (3) the “three-delays (Nour 2008). Primary data was collected through the use of open-ended semi-structured interviews with a sample of 15 migrant Zimbabwean women who have been in Johannesburg for a minimum of 2 years, and have attended and given birth or are currently attending antenatal care in inner city Johannesburg. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse data since it helps to extract descriptive information concerning the experiences of Zimbabwean women in Johannesburg and to construct meaning in order to understand their perceptions and opinions about the healthcare system in the city. Although the findings indicate that documentation status is not a key issue affecting access to healthcare during pregnancy and delivery, a range of other healthcare barriers were found to dominate, including the nature of their employment, power relations, language, and discrimination(generally) among others. Language was singled out as the major challenge that runs throughout the other barriers. More interestingly the participants raised their desire of returning home or changing facilities within the Public sector or to private institutions in case of any further pregnancy. This study concludes that the bone of contention is on belongingness, deservingness and not being able to speak any local language, that runs through the public health care institutions and this impact on professionalism and discharge of duties.

Abstract The purpose of this study is to investigate how big data solutions in the Swedish healthcare system can generate a revenue. As technology continues to evolve, the use of big data is beginning to transform processes in many different industries, making them more efficient and effective. The opportunities presented by big data have been researched to a large extent in commercial fields, however, research in the use of big data in healthcare is scarce and this is particularly true in the case of Sweden. Furthermore, there is a lack in research that explores the interface between big data, healthcare and revenue models. The interface between these three fields of research is important as innovation and the integration of big data in healthcare could be affected by the ability of companies to generate a revenue from developing such innovations or solutions. Thus, this thesis aims to fill this gap in research and contribute to the limited body of knowledge that exists on this topic. The study conducted in this thesis was done via qualitative methods, in which a literature search was done and interviews were conducted with individuals who hold managerial positions at Region Västerbotten. The purpose of conducting these interviews was to establish a better understanding of the Swedish healthcare system and how its structure has influenced the use, or lack thereof, of big data in the healthcare delivery process, as well as, how this structure enables the generation of revenue through big data solutions. The data collected was analysed using the grounded theory approach which includes the coding and thematising of the empirical data in order to identify the key areas of discussion. The findings revealed that the current state of the Swedish healthcare system does not present an environment in which big data solutions that have been developed for the system can thrive and generate a revenue. However, if action is taken to make some changes to the current state of the system, then revenue generation may be possible in the future. The findings from the data also identified key barriers that need to be overcome in order to increase the integration of big data into the healthcare system. These barriers included the (i) lack of big data knowledge and expertise, (ii) data protection regulations, (iii) national budget allocation and the (iv) lack of structured data. Through collaborative work between actors in both the public and private sectors, these barriers can be overcome and Sweden could be on its way to transforming its healthcare system with the use of big data solutions, thus, improving the quality of care provided to its citizens. Key words: big data, healthcare, Swedish healthcare system, AI, revenue models, data-driven revenue models

Os hospitais são grandes organizações de serviços responsáveis pelo bem estar da população. Desempenham um papel importante na sociedade e também são responsáveis por boa parte dos recursos financeiros destinados a saúde. Diante deste cenário, os hospitais tem demandado um aumento no uso de ferramentas de gestão e melhoria de seus processos de negócio. Uma proposta para auxiliar neste processo, tem sido reportada na literatura como Lean Healthcare. Desse modo, o objetivo deste trabalho constituiu na proposição de uma abordagem estatística dos tempos para a análise das atividades nos processos hospitalares, de modo a identificar as variações existentes e contribuir com o gerenciamento do processo. A proposta foi desenvolvida utilizando a pesquisa teórica. Este método orientou o processo de desenvolvimento da AET- Abordagem Estatística dos Tempos, uma vez que a motivação para a sua elaboração estava alicerçada em uma proposta que pudesse contribuir com o aprimoramento do Lean Healthcare em hospitais. Os resultados teóricos da AET foram apresentados em três simulações (cenários I, II e III) para dois setores do hospital. Essas simulações atestaram que a variabilidade existente pode afetar diretamente os esforços de melhoria envolvidos, principalmente quando realizada a comparação de tempos de atividade em plantões diferentes Foi também realizada uma aplicação piloto em um processo de atendimento ambulatorial de um hospital regional no Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul. Na aplicação piloto foram utilizados os parâmetros comparativos, que ilustraram, de forma quantitativa, a influência que a variabilidade dos tempos pode desencadear na dinâmica do processo. Esta aplicação ocorreu em um pronto socorro, onde foi possível observar a variabilidade dos tempos em uma situação real. Essa aplicação demonstrou uma melhora na quantificação da variabilidade, pois analisou a variabilidade com base no comportamento dos dados, e não apenas pela média dos tempos ou pelos valores inferiores e superiores de uma amostra de tempos. Dessa aplicação resultou também a identificação de que a padronização do trabalho em ambientes hospitalares pode demandar mais esforços do que em ambientes de manufatura. Isto pode ser observado quanto ao distanciamento no atendimento da demanda, identificado pelo parâmetro LMV - Limite Máximo da Variação. Assim, a AET contribuiu para avaliar melhor a capacidade em atividade que agregam valor, e em relação as atividades que não agregam valor, ela auxiliou na identificação das possíveis causas dos desperdícios. A AET pode ajudar no planejamento das ações de melhoria, pois trouxe para a discussão um importante aspecto de o processo hospitalar: a variação existente nos tempos das atividades. / Hospitals are big organizations services responsible for the welfare of the population. They play an important role in society and are also responsible for much of the financial resources for health. In this scenario, the hospital has demanded an increase in the use of management tools and improves their business processes. A proposal to assist in this process has been reported in the literature as Lean Healthcare. Thus, the objective of this work consisted in proposing a statistical approach of the times for the analysis of activities in the hospital processes in order to identify existing variations and contribute to the management of the process. The proposal was developed using theoretical research. This method guided the development process of SAT- Statistical Approach of the Times, since the motivation for its development was founded on a proposal that could contribute to the improvement of Lean Healthcare in hospitals. The theoretical results of SAT were presented in three simulations (scenarios I, II and III) for two hospital sectors. These simulations testified that the variability can directly affect the improvement efforts involved, especially when performed comparing activity times in different shifts. A pilot application was also performed in an outpatient service process of a regional hospital in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. In the pilot application were used comparative parameters, which illustrated, in a quantitative manner, the influence of the variability of time may initiate the dynamics of the process. This application was in an emergency room, where it was observed in real situation. This application showed an improvement in quantification of variability because analyzed the variability based on data behavior, and not just the average of the time or the lower and upper values of a sample times. This application also resulted in the identification of the standardization work in hospital settings may require more effort than in manufacturing environments. This can be seen as the distance in meeting demand, identified by MLV parameter - Maximum Limit Variation. Thus, the SAT contributed to better assess the capacity of activity that add value, and in relation to activities that do not add value, it assisted in the identification of possible causes of waste. The SAT can help in the planning of improvement actions, as brought to the discussion an important aspect of the hospital process: the variation in the times of activities.

O sistema de produção que foca na geração de valor para o cliente e na eliminação de desperdícios já demonstrou seu poder no setor manufatureiro e agora começa a chamar a atenção do setor de bens e serviços. Um enfoque crescente, em particular, está sendo dado à aplicação dos conceitos lean no setor de saúde, sendo comumente denominado lean healthcare. A literatura apresenta diversos casos de hospitais que iniciaram sua jornada lean e já colhem seus resultados. Este trabalho visa analisar alguns desses casos, acompanhar e relatar uma aplicação prática conduzida pelo autor e, como resultado, contribuir com recomendações para condução de futuras implantações de conceitos lean em hospitais. / The production system that focuses on eliminating waste and generating value for the customer has already demonstrated its power on manufacturing sector and now is beginning to draw the attention of industry goods and services. An increasing focus, in particular, is being given to the application of lean concepts in the health sector, commonly known as Lean Healthcare. The literature contains several cases of hospitals that began their lean journey and most have good results. This paper aims to examine some of these cases, report a practical application conducted by the author and, as a result, to contribute with recommendations for future implementations of lean concepts in hospitals.

Background: The context for this study is the National High Secure Healthcare Service for Women (NHSHSW). This service opened in 2007 following the closure of all other high secure healthcare services for women. Consequently the NHSHSW is the UK’s only facility to provide assessment and treatment for women detained under the Mental Health Act and who are classified as posing a grave and immediate danger to others. Care delivered within the NHSHSW is grounded within the guiding principles of trauma informed environments. This philosophy of care understands that women patients in high secure forensic healthcare experience heightened and usually chronic levels of distress which can be communicated through violent and dangerous behaviour (McMillan & Aiyegbusi, 2009). This group of marginalised women are an important but small group of people with unique experiences. These women patients’ experiences have yet to be explored from the perspective of the women themselves. This is the first study to explore how women patients detained in the NHSHSW experience distress and the impact that distress has on their behaviour from the perspective of the women patients themselves and their care-givers. The care-givers referred to are named nurses whose perspective provides perceptual and interactional context to this study. Insight into the women patients’ experiences is important to ensure that the development of healthcare can respond effectively to need. The importance of service user involvement has been increasingly recognised in general mental health settings. However, user involvement in forensic research is less well developed. This has now been recognised and for the first time this study included the women patients as research facilitators. Method: Women patients were invited to attend discussion groups to identify a research project that would form a baseline evaluation for an evidence based development of the NHSHSW. A working party including the researcher and voluntary women patients was established to facilitate the research process. The number of women patients contributing to the working party ranged between eight and thirteen depending on availability. Feminist principles provided a framework for this enquiry (Lykke, 2010). The experiences identified for exploration were: How women patients in high secure healthcare understand their distress. How women patients in high secure healthcare communicate their distress. How nurses interpret the women patients’ distress. Multi-perspective Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyse semi-structured interviews (Loaring, Larkin, Shaw & Flowers 2015). Twenty three voluntary patient interviews, representing 57% of the overall patient population and thirteen voluntary named nurse interviews took place, representing 34% of the named nurse population. No participants dropped out or withdrew their contribution. Findings: Themes regarding the women patient participants’ understanding and communication were identified as: Observable behaviours and responses; Blocks to getting help; Change over time; An entity to be endured; An emotional experience; A physical experience; Being alone. The themes identified from the nurse interviews were: Perception of the distress experience. What influences my response and what is expected of me? The patient and the nurse interviews evidenced differences in understanding related to the women patients’ experience of distress. The women patients placed emphasis on the physiological/sensory aspect of their distress, whereas nurses placed emphasis on the emotional aspect of the women patients’ distress. The implication is that at times of heightened distress the women patients did not feel they were understood. The findings also highlighted areas of unmet need including family involvement in care and a perceived lack of support to enhance family contact. In addition loneliness was emphasised as a significant stressor for the women patients as was being perceived as an on-going risk of harm. All the findings were validated by the participants and subject to peer review. Conclusion: This study provides the first evidence base for healthcare practice specifically for women patients detained in the NHSHSW. This is also the first study to involve the women patients in the NHSHSW as co-facilitators of research. This experience was described as empowering by the women patients who took part and whose involvement ensured that the research subject was relevant and meaningful. The depth of the women patients’ involvement has set precedents for policy, procedure and practice development within the NHSHSW and evidenced the women patients’ ability to be co-producers of the services they use. The study was conducted for women by women and as such was guided by feminist principles seeking the right to provide services based on women patients’ needs and experiences. As a consequence this study has made a unique and significant contribution to available literature and the development and provision of services for women detained in high secure care. The study originally aimed to provide an evidence base for the development of the NHSHSW; however, continued interest from lesser secure services clearly demonstrates the applicability of the findings to services beyond the NHSHSW. Limitations There were limitations to this study which could have influenced the findings. The researcher was known to the patient and nurse participants. Established relationships between researchers and participants have the potential to bias an outcome; however it can also provide a baseline of trust. Service user involvement as both researcher and participant potentially allows participants to purposefully respond to questions with the aim to confirm their original pattern of thinking rather than exploring a concept to uncover new findings. The balance of findings in this research suggests that while some bias can be argued it did not invalidate the findings.

Background: In November 2011, prisoner healthcare in Scotland became the combined responsibility of a partnership between the Scottish Prison Service and the National Health Service. Very little is known about the experience of male prisoners with regard to their health care while in prison and immediately following release. Aim: Against the backdrop of organisational restructure, the purpose of this study was to investigate the experiences of male prisoners in order that future policy developments can be more grounded in their experience. Methodology: The study was conducted from a phenomenological perspective. Data was gathered from semi-structured interviews with male ex-prisoners in the community. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed where consent was given; detailed field notes were made in interviews where consent was not given for audio-recording. Transcripts of the recorded interviews and field notes were analysed using inductive phenomenological analysis. Findings: Twenty-nine ex-prisoners participated in semi-structured interviews. Nine consented to being audio-recorded. Analysis revealed the following themes: 1. The meaning of health. Participants experienced their own health predominantly as a physical phenomenon related to their ability to function physically in the world. Mental ill-health had been experienced and was spoken about in terms of stigma and ensuring/maintaining personal safety. Substance misuse was not seen as a health issue but more as an issue of poor service provision. 2. Access to and use of healthcare provisions in prison and the outside community. Problems were experienced regarding medication and the prescribing practices of doctors. Participants’ experience of accessing healthcare services in prison was of a difficult and frustrating process that was controlled by nurses whose attitudes and use of power were perceived as a major factor in prisoners’ ability to access and use the services available. All participants described professionals' high level of mistrust in them and the issues surrounding their health status as a result of the phenomenon known as the credibility gap. This appeared to impact upon their perceived ability to access health care whilst in prison and the outside community. 3. Difficulties in interagency communication of care. Participants expressed experience of an increasingly bureaucratic process of access to health services characterised by form-filling. This was perceived to disadvantage and discourage prisoners with literacy difficulties. Participants expressed that new complaints procedures were not explained and appeared to be designed in a way to deliberately discourage and delay complaints. Participants expressed that the access arrangements for healthcare appointments were also bureaucratic, slow, and perceived to be designed to discourage them from accessing the healthcare services. 4. Vulnerability and hope. The role of the family and the support that they provide following liberation was stated to be important and helpful in preventing relapse into former health threatening behaviours. Such support was also described as helping to prevent participants from becoming embroiled in a revolving door syndrome of release and reoffending. The important mechanisms were identified as a source of accommodation and a permanent address, which was essential to access a number of healthcare services and benefits. Planned, consistent throughcare and opportunities were identified as helpful, especially those from the third sector. Discussion: This study provides a voice to the participants. Healthcare in prison was largely experienced in terms of physical health; mental health is seemingly experienced as stigmatising. Ex-prisoners experience a communication failure among services. Access to healthcare in prison is experienced as overly bureaucratic. Conclusion: Ex-prisoner participants' experiential accounts raise problematic issues relating to the effectiveness of 2011 policy changes that were intended to ensure equity in health services for prisoners and ensure that they received improved opportunities to benefit from NHS care. The changes have not translated into an improved experience for prisoners during and following their incarceration a renewed commitment to providing equivalency of opportunity in healthcare for prisoners is required.