"Regardless of age" : Australian university managers' attitudes and practices towards older academics
- Authors: Earl, Catherine , Taylor, Philip , Cannizzo, Fabian
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Work, Aging and Retirement Vol. 4, no. 3 (2018), p. 300-313
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: As with other industrialized nations Australia's population is aging and older workers are encouraged to work for longer. At the same time, Australia's university sector, which is aging, is being reconfigured through changes that potentially marginalize its older workers as higher education institutions try to become more competitive in a global market. In this context, youthfulness appears to embody competitiveness and academic institutions are increasingly aspiring to a young workforce profile. This qualitative article builds on previous research to explore to what extent ageist assumptions shape attitudes to older workers and human resource management (HRM) practices within Australian universities even when HRM practitioners are well versed in antidiscrimination legislation that (unlike the Age Discrimination in Employment Act in the United States) applies to workers of all ages. Semistructured interviews conducted with 22 HRM practitioners in Australian universities reveal that university HRM practices generally overlook the value of retaining an older workforce by conflating "potential" with "youthfulness," assuming that staff potential and performance share a negative correlation with age. While mostly lower-ranked institutions have attempted to retain older academics to maintain an adequate labor supply, this study finds that university policies targeting the ongoing utilization of older workers generally are underdeveloped. Consequently, the availability of late career employment arrangements is dependent upon institutions' strategic goals, with favorable ad hoc solutions offered to academics with outstanding performance records, while a rhetoric of performance decline threatens to marginalize older academic researchers and teachers more generally.
'Right' for publication: Strategies for supporting novice writers across health and medical disciplines
- Authors: Paliadelis, Penny , Parker, Vicki , Parmenter, Glenda , Maple,
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Health Review Vol. , no. (2014), p.165-168
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
13 days and counting : A mutual support model for young, homeless women in crisis
- Authors: Green, Rosemary , Mason, Robyn , Ollerenshaw, Alison
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Youth Studies Australia Vol. 23, no. 2 (2004), p. 46-50
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: An innovative program in rural Victoria matches young homeless women with older homeless women and provides them with a range of support services.The result is more stability in the accommodation setting, mutual benefit and satisfaction for clients, and impressive rates of permanent housing outcomes.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003000964
2020 International Society of Hypertension global hypertension practice guidelines
- Authors: Unger, Thomas , Borghi, Claudio , Charchar, Fadi , Khan, Nadia , Poulter, Neil , Prabhakaran, Dorairaj , Ramirez, Agustin , Schlaich, Markus , Stergiou, George , Wainford, Richard , Williams, Bryan , Schutte, Aletta
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Hypertension Vol. 75, no. 6 (2020), p. 1334-1357
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
A comparison of the public's use of PPE and strategies to avoid contagion during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia and Germany
- Authors: Moore, Kathleen , Bouchoucha, Stephane , Buchwald, Petra
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Nursing and Health Sciences Vol. 23, no. 3 (2021), p. 708-714
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 pandemic has raised public awareness around disease protection. The aims in this study were to recruit participants from Australia and Germany to determine their use of personal protective equipment and COVID-19 avoidance strategies using scales designed for this study. Principal components analysis with the Australian data revealed two factors in the Protection from Infection Scale, Self-Care and Protective Behaviors, and a single factor in the Infection Avoidance Scale, with each scale demonstrating strong internal reliability. Data from German participants were used to confirm the scales' structure using confirmatory factor analysis. A comparison of the two data sets data revealed that Australian participants scored higher overall on protection and avoidance strategies but at the item level there were several commonalities, including self-care behaviors people adopted to avoid contracting COVID-19. With no foreseeable end to this pandemic, it is important that follow-up studies ascertain whether the public continues to adopt high levels of PPE use and follows government advice or if pandemic fatigue sets in. © 2021 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.
A controlled trial of internet-based cognitive-behavioural therapy for panic disorder with face-to-face support from a general practitioner or email support from a psychologist
- Authors: Pier, Ciaran , Austin, David , Klein, Britt , Mitchell, Joanna , Schattner, Peter , Ciechomski, Lisa , Gilson, Kathryn , Pierce, David , Shandley, Kerrie , Wade, Victoria
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Mental Health in Family Medicine Vol. 5, no. 1 (2008), p. 28-29
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: Panic disorder (PD) is one of the most common anxiety disorders seen in general practice, but provision of evidence-based cognitive-behavioural treatment (CBT) is rare. Many Australian GPs are now trained to deliver focused psychological strategies, but in practice this is time consuming and costly. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of an internet-based CBT intervention (Panic Online) for the treatment of PD supported by general practitioner (GP)-delivered therapeutic assistance. Design: Panic Online supported by GP-delivered face-to-face therapy was compared to Panic Online supported by psychologist-delivered email therapy. Methods: Sixty-five people with a primary diagnosis of PD (78% of whom also had agoraphobia) completed 12 weeks of therapy using Panic Online and therapeutic assistance with his/her GP (n = 34) or a clinical psychologist (n = 31). The mean duration of PD for participants allocated to these groups was 59 months and 58 months, respectively. Participants completed a clinical diagnostic interview delivered by a psychologist via telephone and questionnaires to assess panic-related symptoms, before and after treatment. Results: The total attrition rate was 20%, with no group differences in attrition frequency. Both treatments led to significant improvements in panic attack frequency, depression, anxiety, stress, anxiety sensitivity and quality of life. There were no statistically significant differences in the two treatments on any of these measures, or in the frequency of participants with clinically significant PD at post assessment. Conclusions: When provided with accessible online treatment protocols, GPs trained to deliver focused psychological strategies can achieve patient outcomes comparable to efficacious treatments delivered by clinical psychologists. The findings of this research provide a model for how GPs may be assisted to provide evidence-based mental healthcare successfully. © 2008 Radcliffe Publishing.
A critical evaluation of the Australian accident classification standard
- Authors: Viner, D. , Harvey, Jack , Borys, David
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Safety in Australia Vol. 25, no. 2 (2003), p. 27-39
- Full Text: false
- Description: The researchers undertook a study involving post-graduate occupational health and safety students at the University of Ballarat designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Australian standard for classifying accidents. The results showed that the classification scheme has significant limitations which may impact upon the setting of prevention priorities at the national, state, industry and organisational levels of the system for risk control.
- Description: C3
- Description: 2003002690
A Cultural Competence Organizational Review for community health services : Insights from a participatory approach
- Authors: Truong, Mandy , Gibbs, Lisa , Pradel, Veronika , Morris, Michal , Gwatirisa, Pauline , Tadic, Maryanne , De Silva, Andrea , Hall, Martin , Young, Dana , Riggs, Elisha , Calache, Hanny , Gussy, Mark , Watt, Richard , Gondal, Iqbal , Waters, Elizabeth
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Health Promotion Practice Vol. 18, no. 3 (2017), p. 466-475
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Cultural competence is an important aspect of health service access and delivery in health promotion and community health. Although a number of frameworks and tools are available to assist health service organizations improve their services to diverse communities, there are few published studies describing organizational cultural competence assessments and the extent to which these tools facilitate cultural competence. This article addresses this gap by describing the development of a cultural competence assessment, intervention, and evaluation tool called the Cultural Competence Organizational Review (CORe) and its implementation in three community sector organizations. Baseline and follow-up staff surveys and document audits were conducted at each participating organization. Process data and organizational documentation were used to evaluate and monitor the experience of CORe within the organizations. Results at follow-up indicated an overall positive trend in organizational cultural competence at each organization in terms of both policy and practice. Organizations that are able to embed actions to improve organizational cultural competence within broader organizational plans increase the likelihood of sustainable changes to policies, procedures, and practice within the organization. The benefits and lessons learned from the implementation of CORe are discussed. © 2017, Society for Public Health Education.
A dispersed refuge model for women escaping domestic violence : A regional case study
- Authors: McDonald, John , Green, Rosemary
- Date: 2001
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Primary Health Vol. 7, no. 1 (2001), p. 85-89
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Refuges for women escaping domestic violence have traditionally been communal residences located in metropolitan areas. More recently, alternative service models have been funded to provide for clients with multiple and complex needs. This paper evaluates the first year of operation of an innovative refuge model for women and their children. "Marg's Place" is a statewide, high security, dispersed accommodation support model located in a regional setting. Evaluation methods included interviews, surveys, and analysis of client databases and program documents. Thirty-five women and 42 children used the service for an average stay of 20 days during the first 12 months. The main findings were that the dispersed model can cater for a wide range of service users, including those with multiple and complex needs, who would be unlikely to be successfully accommodated in a communal refuge. There was little evidence that the dispersed model contributes to feelings of isolation or loneliness for women or children. The regional setting presented both advantages and disadvantages for women wanting to resettle in the area. Women reported significantly enhanced levels of empowerment, and the high security provisions met their needs for safety. Overall, this refuge model provides an accessible, responsive and effective service.
- Description: 2003004475
A lack of aquatic rescue competency : A drowning risk factor for young adults involved in aquatic emergencies
- Authors: Petrass, Lauren , Blitvich, Jennifer
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Community Health Vol. 43, no. 4 (2018), p. 688-693
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Drowning is an important public health issue with major impacts on young adults aged 15–24 years, yet little is known about the causal factors for drowning for this group. As young adults recreate with peers in unpatrolled aquatic environments, the capacity to perform effective and efficient rescues seems pivotal. This study examined perceived ability of young adults to perform a rescue; determined the level of aquatic rescue knowledge; and measured the effect of an aquatic rescue intervention. In total, 135 participants completed pre- and post-intervention surveys and rescue practical testing. Wilcoxon matched pairs signed rank tests were used to assess significant differences pre- and post-intervention and Mann–Whitney tests used to compare groups. Pre-intervention, participants had a low level of rescue knowledge (Mdn = 50) and the relationship between perceived rescue ability and practical rescue testing was weak (rs = 0.33, p ≤ 0.001). Post-intervention, ability to perform a contact tow demonstrated significant improvement (z = − 9.09, p < 0.001, r = − 0.79) and rescue knowledge also improved significantly (Mdn = 100, z = − 9.42, p < 0.001, r = − 0.81). Many young adults lacked both the physical capacity and knowledge required to safely perform a rescue, a factor that may place them at increased drowning risk if they attempt an aquatic rescue. As a rescue based intervention can significantly improve competency of young adults regardless of previous experience and/or qualifications, research needs to consider how best these competencies can be promoted and/or developed with this high risk group.
A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "A consideration of severity is sufficient to focus our prevention efforts," by J. Langley and C. Cryer in the January 2012 issue.
- Authors: Finch, Caroline
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Injury Prevention Vol. 18, no. 5 (2012), p. 356
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
A Longitudinal study of the family physical activity environment and physical activity among youth
- Authors: Cleland, Verity , Timperio, Anna , Salmon, Jo , Hume, Clare , Telford, Amanda , Crawford, David
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: American Journal of Health Promotion Vol. 25, no. 3 (2011), p. 159-167
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Purpose. Although the family environment is a potentially important influence on children's physical activity (PA), prospective data investigating these associations are lacking. This study aimed to examine the longitudinal relationship between the family environment and PA among youth. Design. A 5-year prospective cohort study. Setting. Nineteen randomly selected public schools in Melbourne, Australia. Subjects. Families of 5- to 6-year-old (n = 190) and 10- to 12-year-old (n = 350) children. Measures. In 2001, parents reported their participation in PA, family-based PA, and support and reinforcement for their child's PA. In 2001, 2004, and 2006, moderate to vigorous intensity PA (MVPA) was assessed among youth using accelerometers. Weekend and "critical window" (after school until 6:00 P.M.) MVPA were examined because we hypothesized that the family environment would most likely influence these behaviors. Analysis. Generalized estimating equations predicted average change in MVPA over 5 years from baseline family environment factors. Results. Maternal role modeling was positively associated with boys' critical window and weekend (younger boys) MVPA. Paternal reinforcement of PA was positively associated with critical window and weekend MVPA among all boys, and paternal direct support was positively associated with weekend MVPA (older boys). Among girls, maternal coparticipation in PA predicted critical window MVPA, and sibling coparticipation in PA was directly associated with weekend MVPA (younger girls). Conclusions. Longitudinal relationships, although weak in magnitude, were observed between the family environment and MVPA among youth. Interventions promoting maternal role modeling, paternal reinforcement of and support for PA, and Maternal and sibling coparticipation in PA with youth are warranted
A model of home-based care for people with disabilities : Better practice in rural Thailand
- Authors: Wanaratwichit, Civilaiz , Hills, Danny , Cruickshank, Mary , Newman, Barbara
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management Vol. 10, no. 2 (2015), p. 44-51
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description:
Background and objective: People with disabilities living in rural areas often require considerable support to meet their complex needs. This study investigated a best practice model in home-based care for people with disabilities in rural Thailand.
Design and Setting: A case study method was adopted to investigate a best practice model of home-based care for people with disabilities in Nakhonthai District, Phitsanulok Province, Thailand. Data were collected from 30 participants through in-depth interviews, focus groups, direct observation and document analysis. Content and thematic analyses were conducted for qualitative data. The Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test was used for the outcome measurement of activities of daily living (ADL) scores.
Results: This model of home-based care for people with disabilities, as an integrated network model, brings together the community, health professionals and other organisations. The role of trained community health volunteers was mainly to deliver home-based personal care for people with disabilities, while health professionals focused mainly on controlling the quality of care, managing the knowledge and skills of volunteers, and co-ordinating the network. The difference between ADL scores before and after the implementation of the model (n=20) was statistically significant (p<0.01). Conclusion: This best practice model of home-based care for people with disabilities in rural Thailand shifts responsibility in the main service decisions from professionals to the community and other stakeholders and engages and empowered all stakeholders in the provision, co-ordination and management of care.
A molecular survey of tick-borne pathogens from ticks collected in Central Queensland
- Authors: Chalada, Melissa , Stenos, John , Vincent, Gemma , Barker, Dayana , Bradbury, Richard
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Vector-borne and zoonotic diseases Vol. 18, no. 3 (2018), p. 151-163
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Central Queensland (CQ) is a large and isolated, low population density, remote tropical region of Australia with a varied environment. The region has a diverse fauna and several species of ticks that feed upon that fauna. This study examined 518 individual ticks: 177 Rhipicephalus sanguineus (brown dog tick), 123 Haemaphysalis bancrofti (wallaby tick), 102 Rhipicephalus australis (Australian cattle tick), 47 Amblyomma triguttatum (ornate kangaroo tick), 57 Ixodes holocyclus (paralysis tick), 9 Bothriocroton tachyglossi (CQ short-beaked echidna tick), and 3 Ornithodoros capensis (seabird soft tick). Tick midguts were pooled by common host or environment and screened for four genera of tick-borne zoonoses by PCR and sequencing. The study examined a total of 157 midgut pools of which 3 contained DNA of Coxiella burnetii, 13 Rickettsia gravesii, 1 Rickettsia felis, and 4 other Rickettsia spp. No Borrelia spp. or Babesia spp. DNA were recovered.
A multifactorial evaluation of illness risk factors in athletes preparing for the Summer Olympic Games
- Authors: Drew, Michael , Vlahovich, Nicole , Hughes, David , Appaneal, Renee , Peterson, Kirsten , Burke, Louise , Lundy, Bronwen , Toomey, Mary , Watts, David , Lovell, Gregory , Praet, Stephan , Halson, Shona , Colbey, Candice , Manzanero, Silvia , Welvaert, Marijke , West, Nic , Pyne, David , Waddington, Gordon
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 20, no. 8 (2017), p. 745-750
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Objectives Illness can disrupt training and competition performance of athletes. Few studies have quantified the relative contribution of the known medical, behavioural and lifestyle risk factors. Design Cross-sectional. Methods Olympic athletes from 11 sports (n = 221) were invited to complete questionnaires administered nine months before the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. These included the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Questionnaire (DASS-21), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Dispositional Resilience Scale (DRS), Recovery-Stress Questionnaire (REST-Q-52 item), Low Energy in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q), a modified Personal and Household Hygiene questionnaire, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and custom-made questionnaires on probiotic usage and travel. An illness (case) was defined as an event which limited training or competition for greater hours in the prior month. Odds ratios and attributable fractions in the population (AFP) were utilised for categorical variables with independent t-tests or Wilcoxon rank-sum for continuous variables. Results Eighty-one athletes responded (male, n = 26; female, n = 55). There were 16 illness cases and 65 controls. Female athletes were at higher odds of illness (OR = 9.4, 95%CI 1.3–410, p = 0.01, AFP = 0.84). Low energy availability (LEAF-Q score ≥8: OR = 7.4, 95%CI 0.78–352, p = 0.04, AFP = 0.76), depression symptoms (DASS-21: depression score >4, OR = 8.4, 95%CI 1.1–59, p < 0.01; AFP = 0.39) and higher perceived stress (PSS: 10-item, p = 0.04) were significantly associated with illness. Conclusions Female sex, low energy availability, and mental health are associated with sports incapacity (time loss) due to illness. Low energy availability had high attributable fractions in the population and stands out as a primary association with illness. © 2017
A narrative review of pharmacotherapy treatment for opioid addiction and application in a community-based model in Victoria, Australia
- Authors: Vishwanath, Tejaswini , Cash, Penelope , Penney, Wendy , Cant, Robyn
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction Vol. 18, no. 1 (2020), p. 66-76
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: To review the literature regarding the value and consumer focus of research on opioid replacement therapy (ORT) programs, relevant to the Australian rural context and community pharmacy. We conducted a narrative review of literature published between 1995 and 2015, searching EBSCOhost, PubMed and Google Scholar. Three authors collaborated to screen and synthesise studies. Effectiveness, cost affordability, diversion and retention benefits were reported from pharmacological or prescribers’ or dispensers’ standpoint. Research was fragmented and evaluated contributions of these individual types of stakeholders with less discussion of consumers, or consumers’ everyday experiences of ORT. No studies took into account consumers’ psychosocial aspects or power discourses. We found ORT as a beneficial treatment for opioid dependence is well researched, although overall Australian program evaluation was lacking. A gap within ORT literature should be addressed by making consumer experiences central in designs for future research and for program evaluation. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
A narrative synthesis of childhood injury prevention programs for pre-school children
- Authors: Peck, Blake , Terry, Daniel , Ervin, Kaye
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 8, no. 6 (2020), p. 193-197
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Childhood injury is the leading cause of death and ongoing disability worldwide. While a cornerstone of injury prevention is education, current injury surveillance data is insufficiently nuanced to inform judgement of their effectiveness. A subsequent dearth of research evidence in the domain of childhood injury means that debate continues in regard to the most appropriate age or developmental stage of the child, as well as the most effective pedagogical approach. When considered together these issues culminate in programs that risk being inadequately targeted that are unable to justify their success in reducing injury and consequently are not sustainable. This paper reports the outcomes of a narrative synthesis approach to the review of literature in the area if childhood injury prevention programs targeted at pre-school children. Three studies met the inclusion criteria. The included studies were of poor quality and lacked convincing evidence of effectiveness due to the methods of evaluation, which in turn have shown to impact on the overall sustainability of each specific program. This paper culminates in recognition that there is insufficient evidence of the effectiveness of childhood injury prevention programs for pre-school children, requiring further high-quality studies to determine their overall effectiveness and longer-term sustainability. Copyright © 2020 by authors, all rights reserved.
A new scale for disaster nursing core competencies : Development and psychometric testing
- Authors: Al Thobaity, Abdulellah , Williams, Brett , Plummer, Virginia
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australasian Emergency Nursing Journal Vol. 19, no. 1 (2016), p. 11-19
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: All nurses must have core competencies in preparing for, responding to and recovering from a disaster. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), as in many other countries, disaster nursing core competencies are not fully understood and lack reliable, validated tools. Thus, it is imperative to develop a scale for exploring disaster nursing core competencies, roles and barriers in the KSA. Objectives: This study's objective is to develop a valid, reliable scale that identifies and explores core competencies of disaster nursing, nurses' roles in disaster management and barriers to developing disaster nursing in the KSA. Methods: This study developed a new scale testing its validity and reliability. A principal component analysis (PCA) was used to develop and test psychometric properties of the new scale. The PCA used a purposive sample of nurses from emergency departments in two hospitals in the KSA. Participants rated 93 paper-based, self-report questionnaire items from 1 to 10 on a Likert scale. PCA using Varimax rotation was conducted to explore factors emerging from responses. Findings: The study's participants were 132 nurses (66% response rate). PCA of the 93 questionnaire items revealed 49 redundant items (which were deleted) and 3 factors with eigenvalues of >1. The remaining 44 items accounted for 77.3% of the total variance. The overall Cronbach's alpha was 0.96 for all factors: 0.98 for Factor 1, 0.92 for Factor 2 and 0.86 for Factor 3. Conclusions: This study provided a validated, reliable scale for exploring nurses' core competencies, nurses' roles and barriers to developing disaster nursing in the KSA. The new scale has many implications, such as for improving education, planning and curricula. © 2015.
A new way of categorising recurrent, repeat and multiple sports injuries for injury incidence studies - the subsequent injury categorisation (SIC) model
- Authors: Finch, Caroline , Cook, Jill , Gabbe, Belinda , Orchard, John
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australasian Epidemiologist Vol. 22, no. 1 (2015), p. 22-25
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1058737
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Injuries are a major contributor to healthcare costs and individuals' health and disability status. In response to the overall public health burden, injuries were one of the first medical conditions identified as an Australian National Health Priority Area. Our previous epidemiological research has shown that sports injuries, especially those sustained through formal and highly competitive sport, are often associated with considerable pain and dysfunction. They have significant ongoing impact on quality of life and need for medical treatment, including in the hospital setting.They are also a major barrier towards both the uptake and continuance of health-generating physical activity guidance.
A patient agent to manage blockchains for remote patient monitoring
- Authors: Uddin, Ashraf , Stranieri, Andrew , Gondal, Iqbal , Balasubramanian, Venki
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings
- Relation: 7th International Conference on Global Telehealth, GT 2018; Colombo, Sri Lanka; 10th-11th October 2018; published in Studies in Health Technology and Informatics Vol. 254, p. 105-115
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Continuous monitoring of patient's physiological signs has the potential to augment traditional medical practice, particularly in developing countries that have a shortage of healthcare professionals. However, continuously streamed data presents additional security, storage and retrieval challenges and further inhibits initiatives to integrate data to form electronic health record systems. Blockchain technologies enable data to be stored securely and inexpensively without recourse to a trusted authority. Blockchain technologies also promise to provide architectures for electronic health records that do not require huge government expenditure that challenge developing nations. However, Blockchain deployment, particularly with streamed data challenges existing Blockchain algorithms that take too long to place data in a block, and have no mechanism to determine whether every data point in every stream should be stored in such a secure way. This article presents an architecture that involves a Patient Agent, coordinating the insertion of continuous data streams into Blockchains to form an electronic health record.
- Description: Studies in Health Technology and Informatics