| Abstract [eng] |
Information and communication technologies (ICT) bring a whole new dimension into the healthcare arena by introducing electronic media that open the door to the use of new methodologies. Today, ICT support electronic gathering, storage, processing, and exchange of information to treat disease, prevent illness, promote healthy lifestyle, manage patients with chronic illness, and many other applications [1, 2]. Electronic health (eHealth) has the ability to bridge gaps between patients and doctors, patients and relatives, doctors and administrative staff, and so on. Also, eHealth helps to overcome barriers by means that are significantly different from traditional healthcare solutions [3]. It has paved the way for the adoption of sophisticated forms of healthcare provision based on mobile devices and context-awareness, such as mobile health (mHealth) [4] and smart health (sHealth) [5], which require unprecedentedly complex integration strategies. The advances in healthcare and ICT serve the society as a whole (e.g., patients, healthcare professionals, relatives, and governments) and support the sustainability of healthcare systems. New health ICT systems offer opportunities to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare services through innovative approaches in clinical service delivery, personalized health, and public health, with a wide impact on the well-being of individuals. Clearly, the study of the integration of healthcare solutions based on ICT is a hot topic that deserves attention. [...]. |
