PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to identify nursing informatics competencies of nurses working for public health centers in Chungcheongnam-do. METHODS: Data were collected from June 10 to July 25, 2012 using the Nursing Informatics Competencies Questionnaire (NICQ). Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, chi2-test, ANOVA and Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Nursing informatics competencies of the subjects showed a mean score of 3.3+/-1.0 out of 5. As for scores of individual categories, the score for computer skills competencies was 3.3+/-1.0, informatics knowledge competencies 3.4+/-0.9, and informatics skills competencies 3.0+/-0.9. Nursing informatics competencies were positively correlated with the subjects' ages (r=.65, p<.001), computer usage hours (r=.23, p = .015), levels of demand for informatics knowledge (r=.51, p<.001), and informatics skills education (r=.78, p<.001). CONCLUSION: Nursing informatics is required to be connected with job training or in-service education on account of its growing necessity for public health nurses. It is also essential to develop programs for strengthening informatics competencies reflecting sub-categories of educational needs.
Informatics ; Nursing Informatics ; Public Health ; Public Health Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires

This paper provides an introduction to Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and how they can be used. It reviews the current state of GIS use in health care before identifying the barriers to more pervasive use of GIS in health. Finally, it makes recommendations for the direction of health GIS research over the next decade and concludes with a call to action to health informatics researchers to stop ignoring a tool and methodology that has such immense potential for improving the health of our communities.
Delivery of Health Care ; Geographic Information Systems ; Informatics ; Information Systems ; Medical Informatics ; Public Health ; Public Health Informatics

This paper provides an introduction to Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and how they can be used. It reviews the current state of GIS use in health care before identifying the barriers to more pervasive use of GIS in health. Finally, it makes recommendations for the direction of health GIS research over the next decade and concludes with a call to action to health informatics researchers to stop ignoring a tool and methodology that has such immense potential for improving the health of our communities.
Delivery of Health Care ; Geographic Information Systems ; Informatics ; Information Systems ; Medical Informatics ; Public Health ; Public Health Informatics

China ; Humans ; Medical Informatics ; Public Health

Disease Outbreaks ; Humans ; Population Surveillance ; Public Health Informatics

OBJECTIVESTo study methodologies and relevant data-element specifications for basic dataset development in China public health information system construction

METHODSThe goals and scopes were determined through data-viewing analysis, while the function model was developed through information viewing analysis. The components and the structure of the data sets were also identified to distill data elements.

RESULTS50 basic datasets were developed and 1513 data elements were determined in 8 main domains and one public domain in China's public health information system. The 8 domains included Expanded Immunization Program (including 7 Basic Datasets and 326 data elements), Occupational Health and Poisoning (5 Basic Datasets and 158 data elements developed), Laboratory Management (9 Basic Datasets and 118 data elements included), Public Health Emergencies (including 3 Basic Datasets and 47 data elements), Infectious Disease Surveillance (4 Basic Datasets and 177 data elements developed), Non-Chronic Disease Surveillance (3 Basic Datasets and 64 data elements developed), Maternal and Child Health (totally 8 Basic Datasets and 368 data elements developed) and Environment Health (including 4 Basic Datasets and 72 data elements). One common domain consisted of 7 basic datasets and 183 data elements.

CONCLUSIONStandardizing basic datasets in public health information systems is an essential foundation in facilitating information system planning and the effective utilization of resources.

Information Services ; Information Systems ; standards ; Public Health ; statistics & numerical data ; Public Health Informatics

Medical modernization is based on the informatization. This paper introduces the present situation of medical modernization construction in Zhejiang Province, including provincial health E-government affairs, the public health system, digital hospitals, community health services, and the new rural cooperative medical system, and analyses the problems exiting, and points out the future construction tasks.
China ; Community Health Services ; Health Care Coalitions ; Medical Informatics ; Public Health

OBJECTIVETo develop a conceptual framework for decision-making data elements (indicator) in public health through determining its dimensions, sub-dimensions and their interrelationships.

METHODSOn the basis of literatures review, conceptual analysis and health determinant models, a conceptual framework was set up. This framework construction followed five principles: evidence-based, applicable, public health relevant, systemic and extensible. While, with the principles of conceptualization, objective-orientation, independence, and number-restriction, the domain and subdomains were also developed.

RESULTSA conceptual framework consisting of five domains and 20 sub-domains was developed. The 5 domains were health status, non-medical health determinants, public health system performance, the resources of public health system, and characteristics of community and assurance system. The health outcome included three subdomains of health status, functional status, and death; Non-medicine health determinants domain consisted of health behavior, working and living conditions, personal resources and environmental factors; performance domain was made up of effectiveness, accessibility, efficiency, responsibility and safety; resources domain had institution resources, human resources, financial resources, equipment resources and information resources; The characteristics of community and assurance system domain was the last domain which comprises characteristics of community, public health related policy and assurance system. The complicated relationship between these domains was also described.

CONCLUSIONAs the abstraction of public health system, this conceptual framework comprehensively depicts the components of public health system and complicated process of public health system. This framework conforms to the medical care quality model which is made up of structure, process, intermediate results and outcomes.

OBJECTIVETo improve data unified descriptions, identification, query and management in public health service by means of establishing public health information classification framework and coding system.

METHODSData sets created from all fields in public health, scientific research, health management were classified into four layers of frameworks primary class, sub-class, main class and subject areas by means of integration of vertical with horizontal classifications. All these classes were further abstracted, merged and coded by individual characteristics in public health systems.

RESULTS(1) 4 subject areas in diseases control and prevention, public health service, public health management and sanitation surveillance were established including a total of 18 main classes, 49 sub-classes and 205 primary classes. (2) 7 digits and 4 segments (area code, code, disease classification code) were designed including a total of 30 digits multi-classification codes. The purpose of data effectively classifying and coding by application of 50 basic data sets in 9 areas fo public health has been realized.

CONCLUSIONWe believe that this method is of efficiency in data classification and code for public health information communication.