Evidence-based health informatics as the foundation for the COVID-19 response: a joint call for action

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State: Public
Version: Final published version
License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Serval ID
serval:BIB_40EF3FA1CC06
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Evidence-based health informatics as the foundation for the COVID-19 response: a joint call for action
Journal
Methods of Information in Medicine
Author(s)
Fernandez-Luque Luis, Kushniruk Andre, Georgiou Andrew, Basu Arindam, Petersen Carolyn, Ronquillo Charlene, Paton Chris, Nohr Christian, Kuziemsky Craig, Alhuwail Dari, Skiba Diane, Huesing Elaine, Garbarron Elia, Borycki Elizabeth, Magrabi Farah, Denecke Kerstin, Peute Linda, Topaz Max, Al-Shorbaji Najeeb, Lacroix Paulette, Marcilly Romaric, Cornet Ronald, Iyengar Sriram, Gogia Shashi, Kobayashi Shinji, Deserno Thomas, Mettler Tobias, Vimarlund Vivian, Zhu Xinxin
ISSN
0026-1270
ISSN-L
0026-1270
Publication state
Published
Issued date
11/05/2021
Volume
59
Number
6
Pages
183-192
Language
english
Abstract
Background: As a major public health crisis, the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic demonstrates the urgent need for safe, effective, and evidence-based implementations of digital health. The urgency stems from the frequent tendency to focus attention on seemingly high promising digital health interventions despite being poorly validated in times of crisis.
Aim: In this paper, we describe a joint call for action to use and leverage evidence- based health informatics as the foundation for the COVID-19 response and public health interventions. Tangible examples are provided for how the working groups and special interest groups of the International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) are helping to build an evidence-based response to this crisis.
Methods: Leaders of working and special interest groups of the IMIA, a total of 26 groups, were contacted via e-mail to provide a summary of the scientific-based efforts taken to combat COVID-19 pandemic and participate in the discussion toward the creation of this manuscript. A total of 13 groups participated in this manuscript.
Results: Various efforts were exerted by members of IMIA including (1) developing evidence-based guidelines for the design and deployment of digital health solutions during COVID-19; (2) surveying clinical informaticians internationally about key digital solutions deployed to combat COVID-19 and the challenges faced when implementing and using them; and (3) offering necessary resources for clinicians about the use of digital tools in clinical practice, education, and research during COVID-19.
Discussion: Rigor and evidence need to be taken into consideration when designing, implementing, and using digital tools to combat COVID-19 to avoid delays and unforeseen negative consequences. It is paramount to employ a multidisciplinary approach for the development and implementation of digital health tools that have been rapidly deployed in response to the pandemic bearing in mind human factors, ethics, data privacy, and the diversity of context at the local, national, and international levels. The training and capacity building of front-line workers is crucial and must be linked to a clear strategy for evaluation of ongoing experiences.
Keywords
mobile health, medical informatics, public health, COVID-19
Open Access
Yes
Create date
28/04/2021 8:03
Last modification date
21/11/2022 8:21
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