Biomaterial Database

Health information technology in primary health care in developing countries: a literature review. 2004

Elaine Tomasi, and Luiz Augusto Facchini, and Maria de Fatima Santos Maia

Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96030-002, Brazil. etomasi@epidemio-ufpel.org.br

This paper explores the debate and initiatives concerning the use of information technology (IT) in primary health care in developing countries. The literature from 1992-2002 was identified from searches of the MEDLINE, Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Literature Database (LILACS), Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases. The search identified 884 references, 350 of which were classified according to the scheme described by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). For the analysis of advantages, problems and perspectives of IT applications and systems, 52 articles were selected according to their potential contribution to the primary health-care processes in non-developed countries. These included: 10 on electronic patient registries (EPR), 22 on process and programmatic action evaluation and management systems (PPAEM) and 20 on clinical decision-support systems (CDS). The main advantages, limitations and perspectives are discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008490	Medical Informatics	The field of information science concerned with the analysis and dissemination of medical data through the application of computers to various aspects of health care and medicine.	Clinical Informatics,Medical Computer Science,Medical Information Science,Computer Science, Medical,Health Informatics,Health Information Technology,Informatics, Clinical,Informatics, Medical,Information Science, Medical,Health Information Technologies,Informatics, Health,Information Technology, Health,Medical Computer Sciences,Medical Information Sciences,Science, Medical Computer,Technology, Health Information
D011320	Primary Health Care	Care which provides integrated, accessible health care services by clinicians who are accountable for addressing a large majority of personal health care needs, developing a sustained partnership with patients, and practicing in the context of family and community. (JAMA 1995;273(3):192)	Primary Care,Primary Healthcare,Care, Primary,Care, Primary Health,Health Care, Primary,Healthcare, Primary
D003906	Developing Countries	Countries in the process of change with economic growth, that is, an increase in production, per capita consumption, and income. The process of economic growth involves better utilization of natural and human resources, which results in a change in the social, political, and economic structures.	LMICs,Less-Developed Countries,Low Income Countries,Low and Middle Income Countries,Lower-Middle-Income Country,Middle Income Countries,Third-World Countries,Under-Developed Countries,Developing Nations,Least Developed Countries,Less-Developed Nations,Third-World Nations,Under-Developed Nations,Countries, Middle Income,Countries, Third-World,Country, Least Developed,Country, Less-Developed,Country, Low Income,Country, Lower-Middle-Income,Country, Middle Income,Country, Third-World,Country, Under-Developed,Developed Country, Least,Developing Country,Developing Nation,Least Developed Country,Less Developed Countries,Less Developed Nations,Less-Developed Country,Less-Developed Nation,Low Income Country,Lower Middle Income Country,Lower-Middle-Income Countries,Middle Income Country,Nation, Less-Developed,Nation, Third-World,Nation, Under-Developed,Third World Countries,Third World Nations,Third-World Country,Third-World Nation,Under Developed Countries,Under Developed Nations,Under-Developed Country,Under-Developed Nation
D004059	Diffusion of Innovation	The broad dissemination of new ideas, procedures, techniques, materials, and devices and the degree to which these are accepted and used.	Innovation Diffusion,Diffusion, Innovation
D006285	Health Planning	Planning for needed health and/or welfare services and facilities.	Health and Welfare Planning,National Health Planning and Resources Development Act of 1974,Planning, Health and Welfare,State Health Planning, United States,PL93-641,Public Law 93-641,Planning, Health,Public Law 93 641
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D016347	Medical Records Systems, Computerized	Computer-based systems for input, storage, display, retrieval, and printing of information contained in a patient's medical record.	Automated Medical Records Systems,Computerized Medical Records Systems,Automated Medical Record System,Automated Medical Record Systems,Automated Medical Records System,Computerized Medical Record System,Computerized Medical Record Systems,Computerized Medical Records System,Computerized Patient Medical Records,Medical Record System, Automated,Medical Record System, Computerized,Medical Record Systems, Automated,Medical Record Systems, Computerized,Medical Records System, Automated,Medical Records System, Computerized,Medical Records Systems, Automated
D017216	Telemedicine	Delivery of health services via remote telecommunications. This includes interactive consultative and diagnostic services.	Tele-Care,Tele-ICU,Tele-Intensive Care,Tele-Referral,Telecare,Virtual Medicine,Mobile Health,Telehealth,eHealth,mHealth,Health, Mobile,Medicine, Virtual,Tele Care,Tele ICU,Tele Intensive Care,Tele Referral,Tele-Referrals
D020000	Decision Support Systems, Clinical	Computer-based information systems used to integrate clinical and patient information and provide support for decision-making in patient care.	Clinical Decision Support System,Clinical Decision Support Systems,Clinical Decision Support,Decision Support, Clinical,Clinical Decision Supports,Decision Supports, Clinical,Support, Clinical Decision,Supports, Clinical Decision