Background Visual analytics (VA) promotes the understanding of data with visual, interactive techniques, using analytic and visual engines. The analytic engine includes automated techniques, whereas common visual outputs include flow maps and spatiotemporal hot spots. Objective This scoping review aims to address a gap in the literature, with the specific objective to synthesize literature on the use of VA tools, techniques, and frameworks in interrelated health care areas of population health and health services research (HSR). Methods Using the 2018 PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines, the review focuses on peer-reviewed journal articles and full conference papers from 2005 to March 2019. Two researchers were involved at each step, and another researcher arbitrated disagreements. A comprehensive abstraction platform captured data from diverse bodies of the literature, primarily from the computer and health sciences. Results After screening 11,310 articles, findings from 55 articles were synthesized under the major headings of visual and analytic engines, visual presentation characteristics, tools used and their capabilities, application to health care areas, data types and sources, VA frameworks, frameworks used for VA applications, availability and innovation, and co-design initiatives. We found extensive application of VA methods used in areas of epidemiology, surveillance and modeling, health services access, use, and cost analyses. All articles included a distinct analytic and visualization engine, with varying levels of detail provided. Most tools were prototypes, with 5 in use at the time of publication. Seven articles presented methodological frameworks. Toward consistent reporting, we present a checklist, with an expanded definition for VA applications in health care, to assist researchers in sharing research for greater replicability. We summarized the results in a Tableau dashboard. Conclusions With the increasing availability and generation of big health care data, VA is a fast-growing method applied to complex health care data. What makes VA innovative is its capability to process multiple, varied data sources to demonstrate trends and patterns for exploratory analysis, leading to knowledge generation and decision support. This is the first review to bridge a critical gap in the literature on VA methods applied to the areas of population health and HSR, which further indicates possible avenues for the adoption of these methods in the future. This review is especially important in the wake of COVID-19 surveillance and response initiatives, where many VA products have taken center stage. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.2196/14019
Background Simple visualizations in health research data, such as scatter plots, heat maps, and bar charts, typically present relationships between 2 variables. Interactive visualization methods allow for multiple related facets such as numerous risk factors to be studied simultaneously, leading to data insights through exploring trends and patterns from complex big health care data. The technique presents a powerful tool that can be used in combination with statistical analysis for knowledge discovery, hypothesis generation and testing, and decision support. Objective The primary objective of this scoping review is to describe and summarize the evidence of interactive visualization applications, methods, and tools being used in population health and health services research (HSR) and their subdomains in the last 15 years, from January 1, 2005, to March 30, 2019. Our secondary objective is to describe the use cases, metrics, frameworks used, settings, target audience, goals, and co-design of applications. Methods We adapted standard scoping review guidelines with a peer-reviewed search strategy: 2 independent researchers at each stage of screening and abstraction, with a third independent researcher to arbitrate conflicts and validate findings. A comprehensive abstraction platform was built to capture the data from diverse bodies of literature, primarily from the computer science and health care sectors. After screening 11,310 articles, we present findings from 56 applications from interrelated areas of population health and HSR, as well as their subdomains such as epidemiologic surveillance, health resource planning, access, and use and costs among diverse clinical and demographic populations. Results In this companion review to our earlier systematic synthesis of the literature on visual analytics applications, we present findings in 6 major themes of interactive visualization applications developed for 8 major problem categories. We found a wide application of interactive visualization methods, the major ones being epidemiologic surveillance for infectious disease, resource planning, health service monitoring and quality, and studying medication use patterns. The data sources included mostly secondary administrative and electronic medical record data. In addition, at least two-thirds of the applications involved participatory co-design approaches while introducing a distinct category, embedded research, within co-design initiatives. These applications were in response to an identified need for data-driven insights into knowledge generation and decision support. We further discuss the opportunities stemming from the use of interactive visualization methods in studying global health; inequities, including social determinants of health; and other related areas. We also allude to the challenges in the uptake of these methods. Conclusions Visualization in health has strong historical roots, with an upward trend in the use of these methods in population health and HSR. Such applications are being fast used by academic and health care agencies for knowledge discovery, hypotheses generation, and decision support. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.2196/14019
Context: COVID-19 led to a rapid uptake of virtual care appointments (telephone and video) in primary care (PC). Decisions on the future of virtual care need to consider patients' experiences. Objective: To understand patients' experience with virtual care appointments. Study Design: Mixed methods study, presentation focus on qualitative data. A semi-structured interview guide was co-created with patient advisors. A broad recruitment strategy included emailing patient and community organizations, research team network, and social media. Data analyzed using thematic analysis. Participant Eligibility: At least one synchronous virtual encounter in PC since March 2020. Setting: Ontario (Canada) offers universal coverage for PC visits with no co-payment. Results: N=55 interviews were conducted between January 2021 and March 2021. Technology: Telephone was preferred modality. Access: Virtual care was convenient and saved patients' time and money. Appointment scheduling & booking processes were barriers. Privacy and Confidentiality: No concerns about privacy & confidentiality in patients' environment, yet participants wanted assurance about privacy & confidentiality in providers' environment. Communication: Providers' detailed explanations, patients' health literacy levels, and asynchronous methods of sharing information and documents before and/or after appointments facilitated good experiences. Lack of body-language was a barrier. Therapeutic Relationship: Strong preexisting relationships facilitated good virtual care experiences. Participants expressed concerns about long-term erosion of relationship when using virtual care. Whole-Person Care: Virtual care facilitated easy inclusion of family members in appointments. However, virtual care appointments were more problem-focused and included less conversation topics outside of specific problem than in-person appointments. Quality of Care: Most participants reported quality of virtual care was similar to in-person appointments; although, a few participants reported it was worse. Conclusions: Virtual care was
BACKGROUND Simple visualizations in health research data, such as scatter plots, heat maps and bar charts typically present relationships between two variables. Interactive visualization methods allow for multiple related facets, such as multiple risk factors, to be studied simultaneously, leading to data insights through exploring trends and patterns from complex big healthcare data. The technique presents a powerful tool that can be used in combination with statistical analysis for knowledge discovery, hypothesis generation and testing, and decision support. OBJECTIVE The primary objective of this scoping review is to describe and summarize the evidence of interactive visualization applications, methods and tools being employed in population health and HSR, and their sub-domains in the last 15 years, from 1 January 2005 to 30 March 2019. Our secondary objective is to describe the use cases, metrics, frameworks used, settings, target audience, goals and co-design of applications. METHODS We adapted standard scoping review guidelines, with a peer reviewed search strategy, two independent researchers at each stage of screening and abstraction, with a third independent researcher to arbitrate conflicts and validate findings. A comprehensive abstraction platform was built to capture the data from diverse bodies of literature, primarily from the computer science and health care sector. After screening 11,310 articles, we present findings from 56 applications from interrelated areas of population health and health services research, and their sub-domains such as epidemiologic surveillance, health resource planning, access, utilization and costs, among diverse clinical and demographic populations. RESULTS As a companion review to our earlier systematic synthesis of literature on visual analytic applications, we present findings in six major themes of interactive visualization applications developed for eight major problem categories. We found a wide application of interactive visualization methods, the major being epidemiologic surveillance for infectious disease, resource planning, health service monitoring and quality and studying medication use patterns. Data sources included mostly secondary administrative and electronic medical record data. Additionally, at least two-third applications involved participatory co-design approaches, while introducing a distinct category ‘embedded research’ within co-design initiatives. These applications were in response to an identified need for data-driven insights towards knowledge generation and decision support. We further discuss the opportunities from the use of interactive visualization methods towards studying global health, inequities including social determinants of health, and other related areas. We also allude to the challenges in the uptake of these methods. CONCLUSIONS Visualization in health has strong historical roots, with an upward trend in the use of these methods in population health and health services research. Such applications are being fast utilized by academic and health care agencies for knowledge discovery, hypotheses generation and decision support. CLINICALTRIAL Protocol registration: RR1-10.2196/14019 Related first review: RR2-10.2196/14019 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-10.2196/14019
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