Research Picks, including "Personal healthcare records research: past, present and new dimensions"

Personal health records

Used properly, personal health records (PHRs) are an invaluable tool for managing healthcare provision, making interactions with patients smoother and more efficient, and in general enhancing the efficacy of medicine. However, rare is the centre, health authority, or medical practice where the full potential of PHRs is realised and of greater concern there is little connection between disparate centres that an individual patient might use. Researchers in Denmark and Pakistan have looked at the research literature into the use of PHRs and suggest that of hundreds of papers there is a small core that doesn’t offer somewhat unclear themes and blurred lines between perception, realisation and outcome. From this core, the researchers that useful new approaches to PHR design and development and ultimately application might be extracted to the benefit of patients and their healthcare workers.
Koumaditis, K. and Hussain, T. (2018) ‘Personal healthcare records research: past, present and new dimensions‘, Int. J. Healthcare Technology and Management, Vol. 17, No. 1, pp.1-28.


Self-sufficient seniors

Education plays a crucial role in how self-sufficient are people over the age of sixties, according to research from Iceland. People with a university education appear to have greater belief in their self-efficacy whereas those who left education at a lower level are often found to need great outside support. However, while older people with secondary or university education have a positive view of their abilities to control their own health, they often experience information barriers that can reduce the options available to them in terms of knowledge enhancement for healthy behaviour. “The policy implications of the findings is that health authorities and professionals need to work together to find ways to stimulate senior citizens health competence and motivation towards healthy lifestyles, as well as to make available information about healthy living that can be easily reached by them, preferably for free,” the researchers conclude.
Pálsdóttir, Á. and Einarsdóttir, S.B. (2017) ‘Senior citizens – perceived health self-efficacy and information barriers‘, Int. J. Telemedicine and Clinical Practices, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp.318-342.


I want!

Anthropomorphised animals and products nudge children to pester their parents and carers to make purchases they would not otherwise make, according to business research from business. The team has quantified this assertion through two independent studies and a scale to represent degree of anthropomorphism. Anthropomorphic animals exploited in advertising and marketing seems to be more effective in nudging children to pester, the team found. The research represents a new avenue for understanding consumerism, the team suggests, but in capturing the opinions of children aged 7-12 years and their parents, they have useful new data for further investigation.
Vandana and Kumar, V. (2018) ‘Mom I want it: impact of anthropomorphism on pester power among children‘, Int. J. Business Innovation and Research, Vol. 16, No. 2, pp.168-185.


Smears on the glass ceiling

Is the notion of a “glass ceiling” precluding certain demographic groups, ethnic and other minorities, and women from achieving greater success in business and other areas of work life a realistic metaphor. New research confirms that gender bias continues to limit career satisfaction experiences. However, masculine versus feminine personality traits represent a key individual difference that can help negate glass ceiling beliefs, the work suggests. Ultimately, how much of a barrier is represented by the glass ceiling to a person’s career seems to be reflected in how well developed are their masculine and feminine traits.
Blessie, P.R. and Supriya, M.V. (2018) ‘Masculine and feminine traits and career satisfaction: moderation effect of glass ceiling belief‘, Int. J. Business Innovation and Research, Vol. 16, No. 2, pp.155-167.