Mikko Korpela

Background Health care activities are influenced by information communication between women during pregnancy, birth and motherhood and skilled birth attendants (SBAs) and further, between the health care workers during the continuum of care. Therefore, effective information communication processes (ICP) within and between health care facilities are...

South Africa is plagued by severe HIV and tuberculosis (TB) epidemics. Despite integration policies, health services' reporting follows largely disease-specific vertical patterns, resulting in parallel data flows. This qualitative case study investigated how the health information system (HIS) is engaged with and perceived by health system employee...

This paper is a reflection on the lessons learnt during an information systems development for development (ISD4D) project in underserved community contexts. The level of participation of health intermediaries and community members is considered for the design of an mHealth application to facilitate access to relevant health information. The paper...

Background Daily activities within a health care organisation are mediated by information communication processes (ICP) involving multiple health care professionals at different levels of care. Effective perinatal management requires critical information to be accurately communicated. If there is a breakdown in this communication patient safety is...

Background and Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to depict the most essential aspects of the “landscape” of authorities, organizations and service flows related with maternal healthcare from the viewpoint of the local communities in the small town of Grabouw in Western Cape, South Africa. Understanding the wider landscape is needed for understan...

Background and Purpose: Information systems that are not perceived useful, might not be used optimally. This can be seen as a waste of valuable resources and investments. The theoretical objective of the study was to see how Hanmer’s Model of Computerized Hospital Information System (CHIS) Use and Perceived Usefulness could be applied in a case in...

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is more and more promoted as a driver and facilitator of economic growth and development in low and middle income countries. ICT for Development (ICT4D) though has mixed successes. Sustainability of solutions and usability respectively usefulness for the intended beneficiaries have been reported as cau...

The fragmented nature of modern healthcare provision makes it increasingly difficult to achieve continuity of care. As a result, strong emphasis is placed on the informational dimension of continuity of care. The importance of keeping medical records is noted. Paper-based methods of recordkeeping are inadequate with regard to supporting information...

Objective: Various benefits are associated with the adoption and meaningful use of health information technologies (HITs) in the healthcare sector. Despite the associated advantages with the adoption and use of HITs, the South African healthcare sector has been slow to adopt HITs, such as electronic record systems. The purpose of this study was to...

Background and purpose: Recent research showed that physicians in Finland were highly critical of their information technology (IT) systems. They were also critical of the methods of collaboration with the developers of the health IT systems (HITS) in use at the time of the questionnaire. This study turned the set-up around and asked systems devel...

Background and Purpose: Information and communication technology (ICT) has the potential to strengthen healthcare service provision, communication, information processing, and management. In developing contexts, great improvements were made towards utilising ICT in healthcare. However, the same factors influencing the provision of healthcare servi...

Information systems in healthcare need to be designed and developed in a collaborative way. However, existing collaborative methodologies for the parallel development of healthcare work and information systems are vague and fragmented. Furthermore, they neither address people-centred healthcare nor limited-resource contexts. In this paper we introd...

There are various benefits associated with the adoption and meaningful use of health information technologies (HITs) in the healthcare sector. Despite these benefits, the South African healthcare sector has been slow to adopt HITs such as electronic record systems. The purpose of this research project was to formulate guidelines to encourage the ad...

Review the history of health informatics in Africa as projected by the HELINA conferences, to draw inferences for the next phase. Summarising from the proceedings of HELINA 93, unpublished programmes and reports of later conferences, abstracts and presentations on the web sites of the most recent conferences, and personal recollections of all but o...

The primary objective of this chapter is to introduce a socio-technical approach called the Activity-Driven (AD) approach to Information Systems Development (ISD) in healthcare and social services. The approach is based on the application of Activity Theory in ISD and on participatory and cooperative design principles. It has been studied and devel...

Socio-technical interaction deals with the understanding of human behaviour in technology-mediated settings. In this research, home-based healthcare was selected as the case and the focus for the development of the practical application was on the needs of care givers. Service design methods were used to obtain a better understanding of the care gi...

Understanding how families manage health and wellbeing related information in their everyday lives is important in the user-centric design of information and communication technology (ICT) supported services. Using activity theory as a conceptual framework, the aim of this exploratory research was to make visible families’ everyday health and wellb...

This paper presents a critical perspective on managing Focus Group Sessions (FGSs) that are focussed on pertinent development issues within socially disadvantaged communities; and particularly investigates the role of the interpreter in facilitating a discourse which extensively takes place outside the usual socio‐cultural domain of the researcher....

Integration of heterogeneous health information systems, including legacy systems, is necessary in the networked health information systems environment. In this position paper, we summarize some central experiences and approaches from health information systems integration project, PlugIT. These experiences and considerations can be applied in deve...

To learn (1) about the kind of experiences that physicians have with participation in healthcare IT development; (2) whether physicians are interested in participating in IT development activities, and if so, how; and (3) the visions that physicians have regarding future IT systems. A web-based questionnaire which was answered by about one-third of...

There is broad agreement that socio-technical approaches to systems analysis and design have not been used to their full potential in the information systems field. There are also a number of trends in information systems development (ISD) that might generate opportunities for greater usage of socio-technical approaches.

The growing interest in ubiquitous wellbeing systems, e.g. personal health records, has revealed questions of designing systems from an individual person's point of view. When developing health and wellbeing systems for individuals we have to make design decisions which are justified by the needs of the individuals. Designing personal systems diffe...

Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli selvittää lääkärien kokemuksia ja näkemyksiä terveydenhuollon tietojärjestelmien kehittämistyöstä ja ‐tarpeista. Aineisto kerättiin keväällä 2010 osana valtakunnallista ”Tietojärjestelmät lääkärin työvälineenä” kyselytutkimusta. Kyselyyn vastasi kolmannes kaikista potilastyötä tekevistä lääkäreistä (n=3929). Tulokset oso...

Healthcare activities rely heavily on socio-technical information systems. Such systems should be developed according to a socio-technical approach. The Activity Driven (AD) approach has been developed to contribute to the early phases of information system development in healthcare. Multi-professional and multi-disciplinary education in teams has...

Software is created by people -- software engineers in cooperation with domain experts, users and other stakeholders--in varied environments, under various conditions. Thus understanding cooperative and human aspects of software development is crucial to comprehend how and which methods and tools are required, to improve the creation and maintenanc...

Information systems are socio-technical systems consisting of people, processes, information and technology. For successfully developing information systems for organizations, the whole context where the system is to be used has to be recognized and understood as well as possible. This is particularly pertinent when developing information systems i...

Information systems are socio-technical systems consisting of people, processes, information and technology. For successfully developing information systems for organizations, the whole context where the system is to be used has to be recognized and understood as well as possible. This is particularly pertinent when developing information systems i...

Modelling the real life plays a significant role in Information Systems Development (ISD). There are several approaches that can be utilized, with different emphases on methods and notations. Some of them are well-known, like the traditional process modelling approach, while some newer ones are not widely known, like the Activity Driven Approach. I...

Home based health care (HBHC) is advocated by the WHO "to ensure better accessibility to effective and efficient health care in community and home-settings to improve health and well-being, and contribute to morbidity and mortality reduction". In South Africa the government and many other role players see an increasingly important role for HBHC. Ma...

Healthcare information systems are accused of poor usability even in the popular media in Finland. Doctors especially have been very critical and actively expressed their opinions in public. User involvement and user-centered design methods are seen as the key solution to usability problems. In this paper we describe a research case where participa...

Paper-based techniques of record keeping are contributing greatly to the discontinuity of patient care among healthcare providers. To achieve continuity, access to the information contained in medical records collected by various healthcare providers is necessary. To improve the sharing of information contained in these medical records the use of e...

Developers of software applications entering new markets want to know: “Where are our users (more formally, which actors in which organizations will benefit from using our products)? Where do they need our products (more formally, in which processes will the actors benefit from using the products)? Where are our customers (more formally, who has th...

The China-Finland e-Health Partnership is a joint research project between Finnish and Chinese counterparts. The aim of the project is to improve information sharing in healthcare. The project was approved as part of the bilateral governmental China-Finland Science and Technology Programme. The research institutions in Finland are the University of...

The design and development of information systems should focus on a wider context than merely one user group or organization. This is particularly the case with systems integration. A tentative description of the activity network, information needs, and user requirements should be acquired before any major changes are planned. Relatively rapid yet...

Introduction. The purpose of information systems is to facilitate work activities: here we consider how Activity Theory can be applied in information systems development. Method. The requirements for an analytical model for emancipatory, work-oriented information systems research and practice are specified. Previous research work in Activity Theory...

Interoperability of applications in health care is faced with various needs by patients, health professionals, organizations and policy makers. A combination of existing and new applications is a necessity. Hospitals are in a position to drive many integration solutions, but need approaches which combine local, regional and national requirements an...

Introduction. The purpose of information systems is to facilitate work activities: here we consider how Activity Theory can be applied in information systems development. Method. The requirements for an analytical model for emancipatory, work-oriented information systems research and practice are specified. Previous research work in Activity Theor...

Information system (IS) is a complicated structure of social and technical systems. They are part of every organization in western and developing countries. Uncertainty has always been a part of software and information system development, and working globally increases the uncertainty. To know some basic factors of the IS context, the interconnect...

In this paper we search for answers to the question: Can information systems development (ISD) in Africa by African IS practitioners contribute to human development in Africa? More specifically, we ask if everyday ISD practice in Nigeria can contribute to people’s health in Nigeria. We summarize the results of European-African research collaboratio...

Introducción. El propósito de los sistemas de información es el de facilitar las actividades de trabajo: consideramos cómo puede aplicarse la Teoría de la actividad en el desarrollo de sistemas de información. Método. Se especifican los requisitos para un modelo analítico emancipador, para la investigación y práctica en sistemas de información orie...

Different approaches are available for the integration of existing health information systems (HIS) in integration projects. Within the PlugIT project in Finland, we have found it necessary to design and implement integration in a collaborative, multidisciplinary and open way. In this paper, we use some generic integration models and relate them to...

The aim of our research is to develop a method for "requirements exploration"--gathering, structuring and describing requirements for information systems in previously weakly understood areas. In health care, information systems are usually developed for a single organization, or for information flow from one organization to another. In our case do...

Information management in healthcare in Africa would greatly benefit from computer-based information systems. However, software developed for the requirements of indus-trialized countries do not fit African healthcare facilities' re-quirements, at least without major re-design. The main over-all research question of the INDEHELA (Informatics Devel-...

We argue that the currently dominant methods in Information Systems are not satisfactory for emancipatory research and development whose starting point is work. Activity theory was proposed as such an emancipatory research-cumdevelopment approach in IS a decade ago. However, the potential identified in the theory has not fully materialized. As our...

Researching and Developing Work Activities in Information Systems: Experiences and the Way Forward Full Text at Springer, may require registration or fee

Integration of the heterogeneous application systems in healthcare is needed to support the clinical and administrative work, patient-centric care, regional interoperability and utilisation of both valuable legacy systems and new technologies. The integration activity is complicated, and must be supported by flexible processes and methods. The inte...

In this paper, we extend our previous work for defining interoperability for health information systems into proposed documentation levels for specifying integration, and a model for defining various interoperability aspects in collaboration between integrators, health service providers and system providers. We are using these models in defining so...

In this book, the context and process of globalization are understood as a complex web of increasingly deepening interrelationships among countries, organizations, social groups, and individuals. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are seen as a vital part of the globalization agenda.

We present a model that links together individual actions, cooperative activities and activity networks, identifying three categories of means, respectively - means of work, means of cooperation and coordination, and means of networking. Finally we discuss the contribution of this framework for CSCW theory and practice.

Information systems development (ISD) is analysed in this paper as asystemic work activity, using Activity Analysis and Development (ActAD)as the theoretical framework. ISD is regarded here as the process bywhich some collective work activity is facilitated by newinformation-technological means through analysis, design, implementation,introduction...

The requirements for software and information systems for healthcare institutions in Africa differ from those in the industrialised countries in many ways. Local software development, adaptation and organisational implementation is thus highly important. However, very little empirical research has been conducted on the work practice of software eng...

A strategy and toolset (FixIT) for migrating a specific type of legacy systems--based on the FileMan DBMS of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs--to a two-tier client/server and web browser-based architecture was presented in MEDINFO'98. In the current paper we discuss the further migration to a multitier software component architecture. A lite...

A multi-professional continuing education programme on healthcare information systems was designed on the basis of the IMIA WG 1 recommendations for teaching health informatics. This paper presents the outcomes of the education programme on the basis of the participants' (n=19) narrative assessments and a questionnaire. According to the results, th...

Walsham (2000) urged Information Systems researchers to truly cover all levels of analysis from the individual to the societal in their research agenda. In this paper, we accept his challenge by proposing a research framework of four integra- tive levels of analysis: individual, group/activity, organiza- tional, and societal. Each level is divided...

Research approaches on information systems development (ISD) are characterized by diversity, focusing on a wide area of objectives and methods. Nevertheless, the understanding of ISD as a universal phenomenon is less commonly questioned. We can ask if systems development really is the same in Africa as in industrialized countries, because of severa...

This paper provides preliminary results of INDEHELA-M, a joint Finnish-Nigerian project undertaken by a prominent Nigerian software development company. The main objectives of the project are to produce empirical information and understanding of the practice and problems of information systems development (ISD) in Nigeria, and to facilitate Nigeria...

This paper investigates if the Activity-Theoretical methods of work development used by Engeström and others can be transformed into a day-to-day methodology for information systems practitioners. We first present and justify our theoretical framework of Activity Analysis and Development fairly extensively. In the second part we compare work develo...

A migration strategy can turn legacy systems into a valuable heritage. In Finland, most hospital information systems are based on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs FileMan/Kernel technology. By the mid-1990s, the user interface and system architecture had become obsolete. The University of Kuopio together with a consortium of vendors and hosp...

In this paper, we argue that the research framework used in western software risk research - software projects - must be expanded to include information system implementation and use contexts, particularly in developing countries.The literature of software risk management indicates that the risk of failure in information system development (ISD) ca...

The literature of software risk management indicates that the risk of failure in information system development (ISD) can be mitigated by identifying and analysing the threats of success. Moreover, the goals when implementing new technology in Africa, concerning socio-economic development, are more manifold. We have developed a holistic approach fo...

this paper we report on the experience in Finland thus far in developing tools and standards for "modernized" client/server applications based on FileMan, Broker and Delphi. The reader is expected to have a basic knowledge of these technologies. We first study the architecture of client/server systems based on FileMan and Delphi in section 1, prese...

M/Kernel based legacy systems in Finnish hospitals are a great asset, but their architecture and user interfaces are outdated. In this paper we present three strategies for rejuvenating the systems, and recommend two of them, depending on the transitional objectives. The study shows that rejuvenation is a feasible alternative for the development of...

Participatory Design has mainly been practiced in Europe and North America. Our seven-year experience in Nigeria suggests that user participation is also a must in developing countries. However, the scope of participation needs to be expanded. For instance, in health informatics the communities served by the health facility in question need to be i...

The majority of hospital information system installations in Finland are based on a legacy technology from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This paper presents an architecture and a tool set which provide a migration path from terminal-based to client/server technology, conserving much of the investments in existing applications. It is...

The literature on informatics in developing countries seldom thoroughly discusses the crucial concept “developing countries”. Most authors seem to implicitly adopt the view that developing countries are “latecomers” which will sooner or later become similar to the “already developed” countries. In this view, the problems of IT development observed...

Computers are gradually entering health care organisations in Africa. A joint Nigerian-Finnish project has developed a low-cost, multiuser Medical Records system for the Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospitals Complex. The system has been in routine use since January 1991. The benefits and problems are presented. It is concluded that a nework of support...

There is a strong general opinion that computer systems in developing countries should contribute in the national development and address the priority needs of the ordinary people. If double standards are to be avoided, the same criteria should be applied to computer systems everywhere. However, systems development in industrialized countries is no...

A joint Nigerian-Finnish project has developed a low-cost multiuser system for the basic Medical Records functions of a teaching hospital, based on a standard microcomputer. Public-domain software from the USA was used as the basis and adjusted to local requirements. A four-user system costs about the same as two family cars.

Computer-supported communication takes place in the form of appointment scheduling, storing information in the patient’s Medical Record and retrieving information from it, ordering laboratory tests and responding with test results. Peijas-Rekola hospital in the city of Vantaa, southern Finland, started to operate the Summer of 1990. As a new instit...

Kuopion yliopiston atk-keskus on ollut mukana kehittämässä Suomen terveydenhuollon tietojärjestelmiä, mm. terveyskeskusten Finstar-järjestelmää ja sairaaloiden Musti-järjestelmää, 1970- luvun lopulta asti. Vuodesta 1989 lähtien atk-keskuksella on ollut yhteinen Afrikan terveydenhuollon tietojärjestelmien tutkimus- ja kehittämispro jekti, ns. Ife-pr...

Appropriate software packages for African hospitals and health centres cannot be found off the shelf - they must be developed locally. To be properly equipped to provide healthcare institutions in Africa with appropriate information systems, local systems developers need Information Systems Development (ISD) methods and education that is adjusted t...

Many benefits could be gained from regional health information sharing. It is important to identify the needs for it from different viewpoints; health managers, health providers, citizens, etc. Finnish and Chinese partners are studying health information sharing in a pilot project in Pudong, Shanghai, using maternity care pathway as a case. This pa...