Conceptual Models in Health Informatics Research: A Literature Review and Suggestions for Development

Background Contributing to health informatics research means using conceptual models that are integrative and explain the research in terms of the two broad domains of health science and information science. However, it can be hard for novice health informatics researchers to find exemplars and guidelines in working with integrative conceptual models. Objectives The aim of this paper is to support the use of integrative conceptual models in research on information and communication technologies in the health sector, and to encourage discussion of these conceptual models in scholarly forums. Methods A two-part method was used to summarize and structure ideas about how to work effectively with conceptual models in health informatics research that included (1) a selective review and summary of the literature of conceptual models; and (2) the construction of a step-by-step approach to developing a conceptual model. Results The seven-step methodology for developing conceptual models in health informatics research explained in this paper involves (1) acknowledging the limitations of health science and information science conceptual models; (2) giving a rationale for one’s choice of integrative conceptual model; (3) explicating a conceptual model verbally and graphically; (4) seeking feedback about the conceptual model from stakeholders in both the health science and information science domains; (5) aligning a conceptual model with an appropriate research plan; (6) adapting a conceptual model in response to new knowledge over time; and (7) disseminating conceptual models in scholarly and scientific forums. Conclusions Making explicit the conceptual model that underpins a health informatics research project can contribute to increasing the number of well-formed and strongly grounded health informatics research projects. This explication has distinct benefits for researchers in training, research teams, and researchers and practitioners in information, health, and other disciplines.

[1]  Richard N. Shiffman,et al.  A Wireless, Handheld Decision Support System To Promote Smoking Cessation in Primary Care , 2005, AMIA.

[2]  Kim M. Unertl,et al.  Traversing the many paths of workflow research: developing a conceptual framework of workflow terminology through a systematic literature review , 2010, J. Am. Medical Informatics Assoc..

[3]  Jan vom Brocke,et al.  A value-driven approach to the design of service-oriented information systems—making use of conceptual models , 2010, Inf. Syst. E Bus. Manag..

[4]  Nicol Nijland,et al.  A Holistic Framework to Improve the Uptake and Impact of eHealth Technologies , 2011, Journal of medical Internet research.

[5]  Radha Appan,et al.  AMCIS2014 Savannah Paper Submission Impact of Information Technology Culture Conflict on Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Records System: A Conceptual Framework , 2014 .

[6]  Thomas Springer,et al.  A conceptual framework for designing mHealth solutions for developing countries , 2013, MobileHealth '13.

[7]  Claus Bossen,et al.  Evaluation of a comprehensive EHR based on the DeLone and McLean model for IS success: Approach, results, and success factors , 2013, Int. J. Medical Informatics.

[8]  Kathleen Gray,et al.  Developing a Framework to Generate Evidence of Health Outcomes From Social Media Use in Chronic Disease Management , 2013, Medicine 2.0.

[9]  Andrew Georgiou,et al.  How Important is Theory in Health Informatics? A Survey of UK Academics , 2011, MIE.

[10]  Tze-Yun Leong,et al.  Pgmc: a Framework for Probabilistic Graphical Model Combination , 2005, AMIA.

[11]  Patricia M. Shields,et al.  A Playbook for Research Methods: Integrating Conceptual Frameworks and Project Management , 2013 .

[12]  Forest S. Kim,et al.  Factors Associated With Adoption of Health Information Technology: A Conceptual Model Based on a Systematic Review , 2014, JMIR medical informatics.

[13]  R. Andrews,et al.  Health information technology and hospital patient safety: a conceptual model to guide research. , 2013, Joint Commission journal on quality and patient safety.

[14]  Bernhard Thalheim,et al.  The Theory of Conceptual Models, the Theory of Conceptual Modelling and Foundations of Conceptual Modelling , 2011, Handbook of Conceptual Modeling.

[15]  S. Kirn,et al.  Critical issues for the development of sustainable e-health solutions. , 2012 .

[16]  Aziz Sheikh,et al.  Organizational issues in the implementation and adoption of health information technology innovations: An interpretative review , 2013, Int. J. Medical Informatics.

[17]  P Reeves,et al.  Telematics for clinical guidelines: a conceptual modelling approach. , 1997, Studies in health technology and informatics.

[18]  Jennifer Lai,et al.  Unintended Consequences of Information Technologies in Health Care—An Interactive Sociotechnical Analysis , 2007 .

[19]  Marlene Sinclair,et al.  A guide to understanding theoretical and conceptual frameworks , 2007 .

[20]  I. V. Ramakrishnan,et al.  The Five Ws for Information Visualization with Application to Healthcare Informatics , 2013, IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics.

[21]  C. Wendt,et al.  Conceptual frameworks for comparing healthcare politics and policy. , 2012, Health policy.

[22]  Morgan Price,et al.  The clinical adoption meta-model: a temporal meta-model describing the clinical adoption of health information systems , 2014, BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making.

[23]  H P Lehmann,et al.  Health services research evaluation principles. Broadening a general framework for evaluating health information technology. , 2012, Methods of information in medicine.

[24]  Kathleen Gray,et al.  Towards a comprehensive understanding of health information needs , 2008 .

[25]  Bernhard Schätz,et al.  Introduction to the SoSyM theme issue on models and evolution , 2013, Software & Systems Modeling.

[26]  Alessandro Liberati,et al.  Conceptual frameworks and empirical approaches used to assess the impact of health research: an overview of reviews , 2011, Health research policy and systems.

[27]  Charles P. Friedman,et al.  What informatics is and isn't , 2013, J. Am. Medical Informatics Assoc..

[28]  Lawrence Hunter,et al.  AMIA Board white paper: definition of biomedical informatics and specification of core competencies for graduate education in the discipline , 2012, J. Am. Medical Informatics Assoc..

[29]  S. Michie,et al.  What design features are used in effective e-health interventions? A review using techniques from Critical Interpretive Synthesis. , 2012, Telemedicine journal and e-health : the official journal of the American Telemedicine Association.

[30]  Martin J. Eppler.  What is an Effective Knowledge Visualization? Insights from a Review of Seminal Concepts , 2011, 2011 15th International Conference on Information Visualisation.

[31]  Penelope M. Sanderson,et al.  Envisioning healthcare work: models for prospective evaluation of new systems , 2012, IHI '12.

[32]  Daniel L. Moody,et al.  Theoretical and practical issues in evaluating the quality of conceptual models: current state and future directions , 2005, Data Knowl. Eng..

[33]  H. Green,et al.  Use of theoretical and conceptual frameworks in qualitative research. , 2014, Nurse researcher.

[34]  Eric C. Pan,et al.  Organizational framework for health information technology , 2013, Int. J. Medical Informatics.

[35]  Jaime Snyder,et al.  Visual representation of information as communicative practice , 2014, J. Assoc. Inf. Sci. Technol..

[36]  Suzanne Bakken,et al.  Developing, implementing, and evaluating decision support systems for shared decision making in patient care: a conceptual model and case illustration , 2002, J. Biomed. Informatics.

[37]  Anastasia Papazafeiropoulou,et al.  An evaluation framework for Health Information Systems: human, organization and technology-fit factors (HOT-fit) , 2008, Int. J. Medical Informatics.

[38]  Parisa Rashidi,et al.  The Behavioral Intervention Technology Model: An Integrated Conceptual and Technological Framework for eHealth and mHealth Interventions , 2014, Journal of medical Internet research.

[39]  C. Aluttis,et al.  Public Health and Health Promotion Capacity at National and Regional Level: A Review of Conceptual Frameworks , 2014, Journal of public health research.

[40]  Judith A. Effken,et al.  Development and initial evaluation of the Clinical Information Systems Success Model (CISSM) , 2013, Int. J. Medical Informatics.

[41]  Julie Kim.  Complex Interventions in Healthcare and Health Informatics: A Scoping Review , 2013, ITCH.

[42]  Anastasia Papazafeiropoulou,et al.  Investigating evaluation frameworks for health information systems , 2008, Int. J. Medical Informatics.

[43]  Anthony J. Maeder,et al.  A conceptual framework for secure mobile health , 2013 .

[44]  John O'Donoghue,et al.  M-health infusion by healthcare practitioners in the national health services (NHS) , 2013 .

[45]  Leanne M. Currie,et al.  Evaluation frameworks for nursing informatics , 2005, Int. J. Medical Informatics.

[46]  N. Wickramasinghe,et al.  Conceptualizing Business Value of IT in Healthcare to Design Sustainable e-Health Solutions , 2014 .

[47]  S. White,et al.  Critical reflection : a review of contemporary literature and understandings , 2006 .

[48]  Aleksandra Tesanovic,et al.  Heart Failure Risk Models and Their Readiness for Clinical Practice , 2013, 2013 IEEE International Conference on Healthcare Informatics.

[49]  Jan vom Brocke,et al.  Strategies and Solutions in eHealth: A Literature Review , 2012 .

[50]  J. Larson,et al.  The Conceptualization of Health , 1999, Medical care research and review : MCRR.

[51]  Deborah L Helitzer,et al.  Along the way to developing a theory of the program: a re-examination of the conceptual framework as an organizing strategy. , 2014, Evaluation and program planning.

[52]  B. Kaplan,et al.  Future Directions in Evaluation Research: People, Organizational, and Social Issues , 2004, Methods of Information in Medicine.

[53]  Vivian West,et al.  Innovative information visualization of electronic health record data: a systematic review , 2014, J. Am. Medical Informatics Assoc..

[54]  J. Merrill,et al.  An Information Systems Model of the Determinants of Electronic Health Record Use , 2013, Applied Clinical Informatics.

[55]  Charo Rodríguez,et al.  Examining the evidence of the impact of health information technology in primary care: An argument for participatory research with health professionals and patients , 2012, Int. J. Medical Informatics.

[56]  Enquan Cheow,et al.  Enabling Psychiatrists to be Mobile Phone App Developers: Insights Into App Development Methodologies , 2014, JMIR mHealth and uHealth.

[57]  A Model for Measuring Open Access Adoption and Usage Behavior of Health Sciences Faculty Members , 2014 .

[58]  Monique Snoeck,et al.  Using formal concept analysis for the verification of process-data matrices in conceptual domain models , 2010, ICSE 2010.