Álvaro Rocha

Framework for a global quality evaluation of a website

Purpose – This paper aims to propose a high‐level structure for a global quality evaluation of a website. This structure is based on the characteristics, sub‐characteristics and attributes of three main dimensions (content, service, and technical quality) that will substantiate the development of broad website quality evaluation, comparison and improvement methodologies, according to particular sectors of activity and evaluators perspective.Design/methodology/approach – Based on the literature and the authors experience a framework is proposed for a global quality evaluation of a website.Findings – Considering the results of some studies, as well as the systematisation of the knowledge available in several bibliographies, website quality can be grouped into three main dimensions: content quality, service quality, and technical quality. There has not yet been an evaluation methodology that focuses on these three main website quality dimensions in a broad and transversal sense.Originality/value – The pape...

Evolution of Information Systems and Technologies Maturity in Healthcare

Information Systems and Technologies IST in healthcare have evolved gradually, and theories about IST adoption and maturity are sufficiently established in the literature of organizational management. This paper examines the evolution of IST in healthcare. The author introduces concepts associated with maturity models, addresses the generic maturity model for IST management, and presents the main maturity models, specifically focusing on the management of IST in healthcare. Widespread and detailed maturity models are not fully available, and the opportunity to develop new maturity models that focus on IST management in healthcare still exists.

Potential dimensions for a local e-Government services quality model

The study presented in this article will serve as a basis for the development of a suitable methodology whose purpose is to evaluate the quality of local e-Government online services. Citizens expect quality public services, and their online dimension is no exception.This first study puts forth a systematization of the relevant bibliography, focusing on the quality of three types of services: traditional electronic and e-Government. Each methodology was analyzed in order to identify the main quality dimensions used.Up to the present moment, we were unable to identify a service quality evaluation method particularly focused on local online e-Governments, and this justifies the development of an investigation project whose main purpose is to create such a methodology in this field. One of the main challenges underlying different Electronic Government forms is the provision of a quality public service. In the Local Government context, local authorities allow for an adjustment between the characteristics of public services and the specificities of local communities, letting populations define their own priorities, which vary from community to community based on objective elements but also subjective by nature. The quality of these services in their electronic format should be analyzed and taken into account to potentiate and elaborate a strategy capable of improving offered services, increasing the satisfaction of the recipients. In the present paper we set forth a preliminary list, comprised by thirty dimensions for an Electronic Local Government Quality Model based on a literature review, where we analyzed seventeen approaches for electronic and e-Government service quality, as well as an empirical study involving a group of experts and users of Local Government services.

Maturity Models of Healthcare Information Systems and Technologies: a Literature Review

The maturity models are instruments to facilitate organizational management, including the management of its information systems function. These instruments are used also in hospitals. The objective of this article is to identify and compare the maturity models for management of information systems and technologies (IST) in healthcare. For each maturity model, it is identified the methodology of development and validation, as well as the scope, stages and their characteristics by dimensions or influence factors. This study resulted in the need to develop a maturity model based on a holistic approach. It will include a comprehensive set of influencing factors to reach all areas and subsystems of health care organizations.

A decision support system for quality of life in head and neck oncology patients

BackgroundThe assessment of Quality of Life (QoL) is a Medical goal; it is used in clinical research, medical practice, health-related economic studies and in planning health management measures and strategies. The objective of this project is to develop an informational platform to achieve a patient self-assessment with standardized QoL measuring instruments, through friendly software, easy for the user to adapt, which should aid the study of QoL, by promoting the creation of databases and accelerating its statistical treatment and yet generating subsequent useful results in graphical format for the physician analyzes in an appointment immediately after the answers collection.MethodsFirst, a software platform was designed and developed in an action-research process with patients, physicians and nurses. The computerized patient self-assessment with standardized QoL measuring instruments was compared with traditional one, to verify if its use did not influence the patients answers. For that, the Wilcoxon and t-Student tests were applied. After, we adopted and adapted the mathematic Rash model to make possible the use of QoL measure in the routine appointments.ResultsThe results show that the computerized patient self-assessment does not influence the patients answers and can be used as a suitable tool in the routine appointment, because indicates problems which are more difficult to identify in a traditional appointment, improving thus the physicians decisions.ConclusionsThe possibility of representing graphically useful results that physician needs to analyze in the appointment, immediately after the answer collection, in an useful time, makes this QoL assessment platform a diagnosis instrument ready to be used routinely in clinical practice.

From the quality of traditional services to the quality of local e-Government online services: A literature review

Abstract The study presented in this article will serve as a basis for the development of a suitable model whose purpose is to evaluate the quality of local e-Government online services. Citizens expect quality public services, and their online dimension is no exception. The quality of these services should be analysed and accounted for, in order to maximize and develop strategies that improve the offered services, increasing the levels of satisfaction of their recipients. In this sense, this first study puts forth a systematization of the relevant bibliography, focusing on the quality of three types of services: traditional, electronic and e-Government. Each model was analysed in order to identify the main quality dimensions used. Up to the present moment, we were unable to identify a service quality evaluation model particularly focused on Local online e-Government, and this justifies the development of an investigation project whose main purpose is to create a model with these specificities.

Adopting nursing health record standards

The exploratory investigation described in this paper tried to identify and acknowledge the added value created by the adoption of nursing practice standards. It did so using a case study in a large Portuguese hospital. Following a literature review, five assumptions were proposed. Subsequently, a survey was developed and administered to a sample of nursing staff at the hospital in question. Our results confirmed all but our final assumption, leading to the conclusion that the adoption of standards is beneficial to nursing practice.

An Assessment of Content Quality in Websites of Basic and Secondary Portuguese Schools

Web sites are the face of institutions, but evidence shows that they are frequently overlooked, especially where contents are concerned. The research presented in this paper intended to measure the quality of the data in institutional Web sites of basic and secondary schools. Accordingly, we adopted and adapted a proven measurement approach and carried out a study with a group of teachers from a convenience sample involving basic and secondary schools. Most of the participants in this study stated that the Web sites displayed, completely or partially, most of the thirty three quality attributes, expressing some disappointment with the quality of four attributes only: documentation, interactivity, security and customer support. On the other hand, most of the participants did not express any opinion concerning two of the attributes: novelty and validity.

Planning the information architecture in a local public administration organization

An Information Architecture is the basis for a comprehensive and integrated information system of any organization, capable of providing answers that meet the challenges posed by the contemporary competitive environment. In this paper we analyse a number of representative methodologies used in Information Architecture definitions and, based on a set of pre-defined criteria, we select the Adapted BSP (Business Systems Planning) Methodology to apply in a local public administration organization in Portugal. This methodology proved to be sufficiently flexible and suited to the goals proposed.

Mobile Phones and Psychosocial Therapies with Vulnerable People: a First State of the Art

Mobile phones are becoming a communication tool commonly used by people all over the world; and they are started to be adopted in psychosocial therapies involving vulnerable people. We are herein presenting the results of an academic literature review. We identified scientific papers published between 2006 and 2015 resorting to academic databases available on the Internet, applying a systematic selection method based on quality criteria. Secondly, we analysed contents, highlighting the scarcity of research involving vulnerable people. The available literature specialized in psychosocial therapies offers investigation results which involve mobile phones and patients in general, focusing particularly on the clinical psychology field and, to a lesser extent, on the social work field. Particularly significant are the investigation works developed in the United States. In the present paper we introduce a first “state of the art”, identifying opportunities and also the limitations surrounding the use of mobile phones in psychosocial therapies targeting the vulnerable. Issues concerning privacy and data confidentiality, and the access of vulnerable people to mobile phones and how they use them, pose significant challenges; but they offer the opportunity to reach isolated or impoverished populations, or even to facilitate access to social and healthcare services. We close this paper formulating possible orientations, hypotheses and goals to design new investigation works involving vulnerable populations.