Interactive Journal of Medical Research

Government policies in the United States and the European Union promote standardization and value creation in the use of FAIR (findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability) data, which can enhance trust in digital health systems and is crucial for their success. Trust is built through elements such as FAIR data access, interoperability, and improved communication, which are essential for fostering innovation in digital health technologies. This Viewpoint aims to report on exploratory research demonstrating the feasibility of testing a patient-centric data flow model facilitating semantic interoperability on precision medical information. In this global trend, the interoperable interface called Sync for Science-J (S4S-J) for linking electronic medical records (EMRs) and personal health records was launched as part of the Basic Policy for Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform in Japan. S4S-J controls data distribution consisting of EMR and patient-generated health data and converts this information into QR codes that can be scanned by mobile apps. This system facilitates data sharing based on personal information beliefs and unlocks siloed Internet of Things systems with a privacy preference manager. In line with Japanese information handling practices, the development of a mobile cloud network will lower barriers to entry and enable accelerated data sharing. To ensure cross-compatibility and compliance with future international data standardization, S4S-J conforms to the Health Level 7 Fast Health Care Interoperability Resources standard and uses the international standardized logical observation identifiers names and codes (LOINC) to redefine medical terms used in different terminology standards in different medical fields. It is developed as an applied standard in medical information intended for industry, health care services, and research through secondary use of data. A multicenter collaborative study was initiated to investigate the effectiveness of this system; this was a registered, multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trial, the EMBRACE study of the mobile health app M♡Link for hyperglycemic disorders in pregnancy, which implements an EMR–personal health record interoperable interface via S4S-J. Nevertheless, the aforementioned new challenges, the pivotal Health Level 7 Fast Health Care Interoperability Resources system, and LOINC data mapping were successfully implemented. Moreover, the preliminary input of EMR-integrated patient-generated health data was successfully shared between authorized medical facilities and health care providers in accordance with the patients’ preferences. The patient-centric data flow of the S4S-J in Japan is expected to guarantee the right to data portability, which promotes the maximum benefit of use by patients themselves, which in turn contributes to the promotion of open science.

Artificial intelligence is experiencing rapid growth, with continual innovation and advancements in the health care field.

Recently, it has been reported that older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have lower skeletal muscle mass than healthy individuals. Although skeletal muscle mass in older adults with diabetes is occasionally reported, similar reports on young to middle-aged adults are limited.

Edentulism impacts the physical health and quality of life of older individuals. The prevalence, influencing factors, and differences in terms of edentulism in urban and rural areas of China are unclear.

Emergency medical services have a pivotal role in giving timely and appropriate responses to emergency events caused by medical, natural, or human-caused disasters. To provide adequate resources for the emergency services, such as ambulances, it is necessary to understand the demand for such services. In Indonesia, estimates of demand for emergency services cannot be obtained easily due to a lack of published literature or official reports concerning the matter.

There is low public awareness of and use of price transparency laws, which undermines the utility of the price transparency initiatives of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.

Health care workers (HCWs) played a key role in preventing and controlling COVID-19. Higher infection risks and intensive work led to occupational burnout for many HCWs, which may affect their lifestyle behaviors and weight.

People with chronic diseases can benefit from wearable devices in managing their health and encouraging healthy lifestyle habits. Wearables such as activity trackers or blood glucose monitoring devices can lead to positive health impacts, including improved physical activity adherence or better management of type 2 diabetes. Few literature reviews have focused on the intersection of various chronic diseases, the wearable devices used, and the outcomes evaluated in intervention studies, particularly in the context of primary health care.

Numerous studies have been conducted to predict depressive symptoms using passive smartphone data, mostly integrating the GPS signal as a measure of mobility. Environmental factors have been identified as correlated with depressive symptoms in specialized studies both before and during the pandemic.

Health and health behaviors in midlife are important determinants of healthy aging. There is evidence of unmet needs for health-promoting information for women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and women with low literacy.

Interdisciplinary evaluation of older adults’ health care is a priority in the prevention of chronic health conditions and maintenance of daily functioning. While many studies evaluate different physical performance tests (PPTs) from a retrospective view in predicting mortality or cardiopulmonary health, it remains unclear which of the commonly used PPTs is the most effective at evaluating the current health of older adults. Additionally, the time and participant burden for each PPT must be considered when planning and implementing them for clinical or research purposes.

Depression is a highly prevalent psychopathological condition among older adults, particularly those institutionalized in nursing homes (NHs). Unfortunately, it is poorly identified and diagnosed. NH residents are twice as likely to fall as community-dwelling older adults. There is a need for more knowledge about the mechanisms and relationships between depression and falls.