J Korean Soc Med Inform.  2008 Dec;14(4):431-438.

Study of u-Health Definition using Q method's Subjectivity Analysis

• Kim J

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study attempted to analyze and to give a concrete form of u-Health concept which has very broad and diverse definitions until now, because of the newness of the concept. METHOD: Q method was adopted to unravel the concept, and 50 Q-statements were selected and rated by 48 P-samples, and the resulting data were analyzed by factor analysis of SPSS. RESULT: Six factors were drawn as to Potentiality, Functionality, Technology, Integrity, Futuristic and Consumer-centered. The concept u-Health was defined as "Futuristic functional healthcare service which is consumer-centered and has enormous potentiality utilizing technology".
CONCLUSION
Based on the definition, u-Health should be expanded and extended crossover the boundaries of disciplines and professionals to make it the real fruition of "Consilience".

Keyword

u-Health; Q method; Q-statement; Q-sample; P-sample

MeSH Terms

Delivery of Health Care