Text mining analysis to understand the impact of online news on public health response: case of syphilis epidemic in Brazil.

Background: To effectively combat the rising incidence of syphilis, the Brazilian Ministry of Health (MoH) created a National Rapid Response to Syphilis with actions aimed at bolstering epidemiological surveillance of acquired, congenital syphilis, and syphilis during pregnancy complemented with communication activities to raise population awareness and to increase uptake of testing that targeted mass media outlets from November 2018 to March 2019 throughout Brazil, and mainly areas with high rates of syphilis. This study analyzes the volume and quality of online news content on syphilis in Brazil between 2015 and 2019 and examines its effect on testing. Methods: The collection and processing of online news were automated by means of a proprietary digital health ecosystem established for the study. We applied text data mining techniques to online news to extract patterns from categories of text. The presence and combination of such categories in collected texts determined the quality of news that were analyzed to classify them as high-, medium-and low-quality news. We examined the correlation between the quality of news and the volume of syphilis testing using Spearman's Rank Correlation Coefficient. Results: 1,049 web pages were collected using a Google Search API, of which 630 were categorized as earned media. We observed a steady increase in the number of news on syphilis in 2015 (n = 18), 2016 (n = 26), and 2017 (n = 42), with a substantial rise in the number of news in 2018 (n = 107) and 2019 (n = 437), although the relative proportion of high-quality news remained consistently high (77.6 and 70.5% respectively) and in line with similar years. We found a correlation between news quality and syphilis testing performed in primary health care with an increase of 82.32, 78.13, and 73.20%, respectively, in the three types of treponemal tests used to confirm an infection. Conclusion: Effective communication strategies that lead to dissemination of high quality of information are important to increase uptake of public health policy actions.

Computational methods applied to syphilis: where are we, and where are we going?

Syphilis is an infectious disease that can be diagnosed and treated cheaply. Despite being a curable condition, the syphilis rate is increasing worldwide. In this sense, computational methods can analyze data and assist managers in formulating new public policies for preventing and controlling sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Computational techniques can integrate knowledge from experiences and, through an inference mechanism, apply conditions to a database that seeks to explain data behavior. This systematic review analyzed studies that use computational methods to establish or improve syphilis-related aspects. Our review shows the usefulness of computational tools to promote the overall understanding of syphilis, a global problem, to guide public policy and practice, to target better public health interventions such as surveillance and prevention, health service delivery, and the optimal use of diagnostic tools. The review was conducted according to PRISMA 2020 Statement and used several quality criteria to include studies. The publications chosen to compose this review were gathered from Science Direct, Web of Science, Springer, Scopus, ACM Digital Library, and PubMed databases. Then, studies published between 2015 and 2022 were selected. The review identified 1,991 studies. After applying inclusion, exclusion, and study quality assessment criteria, 26 primary studies were included in the final analysis. The results show different computational approaches, including countless Machine Learning algorithmic models, and three sub-areas of application in the context of syphilis: surveillance (61.54%), diagnosis (34.62%), and health policy evaluation (3.85%). These computational approaches are promising and capable of being tools to support syphilis control and surveillance actions.

Osteoporosis screening using machine learning and electromagnetic waves.

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by impairment of bone microarchitecture that causes high socioeconomic impacts in the world because of fractures and hospitalizations. Although dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the gold standard for diagnosing the disease, access to DXA in developing countries is still limited due to its high cost, being present only in specialized hospitals. In this paper, we analyze the performance of Osseus, a low-cost portable device based on electromagnetic waves that measures the attenuation of the signal that crosses the medial phalanx of a patient's middle finger and was developed for osteoporosis screening. The analysis is carried out by predicting changes in bone mineral density using Osseus measurements and additional common risk factors used as input features to a set of supervised classification models, while the results from DXA are taken as target (real) values during the training of the machine learning algorithms. The dataset consisted of 505 patients who underwent osteoporosis screening with both devices (DXA and Osseus), of whom 21.8% were healthy and 78.2% had low bone mineral density or osteoporosis. A cross-validation with k-fold = 5 was considered in model training, while 20% of the whole dataset was used for testing. The obtained performance of the best model (Random Forest) presented a sensitivity of 0.853, a specificity of 0.879, and an F1 of 0.859. Since the Random Forest (RF) algorithm allows some interpretability of its results (through the impurity check), we were able to identify the most important variables in the classification of osteoporosis. The results showed that the most important variables were age, body mass index, and the signal attenuation provided by Osseus. The RF model, when used together with Osseus measurements, is effective in screening patients and facilitates the early diagnosis of osteoporosis. The main advantages of such early screening are the reduction of costs associated with exams, surgeries, treatments, and hospitalizations, as well as improved quality of life for patients.

The relevance a technology ecosystem in the Brazilian National Health Service's Covid-19 response: the case of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. / A relevância de um ecossistema tecnológico no enfrentamento à Covid-19 no Sistema Único de Saúde: o caso do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil.

Technological advances play an undeniable role in strengthening health systems. With regard to digital technologies, information systems and the analysis of health data are playing a growing role in health surveillance and preparing for and responding to disease outbreaks, the theme addressed by this article within the context of the Covid-19 pandemic in the State of Rio Grande do Norte. This study departs from the assumption that digital health interventions can increase Covid-19 response capacity. We developed a technology ecosystem that integrates different information systems to meet the needs outlined in international regulations governing the response to the pandemic. In addition to the main elements of the ecosystem, this article describes the application of this instrument by different institutional actors. The main decision making tool used in the state government's Covid-19 response, the ecosystem is a model for digital health interventions in Brazil's national health service. This experience in Rio Grande do Norte brings together elements that can contribute to studies investigating the resilience of health systems and analyzing health policies in emergency situations.

É inegável o papel dos avanços tecnológicos para o fortalecimento da saúde. No tocante às tecnologias digitais, trata do uso crescente dos sistemas de informação e análise de dados em saúde nas ações de preparo, vigilância e resposta a surtos epidemiológicos, tema abordado neste artigo no contexto da pandemia provocada pelo vírus Sars-CoV-2 no estado do Rio Grande do Norte. Este estudo parte do pressuposto de que é possível potencializar a gestão da resposta à Covid-19 por meio da saúde digital. Assim, a pesquisa desenvolveu um Ecossistema tecnológico que integra diferentes sistemas de informação para atender as necessidades previstas nas normativas internacionais frente à pandemia. Este artigo descreve, além do Ecossistema e sua estrutura, um conjunto de análises sobre a aplicação desse dispositivo por diversos atores institucionais. O Ecossistema foi a principal ferramenta em uso no estado para o processo decisório em resposta à Covid-19, sendo um modelo para a intervenção de saúde digital no Sistema Único de Saúde. A experiência do Rio Grande do Norte reúne, portanto, elementos que contribuem para os estudos sobre resiliência de sistemas e análises de políticas públicas em saúde em situações de emergência.

Política externa e saúde no Brasil (1995-2010): uma análise da diplomacia de saúde brasileira - da Aids ao 'Fome Zero' / Brazil's foreign policy and health (1995-2010): A policy analysis of the Brazilian health diplomacy - from AIDS to 'Zero Hunger'

RESUMO Este artigo analisa como a saúde entrou na política externa brasileira entre 1995 e 2010 e apoiou a posição internacional do País, utilizando o enfoque de análise de políticas. Essa questão raramente é examinada na literatura brasileira sobre diplomacia da saúde. A partir de revisão de literatura, análise documental e entrevistas com atores-chave, examinamos as políticas impulsionadas por complexos processos históricos de mudança no Brasil. Há importantes inter-relações entre política externa e política social, incluindo saúde. Durante os governos Lula (2003-2010), a internacionalização das políticas domésticas brasileiras, vinculadas à cooperação Sul-Sul, teve papel central. A saúde na agenda da política externa foi um importante suporte à crescente presença internacional do Brasil. Esses desenvolvimentos foram possibilitados pelo ativismo e comprometimento de diversos atores estatais e não estatais, que atuaram em dois níveis: advocacia nacional e transnacional e atividades coordenadas entre representantes do governo, incluindo diplomatas, e atores da sociedade civil. O principal argumento deste estudo é que as políticas nacionais e internacionais são interrelacionadas nesse processo, e a dinâmica doméstica e o engajamento societal são essenciais, mas não suficientes: escolhas governamentais são também determinantes. Os arranjos institucionais e políticos mudaram em diferentes conjunturas e são constantemente propensos a conflitos e mudanças.

ABSTRACT This article analyses, from a policy analysis approach, how health entered Brazilian foreign policy between 1995 and 2010 and supported the country's international position, which is rarely explored in the literature on Brazilian health diplomacy. By drawing on literature review, document analysis and key-actor interviews, we examined policies triggered by far-reaching and complex historical change processes in Brazil. We find significant interrelationships between foreign policy and social policy, including health. The internationalization of Brazilian domestic policies, and South-South cooperation, played a central role during Lula governments (2003-2010). Health found its way into the foreign policy agenda to support Brazil's growing international presence. These developments were made possible by the activism and engagement of several of State and non-State actors working on two levels: national and transnational advocacy, and coordinated activities of government representatives, including Brazilian diplomats, and civil society activists. The main argument of this study is that national and international policies are intertwined in this process and that domestic dynamics and societal engagement are essential but more is needed: governmental choices are also determinant. Institutional arrangements and policies shift in different conjunctures and are constantly prone to conflicts and change.

A relevância de um ecossistema tecnológico no enfrentamento à Covid-19 no Sistema Único de Saúde: o caso do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil / The relevance a technology ecosystem in the Brazilian National Health Service's Covid-19 response: the case of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Resumo É inegável o papel dos avanços tecnológicos para o fortalecimento da saúde. No tocante às tecnologias digitais, trata do uso crescente dos sistemas de informação e análise de dados em saúde nas ações de preparo, vigilância e resposta a surtos epidemiológicos, tema abordado neste artigo no contexto da pandemia provocada pelo vírus Sars-CoV-2 no estado do Rio Grande do Norte. Este estudo parte do pressuposto de que é possível potencializar a gestão da resposta à Covid-19 por meio da saúde digital. Assim, a pesquisa desenvolveu um Ecossistema tecnológico que integra diferentes sistemas de informação para atender as necessidades previstas nas normativas internacionais frente à pandemia. Este artigo descreve, além do Ecossistema e sua estrutura, um conjunto de análises sobre a aplicação desse dispositivo por diversos atores institucionais. O Ecossistema foi a principal ferramenta em uso no estado para o processo decisório em resposta à Covid-19, sendo um modelo para a intervenção de saúde digital no Sistema Único de Saúde. A experiência do Rio Grande do Norte reúne, portanto, elementos que contribuem para os estudos sobre resiliência de sistemas e análises de políticas públicas em saúde em situações de emergência.

Abstract Technological advances play an undeniable role in strengthening health systems. With regard to digital technologies, information systems and the analysis of health data are playing a growing role in health surveillance and preparing for and responding to disease outbreaks, the theme addressed by this article within the context of the Covid-19 pandemic in the State of Rio Grande do Norte. This study departs from the assumption that digital health interventions can increase Covid-19 response capacity. We developed a technology ecosystem that integrates different information systems to meet the needs outlined in international regulations governing the response to the pandemic. In addition to the main elements of the ecosystem, this article describes the application of this instrument by different institutional actors. The main decision making tool used in the state government's Covid-19 response, the ecosystem is a model for digital health interventions in Brazil's national health service. This experience in Rio Grande do Norte brings together elements that can contribute to studies investigating the resilience of health systems and analyzing health policies in emergency situations.