A Trust-Based Social Network Proposition for a Remote Homecare System : The design, implementation, analysis and validation of a social network directed to remote homecare

In the past years, the importance of a good health care system has gained new dimensions. As studies show, the number of elderly people in the world is increasing, which brings to the surface the need for an efficient system for the treatment of patients. Furthermore, the use of IT tools may have a positive effect on the implementation of these health care systems - through the use of remote homecare, for instance, which is the context of the present work. We propose, in this sense, a platform which consists of a social network directed to remote homecare patients. Inside this network, these patients may interact among themselves and share ideas through a contribution system, which can work as a source of information and motivation. Moreover, the usage of such social network aims on helping by diminishing the social reclusion which may be brought by a remote homecare system. Such social network has been designed, implemented, analysed and validated and details on all of the aforementioned processes is present in this document.