Polina Durneva, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Information Systems and Business Analytics, College of Business Administration Loyola Marymount University
- Los Angeles CA
Biography
Education
Florida International University
Ph.D.
Business Administration
2023
Information Systems and Business Analytics Concentration
Cornell College
B.A.
Business Analytics
2018
Social
Areas of Expertise
Industry Expertise
Links
Sample Talks
Generative AI in Healthcare: Enhancing Healthcare Delivery, Management, and Rebuilding Public Trust
This talk took place at American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting and Expo in October 2024. It explored how generative AI has the potential to enhance healthcare delivery and healthcare management. It also highlighted current generative AI use cases in healthcare organizations and provided insights into how generative AI can improve healthcare accessibility and continuity of care through patient-centered self-management interventions. Additionally, the presentation discussed the ethical considerations, including data privacy, transparency, and bias mitigation, among others, that are essential to building trust and ensuring the responsible integration of generative AI in healthcare systems.
Courses
Business Statistics and Analysis I
Taught at Florida International University
Web Analytics
Taught at the University of Memphis
Business Machine Learning I
Taught at the University of Memphis
Articles
Best Practices for Data Modernization Across the United States Public Health System: Scoping Review
Journal of Medical Internet Research2025-10-24
The adoption of new technologies and data modernization approaches in public health aims to enhance the use of health data to inform decision-making and improve population health. However, public health departments struggle with legacy systems, siloed data, and privacy concerns, which hamper the adoption of new technology and data sharing with stakeholders. This paper maps how to address these shortcomings by identifying data modernization challenges, initiatives, and progress. This study aims to characterize evidence for data modernization–associated gaps and best practices in public health. This scoping review was conducted using the 5-stage framework developed by Arksey and O’Malley and was reported according to the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. A structured search was performed in databases PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and PsycINFO, and was complemented by a further search in the Google Scholar search engine, covering publications from January 1, 2019, to April 30, 2024. Eligible studies were peer-reviewed, published in English, and focused on data modernization initiatives within US public health system and reported on best practices, challenges, and outcomes. Search terms combined concepts such as “Data Modernization,” “Interoperability,” and “Public Health” using Boolean operators. Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts, and full texts using Rayyan QCRI, with conflicts resolved through consultation with a third reviewer. Data were extracted into Microsoft Excel and thematically analyzed. This review analyzed 21 studies focused on public health data modernization. Across the literature, common components included transitioning to cloud-based systems, consolidating fragmented data into unified platforms, applying governance frameworks, and implementing analytics tools to support decision-making. Primary data sources were electronic health records, insurance claims, and disease surveillance registries. Key challenges identified across studies involved data quality issues, lack of interoperability, and limited resources, particularly in underfunded settings. Notable benefits included more timely and accessible data, improved integration across systems, and enhanced analytical capabilities, which collectively support more responsive and effective public health interventions when guided by clear standards and policy alignment.
Digital Health Technology Infrastructure Challenges to Support Health Equity in the United States: Scoping Review
Journal of Medical Internet ResearchRoy, S., Lartey, S.T., Durneva, P., Jha, N., Ofori, M.A., Zeba, Z., Dockery, S., Scarboro, N.S., Taylor, M. and Joshi, A.
2025-09-15
The objectives of this scoping review are aimed at synthesizing information on DHT inequities by exploring evidence that describes DHT infrastructure needs focused on promoting health equity in the United States and identifying key challenges both at the individual or patient level and at the health service provider’s level. We adapted Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review guidelines in our review. PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PsycINFO were searched. We also conducted supplementary searches on Google Scholar. The inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed publications that broadly conceptualize or analyze DHT infrastructure from a health equity perspective and the challenges of DHT requirements between 2020 and 2024. We have screened the full text of articles using eligibility criteria such as studies that were included if they examined DHT infrastructure in the United States from a health equity perspective, discussed health disparities resulting from DHT interventions, or investigated the variables influencing health inequities connected to DHT. Two researchers (SR and ZZ) evaluated each citation individually at the title and abstract levels. The thematic approach and qualitative analysis determined this scoping review’s outcome. Of the 628 research papers from the search, 27 were included in the analysis based on the inclusion criteria. In this review, we discussed factors such as older adult population, education, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status leading to health inequities in DHT. Patients and service providers face challenges related to health inequities in the use of DHT. The most common challenges for service providers were infrastructure and technical issues such as inadequate integration with existing workflows, user-unfriendly health information exchange interfaces, and lack of skilled staff, while for individuals or patients, this included limited broadband web-based access, cultural or linguistic appropriateness, and access to digital tools.
Evaluating the Needs and Characteristics of Individuals of Low Socioeconomic Status Using Digital Health Technology to Address Health-Related Social Needs
JMIR Human FactorsHaydon, K., LeRouge, C., Durneva, P., Diaz Campo, M., & Brown, D.
2025-09-12
Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, encompassing social and economic factors that shape health outcomes. There is an increasing call to leverage digital health technology (DHT) to address SDOH and health-related social needs and establish connections to resources and services. This study aimed to (1) identify the DHT-related characteristics of DHT users with low socioeconomic status (SES), (2) determine the needs and preferences of DHT users with low SES, and (3) explore how current SDOH-DHT addresses these needs and preferences in addressing their health-related social needs. We used a multiphase, mixed method, user-centered design approach. In phase 1, we developed a user profile based on a literature review, aggregate data, interviews with 26 low-SES individuals, and focus groups with 28 professionals. In phase 2, we conducted a landscape analysis of 17 existing SDOH-DHTs. DHT users of low SES had diverse social and technology characteristics. Five key themes emerged regarding user needs and preferences: (1) user-centered design, including multilingual support, visual guidance, and customization; (2) efficient, solution-based assessment of social risks, assets, and needs; (3) e-caring support features; (4) user education and feedback mechanisms; and (5) trust, privacy, and security. The landscape analysis revealed that current SDOH-DHT features do not adequately meet these needs.
Visual communication of public health data: a scoping review
Frontiers in Digital HealthOfori, M.A., Lartey, S., Durneva, P., Jha, N., Mittal, N., Roy, S., Zeba, Z., Dockery, S., Saulsberry-Scarboro, N., Taylor, M. & Joshi, A.
2025-04-23
This scoping review examined visualization tools and techniques used for effective public health data communication. Despite substantial investment in health data, challenges in data sharing and visualization hinder accessibility and understanding, particularly during emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. The review included 28 peer-reviewed studies published between 2020 and 2024 and identified 25 visualization types, including charts, maps, and specialized plots, created using tools like R, Python, Power BI, Tableau, and ArcGIS. These visualizations supported data interpretation across domains such as HIV prevention, health education, and policy-making. The findings highlight that combining dashboards and static visuals enhances public health communication, enabling better decision-making and improved health outcomes.
Climate Change in Master of Healthcare Administration Curriculum: An Untapped Opportunity
The Journal of Health Administration EducationHertelendy, A., Mitchell, C., Durneva, P., Banaszak-Holl, J., Dadich, A., Porter, T., Gutberg, J., Richmond, J., McNulty, E., Zang, Z., & Singer, S.
Extreme weather events fueled by climate change are intensifying. Our study found a paucity of accredited graduate healthcare or health service administration programs in the United States, Canada, and Australia that teach climate change and healthcare administration. We used a mixed-methods approach that included a website audit and program director interviews. Our website audit found that only three (.02%) of 156 accredited programs mentioned climate change in their programs or course descriptions. Course content focused on the societal impacts of climate change but did not address the leadership or managerial implications of how to mitigate and manage through climate crises. Interviews clarified factors that shaped course content, with five themes constructed–namely, curriculum integration and accreditation influence; student-driven curriculum evolution; faculty interest and an interdisciplinary approach; competency knowledge and integration; and the influence of sociopolitical contexts. Based on these findings, accredited programs would benefit from the integration of climate change and healthcare administration education. To be successful, students, faculty, program directors, university executives, and accreditation agencies will need to align their approach to address the climate crisis.
Virtual Presence in Immersive Metaverse-Enabling Technologies: Being There, Being with Another, and Being the Actual Self
the AIS Transactions on Human-Computer InteractionDurneva, P., Ma, Y., Marakas, G., & Aguirre-Urreta, M.
2024-12-30
Experiencing virtual presence can be associated with various positive outcomes in immersive metaverse-enabling environments. However, we do not adequately understand how to induce virtual presence in such environments, which can hinder users from fully benefiting from their interactions in the metaverse. To address this gap, we conducted a scoping review in which we examined empirical studies that focus on virtual presence in immersive metaverse-enabling environments and identified factors associated with various dimensions of presence (such as spatial presence, social presence, and self-presence). By analyzing relevant studies, we identified the critical factors that influence virtual presence in metaverse environments. In particular, we identified technological, contextual, and individual factors that contribute to the dimensions of virtual presence. We also derived preliminary design principles based on our analysis. Our design principles emphasize the importance of aligning virtual environments with users’ physical movements and stance, providing appropriate sensory cues, and enabling user interactions with virtual characters in inducing virtual presence. Overall, this study provides clarity on the factors that affect presence in immersive metaverse-enabling environments and offers insightful guidance for designing and evaluating such environments relative to virtual presence.
The biopsychosocial perspective on designing mobile health apps for self-management of chronic headaches
Health SystemsDurneva, P., & LeRouge, C.
2024-12-04
This study identifies user-preferred features in apps for self-management of chronic headaches from the biopsychosocial perspective and examines the extent to which such features are represented in the current apps. We first conducted semi-structured interviews to identify user-preferred features that tap into the biopsychosocial domains of health. Then, we conducted a landscape analysis to review existing apps with respect to the identified features. Our findings revealed participants’ preferences for features in apps to self-manage chronic headaches and were categorised based on the biopsychosocial model. Further, our landscape analysis showed that several features (e.g. physical symptom tracker) are highly present in existing apps, while most of the preferred features (e.g. journaling) are scarce. The identified features appear to align with theory-based behaviour change techniques and, therefore, have implications for health behaviour change. In addition, our findings demonstrate that most of the user-preferred biopsychosocial features are not widely present in the existing headache apps. Overall, our study highlights the importance of incorporating user-preferred features that align with the biopsychosocial needs of headache app users. By acknowledging and addressing these needs, we can broaden the existing perspectives concerning app design and evaluation and cater to the holistic health experiences of users.
Designing Virtual Characters in Digital Health Technologies: A Self-presence Perspective
the AIS Transactions on Human-Computer InteractionDurneva, P., LeRouge, C., & Lisetti, C.
2024-09-29
Overweight and obesity represent major public health issues that affect more than 12.7 million children and adolescents. Health behavior change plays a critical role in self-managing obesity and overweight and can set the foundation for lifelong health for children and adolescents. Despite the potential of digital health technologies to help children and adolescents self-manage obesity and overweight, user engagement with DHTs, which plays a critical role in driving health behavior changes and improving health outcomes, remains low. One way to enhance user engagement with DHTs involves leveraging virtual characters through inducing self-presence among users. However, it is unclear how one can design virtual characters to achieve self-presence in DHTs to help children and adolescents self-manage obesity and overweight. The current study draws relevant data from a larger user-centered design science project to design a DHT that targets obese and overweight adolescents. We first derived relevant affordances pertinent to designing virtual characters through the self-presence perspective and then constructed design guidelines based on our findings. Further, we reviewed existing studies to determine potential support to further generalize our design guidelines. Based on our evidence, we propose design principles that can inform future efforts to design and assess virtual characters in DHTs. Developers and researchers who want to make DHTs more impactful in fostering healthier lifestyles among the youth should find our results useful.
Building resilient hospital information technology services through organizational learning: Lessons in CIO leadership during an international systemic crisis
International Journal of Medical InformaticsCousins, K., Hertelendy, A., Chen, M., Durneva, P., & Wang, S.
This qualitative study explored how Chief Information Officers (CIOs) built resilient healthcare IT (HIT) systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interviews with 16 CIOs from hospitals in the U.S. and Abu Dhabi revealed that effective pandemic response involved ambidextrous IT leadership, leveraging existing resources while innovating new solutions. Four key capabilities underpinning HIT resilience emerged: ambidextrous leadership, governance, innovation and learning, and robust infrastructure. The study offers conceptual frameworks and emphasizes the critical role of organizational learning in strengthening HIT resilience for future pandemics.
Health Consumer Engagement, Enablement, and Empowerment in Smartphone-Enabled Home-Based Diagnostic Testing for Viral Infections: Mixed Methods Study
JMIR mHealth and uHealthLeRouge, C., Durneva, P., Lyon, V., & Thompson, M.
2022-03-06
This mixed-methods study examined how health consumers engage with and act on smartphone-supported home testing (smart HT) for viral infections. Through interviews (n=31) and surveys (n=282), researchers identified key factors influencing engagement, enablement, empowerment, and activation in smart HT use. The resulting model highlights how intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, test quality, and user capability shape engagement and decision-making. It also explores how empowered users make healthcare choices across personal vs. distant and public vs. private dimensions. Findings offer insights into supporting informed, autonomous health decisions in digitally engaged consumers.
Crisis Leadership: A Case for Inclusion in Accredited Master of Public Health Program Curricula
Public HealthHertelendy, A., Chekijian, S., McNulty, E., Mitchell, C., Grimes, J., Durneva, P., Voskanyan, A., Nazarian, V., & Ciottone, G.
This narrative review assessed the presence of crisis leadership training in CEPH-accredited Master of Public Health (MPH) programs in the U.S. Analyzing 179 programs, the study found that while 55.31% offer general leadership courses, only one program (0.56%) includes a course specifically on crisis leadership. Given the increasing frequency of global crises like COVID-19 and climate-related disasters, the study underscores the urgent need to integrate crisis leadership training into public health curricula to better equip future leaders for complex, multifaceted emergencies.
Identifying Enablers of Participant Engagement in Clinical Trials of Consumer Health Technologies: A Qualitative Study of flu@home
Journal of Medical Internet ResearchDharanikota, S., LeRouge, C., Lyon, V., Durneva, P., & Thompson, M.
2021-09-13
This qualitative study explored the enablers of participant engagement in clinical trials of smartphone-supported home tests, using influenza testing as a case example. Through interviews with 31 demographically diverse participants, the study identified both situational (e.g., clinical affiliation, financial incentives, recruitment strategies) and dispositional (e.g., digital health literacy, altruism, curiosity, motivation to support research) factors that influenced trial participation. The findings were organized into a research framework to inform future trial design and execution. The study offers practical strategies to improve enrollment and engagement, supporting the successful implementation of consumer health technology trials.
Crisis leadership: The new imperative for MBA curricula
The International Journal of Management EducationHertelendy, A., McNulty, E., Mitchell, C., Gutberg, J., Lassar, W., Durneva, P., & Rapp, D.
Given the increasing frequency of and high risk inherent in crises, Masters of Business Administration (MBA) should include crisis leadership as part of their core program offerings. This study aims to explore if leadership courses are taught as either a core or elective course in Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accredited MBA programs, and if any of these programs teach crisis leadership courses specifically. Based on a web-based search of AACSB schools offering MBA programs, crisis leadership is minimally represented across MBA programs, with 3.2% of business schools examined including a crisis leadership course as part of their curricula. Leadership courses are more commonly included as part of MBA programs’ curricula, with 64.8% of business schools offering these courses. These leadership courses could set a foundation for MBA programs to begin embedding crisis leadership content specifically into their core curricula.
The Current State of Research, Challenges, and Future Research Directions of Blockchain Technology in Patient Care: Systematic Review
Journal of Medical Internet ResearchDurneva, P., Cousins, K., & Chen, M.
2020-07-19
This systematic review evaluated 70 empirical studies on the use of blockchain technology in healthcare, focusing on its applications for patient care. The findings show that blockchain is being used in areas such as electronic health records, personal health records, telemedicine, remote monitoring, and medical research systems. Benefits include enhanced data privacy, improved interoperability, and increased patient engagement. However, challenges remain, including user resistance, high costs, integration difficulties, and technical limitations. While blockchain holds transformative potential for healthcare, most applications are still in early stages, and further research is needed to address key implementation barriers.
Design Guidelines for a Technology-Enabled Nutrition Education Program to Support Overweight and Obese Adolescents: Qualitative User-Centered Design Study
Journal of Medical Internet ResearchLeRouge, C., Durneva, P., Sangameswaran, S., & Gloster, A-M.
2019-07-28
This design science study explored the development of technology-enabled culinary nutrition education (CNE-tech) to support overweight and obese adolescents in building healthy cooking habits, food literacy, and self-efficacy. Engaging adolescents, parents, and healthcare providers, the study identified key functionalities such as healthy recipe suggestions, skill-building tools, and social sharing features. Adolescents emphasized engaging design elements like vivid visuals, multimedia, and gamification. Contextual insights highlighted the role of shared family experiences and sustained engagement. The findings suggest that well-designed CNE-tech can promote long-term behavioral change and support adolescent self-management of a healthy lifestyle.
