E-health Trends in Europe: New Tools – New Practices?
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Abstract
There is fragmented valid knowledge on how e-health is influencing health care services and health users - the patients. The potential of using the Internet and other electronic media in health promotion and health care seems promising, given the large group of people that can be reached, fast and at low costs. However, there are important issues to take into consideration when new technologies are adopted in health: Will e-health increase or diminish social disparities in health? Further, will e-health will increase or decrease the pressure on traditional health services? These are crucial questions that several studies have looked into over the last years, e.g. the WHO/European eHealth Consumer Trends, (‘eHealth Trends’) study on e-health use and uptake in seven European countries (1).
The Internet seems to become a more important channel for health information although communicating with health carers is still rated the most important channel. For health care providers, it is worth noting that more than a third of the interviewed rated the provision of e-health services important if they were to find a new doctor. Health-related use of the Internet does affect patients’ use of other health services, e.g. using the Internet to prepare for or follow up doctors’ appointments and to decide if there is a need to see a doctor. In general, we see that e-health and Internet-based health information are rated as a supplement rather than a substitute for other health care services. More users feel reassured than worried after having visited health information sites. Therefore, there is no clear indication that more health literate citizens will become more heavy users of health services. On the contrary, there are indications that e-health can prevent unnecessary visits to health care services. It is important to note that what we see are the e-health trends, and trends which are at a rather early stage in many countries. Therefore, the area should be critically investigated in the years to come with multiple studies targeting e-health consumers and e-health providers, as e-health use will depend on the variety and quality of the content of the services available.
When introducing eHealth into an organization, community, region or country, there are several issues that should be addressed: The requirements from the clinicians, patients and health facilities, and an assessment of the technologies most suited for the telemedicine service. It is crucial to acknowledge the socio-political and cultural dimension. Implementation and dissemination require reflection upon one's own practice and understand who the target group is and what they need at a given time. There is no such thing as ‘build it and they will come’. The approach should be:Listen to the needs, demonstrate a range of possibilities and build it together. Then the real challenges start: to build it into the ordinary day-to-day work; forget about eHealth and remember health.
(Ad 1)The three-year project started on 1 June 2005. Seven countries participate in the project: Denmark, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Norway, Poland and Portugal, led by the Norwegian Centre for Telemedicine. The project is co-funded by the Programme of Community action in the field of Public Health E-health (2003-2008) of the Health and Consumer Protection Directorate General, Directorate C, EC.
The Internet seems to become a more important channel for health information although communicating with health carers is still rated the most important channel. For health care providers, it is worth noting that more than a third of the interviewed rated the provision of e-health services important if they were to find a new doctor. Health-related use of the Internet does affect patients’ use of other health services, e.g. using the Internet to prepare for or follow up doctors’ appointments and to decide if there is a need to see a doctor. In general, we see that e-health and Internet-based health information are rated as a supplement rather than a substitute for other health care services. More users feel reassured than worried after having visited health information sites. Therefore, there is no clear indication that more health literate citizens will become more heavy users of health services. On the contrary, there are indications that e-health can prevent unnecessary visits to health care services. It is important to note that what we see are the e-health trends, and trends which are at a rather early stage in many countries. Therefore, the area should be critically investigated in the years to come with multiple studies targeting e-health consumers and e-health providers, as e-health use will depend on the variety and quality of the content of the services available.
When introducing eHealth into an organization, community, region or country, there are several issues that should be addressed: The requirements from the clinicians, patients and health facilities, and an assessment of the technologies most suited for the telemedicine service. It is crucial to acknowledge the socio-political and cultural dimension. Implementation and dissemination require reflection upon one's own practice and understand who the target group is and what they need at a given time. There is no such thing as ‘build it and they will come’. The approach should be:Listen to the needs, demonstrate a range of possibilities and build it together. Then the real challenges start: to build it into the ordinary day-to-day work; forget about eHealth and remember health.
(Ad 1)The three-year project started on 1 June 2005. Seven countries participate in the project: Denmark, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Norway, Poland and Portugal, led by the Norwegian Centre for Telemedicine. The project is co-funded by the Programme of Community action in the field of Public Health E-health (2003-2008) of the Health and Consumer Protection Directorate General, Directorate C, EC.
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