The article, “A multilevel analysis of sociability, usability, and community dynamics in an online health community” by Maloney-Krichmar, D., & Preece, J. (2005) got me thinking about some of the online health initiatives that I have worked on over the years.
The article references the results of the” Pew Internet & American Life Project Report, Vital Decisions [Fox and Rainie 2002]” (page 4). The report found that 73 million American adults, or 62% of those with Internet access, researched a disease or medical condition on the Internet, and the number continues to grow. Forty-eight percent of those who sought health information online reported that the advice they found improved the way they take care of themselves or a loved one, and 55% said that access to the Internet improved the way they get medical and health information.
The article specifically identifies the website related to knee injuries;
http://www.factotem.org. This website enables individuals to post messages on the site related to knee injuries that they would like to share with others, as well as being able to access articles, medical journals, etc. related to knees.
Another site accessible to Ontarians is the Ontario Wait Times website;
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/transformation/wait_times/wait_mn.html. This website enables individuals that are waiting for a medical procedure to research and view the wait times for that procedure within their area.
I think that this type of website (online community) provides Ontarians with more information than they might receive with face-to-face communications. Without this website how would individuals know if they could get the same procedure at another hospital in a shorter period of time (shorter wait time for surgery)? Would individuals have to call each hospital to find wait times for that procedure? Would the hospitals provide in individual with that type of information? Who would have that information? Would that be information that is known to all hospital employees?
Another project I’m working relates to collecting immunization information for school age children. The children can either be immunized at their doctors’ offices or through their schools immunization programs. If the child is immunized at the doctor’s office, the parent is responsible for providing the immunization information to their local health unit. The majority of the public health units have the parents calling their local health unit and verbally providing them with the immunization information for their child. Niagara region health unit created a web page that enables parents to enter the immunization information for their child directly online;
https://www.regional.niagara.on.ca/Secure/Record_Vaccination.aspx. This information is very important because children in Ontario can be suspended from school if their local public health unit does not have all of their up-to-date immunization records.
These types of websites contain valuable information but is this information easily access to all generations? Are older generations able to use these websites? What if they are not computer literate? If they do not have a computer and/or an internet connection is this information lost to them?
Below is a movie that was created by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care that discusses the importance for accurate health records and quick access to health information.
Attached are links to the latest eHealth newsletter and strategy plan for Ontario.
http://www.ssha.on.ca/eNewsletter/Issue2/
http://www.ehealthontario.on.ca/news/strategy_consultation.asp
