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Definition of Consumer Health Informatics

Gunther Eysenbach is a researcher from Unit for Cybermedicine, Department of Clinical Social Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. He has published a clinical review of recent advances in consumer health informatics. What is consumer health informatics? Here you will find definition of consumer health informatics.

In this information technology age, modern healthcare systems are being delivered to be used at home by patients. Electronic health/medical records will be accessible to patients empower consumers. Software and computer based decision support can help patients and professionals. Education for consumer is needed in Internet era.

Encourage self labelling, self regulation of providers and how to evaluate quality of health information delivered on Internet are being developed.

Applications of consumer health informatics are designed to interact directly with the consumer. Even there is no presence of healthcare professionals. It is not restricted to the use of computers and telecommunications devices.

Consumer health informatics definition
It is the field in medical informatics that is concerned with:

• Analysing and modelling consumer preferences, information needs, and information use;
• Developing and evaluating methods and applications to support consumers in obtaining and using health information;
• Developing and evaluating methods and applications to integrate consumer needs and preferences into information management systems in clinical practice, education, and research;
• Investigating determinants, conditions, elements, models, and processes to design, implement, and maximise the effectiveness of computerised information and telecommunication and network systems for consumers;
• Studying the effects of these systems on public health, the patient-professional relationship, and society.

From AMIA’s working group of consumer health informatics, “working” definition for Consumer Health Informatics (CHI-WG) is “a subspecialty of medical informatics which studies from a patient/consumer perspective the use of electronic information and communication to improve medical outcomes and the health care decision-making process.”

The working group focuses developing collaboration and academic discussion among members whose diverse interests include:

• Exploring ways informatics can optimize the healthcare partnership of provider and patient
• Developing technology and software to educate and empower consumer and to allow patients participate in healthcare decisions.
• Identifying factors that the affect the use of technology in the provider-client relationship.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of health care informatics in patient outcomes.

References:

• Eysenbach, G. (2000) Recent advances consumer health informatics. BMJ. June, 320, pp.1713-1716.