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An Evidence-Based
Approach
Introduction:
Evaluation of IHC
Consumers & IHC
Evaluation
Developers &
IHC Evaluation
Policy Issues Relevant
to IHC
Health Care
Providers, Purchasers & IHC
SciPICH Final
Report
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Wired for Health and Well-Being: The
Emergence of Interactive Health Communication
Editors: Thomas R. Eng, David H. Gustafson
Suggested Citation: Science Panel on Interactive
Communication and Health. Wired for Health and Well-Being: the Emergence of Interactive
Health Communication. Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human
Services, US Government Printing Office, April 1999.
Download in PDF format: [Entire Document] [References]
Foreword
As we close out the century, the promise of good health for
all Americans seems both tantalizingly close and frustratingly far away. We have made
great strides in preventing disease and extending life. However, the science base, which
makes progress possible, has not been effectively shared among all who need to understand
and act on it. We can do a better job of translating this knowledge into useful
communication for all people, and extending it to underserved populations who often carry
the heaviest health burdens. New and emerging communication tools may help bring
life-enhancing knowledge to people in ways they can use, when and where they need it.
Information and education have long been vital tools for promoting health, controlling
disease, and raising the quality-of-life in our families and communities. The desire to
improve the health status of all Americans, while ensuring that those facing the highest
risks receive special attention, is prompting, among other efforts, innovative
communication activities to improve health-related decisions by the public and health
professionals and to strengthen the relationships between them. Increasingly, these
health communication activities incorporate computer-based programs, including
health-related Web sites, online discussion groups, and e-mail. The rapid development of
new technologies, coupled with the explosive growth of the Internet, brings opportunities
for people to find interactive information, education, and support that is tailored to
their needs and preferences. Equally important, the new connectivity creates links among
individuals, public agencies, businesses and employers, community resources, health
professionals, health plans, academic institutions, and other private
organizationsall of which, together, are necessary to ensure health and well-being.
To date, there has been little evaluation or quality
control of interactive health communication because applications have been developed
faster than theory and assessment tools. The Science Panel on Interactive Communication
and Health has carefully considered the issues involved and defined the problems and
opportunities. Their path-breaking work presents a broad strategy and specific guidance
for promoting sound, appropriate assessment of this emerging field. This report will be
valuable for all those who are interested in ensuring the quality and effectiveness of
these exciting, but often misrepresented, health communication innovations. Each
stakeholder, including policymakers, health care providers and purchasers, public health
professionals, application developers, and consumers and patients, has a special role to
play. Together, we can ensure that information and communication technologies fulfill
their promise and contribute to better health and well-being for all people.
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David Satcher, MD, PhD
Assistant Secretary for Health and
Surgeon General
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Updated: 05/01/08 |