Empowering Children and Families With Information Technology

Abstract

Patient empowerment is the enhanced ability of patients to actively understand and influence their health status. Information is the key to patient empowerment. Without information, children and families cannot engage in meaningful discussions or make thoughtful decisions regarding medical care. Information sharing is a model for patient interaction with the health care system that may significantly improve the care of children and families. This article focuses on information technologies that utilize user-centered design principles and interactive capabilities to facilitate information sharing and to empower children and families. Examples include electronic pediatric personal medical records, customized health information systems, and interactive physician offices with electronic mail (e-mail) and telemedicine capabilities. Ideally, these systems would all be integrated. Successful implementation of new technologies will require thoughtful attention and balanced solutions to tensions between information sharing vs security, and curatorship vs censorship. Issues related to access and the digital divide must also be addressed. Acceptance and usability of new technologies is predicated on close collaboration among physicians, researchers in informatics, librarians, educators, and other professionals with expertise in the human-computer interface. Child and family empowerment will be both the driving force and ultimate outcome of information-sharing technologies.

A New Model of Well-Child Care: Implications for Resource Costs and Dissemination

“…Current research has shown that the adoption of new technologies that allow for patient transactions outside the primary care office can significantly affect the effectiveness, patient-centeredness, timeliness, and efficiency of child development and health promotion practice. [6][7][8][9][10] The potential benefits of this type of technology for WCC are considerable. If developmental and psychosocial screening can be accomplished through non-face-to-face transactions over the Internet and communicated to the PCP before the visit, the PCP can ensure that the specific needs of the family are met during the WCC visit in an efficient and effective manner.…”

Informatie op het internet over timeout als opvoedstrategie. Een analyse met inhoudelijke en formele criteria

“…In plaats van het internet te diskwalificeren als informatiebron (zie Drayton et al, 2014) worden in studies over de kwaliteit van informatie op het internet vaak vier opties onderscheiden om de risico's van gebrekkige informatie tegen te gaan: het vergroten van de 'mediawijsheid' van de gebruiker (Bernhardt & Felter, 2004;Boston, Ruwe, Duggins, & Willging, 2005;Chen et al, 2000;Semere et al, 2003), het versterken van de verantwoordelijkheid van de beroepskrachten (D'Alessandro & Dosa, 2001;Nieuwboer, 2014;Sim et al, 2007), het hanteren van een 'gouden standaard ' (D'Alessandro & Kingsley, 2002;Hardwick & MacKenzie, 2003;Scullard, Peacock, & Davies, 2010) en het instellen van een keurmerk (Dornan & Oermann, 2006;HON).…”

Strategies for Radiology Reporting and Communication Part 3: Patient Communication and Education

“…At the forefront of these changes is the patient who has become increasingly empowered and is now demanding greater access to their healthcare data and involvement in decision-making [1][2][3]. While radiology practice has traditionally limited communication of medical imaging report data between radiologists and referring clinicians, increasing emphasis is being placed on direct radiologistpatient communication, which has been mandated in breast imaging with the passage of the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) [4].…”