Improving health education through information technology: a commentary on Bond (2007)

Abstract

Advanced information technology and computerisation increasingly and globally used in hospital and community health care systems has stimulated interest in developing computerised systems that include not only networked services to support medical treatment and patient records, but also health education and promotion for people in the community. Health care recipients are increasingly involved in participating in decisions affecting their own health (Noell and Glasgow, 1999), and nurses and other care providers are increasingly required to educate, motivate and assist their clients to adhere to healthy behaviour and treatment regimens in the community and ambulatory settings. However, the accessibility, continuity and long duration of most existing education programmes often limit clients’ desire and persistence to participate and so reduces the likelihood of subsequent behaviour change. Participation and interest in health education programmes may be enhanced by application of information technology and this is enhanced by application of clients’ increased computer accessibility and knowledge. Increased computer use by the public has enhanced online interactions between health educator (or the programmes) and clients in need of support, and has reduced the