An Evaluation of Overcoming Barriers to Engage Consumers in the Use of Health Care Information Technology. Issue 4 (2nd October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Long, Sandra; Monsen, Karen; Pieczkiewicz, David; Wolfson, Julian; Khairat, Saif
• Is Part Of: Journal of consumer health on the Internet. Volume 21:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: 369
• Page End: 388
• Publication Date: 2017-10-02
• Subjects: Consumer health information -- consumers -- health care -- review article -- technology; Health -- Computer network resources -- Periodicals; Internet -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Computer network resources -- Periodicals; Computer Communication Networks -- Periodicals; Consumer Participation -- Periodicals; Delivery of Health Care -- Periodicals; 025.063621
• DOI: 10.1080/15398285.2017.1361715
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1539-8285

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this review is to determine why consumers may not be adopting or engaging in the use of health information technology to successfully improve or maintain their health status. A literature search was completed to find articles related to consumer engagement in the use of health information technology. The literature found was then categorized based on a patient engagement framework defined by the National eHealth Collaborative. The barriers to engagement, issues with types of technology, and problems in study methodology were then synthesized for understanding consumer engagement. The results of the review showed the major barriers related to engaging consumers in the use of health information technology, including privacy, education, cost, literacy, accuracy of information, trust, meeting consumer needs, measures, integration, and policy. The most prevalent of these issues is that health information technology is often not designed with accurate and detailed user requirements in mind. Issues of the methodologies used to show how consumer health information technology is consumed relate to studies that are not aligned with the original purpose of the experiment. Additional work and research is needed to ensure that the design of consumer health information technology meets the consumer's needs. Improved designs and methods of achieving these designs will create technology that consumers find appealing to use in order to better manage their health. If consumers find value in the technology, they will be more likely to engage and adopt it for additional use.