eHealth: Patients and the Internet

This module seeks to acquaint participants with the different facets of eHealth, by considering the health and social policy contexts within which eHealth is emerging and the ways in which patients’, consumers’ and professionals’ roles and perspectives are evolving. It encompasses the perspective of the main stakeholders: patients, carers, clinicians, patient groups, the NHS, and the private sector. The main aim of the module is to examine the information and education needs of patients, carers and citizens and to consider the role of information and communication technologies in meeting those needs. Issues to do with information quality, and the impact of changes in information provision on the ways in which healthcare is delivered and on health outcomes are central to the module

Module code

CHME0007

Credits

15

Module tutor

Dr Henry Potts Please direct queries to courses-IHI@ucl.ac.uk

Who can study this course?

Anyone interested in examining the information and education needs of patients, carers and citizens and to consider the role of information and communication technologies in meeting those needs.

Content

Scope, methods and context of eHealth
The social and economic context of the consumer health information agenda; the changing roles and relationships between patients, consumers and health care providers. Patient engagement; shared decision making; health literacy.

Health Information Needs and Quality of Health information provision
How are patient information needs are defined, studied and satisfied. Criteria and tools for evaluating the quality of health information with emphasis on assessing the quality of information to support people in making decisions about healthcare.

Impact and health outcomes
The impact of changes in information provision on the ways in which healthcare is delivered and on changing behaviour and health outcomes. Selected examples of digital systems aimed at patients/citiizens and the research which has been carried out to evaluate their impact. Ethico-legal issues are addressed throughout.

Teaching and learning methods

Blended learning: web-based distance learning in the UCL Virtual Learning Environment plus a 3-day face-to-face teaching session.

Assessment

Evaluation of the information and selected digital resources the information needs and quality

Selected reading list

BMJ Look at the Medical Informatics section on bmj.bmjjournals.com/ 
Journal of Medical Internet Research and many sub-journals
Pew Internet and American Life (This page lists all the health reports)
Picker Institute (Picker Institute Europe works with patients, professionals and policy makers to promote understanding of the patient’s perspective at all levels of healthcare policy and practice.)
NHS Digital