Consent Documents - Canadian Health Network Interview

Information, Communication & Society, 2004

The concept of e-health has come to assume a key place within a larger Canadian governmental discourse that lauds the benefits of supplying Internet-based services to as wide an audience as possible. In order to fulfil its vision of a connected public accessing services cheaply and easily through electronic media, the federal government has assumed that the potential exists for all Canadians to use the Internet and has done its best to achieve this result through programmes aimed at ameliorating accessibility issues. There is particular enthusiasm over the possibility of moving some health services online, thus reducing costs incurred through personal patient-practitioner meetings while ostensibly creating more informed, proactive and healthy Canadians. This paper discusses whether or not the enthusiasm of the government, and of individual users, regarding e-health practices is merited, focussing particularly on the consumption of online health information by patients. Numerous consequences and conflicts can accompany such practices, but this paper specifically addresses the negative aspects of promoting informed health choices through a medium inaccessible to all members of Canadian society, such as the aged, the poor, rural dwellers and some ethnic minorities. The paper also assesses the potential risks of acting upon incorrect information provided online and addresses the possibility that health professionals' workloads will increase rather than decrease. However, as this paper also notes, e-health does contain potential for improving the delivery of medical services in Canada if contained within clearly defined parameters, and if alternatives still exist for those who cannot or will not benefit from such technology.

2012

Objectives: To investigate the patterns and predictors of individual online health information seeking, including socio-demographic characteristics, Internet activities and level of use, type of health information sought, and likelihood of sharing health information with physicians. Data and Methods: Secondary data analysis from a cross-sectional survey of a representative national Canadian consumer sample in 2007 (n=26588). Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the relationships between Internet search for health information, sharing Internet health information with physicians, and the socio-demographic characteristics, Internet usage levels, and Internet activities of respondents. Results: 61% of the Canadian population more than 16 years old had home Internet access, and 59% of these, or 36% of the population, sought health information via the Internet. Searching for health information was the second most popular online activity, following general Internet activities. Socio-demographic characteristics, Internet usage experience, privacy and security concerns, and Internet activities were significantly associated with health information search. Disease-specific information was the most frequently sought health information, followed by lifestyle information and disease symptoms. Women, individuals who had used the Internet for 2-5 years, and those who lived in megalopolises, were very concerned about Internet privacy and security. Individuals who used the Internet for other activities (general, government and online shopping) were more likely to discuss health information found on the Internet with their physicians. Conclusions: This study reveals that income, rural/urban residency, and the number of persons in households were not significant determinants of Internet use for online health information searches by Canadians. Our study indicates a low level of communication between physicians and patients about health-related information found on the Internet. Strategies to increase Canadian access to the Internet for health information will likely help them to become better informed and active participants with their physicians on health related decisions.

2004

•What benefits have been realized? •What challenges are encountered? Canadians value our health system, and want to ensure that investment in the system delivers quality care while remaining consistent with the values of equity, collective and individual responsibility, efficiency and effectiveness. www.sfu.ca/act4hlth Ellen Balka (PI),

Healthcare Papers, Vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 44-51, 2007

Similar to the United States, Canada’s overarching challenge is to build a core public health infrastructure for the 21st century. Assessing the informational reputation of web-based providers demonstrates the centrality of federal government departments and agencies in the Canadian public health infostructure. The federal government’s substantial investment in government online projects has helped bring public health information and services to Canadians, and continuing to build on that infostructure will be critical to revitalizing public health in the future.

An increasing number of patients use the internet to obtain information about health. Although some information is available about how health professionals use the internet, little is known about how patients utilize this information. Some patients may actively seek information to assume more responsibility for their health. However, others may feel obliged to do so because of failing confidence in health care provision. Health professionals have the potential to assist patients to make sense of health information from the internet; however, they may not necessarily welcome this role. This study aims to evaluate patients’ use of such information in a primary care setting. The sample consisted of adult patients ( n = 851) from two general practice populations at different levels of the socio-economic spectrum in South Wales (UK). Patients were surveyed by questionnaire about the health information they use, including the internet. The majority of patients preferred to use their general practitioner as the main source of health information. The internet was jointly the second preferred source for information about an illness (6%). Just over half (51%) of patients in this study had access to the internet, of which about half use it to access health information. Just under a quarter (24%, n = 55) of health internet users had discussed information accessed from the internet during a subsequent consultation with a health professional. Of these, three-quarters felt more prepared and able to participate in decision-making about treatments. This study provides a greater understanding of how patients are making use of health-related information from the internet. These findings can be used to help prepare health care professionals for dealing appropriately with internet-informed patients.

Scandinavian Journal of …, 2002

2008

Patients’ use of health-related information from the Internet is increasing at an exponential rate. Although we have some information about how health professionals use the Internet (Roscoe, 1998; Wilson, 1999) we know little about how patients utilise this information. Some patients may actively seek information to assume more responsibility for their health. However, others may feel forced into doing so because of failing confidence in health care provision. Health professionals have the potential to assist patients to make sense of health information from the Internet; however, they may not necessarily welcome this role (Wilson, 1999; Eberhart-Phillips et al., 2000). This study aims to evaluate patient use of such information in primary care and to establish how this can be directed in the future. 851 adult patients from general practice were surveyed about the health information they use, including the Internet. 50 patients from the survey were then randomly selected for interview. Abstracts 242 International Journal of Consumer Studies, 27, 3, June 2003, pp218–251 © 2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd 12 health care professionals were also interviewed about how patients use the Internet and the impact this has on consultations. The majority of patients (80%) prefer to use their GP as a source of health information. The remaining sources of information received significantly lower ratings. However, the Internet was the second most preferred source of information (7%). Of those using the Internet about two thirds felt more prepared and able to participate in decision-making about treatments. The majority of patients rely on their doctor for health information. However, many patients actively use the Internet as an information source. The use of Internet information during consultations is on the increase, and although patients are positive about such use, doctors do not necessarily welcome Internet informed patients. It is now necessary to identify the training needs of health care professionals for dealing appropriately with Internet informed patients.

The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 2003

All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or outside my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal.-Hippocratic Oath, circa 4th century B.C. he continuing spread and development of electronic data interchange in health care settings is fuelling a

2006