e-Health: Are there expert patients out there?

Abstract

The patients’ ability to perform healthcare measurements by themselves using the information communication technologies (ICT) is a valuable variable. But are there ‘expert patients’ out there? The objective of the present study is to address this question. In Scenario A, participants performed measurements themselves using a portable biosignal device (PBD) in ‘bedside settings’. The data collected were validated against the measurements that were performed simultaneously via the routine hospital process. In Scenario B, five participants located at their homes performed measurements by themselves and without surveillance in ‘real world e-health settings’. Under surveillance (Scenario A), patients succeeded in obtaining many measurements accurately. In ‘real-world e-health settings’ (Scenario B) several measurements were not complete and accurate. Although there are not many expert patients out there yet, e-health outcomes may be improved by balancing three issues, namely surveillance, current patient status, and ICT difficulty level.

Key Words:

• Expert patient
• e-health
• sociology
• telemedicine
• human factors