title: Consumer e-health: an overview of research evidence and implications for future policy.
abstract: Consumer e-health is rapidly becoming a fundamental component of healthcare. However, to date only provisional steps have been taken to increase our understanding of how consumers engage with e-health. This study, an interpretive review, assessed the evidence about consumer use of e-health and identified five categories that encompass consumer e-health: (i) peer-to-peer online support groups; (ii) self-management/self-monitoring applications; (iii) decision aids; (iv) the personal health record; and (v) Internet use. Our findings reveal that e-health offers consumers many possibilities and potential benefits, although there appears to be apprehension concerning the efficacy of some interventions and barriers relating to the trustworthiness of Internet-acquired information. It is imperative that policy initiatives address these issues to ensure that consumer e-health services can be effectively, efficiently, and safely accessed.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia. a.hordern@unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hordern
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Georgiou
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Whetton
authors.forename: Mirela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prgomet
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008491:Medical Informatics Applications; D009862:Online Systems; D010379:Peer Group; D011050:Policy Making; D011640:Public Policy; D012648:Self Care; D012944:Social Support