Consumer health informatics: results of a systematic evidence review and evidence based recommendations.
An increasing array of technology based tools are available for patient and consumer utilization which claim to facilitate health improvement. The efficacy of these Consumer Health Informatics tools has not previously been systematically reviewed. As such a systematic evidence review of the efficacy of consumer health informatics tools was conducted. This review also sought evidence of any barriers to future widespread utilization of these tools and evidence of economic impact of these tools on health care costs. The findings of this review indicate that while more work needs to be done, the available literature does suggest a positive impact of consumer health informatics tools on select health conditions and outcomes. Many barriers remain that must be overcome prior to widespread utilization of these tools. There was insufficient data regarding economic impact of consumer health informatics tools on healthcare costs.
Division of General Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA ; Population, Family and Reproductive Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD USA ; Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Urban Health Institute, Baltimore, MD USA ; Division of Health Sciences Informatics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA.
Michael C
MC
Gibbons
Renee F
RF
Wilson
Lipika
L
Samal
Christoph U
CU
Lehmann
Kay
K
Dickersin
Harold P
HP
Lehmann
Hannan
H
Aboumatar
Joseph
J
Finkelstein
Erica
E
Shelton
Ritu
R
Sharma
Eric B
EB
Bass
Consumer health informatics; Health information technology; Systematic evidence review; eHealth